THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Posted on June 15, 2026 by Barry Zalma
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 12
June 15, 2026
Post number 5372
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:
Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go
Arsonist Who Tried to Defraud Insurer Failed to Avoid Jail
Arson is a Violent and Dangerous Crime Deserving Serious Punishment
The People of the State of New York v. Zef Gjurashaj, 2026 NY Slip Op 03320, No. 2023-03675, Ind. No. 70463/21, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (May 27, 2026) the defendant owned a restaurant that was destroyed by fire on September 6, 2017. Prosecutors alleged that he and a codefendant conspired to intentionally set the fire in order to obtain financial benefit.
Read the full article and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Conspiring to Burn a Vehicle for Insurance Money is a Crime
Police Chief’s Guilty Verdict Affirmed
Cumulative Evidence Sufficient to Prove Fraud
In United States of America v. Christopher Filline, No. 25-50049, United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit (June 1, 2026) Christopher Filline, the police chief of Castroville, Texas, reported that his wife’s Lincoln Navigator had been stolen.
In truth, the vehicle had actually been burned on a remote road two days earlier.
Read the full article and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Qui Tam Insurer Contended it was not Defrauded
Qui Tam Case Without Evidence to Prove Fraud Fails
To Prove Insurance Fraud the Qui Tam Plaintiff Must Allege and Prove Fraud
In People Of The State Of California Ex Rel. Heath & Yuen, APC v. Silver Bird Auto Leasing, LLC et al., B342847, California Court of Appeals, Second District, Eighth Division (June 5, 2026) Heath & Yuen, APC defended parties in an automobile collision case involving a McLaren and a tour van. After that case settled for $25,000, the firm filed a qui tam action under California’s Insurance Frauds Prevention Act (IFPA) against Silver Bird Auto Leasing, LLC, X-Law Group, PC, and Filippo Marchino.
Read the full article and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Insurer Sued Defendants for Submitting Thousands of Fraudulent Claims
Attempt at Intervention Fails
GEICO Should be Commended and Emulated for its Action Against Fraud Perpetrators
In Government Employees Insurance Co., et. al. v. Tarakchyan D.C., et al., Civil No. 24-cv-6952 (ZNQ)(JTQ), United States District Court, D. New Jersey (May 29, 2026) GEICO sued medical-provider defendants for allegedly submitting thousands of fraudulent insurance charges for unnecessary treatment.
Read the full article and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Health Insurance Fraud Convictions
Case Update- Former Brookline Doctor Convicted of Health Care Fraud and Money Launderng
A former Brookline Massachusetts physician was convicted following a 10-day jury trial in federal court in Boston of health care fraud, money laundering, tax evasion and conspiring to defraud the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Dr. Pankaj Merchia of Brookline, Massachusetts and Boca Raton, Florida was convicted on January 27, 2026 of one count of health care fraud, three counts of money laundering, two counts of tax evasion and one count of conspiracy to defraud the IRS.
Read the full article plus dozens of convictions and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Other Than Health Insurance Fraud Cases
Lawrence Man Sentenced to Probation for Phony Hit While Parked Claim
A Lawrence, Massachusetts man was placed on pretrial probation for one year on charges of motor vehicle insurance fraud and attempt to commit a crime. He was ordered to pay $756 in restitution. The Lawrence man reported to Mapfre Insurance Company that on December 10, 2021, his 2014 Subaru Forester was hit while parked causing damage to the driver side and bottom of the doors.
Physician’s Malpractice Insurance not Available When License Revoked
Applicant for Insurance is Obligated to Advise Insurer in Material Changes After Application Was Signed
Doctor Criminally Charged and License Suspended After Application Signed had Policy Rescinded for Failure to Advise Insurer of Change
Read the full article and the full June 15, 2026 Issue of ZIFL at https://zalma.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/ZIFL-06-15-2026.pdf
Barry Zalma, Barry Zalma, Inc., 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard, CULVER CITY CA 90230-4847, 310-390-4455.
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.
Arsonist Tried To Represent Himself, Failed, and Sought Habeas Relief
Post number 5357
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/he-who-acts-his-own-lawyer-has-idiot-client-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-d4bwc, See the full video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog.
Karacson’s Arson for Profit Attempt Required Skill & Experience to Succeed
In Steve Ellis Karacson v. David Shaver, Warden, No. 25-1089, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit (May 20, 2026) Steve Karacson was convicted in Michigan state court of arson and insurance fraud after evidence showed he burned his own insured home. Investigators found multiple points of origin, gasoline odor, and evidence tying him to the scene, including cell-phone location data and a receipt showing he had purchased a gas can and gloves shortly before the fire.
