A Lewis County couple have been sentenced to jail for filing a false insurance claim.
Jennifer Mau, 30, and David Eden, 47, were found guilty by a jury on Friday.
Their case began as a moving claim. They rented a U-Haul truck on March 30, 2007 to move their household goods and personal belongings from a Centralia storage facility to their new home. They claimed that the U-Haul truck leaked rainwater, destroying $16,789 worth of her property.
Mau reported the loss to U-Haul and filed a claim. The couple said they threw out the damaged property at a landfill.
The insurer had the U-Haul truck water tested for leaks. No leaks were found. The insurer, Republic Western Insurance, denied Mau's claim and turned the case over to state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's Special Investigations Unit. The SIU's investigation included checks with local weather stations, which reported little or no precipitation that night.
The court sentenced Mau to 60 days in jail, with the option of electronic home monitoring. Eden was sentenced to 15 days in jail. (Both sentences are stayed pending a possible appeal.)
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Cease-and-desist order issued against Capital HomeShield
Washington State Insurance Commissoiner Mike Kreidler has issued a cease-and-desist order against a Florida-based home warranty company doing business as Capital Home Shield.
The North Miami Beach company -- which was not registered as a service contract provider or insurer in Washington state -- nonetheless sold a contract to a Washington homeowner. He complained to us after he had difficulty getting them to pay for a repair to his stove. The company subsequently paid the claim.
Under the contract, Capital Home Shield, which is a doing-business-as name of MN Home Warranty Corp., promised to pay to repair or replace major systems and appliances that broke.
Kreidler ordered the company to to stop selling unauthorized contracts in Washington and to turn over a list of all its Washington clients, as well as reporting all premiums they've paid so far.
According to the local Better Business Bureau, the company has an "F" rating for repeatedly failing to respond to complaints.
The North Miami Beach company -- which was not registered as a service contract provider or insurer in Washington state -- nonetheless sold a contract to a Washington homeowner. He complained to us after he had difficulty getting them to pay for a repair to his stove. The company subsequently paid the claim.
Under the contract, Capital Home Shield, which is a doing-business-as name of MN Home Warranty Corp., promised to pay to repair or replace major systems and appliances that broke.
Kreidler ordered the company to to stop selling unauthorized contracts in Washington and to turn over a list of all its Washington clients, as well as reporting all premiums they've paid so far.
According to the local Better Business Bureau, the company has an "F" rating for repeatedly failing to respond to complaints.
Everett man who signed up for insurance AFTER crash pleads guilty
A 40-year-old Everett man who caused a three-car collision last fall has pleaded guilty to attempted insurance fraud, a gross misdemeanor.
On Oct. 8, 2009, Bieniek was driving his 1999 Ford F150 pickup. He'd owned it for about 5 years but didn't have insurance on it.
He claimed that just minutes before the collision, he'd picked up the truck from a friend in a parking lot, opened his laptop computer and bought insurance online from Geico Insurance.
But Geico, after pulling the company's online log, determined that Bieniek got the coverage after the wreck, not before. The company turned the case over to the Washington state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit. Bieniek was charged with insurance fraud ("false claims or proof") in King County Superior Court in July.
On Friday, Bieniek pleaded guilty to attempted insurance fraud. He was sentenced to 6 months' probation, 120 hours of community service and a $500 victim penalty assesssment.
On Oct. 8, 2009, Bieniek was driving his 1999 Ford F150 pickup. He'd owned it for about 5 years but didn't have insurance on it.
He claimed that just minutes before the collision, he'd picked up the truck from a friend in a parking lot, opened his laptop computer and bought insurance online from Geico Insurance.
But Geico, after pulling the company's online log, determined that Bieniek got the coverage after the wreck, not before. The company turned the case over to the Washington state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit. Bieniek was charged with insurance fraud ("false claims or proof") in King County Superior Court in July.
On Friday, Bieniek pleaded guilty to attempted insurance fraud. He was sentenced to 6 months' probation, 120 hours of community service and a $500 victim penalty assesssment.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Behind the scenes in our Consumer Advocacy program...
Not enough people know about it, but our consumer advocacy staff run a free phone hotline -- staffed by live people, not some endless phone tree -- to help you get answers to insurance questions and problems. It's 1-800-562-6900.
People call when they're unhappy with what their insurer's offering for their wrecked car, for example. They call, increasingly, because they cannot find affordable health coverage and are desperate to find coverage for loved ones. (We also have a special program, called Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, that trains hundreds of volunteers to help provide information on health insurance and Medicare options. They can be reached through the same number.)
