The Underwriter's Insider August 2015

Page 1


Features 5 Advertising 9 Kim Komando 22 Inside Track 27 Insider Advisor 28 Classifieds 32 Say What? 34 Back Issues

2

News 4 4

MIAMI INSURANCE AGENT ARRESTED $80K STOLEN FROM CLIENTS LIBERALS SIGN FAUX PETITION TO SURCHARGE MEN 20% MORE BECAUSE OF “MALE PRIVILEGE!”

7 9 10

ALL IN THE FAMILY - MOTHER RECRUITS DAUGHTER IN WC FRAUD

12 15 16

OBAMACARE COSTS SKYROCKETING! OP/ED BY SPENCER A LEHMAN, RHU

5 HIDDEN YOUTUBE SECRETS YOU SHOULD TRY - BY KIM KOMANDO HOW TO OBTAIN COVERAGE FOR MALICIOUS PROSECUTION - EXPERT ANALYSIS BY BARRY ZALMA, ESQ.

WE INSURE - THIS AIN’T YOUR FATHER’S FRANCHISE! 2 INSPECTORS GENERAL ASK DOJ TO OPEN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO HILLARY CLINTON EMAIL SCANDAL

17

ORLANDO AGENT ARRESTED FOR TRANSACTING FRAUDULENT POLICIES ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE

18 19 21

LAAIA 45TH ANNUAL INSURANCE CONVENTION - AUG 5-9, 2015 ACE TO ACQUIRE CHUBB FOR $28.3 BILLION IN CASH & STOCK FLA. RESTAURANT FIRE UNCOVERS SALE OF FAKE INSURANCE POLICY

The Underwriter’s Insider


News 22 22

COLORADO STRICTEST ON TRAFFIC TICKETS - TEXAS THE SOFTEST

27

CNN VS FOX: WHY IS IT ALWAYS CNN PLAYING IN PUBLIC PLACES? ANOTHER MYSTERY SOLVED BY THE INSIDER

31 31 32 32 32

OBAMACARE PREMIUMS TAKING ANOTHER BIG HIKE - EXCHANGES CLOSING DUE TO LOSSES

FLORIDA CFO ATWATER APPOINT SHA’RON JAMES AS CONSUMER ADVOCATE VIEW THE FAMOUS OBAMA WORKOUT! (JANE FONDA COULD KICK HIS BUTT) SCANDAL A DAY? CLINTON FOE KATHLEEN WILLEY’S REVENGE... FEDERAL JUDGE: HILLARY IS “NO DOUBT LYING AGAIN” AS NEW EMAILS EMERGE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE WORLD WORRY ABOUT THE TERMINATOR & OTHER AI AUTONOMOUS WEAPONS

33 33 36 36

GM’S ONSTAR HACKED! CAR OPENED AND STARTED BY HACKER

37

PALM BEACH CO. AGENT ARRESTED FOR FALSIFYING $3 MILLION IN LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

DOES MITT ‘MILKTOAST’ ROMNEY EVER LEARN? MAN-UP MITT! OBAMA ONLY CARES WHEN IT FITS HIS POLITICAL AGENDA? SEEMS SO MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN PACIFIC NW LONG OVERDUE - WILL UNLEASE 30X THE ENERGY OF SAN ANDREAS

www.underwritersinsider.com

Sponsors 6 7 8 14 17 20 18 22 26 26 27 38 39 40 37 40

MODERN INSURANCE CONSULTANTS QQ SOLUTIONS H.O.P.E. WE INSURE FRANCHISE ST. JAMES INSURANCE COMPANY CLEARWATER UNDERWRITERS ACCU-AUTO NASA - ECLIPSE AGENCY MGT. ACCU-AUTO SLB GROUP ENCORE HR PERSONNEL SOLUTIONS BARRY ZALMA, ESQ. THE TOWING & RENTAL GROUP FYI GEORGIA VIEW & NEWS ORRIN R. BEILLY, ESQ. FINANCEMASTER

Cover Photo: © R. Manera

3


MIAMI INSURANCE AGENT ARRESTED - $80,000 STOLEN FROM CLIENTS

M

IAMI, Fla. - The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud today announced the arrest of Mandy Rodriguez, 35, on felony fraud and grand theft charges after an investigation revealed that Rodriguez, a licensed insurance agent, stole more than $80,000 in premium funds from four of his clients. In an effort to conceal that he was pocketing the money intended to pay the premiums on policies his clients thought were valid, Rodriguez created fake proof of insurance documents and gave them to his clients. Rodriguez’ clients believed they were paying for legitimate commercial or homeowners’ insurance policies from Citizens Property Insurance Company, but Citizens verified that none of the policies ever existed. Rodriguez instructed his clients to write their premium checks to his company, Risk Management Agency Group, rather than to Citizens directly. Bank records show that the victims’ checks were deposited into his company’s account for personal use. Detectives obtained a statement from Rodriguez acknowledging the creation of the fraudulent insurance documents as well

4

as the deposit of the insurance premium money into his personal company’s bank account. Once able to verify that the consumers had been duped, Citizens and Rodriguez’s employer, Bentrust Insurance Group, worked together to secure proper insurance coverage that was paid up-to-date.