FACTS
Karacson initially had appointed counsel, but his relationships with both appointed attorneys ...
Foolish to Repeatedly Disobey Court Orders
All That Remains For Trial Is Plaintiff’s Damages On Each Of These Claims And Establishing Proximate Causation Of Those Damages.
Post number 5348
See the full video at and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus 5300 posts.
In Linh Wang v. Esurance Insurance Company, No. C24-0447-JCC, United States District Court, W.D. Washington, Seattle (May 1, 2026) John C. Coughenour, United States District Judge, found that throughout this case, culminating with its briefing on Plaintiff’s renewed motion and that Defendant has subjected Plaintiff to unnecessary motion practice for clearly discoverable information and made dubious representations (including to the Court).
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
This case involves an underinsured/uninsured motorist insurance bad faith claim arising from a 2017 motor vehicle collision. The plaintiff, Linh Wang, alleges that Esurance Insurance ...
The Right to Negotiate with Insurer is Not an Assignment of Claims
Post number 5347
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/ambiguous-contract-repair-assignment-barry-zalma-esq-cfe-2xppc, see the full video at https://rumble.com/v79is1s-ambiguous-contract-to-repair-not-an-assignment.html and at and at https://zalma.com/blog plus more than 5300 posts.
Nebraska Requires an Actual Assignment to Allow Contractor to Sue Insurer
In Millard Gutter Company, a corporation doing business as Millard Roofing and Gutter v. Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Nebraska, also known as Farmers Mutual Insurance, also known as Farmers Mutual, No. A-24-818, Court of Appeals of Nebraska (May 5, 2026) Millard sued Farmers as an assignee of Jane Anzalone who had hired Millard Gutter to repair the roof of her home and agreed to allow Millard Gutter to coordinate with her insurer, Farmers Mutual, concerning reimbursement for repairs authorized under her insurance policy.
FACTUAL BACKGROUND
In ...
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Posted on June 15, 2026 by Barry Zalma
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 12
June 15, 2026
Post number 5372
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:
Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go
Arsonist Who Tried to Defraud Insurer Failed to Avoid Jail
Arson is a Violent and Dangerous Crime Deserving Serious Punishment
The People of the State of New York v. Zef Gjurashaj, 2026 NY Slip Op 03320, No. 2023-03675, Ind. No. 70463/21, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (May 27, 2026) the defendant owned a restaurant that was destroyed by fire on September 6, 2017. Prosecutors alleged that he and a codefendant conspired to intentionally set the fire in order ...
THE SOURCE FOR THE INSURANCE FRAUD PROFESSIONAL
Posted on June 15, 2026 by Barry Zalma
ZIFL – Volume 30, Issue 12
June 15, 2026
Post number 5372
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:
Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go
Arsonist Who Tried to Defraud Insurer Failed to Avoid Jail
Arson is a Violent and Dangerous Crime Deserving Serious Punishment
The People of the State of New York v. Zef Gjurashaj, 2026 NY Slip Op 03320, No. 2023-03675, Ind. No. 70463/21, Supreme Court of New York, Second Department (May 27, 2026) the defendant owned a restaurant that was destroyed by fire on September 6, 2017. Prosecutors alleged that he and a codefendant conspired to intentionally set the fire in order ...
Applicant for Insurance is Obligated to Advise Insurer in Material Changes After Application Was Signed
Post number 5371
Read the full article at https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/physicians-malpractice-insurance-available-when-zalma-esq-cfe-fmpxc and https://zalma.com/blog.
Doctor Criminally Charged and License Suspended After Application Signed had Policy Rescinded for Failure to Advise Insurer of Change
In Xiang (Sean) Yuan, M.D. v. Positive Physicians Insurance Company, No. 1821 EDA 2025, No. J-A08033-26, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (May 29, 2026) Dr. Xiang (Sean) Yuan, a physician, sought renewal of his professional liability insurance policy with Positive Physicians Insurance Company (PPIC) in June 2020 and again in May 2021.
In the June 2020 renewal application, he answered “no” to questions asking whether he knew of any circumstances that might lead to a professional liability claim.
Two days after signing the 2020 renewal application, Dr. Yuan was charged with 36 criminal offenses, and...