One person called because he was unhappy with the value that an insurer put on his goat, which had met with an untimely end. (True. For what it's worth, we helped get him an extra $25 for his goat.)
Not everyone, however, speaks English-- or at least well enough to get into the details of an insurance claim and policy exclusions. So we have staff who can speak Spanish and Filipino/Tagalog, and others certified to interpret American Sign Language. We have a TTY machine. Some of our publications are available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian.
And when that's not enough, we tap Language Line Services, a telephone interpreter service that can translate English into more than 150 languages (and vice versa) 24/7.
So if you know someone who's having trouble with an agent or insurer, needs help finding health coverage, etc., have them give us a call: 1-800-562-6900. We speak their language.
People call when they're unhappy with what their insurer's offering for their wrecked car, for example. They call, increasingly, because they cannot find affordable health coverage and are desperate to find coverage for loved ones. (We also have a special program, called Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors, that trains hundreds of volunteers to help provide information on health insurance and Medicare options. They can be reached through the same number.)
One person called because he was unhappy with the value that an insurer put on his goat, which had met with an untimely end. (True. For what it's worth, we helped get him an extra $25 for his goat.)
Not everyone, however, speaks English-- or at least well enough to get into the details of an insurance claim and policy exclusions. So we have staff who can speak Spanish and Filipino/Tagalog, and others certified to interpret American Sign Language. We have a TTY machine. Some of our publications are available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Russian.
And when that's not enough, we tap Language Line Services, a telephone interpreter service that can translate English into more than 150 languages (and vice versa) 24/7.
So if you know someone who's having trouble with an agent or insurer, needs help finding health coverage, etc., have them give us a call: 1-800-562-6900. We speak their language.
Seattle woman pleads guilty in insurance fraud case
A Seattle women has pleaded guilty to filing a false claim in an insurance case -- a class C felony -- after allegedly smashing her van into two parked cars and then filing an insurance claim saying the van had been stolen.
Luom Vo, 38, was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 30 days community service and more than $4,000 in restitution and other costs.
According to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's Special Investigations Unit, Vo was driving on Seattle's Beacon Avenue just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2009 when she hit two parked vehicles: a Volvo station wagon and a Pontiac Vibe. Her Honda van was disabled in the crash. Neighbors said they saw Vo then climb into a friend's car and leave.
Later that day, Vo filed a claim with her insurer, PEMCO, saying that the van had been stolen. She subsequently insisted to a PEMCO investigator that she was not driving it when the crash happened.
The SIU investigation found that the van had not been stolen, and that she was, in fact, behind the wheel.
Luom Vo, 38, was sentenced in King County Superior Court to 30 days community service and more than $4,000 in restitution and other costs.
According to Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's Special Investigations Unit, Vo was driving on Seattle's Beacon Avenue just before 2 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2009 when she hit two parked vehicles: a Volvo station wagon and a Pontiac Vibe. Her Honda van was disabled in the crash. Neighbors said they saw Vo then climb into a friend's car and leave.
Later that day, Vo filed a claim with her insurer, PEMCO, saying that the van had been stolen. She subsequently insisted to a PEMCO investigator that she was not driving it when the crash happened.
The SIU investigation found that the van had not been stolen, and that she was, in fact, behind the wheel.
Monday, October 11, 2010
>129,000 in WA potentially affected in Farmers class-action settlement
At least 129,973 Washingtonians are potential members of the settlement class in a class-action case that Farmers Group and corporate parent Zurich Financial Services Group have agreed to settle for $455 million.
The companies say payments "may vary considerably", but will average $35 per policyholder, and that some 13 million policyholders may qualify for a distribution under the settlement.
Customers with questions can contact Farmers regarding the settlement at 1-888-538-5785.
Here's our original post on this, with more details about the case and a link to Zurich's press release.
The companies say payments "may vary considerably", but will average $35 per policyholder, and that some 13 million policyholders may qualify for a distribution under the settlement.
Customers with questions can contact Farmers regarding the settlement at 1-888-538-5785.
Here's our original post on this, with more details about the case and a link to Zurich's press release.
Friday, October 8, 2010
Tacoma couple sentenced in insurance-fraud case
A Tacoma couple who filed a falsified insurance claim, including a forged receipt for a 57-inch TV allegedly purchased from a stranger for $5,800 in cash, have been sentenced.