LIBERALS SIGN FAUX PETITION TO ADD ADDITIONAL 20% TAX ON MEN TO PENALIZE FOR “MALE PRIVILEGE”

Despite The Fact That Mandy Rodriguez was booked into Turner Guilford Knight ‘Gender Pay Gap” is a Correctional Center and is Complete Myth being charged with 1 count of Unlawfully Diverting Insurance Funds, 1 count of Scheme to his is how crazy it’s Defraud, 5 counts of Insurance getting folks. Every Fraud, 29 counts of Grand Theft, woman approached by 5 counts of Forgery, and 5 counts “man on the street” Mark Dice of Uttering a Forged Instrument. was all in favor of a sexist 20% tax that would have been levied The case is being prosecuted only against males - supposedly by the office of Miami-Dade because of “male privilege.” The County State Attorney Katherine surprise is the men. Most of them Fernandez Rundle. The either signed the petition or Department’s Division of Agent looked on like a spineless mouse and Agency Services, which as their women signed. Dice’s licenses insurance agents in ruse was to show how far left Florida, also coordinated in the the country has moved and how investigation and aims to take easily liberals can be sold on a administrative action against completely bogus initiative.

T

FREE CLASSIFIEDS! HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS

CLICK HERE! The Underwriter’s Insider


www.underwritersinsider.com

5


➨ Modern Insurance Consultants is a nationwide insurance agents E&O specialist and the #1 writer of agents E&O in Florida (FSLSO 2004 through 2010) ➨ Serving independent agents since 1994 ➨ One application gives you access to 18 markets writing agents E&O ➨ Modern Insurance Consultants has the E&O coverage you need • Limits available up to $10,000,000 • Premiums starting at $1,200 and deductibles as low as $1,000 • Exclusive E&O programs from A rated carriers • Insolvency, Defense Costs Outside the Limit and First Dollar Defense coverages available • 24 hour quote turnaround with our exclusive 2 page QuickQuote Application for agents and brokers available on our website

Have you been declined, non-renewed or rate increased? Apply now at www.modernins.com 1348 Old Dixie Highway Homestead, FL 33030 ph: 305.248.9495 fax: 305.248.9496 www.modernins.com info@modernins.com

6

The Underwriter’s Insider


ALL IN THE FAMILY...

Georgia Family Matriarch Apparently Intent On Ripping Off The System Any Way She Could Arrested On Multiple Fraud Charges

A

n investigation as her filing an application to work restaurant and went along with conducted by the Georgia at Wendy’s under a stolen identity. her mother’s deception when State Board of After the injury, Hamilton speaking with officials and Workers’ Compensation’s was transported to referring to her mother as her Enforcement Division has Grady Memorial Hospital sister, calling her Van. led to the arrest of a Fairburn, where using the stolen Georgia woman on multiple identity she was treated At the time of Tina Hamilton’s felony charges, including and released. Following arrest, she still claimed to be Workers’ Compensation the alleged injury, daughter Vandesscia and showed Tina Marie Hamilton Fraud, Forgery, Hamilton filed a arresting officers Vandesscia’s Aggravated Identity Fraud, False workers’ compensation identification. Swearing, Sworn False Statements claim using the stolen and Conspiracy to Commit a identity. Wendy’s later The Enforcement Division Crime. According to Enforcement learned that the person has also issued arrest Division Director Stan Bexley, Tina they hired was not in fact warrants for twin daughter Marie Hamilton aka Vandesscia Vandesscia Hamilton, Jandesscia Hamilton for Hamilton, age 53, was arrested on but was instead Tina Conspiracy to Commit July 14, 2015. Hamilton, the mother Jandesscia R. Hamilton a Crime. Jandesscia of twin daughters; Hamilton has not been The investigation revealed that Vandesscia and Jandesscia apprehended yet and is wanted on Tina Marie Hamilton applied for Hamilton. At the time of this other unrelated crimes. Additional a job at the Wendy’s Restaurant incident Jandesscia Hamilton fraud charges against Tina & located on Cascade Road in also worked at the same Wendy’s Jandesscia Hamilton are pending. Atlanta using one of her twin daughter’s identity and personal information. Shortly after obtaining the employment and while working under the stolen identity, Hamilton claims she injured her leg at work. This was a similar injury Tina Hamilton used to file a claim to the Social Security Administration claiming the injury prevented her from being able to work, resulting in her receiving Social Security Disability benefits all at the same time www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

