Lies on YELP Costs Liar
Post number 5327
Posted on April 28, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the video at https://lnkd.in/gM9vQWCr and at https://lnkd.in/g75e9mdb
In Anthony J. Gingo, JR., M.D. v. Jane Hanak, 2026-Ohio-1452, No. 115341, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga (April 23, 2026) Dr. Anthony J. Gingo, Jr., a board-certified obstetrician and gynecologist, performed surgery on Jane Hanak in April 2017. After several rounds of litigation, including voluntary dismissal and refiling of complaints, the trial court ultimately dismissed Hanak’s claims, and the appellate court affirmed that dismissal.
FACTS
In mid-2022, Hanak posted a highly negative review of Dr. Gingo on Yelp, making numerous serious allegations including sexual misconduct, insurance fraud, and lack of hospital privileges.
LAW
The trial court granted summary judgment in favor of Dr. Gingo, awarding him $145,000 in compensatory damages and $100,000 in punitive damages.
DEFAMATION
Defamation is a false publication that injures a person’s reputation, exposes him or her to public hatred, contempt, ridicule, shame or disgrace; or affects him adversely in his [or her] trade or business. To establish a claim for defamation, a plaintiff must demonstrate: (1) a false statement of fact was made about the plaintiff, (2) the statement was defamatory, (3) the statement was published, (4) the plaintiff suffered injury as a proximate result of the publication, and (5) the defendant acted with the requisite degree of fault in publishing the statement.
The court found no merit in Hanak’s appeal.
CONCLUSION
The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision, upholding the summary judgment in favor of Dr. Gingo.
The defamatory statements also supported the trial court’s award of $100,000 in punitive damages, because it is clear that Hanak’s statements were published with hatred, ill will, a spirit of revenge, or with disregard to Dr. Gingo’s rights.
ZALMA OPINION
It is often difficult for a male doctor to act as an OBGYN. When a patient is not satisfied with the treatment received they often sue for damages. Ms. Hanak sued her OBGYN and lost in the trial court. Still angry she posted defamatory comments charging her OBGYN with rape, insurance fraud and other wrongful conduct. He sued for defamation and Hanak was unable to establish the truth of her charges and was assessed compensatory and punitive damages. She appealed and the Court of Appeals of Ohio affirmed the trial court.
(c) 2026 Barry Zalma & ClaimSchool, Inc.
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Distributing the Assets of a Liquidated Insurer is Often Difficult
Post number 5326
Co-Insurer/Reinsurer Gets no Contribution From Insolvent Insurer
Posted on April 27, 2026 by Barry Zalma
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The Amount Of Home’s Settlement, And Not The Liquidator’s Actual Distributions To The Insured, Determines The Extent Of CIC’s Contribution Rights.
In The Matter Of The Liquidation Of The Home Insurance Company, 2026 N.H. 19, No. 2025-0178, Supreme Court of New Hampshire, Merrimack, April 24, 2026 Century Indemnity Company (CIC) and The Home Insurance Company (Home) issued policies to the same insured covering the same risks.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The Liquidator disallowed the contribution claim; the referee and trial court agreed and ruled the settlement/allowed-claim amount (not distributions) controls contribution rights. CIC appealed.
The Liquidator disallowed CIC’s ...
Distributing the Assets of a Liquidated Insurer is Often Difficult
Post number 5326
Co-Insurer/Reinsurer Gets no Contribution From Insolvent Insurer
Posted on April 27, 2026 by Barry Zalma
See the video at and at
The Amount Of Home’s Settlement, And Not The Liquidator’s Actual Distributions To The Insured, Determines The Extent Of CIC’s Contribution Rights.
In The Matter Of The Liquidation Of The Home Insurance Company, 2026 N.H. 19, No. 2025-0178, Supreme Court of New Hampshire, Merrimack, April 24, 2026 Century Indemnity Company (CIC) and The Home Insurance Company (Home) issued policies to the same insured covering the same risks.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
The Liquidator disallowed the contribution claim; the referee and trial court agreed and ruled the settlement/allowed-claim amount (not distributions) controls contribution rights. CIC appealed.
The Liquidator disallowed CIC’s ...
Posted on April 24, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Criminal Who Bought and Sold Stolen Catalytic Convertors Sentenced to Five Years
Buying and Selling Stolen Catalytic Convertors Requires Jail Term
Post number 5325
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In Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania v. Michael Williams, No. 1409 EDA 2025, J-A03027-26, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (April 17, 2026) Michael Williams, operating TDI Towing, purchased approximately $2.7 million in stolen catalytic converters annually from individuals who removed them from vehicles in Bucks, Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Delaware counties. Williams then resold these converters for profit to an automotive store in New Jersey.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND:
Catalytic converters, which contain precious metals like rhodium, palladium, and platinum, were targeted due to the high market value of these metals during the relevant period. Williams was the boss of everything that occurred at TDI Towing-he ran the catalytic converter purchase and sales operation, gave instructions to ...
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 7 – April 1, 2026
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5314
Posted on April 1, 2026 by Barry Zalma
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:
No One is Above the Law – Not Even a Police Officer
Police Officer Convicted for Fraud in Reporting an Accident Affirmed
Police Officer Should never Lie about Results of Chase
In State Of Ohio v. Anthony Holmes, No. 115123, 2026-Ohio-736, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga (March 5, 2026) a police officer appealed criminal conviction as a result of lies about a high speed chase.
Read the following article and the full issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZIFL-04-01-2026-1.pdf...
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 7 – April 1, 2026
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Post number 5314
Posted on April 1, 2026 by Barry Zalma
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:
No One is Above the Law – Not Even a Police Officer
Police Officer Convicted for Fraud in Reporting an Accident Affirmed
Police Officer Should never Lie about Results of Chase
In State Of Ohio v. Anthony Holmes, No. 115123, 2026-Ohio-736, Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, Cuyahoga (March 5, 2026) a police officer appealed criminal conviction as a result of lies about a high speed chase.
Read the following article and the full issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/ZIFL-04-01-2026-1.pdf...
Posted on March 30, 2026 by Barry Zalma
Insurance Fraud, a Way to Reduce Violent Crime
Post number 5313
A Fictionalized True Crime Story of Insurance Fraud from an Expert who explains why Insurance Fraud is a “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” situation for Insurers. The story helps to Understand How Insurance Fraud in America is Costing Everyone who Buys Insurance Thousands of Dollars Every year and Why Insurance Fraud is Safer and More Profitable for the Perpetrators than any Other Crime.
She Taught Her Customers The Swoop And Squat:
Recently the California Insurance Department’s Fraud Division arrested a young woman in Los Angeles County for operating an insurance fraud school. She advertised her classes in the “Penny Saver” an advertising sheet distributed free to the public and a print version of Facebook, X Craig’s list. She had operated for several years teaching methods of committing automobile insurance fraud. Only after a police officer enrolled in one of her classes was she arrested.
Her defense ...