They also claimed that burglars had stolen a $3,000 Persian rug they'd purchased from their next-door neighbor. When investigators from the state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit questioned the neighbor, he said he'd never sold them a Persian rug, and that the couple was looking for someone to pretend to be the seller so they could collect money from their insurance company.
The couple, Melissa and Anthony Mezias, brought $8,800 in restitution to their sentencing hearing in Pierce County Superior Court on Monday.
In addition to full restitution, Anthony Mezias will have to pay more than $1,000 in court fees and costs on one charge of first-degree theft. Melissa Mezias will pay $700 in fees and costs on one count of attempted false claims in an insurance case.
They also claimed that burglars had stolen a $3,000 Persian rug they'd purchased from their next-door neighbor. When investigators from the state insurance commissioner's Special Investigations Unit questioned the neighbor, he said he'd never sold them a Persian rug, and that the couple was looking for someone to pretend to be the seller so they could collect money from their insurance company.
The couple, Melissa and Anthony Mezias, brought $8,800 in restitution to their sentencing hearing in Pierce County Superior Court on Monday.
In addition to full restitution, Anthony Mezias will have to pay more than $1,000 in court fees and costs on one charge of first-degree theft. Melissa Mezias will pay $700 in fees and costs on one count of attempted false claims in an insurance case.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
$455 million Farmers settlement: Payments to up to 13 million policyholders
Zurich Financial Services Group said this morning that it and Farmers Group -- which it owns -- have "agreed in principle" to a $455 million settlement of a national class action lawsuit filed in California.
The settlement will affect up to 13 million people.
Here's a copy of Zurich's press release.
We're not sure yet how many of those 13 million people are in Washington state, although we're trying to find out. The settlement payments "may vary considerably," the company says, but will average $35 per policyholder.
What was the lawsuit about? Here's Zurich's summary:
(Note: And thanks to the eagle-eyed reader -- and you know who you are -- who noted that "our" was misspelled "ourt" in the last paragraph. Fixed.)
The settlement will affect up to 13 million people.
Here's a copy of Zurich's press release.
We're not sure yet how many of those 13 million people are in Washington state, although we're trying to find out. The settlement payments "may vary considerably," the company says, but will average $35 per policyholder.
What was the lawsuit about? Here's Zurich's summary:
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff challenged the management services fees paid by the Farmers Exchanges (Exchanges) to FGI and certain of its affiliates, which under policyholder subscription agreements act as the attorney-in-fact for policyholder subscribers of the Exchanges.After our approval, policyholders entitled to participate in the settlement will be mailed notification, with more details. Customers can also contact Farmers regarding the settlement at 1-888-538-5785.
(Note: And thanks to the eagle-eyed reader -- and you know who you are -- who noted that "our" was misspelled "ourt" in the last paragraph. Fixed.)
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
New listserv for Washington state insurance agents and brokers
We've set up a listserv for Washington state insurance agents and brokers who would like to get occasional updates from our office. We're the office that regulates the insurance industry in Washington state.
We foresee periodically sending out updates about things affecting producers (which is the industry, regulatory and legal term for agents and brokers).
We received a lot of questions, for example, about the changes that started taking effect Sept. 23 under the new federal health care reform law. And a lot about the new "group of one" state law.
Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe.
We foresee periodically sending out updates about things affecting producers (which is the industry, regulatory and legal term for agents and brokers).
We received a lot of questions, for example, about the changes that started taking effect Sept. 23 under the new federal health care reform law. And a lot about the new "group of one" state law.
Click here to subscribe or unsubscribe.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Federal flood insurance program, after repeatedly lapsing this year, is reauthorized for another year
“This can be important and affordable coverage for property owners and renters in flood-prone areas,” said Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. Many lenders require flood coverage in order to qualify for mortgages in flood zones.
The program lapsed several times this year, and was slated to lapse again at the end of September. During lapses, flood policies remain in force for those who have them, but new policies cannot be written or renewed.
“While the program needs changes to make it more financially sustainable, this move by the President and Congress gives property owners another year of stability and protection,” said Kreidler.
Standard homeowners policies do not cover flooding, Kreidler said. Property owners should strongly consider the federal flood coverage, he said, which is widely available.
This summer, Kreidler established a program, the Washington Flood Market Assistance Plan, to help businesses obtain additional private insurance in south King County’s Green River Valley.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)