7


AUGUST 2015 A Publication of AdMax Corp Corporate Offices P.O. Box 31551 Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33420 Ron Manera, Senior Editor 561.718.0745 • ron@insurmedia.com © Entire Contents 2015 AdMax Corp

To best navigate The Insider, begin with the Table of Contents and select your topic. On the bottom of most pages is a Table of Contents link that will immediately return you for your next topic selection. EVERY SPONSOR AD LINKS DIRECTLY TO THE SPONSOR’S WEBSITE. CLICK ON ANY AD TO VISIT OUR FINE SPONSORS!

www.underwritersinsider.com

8

Table of Contents

The Underwriter’s Insider


5 HIDDEN YOUTUBE SECRETS YOU SHOULD TRY Really Cool Info - by Kim Komando

W

ant to know how popular YouTube is? Think how many conversations you’ve had lately included the phrase, “I saw this great video on YouTube ...” News, instructions, cat videos, instant celebrities, music, humor, emotional stories and more are all within a splitsecond search.

1. YouTube on your TV Turning your TV into a computer monitor isn’t hard, but it can make some common programs and websites a little harder to use. You have to deal with small type, icons that are harder to see from a distance and you won’t always know exactly where that small mouse cursor is.

2. Turn off annotations You know when you’re watching a video and little clickable messages pop up over the video blocking what you want to see? Most YouTube creators use these sparingly, but some go overboard and it can ruin the video. To turn these off, click the gear icon at the lower right of the video player, and next to “Annotations” click “Off.” However, that’s only going to be for that one video.

To turn off annotations across the site by default, click your profile icon in the upper right corner of YouTube. Then click the gear icon Of course, if you just go to YouTube has a simple solution. to visit your YouTube settings. In YouTube and click “Play,” you’re Head over to https://www. the left column, select “Playback” missing out on some great youtube.com/tv to load an and under “Annotations and features. Let’s take a look at interface designed just for TVs. interactivity” uncheck “Show some tricks that could You can easily navigate annotations ...” Then click the change how videos using the “Save” button. Easy. you use the keyboard arrow service. keys, “S” to 3. Change your search and “G” video speed to open the left-column Have you ever been watching a guide. YouTube video and something amazing happens really fast? It would be nice if you could slow the video down to see what really happened. There are entire YouTube channels devoted to slow-motion videos, like this one that shows what happens when a CD shatters.

See Kim Komando Pg 39 www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

9


HOW TO OBTAIN COVERAGE FOR MALICIOUS PROSECUTION Expert Analysis & Commentary by Barry Zalma, Esq.

W

THE COVERAGE DISPUTE

hen two insurers insure a loss over a period of time it becomes necessary to determine in which insurer’s policy period the event occurred. Rather than work together some insurers will take a hard position and refuse to defend or indemnify the insured leaving a single insurer to protect the interest of the insured. Barry Zalma, Esq., CFE is a California attorney specializing in insurance coverage, insurance claims handling and fraud who serves as a consultant and expert for insurers and policyholders. He founded Zalma Insurance Consultants in 2001 and serves as its senior consultant. He recently published an e-book, “Getting The Whole Truth,” which is available at his Web site, www.zalma.com. Go to Zalma Books at http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks. htm.

With regard to a suit for malicious prosecution, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio in Selective Ins. Co. of the Southeast v. RLI Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2015 WL 4250364 (N.D.Ohio, 7/13/2015), was faced with a motion for partial summary judgment filed by plaintiff Selective Insurance Company of the Southeast (“Selective”) and a motion for summary judgment filed by defendant RLI Insurance Company (“RLI”) both of whom claimed the other was responsible for protecting the insured.

Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog:

http://www.zalma.com/blog

10

This coverage dispute arises from the wrongful conviction of Clarence Elkins, who, after spending several years in prison, was exonerated of rape and murder based on DNA evidence. Mr. Elkins sued the City of Barberton and its police officers, who had pursued the criminal case against him, alleging violations of state law and his federal constitutional rights. The civil case was settled for $5.25 million.

Table of Contents

During the time period relevant to the instant matter, the City of Barberton had excess insurance policies through Selective and RLI, respectively. The RLI policy had a policy period from June 29, 1997 to June 29, 1998. The Selective policy had a policy period from June 29, 1998 to June 29, 1999. Selective contributed to the settlement, while RLI did not. RLI denied coverage on the ground that the malicious prosecution of Mr. Elkins did not “occur” during RLI’s policy period.

