THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5276
Posted on February 2, 2026 by Barry Zalma
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 3
See the video at https://rumble.com/v752e4i-zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-february-1-2026.html and at https://youtu.be/UmnGuRcLsz8
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year by ClaimSchool and is written by Barry Zalma. It is provided FREE to anyone who visits the site at http://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/ This issue contains the following articles about insurance fraud:
Read the full 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
Disappearance of Defendant is Not Evidence of Death
In United States v. Marvin Moy, No. (S3) 22 Cr. 19 (PGG), United States District Court, S.D. New York (January 7, 2026) Defendant Marvin Moy, a medical doctor, was charged in the Southern District of New York with conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The indictment alleged that Moy aided co-conspirators in operating clinics that engaged in insurance fraud.
Read the full article and the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
More McClenny Moseley & Associates Issues
This is ZIFL’s forty first installment of the saga of McClenny, Moseley & Associates (MMA) and its problems with the federal courts in the State of Louisiana and what appears to be an effort to profit from what some Magistrate and District judges indicate may be criminal conduct to profit from insurance claims relating to hurricane damage to the public of the state of Louisiana. The saga of MMA has become a never-ending story.
“For the Final Time”: Federal Court Says MMA Firm Has “NO Rights” to Fees in Eastern District of Louisiana When a federal court says it is speaking “for the final time,” it’s usually worth paying attention.
Read the full article and the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
Repeat Offender Imprisoned For False Travel Insurance Claim in UK
Copywritten article available at:
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Prison Time For Healthcare Employees In Multimillion Dollar Adult Daycare Fraud Scheme
Dr. Osama Nahas, 70, McAllen, and Isabel Pruneda, 54, Edinburg, were found guilty on March 1, 2024, of conspiracy to commit healthcare fraud, healthcare fraud and conspiracy to violate the Anti-Kickback Statute following a two-week trial. Pruneda was also convicted for aggravated identity theft.
Read the full article and about dozens of convictions at the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
NCOIL Updates Anti-Fraud Model, Readopts ‘Storm Chaser’ Consumer Protections Model
According to A.M. Best, the National Council of Insurance Legislators updated its 30-year-old anti-insurance fraud model law and readopted the Storm Chasers Consumer Protection model act, which regulates contractors operating in the wake of a disaster.
The Insurance Fraud model act was updated to expand the definition of fraudulent acts, directly address contractor fraud, close criminal enforcement gaps and improve consumer protections, according to a weekly briefing by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
Read the full article and the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
Other Than Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Kansas Man Sentenced for Insurance and Identity Fraud
Marquez Gails, age 43, pleaded guilty on January 9, 2026, in Sedgwick County District Court to one felony count of fraudulent insurance act and one felony count of identity theft. Gails fraudulently used another individual’s identity to purchase a vehicle and auto insurance for the vehicle.
Read the full article and multiple convictions at the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
DOJ Announces That False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $6.8B in Fiscal Year 2025
January 16, 2026 : Settlements and judgments under the False Claims Act exceeded $6.8 billion in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2025, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate, head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, announced today. That amount is the highest in a single year in the history of the False Claims Act. This year, whistleblowers filed 1,297 qui tam lawsuits, the highest number in a single year, and the government opened 401 investigations, including matters announced as Administration policy objectives. Settlements and judgments since 1986, when Congress substantially strengthened the civil False Claims Act, now total more than $85 billion.
Read the full article and the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
The Tort of Bad Faith & Fraud
In the 1950s, the California Supreme Court created a tort new to U.S. jurisprudence: the tort of bad faith.
A tort is a civil wrong from which one person can receive damages from another for multiple injuries. The tort of bad faith was created because an insurer failed to treat an insured fairly, and the court felt that the traditional contract damages were insufficient to properly compensate the insured. The court allowed the insured to receive, in addition to the contract damages that the insured was entitled to receive under the contract had the insurer treated the insured fairly, damages for emotional distress and punitive damages to punish the insurer for its wrongful acts. Insureds, lawyers for insureds, regulators, and courts across the United States cheered the action of the California Supreme Court, for providing a fair remedy to abused insureds. Most of the states adopted the tort created by the California Supreme Court either by statute or court decision.
Read the full article and the 23 page issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/ZIFL-02-01-2025.pdf.