INVESTIGATION AND CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS On June 6, 1998, Judith Johnson was raped and murdered, and her six-year-old granddaughter, Brooke Sutton, was raped and assaulted. On June 7, 1998, Brooke Sutton identified her uncle Mr. Elkins as the perpetrator, and Barberton police officers arrested him. The parties do not dispute that Sutton’s identification provided probable cause for Mr. Elkins’ arrest. Mr. Elkins was indicted by The Underwriter’s Insider


a Summit County grand jury on June 10, 1998. On January 5, 1999, before the criminal trial, Barberton Police arrested Earl Mann for robbery. During his arrest, Mr. Mann, who was drunk at the time, asked the arresting officer, “Why don’t you charge me with the Judy Johnson murder?” Mr. Elkins later acquired additional evidence of his innocence. Based on an analysis of male DNA evidence collected at the crime scene, Mr. Elkins’ DNA was excluded from the DNA found there. In 2005, Mr. Elkins obtained a cigarette butt belonging to Earl Mann, who by coincidence was incarcerated in the same facility that he was, and, as a result the case against Mr. Elkins was dismissed and he was released. The State of Ohio awarded Mr. Elkins $1,075,000, after it was determined that he was a wrongfully imprisoned person.

MR. ELKIN’S CIVIL SUIT Mr. Elkins presented evidence that the investigating officers intimidated his alibi witnesses. Prior to mediation, Mr. Elkins made a “bottom line” demand of $5.25 million to settle all claims. Elkins stated that if the case did not settle by the close of business November 16, 2010, the settlement demand would increase to $12 million. The case settled at mediation for $5.25 million. www.underwritersinsider.com

BARBERTON’S INSURERS AND THE INSTANT DISPUTE

1998, there was no coverage for an “occurrence” that occurred six months later. The court concluded that RLI assigned undue significance to the alleged violation. In fact, during the National/RLI policy period, Barberton officers allegedly failed to preserve biological evidence found at the crime scene; destroyed notes and recordings of witness statements; and ignored evidence of pubic and head hair belonging to someone other than Mr. Elkins that were recovered from Judith Johnson’s body.

Selective maintains, coverage was triggered under RLI’s policy, whose policy period ended on June 29, 1998. RLI opposes the motion and moves for summary judgment, arguing that the tort of malicious prosecution occurred at the time the officers failed to disclose the Mann Memo, which happened no earlier than January 6, 1999. Because the Selective policy was in effect at that time, RLI argues coverage was triggered under the Selective These examples of alleged policy. misconduct, among others, all The Court was required to took place while RLI’s policy was determine, based on the relevant in effect, and there is no reason to insurance policies, when the believe, had the Elkins civil case tort of malicious prosecution gone to trial, that this evidence, “occurred.” The Court began with to the extent it was admissible, the language of the applicable would not have been part of Mr. insurance policy noting that the Elkins’ case. starting point for determining the scope of coverage is the language of insurance policies. Contract terms are to be given their plain and ordinary meaning. The RLI excess policy is occurrence based. As RLI sees it, there can be no coverage under the RLI policy because the only “occurrence” was the alleged violation identified by the district court. RLI contends that the violation occurred when Barberton’s officers failed to disclose the Mann Memo, which occurred no earlier than January 1999. Thus, because the RLI policy period ended in June

Table of Contents

The district court concluded that the alleged failure to disclose the Mann Memo is not relevant to the question of coverage. This is not to say that because the malicious prosecution claim was never proven to a jury that coverage under the RLI policy was not triggered. Quite to the contrary. Neither the RLI policy nor the National policy require a judgment to trigger an obligation to pay. Instead, under the RLI policy, Barberton became legally obligated to pay when it See ZALMA Page 24 11


OBAMACARE COSTS SKYROCKETNG! AND OTHER INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE UNACA

A

OP/ED BY SPENCER A. LEHMANN, RHU

nyone who was around when Obama’sCare was first crafted in darkened closed door rooms with deals being cut to Big Pharma, the AMA, the NEA, the Unions, and even the Insurance Companies in the form of a $25 Billion Bailout, which in and of itself would have doomed this UnAffordable Care Act, will also remember how all of America was promised many times, that the average premium would decrease by $2,500 per year, now know that to be among the first of many lies that the Obama Administration told America in order to get this law passed. This is from a Forbes article written on March 22, 2012: “In 2009, during the height of the debate over Obamacare, the law’s architect, MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, was all over the op-ed pages, talking about how the bill would reduce the cost of health insurance. “What we know for sure,” he told Ezra Klein, “is that [the bill] will lower the cost of buying nongroup health insurance.”

12

His words were trumpeted by the law’s advocates, and were critical to persuading skittish Democrats to vote for the bill. But it turns out that “for sure” doesn’t mean what you thought it did. Because, now, Gruber is quietly telling state governments that the law will significantly increase the cost of insurance. And it will especially do so for young Americans: the ones who most struggle to find affordable health coverage.” [HERE ]

Spencer A. Lehmann is a Registered Health Underwriter (RHU), whose company, Lehmann/Wood & Associates, Inc., specializes in Group and Individual Long Term Care insurance and Medicare Supplemental Coverage. Mr. Lehmann retired from his company in 2005 and now spends his time writing on Health Care Insurance and Political Issues, both of which have encompassed over 40+ years of his life. He has been an actively involved member of the National Association of Health Underwriters (NAHU) since 1978, and serves on the Board of Directors of several Charitable Organizations’ helping Special Needs Children, and Inner-City Children to experience and participate in the world of the Arts and Music. In his free time he plays golf with his wife, Fran, who usually wins.

Table of Contents

We all know that Jonathan Gruber and Barack Hussein Obama were counting on the “Stupidity of Americans” in order to get the UnACA passed, that is now a matter of record. And even in 2012 the Obama Administration knew that Obama and his pal, Jonathan Gruber had concocted a massive scam to put over on America in order to claim victory and a legacy in American history, and damn the truth, and damn the American People. Who can forget the pearls of wisdom from her Majesty, the former Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, when she told all of America that “We have The Underwriter’s Insider


to pass it so that we can know what is in it.” Oh, you knew Nancy, that’s why you were so anxious to get it put into law, before we could “know what is in it.” Sadly, the Obama Administration has unlikely friends in what is supposed to be an impartial Judicial Branch of Government, the Supreme Court, which has ruled in favor of the UnACA on all of the flagrant illegal actions and components of the law, I.e. The Individual Mandate, and the taking of the language of the Subsidies, clearly defined to mean available only to States with an Exchange, and the SCOTUS didn’t just make a ruling on the law, they changed the law, usurping the Congress’ right to make law. And some call this court a conservative court? Not in any language we have heard. We all now also know that Middle America can no longer afford to access health care, due to exponentially rising premiums, whose costs are far higher than even the doomsayers expected, but also because of outrageous

FREE CLASSIFIEDS!

deductibles that have risen from $500 to $1,000 to up to $10,000 before the UnACA plan will kick in to help the consumer! Thank you, Mr. Obama.

with penalties of $95 or 1 percent of total income – whichever was higher – for people who did not comply.

The average penalty collected You may have thought that this for the 2014 tax year was about was bad enough, and you’d be $200, the IRS reported. right. But wait, there’s more! This just out: “More paying “Although we have not yet ObamaCare fines as subsidies go to people who don’t exist.” See ObamaCare’s Costs- Page 30 The IRS fined more than 7.5 million Americans who didn’t have health insurance in 2014, even as Obamacare subsidies flowed to people who didn’t even exist. The Treasury Department reported last week the number of Americans who faced fines because of the Affordable Care Act’s individual mandate was significantly higher than the Obama administration expected. For 2014, the IRS projected that roughly 6 million would face fines, but the final total was 1.5 million higher. It was the first year in which buying health insurance was made mandatory under the ACA,

JOIN MY NETWORK!

HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS

CLICK HERE! www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

13


DISCOVER THE POWER OF WE a better way to sell insurance.

At WE Insure, our primary role is to develop and manage insurance agencies’ growth and sustained excellence, building strong relationships with its policyholders and insurance companies.

Chief Executive Officer

14

weinsuregroup.com/franchise 855.483.3901

The Underwriter’s Insider


WE INSURE - THIS AIN’T YOUR FATHER’S FRANCHISE! A New Era of Insurance

relationships with top insurance companies, Visali envisioned a There is no shortage of insurance new and better way to buy and franchisers operating in the sell insurance. He formed WE southeast, in fact, to an agent Insure Florida in hopes of creating shopping for the perfect fit, it can the premier independent agency model throughout Florida. The be confusing. model was an instant success, a Yet, WE Insure, formerly WE hybrid—a new era of insurance. Insure Florida seems to stand out The agency group grew statewide, from the crowd with the most with over 70 agencies, with many generous compensation plan, the more agencies planned. best paperless back-office service and access to one of the largest WE Insure and growing group of insurance Corporate Culture carriers.

Company History We Insure, was formed by Florida resident and agent Philip Visali. The company’s corporate headquarters are located in Jacksonville, Florida. Visali began his insurance career in Sarasota, Florida. After years as a captive agent, a representative of a single insurer, he decided to become his own boss. “I yearned to break free of the restrictions that came with being a captive agent. I knew there had to be a better way to shop for and sell the insurance products we all need,” according to Visali.

When asked what sets his company apart, Visali was quick to respond, “We believe in the Power of “WE.” Our relationships with a multitude of top-rated insurance companies give our customers their own power to choose and the confidence of knowing they’re insured properly at premiums that work for them. We offer a different and better way to buy insurance—and our customers benefit.”

or in person at a nearby WE Insure office.” Part of the WE Insure success story may be a result of the company’s franchisee selection process. Visali explains, “We choose only the best insurance agents. Our top-quality, experienced agents undergo extensive training. Our technologies and support allow our agents to focus 100 percent on serving our customers’ insurancebuying needs, searching top-rated carriers, evaluating coverage, identifying discounts, and giving customers the power of choice.”