Barry Zalma
Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE, now limits his practice to service as an insurance consultant specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith and insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders. He also serves as an arbitrator or mediator for insurance related disputes. He practiced law for more than 44 years as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer and more than 58 years in the insurance business. He is available at http://www.zalma.com and [email protected].
Go to Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter at https://zalma.com/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-2/
Follow Mr. Zalma on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bzalma. Go to Barry Zalma videos at Rumble.com at https://rumble.com/c/c-262921.
Go to Barry Zalma on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCysiZklEtxZsSF9DfC0Expg, Go to the Insurance Claims Library – https://zalma.com/blog/insurance-claims-library/, https://gettr.com/@zalma
Barry Zalma, Inc., 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard, CULVER CITY CA 90230-4847, 310-390-4455.
Subscribe to Excellence in Claims Handling at https://barryzalma.substack.com/welcome.
Happy Law Day
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/zalmas-insurance-fraud-letter-may-1-2026-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-2tywc, see the video at at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 9 – May 1, 2026
Zalma’s Insurance Fraud Letter (ZIFL) continues its 30th year of publication dedicated to those involved in reducing the effect of insurance fraud. ZIFL is published 24 times a year and is written by Barry Zalma.
DOJ Creates National Fraud Enforcement Division
Will the Feds Take on Insurance Fraud? Possibly as Part of a National Anti-Fraud Effort
On April 7, 2026, the Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, issued a memorandum establishing the Department of Justice National Fraud Enforcement Division (NFED). The memo describes an ambitious, but perhaps redundant, vision for this ...
When Abalone Died As a Result of Multiple Causes The Efficient Proximate Cause Requires Payment
Post number 5345
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/efficient-proximate-cause-doctrine-saves-claim-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-yndlc, see the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
In American Abalone Farms, LLC v. Star Insurance Company et al., H052643, California Court of Appeals, Sixth District (April 27, 2026) the Court of Appeals dealt with an insurance coverage issue that required application of the efficient proximate cause doctrine.
FACTS
American Abalone Farms, LLC ("American Abalone" ) operates an aquaculture farm in Santa Cruz County, California, raising abalone in tanks. In August 2020, the CZU Lightning Complex Fires led to a prolonged power outage and road closures near the farm. As a result, the farm’s water pumps failed, causing the death of most of the ...
Breach of a Specific Condition Precedent Is a Complete Defense
See the video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
In United Services Automobile Association and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company v. Anthony Wenzell, 2026 CO 25 (Colo. Apr. 27, 2026) Anthony Wenzell was rear-ended in a car accident. He had a significant prior 2014 accident that required back surgery.
Wenzell claimed underinsured-motorist (UIM) benefits under three policies: (1) the tortfeasor’s liability policy, (2) his own primary UIM policy with State Farm, and (3) an excess UIM policy issued by USAA (under his brother’s policy, which contained an “other insurance” clause making USAA’s coverage excess over any collectible insurance).
After receiving the claims, both USAA and State Farm repeatedly requested that Wenzell execute comprehensive medical-release authorizations so they could obtain his full medical records and ...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
It is Fraud to Make the Same Claim Twice
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/fraud-make-same-claim-twice-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-c4g8c and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Chutzpah: After Being Paid for a New Roof Insured Makes Second Claim For Same Damages
Post number 5347
No One is Entitled to be Paid for the Same Loss Twice
In Mohammed Ali Khalili v. State Farm Lloyds, No. 14-25-00611-CV, Court of Appeals of Texas (April 30, 2026) Khalili maintained a State Farm Lloyds homeowners insurance policy for decades. In 2008 he filed a roof-damage claim; State Farm paid him to replace the entire roof (shingles and gutters). Khalili never replaced the roof and repeated his claim.
BACKGROUND
In 2021 he filed a second roof claim. State Farm’s inspectors found the roof “very old” with extensive non-storm-related damage. The claim was denied because (1) the damage did not exceed the deductible and (2) State Farm had already paid for a full roof replacement.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
State Farm filed motion for summary...
What Must be Done after Notice of a Claim is Received by the Insurer
Read the full article at https://lnkd.in/gzvvdkMZ and at https://zalma.com/blog.
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A first party property policy does not insure property: it insures a person, partnership, corporation or other entity against the risk of loss of the property. Before an insured can make a claim for indemnity under a policy of first party property insurance the insured must prove that there was damage to property the risk of loss of which was insured by the policy. The obligation imposed on the insured ...