Rapid Growth The WE Insure franchise is growing at remarkable speed with the growth fueled “from taking exemplary care of our customers and agents.”

As Philip Visali puts it, “Customers are discovering the Power of WE. Agents are discovering that Power as well. Together we are the insurance For WE Insure customers, Visali transforming remarked that purchasing market. We invite interested insurance just got quicker and agents to learn more about our opportunities—and easier. “Because we shop the top franchise companies for our customers, join the WE Insure team.” they can relax and enjoy the benefits and the life they love. Megan Null Establishing an independent We make purchasing decisions Franchise Territory Manager agency, however, proved hassle free. Our clients can buy megan.null@weinsuregroup.com challenging. After years of building online, over the phone, via email (904)874-4291 www.underwritersinsider.com

15


TWO INSPECTORS GENERAL ASK JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO OPEN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INTO HILLARY CLINTON EMAIL SCANDAL

W

COULD SHE RUN HER CAMPAIGN FROM JAIL?

ashington - Two inspectors general, one from the State Department and one from the CIA, considered independent of the Obama Administration’s Justice Department have requested the DOJ open a criminal investigation into Clinton’s handling of official email while acting as Obama’s secretary of state.

Department that the email account contained “hundreds of potentially classified emails.” Obama’s DOJ, considered partisan to an extreme by many, has not confirmed it will actually open the investigation.

The information about the possible criminal probe was leaked by a “high White house source” and leads to speculation that Clinton may have an enemy in the Oval Office. While it was revealed in March of this year Clinton had improperly kept a personal server in her home and used it for official government business, the request for a criminal probe against the candidate came in July after a June 29th assessment by inspectors general for the State 16

Clinton had said repeatedly that there was no classified information on the account and she was only using the account as it was more “convenient,” but observers noted the private server shielded her emails from

Table of Contents

congressional and Freedom of Information Act requests. Clinton’s lawyer has indicated the hard drive in the server has been “wiped,” meaning a software program was run on the hard drive, copying over every sector with zeros, then erasing and repeating several times. It is considered the best method to completely hide files that once existed on a drive, short of smashing the drive with a sledge hammer. While Clinton claims there was nothing to hide on the drive beyond her sweet potato pie recipe and a yoga class schedule, one would wonder why she would go to such lengths to hide such petty data. Meanwhile, Clinton’s campaign struggles with low favorable ratings - lower than all her 2016 Democratic rivals - declining from 48% to 43% in a recent poll. The Underwriter’s Insider


ORLANDO AGENT ARRESTED FOR TRANSACTING FRAUDULANT POLICIES ON A SUSPENDED LICENSE

O

RLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) today announced the arrest of insurance agent Julia Shurdom, 67, for transacting insurance related business with a suspended insurance license, scheming to defraud, and uttering a forged document while working for Absolute Insurance Services in Orlando, Florida. DIF received a complaint in regards to Ms. Shurdom, www.underwritersinsider.com

i n s u r a n c e policies without the proper licensing from the Department after a client who purchased of Financial homeowners’ insurance in 2013 Services, and that the and 2014 discovered that her transactions conducted were home had remained uninsured. fraudulent. DIF conducted an investigation surrounding the complaint and Julia Shurdom was booked into found, per her bank records, Orange County Correctional that Ms. Shurdom had collected Facility with a bond of $6,500 on two homeowners’ insurance charges which include scheme premium payments and used to defraud, uttering a forged the money for personal profit. instrument, and violation of a suspension order. This case Although there was an existing will be prosecuted by the investigation on unrelated Office of Orange County State matters that had resulted Attorney Jeffrey L. Ashton and in a license suspension, Ms. if convicted, Ms. Shurdom could Shurdom continued to negotiate face up to 15 years in prison.

Table of Contents

17


18

The Underwriter’s Insider


ACE TO ACQUIRE CHUBB FOR $28.3 BILLION IN CASH AND STOCK Complementary Businesses and Skills Will Create Global P&C Industry Leader

Z

URICH and WARREN, NEW JERSEY — JULY 1, 2015 — ACE Limited (NYSE: ACE) and The Chubb Corporation (NYSE: CB) announced today that the Boards of Directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which ACE will acquire Chubb. Under the terms of the transaction, Chubb shareholders will receive $62.93 per share in cash and 0.6019 shares of ACE stock. Based on the closing price of ACE stock on June 30, 2015, the total value is approximately $124.13 per Chubb share, or $28.3 billion in the aggregate. This is the equivalent of $125.87 per Chubb share using ACE’s 20day volume weighted average share price for the period ending June 30, 2015.

Together, ACE and Chubb will create a global leader in commercial and personal property and casualty (P&C) insurance, with enhanced growth and earning power and an exceptional balance of products as a result of greater diversification and a product mix with reduced exposure to the P&C industry pricing 2 cycle. The combined company will remain a growth company with complementary products, distribution, and customer segments, a shared commitment to underwriting discipline and outstanding claims service, and substantially increased data to drive new, profitable growth opportunities in both developed and developing markets around the world.

assets of $150 billion. “We are thrilled to announce the acquisition of Chubb, a venerable company with a great brand,” said Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman and CEO of ACE Limited. “This transaction advances our strategy in a meaningful way and represents an outstanding opportunity to create significant value over a reasonable period of time for both ACE and Chubb shareholders. We are combining two great underwriting companies that are highly complementary. We will make each other better and create a unique company in a class of its own that has greater growth and earning power than the sum of the two companies separately.”

The combination will create efficiencies that will provide flexibility for the company to invest in people, technology, products and distribution as well as improve the company’s competitive profile. Additionally, the balance sheet’s size and strength will elevate the Upon closing of the transaction, combined company into the elite ACE shareholders will own 70% group of global P&C insurers. As of the combined company, of December 31, 2014, on an and Chubb shareholders will John D. Finnegan, Chairman, aggregate basis, the combined own 30%. The consideration President and CEO of Chubb, company had total shareholders’ represents an approximately equity of nearly $46 billion and 30% premium to Chubb’s closing cash, investments and other See Chubb Acquired Page 25 price of $95.14 on June 30, 2015. www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

19


20

The Underwriter’s Insider


FLORIDA RESTAURANT FIRE UNCOVERS SALE OF FAKE INSURANCE POLICY LEAVING RESTAURANT OWNER TO COVER $120,000 IN FIRE DAMAGES

P

UNTA GORDA, Fla. - The Florida Department of Financial Services today announced the arrest of Punta Gorda resident William Reese for acting as an unlicensed insurance agent and selling a fake insurance policy to local restaurant owner, Luis Rivera, owner of Two Brothers Home Style Cooking located in Punta Gorda. Luis Rivera purchased what he believed was a valid insurance policy from William Reese, who claimed to be a licensed agent out of New York, for $2,450. Reese, however, pocketed the money and because he was not licensed to sell insurance, no valid insurance policy was ever secured. A fire broke out inside the restaurant in April 2015 and assistance from the State Fire Marshal’s office, which also operates under the direction of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, was requested to investigate the cause of the fire. During the course of that investigation, Luis Rivera provided investigators a copy of his proof of insurance, also known as a certificate of insurance, only to find out that www.underwritersinsider.com

the certificate was fictitious. This meant that his business, which suffered $120,000 in fire damages, was uninsured at the time of the fire. The cause of the fire was determined to be electrical in nature, and the State Fire Marshal’s office turned the case over to the Division of Insurance Fraud after it was confirmed that the alleged insurance policy was invalid. Reese was arrested at his residence in Punta Gorda and transported to the Charlotte County Jail where he faces several felony charges including grand theft and forgery. This is the second time the Division of Insurance Fraud has arrested Reese on similar charges. Reese was previously arrested in Miami in 1998. Investigators believe that other consumers may have fallen victim to William Reese’s fraudulent activity. Consumers are strongly encouraged to contact the Division of Insurance Fraud if they have ever conducted financial transactions with William Reese. They can do so by calling the Fraud Tip Hotline at 1-800-378-0445.

Table of Contents

Advertise In America’s Favorite Insurance Magazine! Reach More Readers At a Lower Cost Then Ever Before! Free Professional Ad Creation!

INFO HERE

21


Breaking News

A

ccording to a report in Newsmax Magazine, “Drivers guilty of speeding or reckless driving in Texas have less to be worried about than in any other state — and those in Colorado have the most to fear. The personal finance website WalletHub analyzed penalties for speeding and reckless driving in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on 12 key metrics. Colorado has the No. 1 overall rank, with the highest rankings indicating the strictest states. It tied Massachusetts for No. 2 for speeding enforcement, behind only Delaware, and tied for No. 10 for reckless driving penalties, with Iowa No. 1 in that category. Texas ranks lowest overall at No. 51. It ties for last place with six other states for speeding enforcement, and ties Utah for last place for reckless driving penalties.” 22

O

bamacare insurance premiums to increase as state exchanges face losses and closure. The poorly scripted exchanges are losing far more money then planned, dealing with fewer and sicker patients than predicted by Obama. Louisiana is closing its exchange by the end of the year. Only 17,000 out of a population of 4.6 million had signed up - leaving the exchange with a combined loss and expense ratio of 1.13 - unsustainable. Hawaii is also shuttering its exchange, unable to

Table of Contents

draw enough customers to remain sustainable. More than half of the other states running their own exchanges report serious financial difficulties. California announced recently that premiums would increase an average of $296 per month. So much for the “Affordable” Health Care Act...

T

he P&C division of Alexander & Associates Insurance Associates of El Paso Texas has been acquired by USI Insurance - reinforcing USI’s presence as a leading middle-market insurance brokerage and consulting firm in Texas and complements the company’s offerings.

The Underwriter’s Insider


Health care expenditures surged in 2014, fueled by expanded coverage and soaring prescription drug costs, according to government research released Tuesday. In 2014, total U.S. health care spending hit $3.080 trillion, up from $2.919 trillion in 2013, according to statistics compiled by researchers at the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and published Tuesday in the journal Health Affairs.” - Source: Business Insurance

State Farm, did not vary the rates it charged because of marital status. All State Farm price quotes for a driver in a city were the same, regardless of whether the driver was single, separated, divorced, widowed, a domestic partner, or married.

T

irst Financial Bank, N.A., a subsidiary of First Financial Bancorp (Nasdaq: FFBC) (collectively “the Company” and “First Financial”), signed a definitive agreement to acquire Oak Street Holdings Corporation (“Oak Street”) for $110 million in cash. Oak Street, a nationwide lender based in Indianapolis, Indiana, was formed in 2003 to provide commissionbased loans to help insurance agents and brokers maximize their book-of-business value and grow their agency business. Oak Street had total assets of $242 million and total loans of $238 million as of June 30, 2015. Oak Street

he Consumer Federation of America (CFA) released research on how insurers utilize marital status in their pricing of auto insurance policies. CFA questions the fairness and relation to risk of this pricing by most major insurers, particularly their practice of hiking rates on women whose husbands die. In the ten cities studied, four of six major insurers – GEICO, Farmers, Progressive, and Liberty -- increased rates on state-mandated liability coverage for widows by an average of 20 percent. The fifth insurer, Nationwide, sometimes increased rates for widows. The sixth insurer, www.underwritersinsider.com

is majority owned by Angelo, Gordon & Co., a privately-held registered investment advisor dedicated to alternative investing. Upon completion of the acquisition, Oak Street will become a subsidiary of First Financial Bank, with Rick Dennen, Oak Street’s founder and President, continuing in his current position.

A

F

Table of Contents

ll Risks, Ltd., the nation’s largest independent wholesaler, proudly announces Jill Contarino has joined the Atlanta office as a Property and Casualty Brokerage Underwriter. Jill will be focusing on binding authority business for the following lines of coverage: General Liability, Property, Umbrella, and Professional Liability.

H

illary Clinton revealed her plan for defeating Global Warming in July should she be elected president in spite of new scandals being revealed daily: Unrealistic energy production methods and tens of thousands of solar panels. Then she sauntered up the steps of her private jet (that burns 345 gls. of fuel per hour) and headed off into the sunset. 23


Continued from Page 11

ZALMA agreed to settle the case for $5.25 million in exchange for dismissal of the case. The “occurrence” was the pattern of misconduct on the part of Barberton, as alleged in the civil complaint, that occurred while the RLI policy was in effect. Ohio courts have not directly faced the issue of when the tort of malicious prosecution “occurs” for coverage purposes, but courts from other jurisdictions have staked out two positions on the subject. In adopting the majority rule, both the Eighth and Third Circuit relied on general principles of insurance law provided by the applicable state law. The Eighth Circuit observed that under Iowa law, “[t]he time of ‘occurrence’ is

when the claimant sustains damages, not when the act or omission causing the damage takes place .” Genesis Ins. Co., 677 F.3d at 814 (quoting Tacker v. Am. Family Mut. Ins. Co., 530 N.W.2d 674, 676 (Iowa 1995). Similarly, the Third Circuit noted that “the determination of when an occurrence happens must be made by reference to the time when the injurious effects of the occurrence took place.” City of Erie, 109 F.3d at 162 (quoting Appalachian Ins. Co. v. Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 676 F.2d 56, 61–62 (3d Cir.1982)).

aware that Mr. Elkins’ prosecution was improvident at the time it was initiated, the injury to him began the day of his arrest, although it did not become undeniably apparent (to anyone besides Mr. Elkins) until charges were dismissed. Selective’s motion for partial summary judgment was granted and RLI’s motion for summary judgment was denied.

ZALMA OPINION

Determining the date of an occurrence is often difficult. In The District court was persuaded this case Mr. Elkins was damaged that Ohio would follow the over a long period of time and majority rule. When determining was convicted of a crime he the triggering event for an did not commit because of the occurrence based policy, courts wrongful conduct of the police should look to the time when who ignored evidence that injury began. Similar to the above would have stopped his trial and cases, whether or not anyone was hid a confession by the real killer. He deserved the settlement he received and it would have been more prudent if all the insurers got together to provide defense and indemnity for the city. In this case, taking a strong position on a weak review of relevant legal authorities, was not wise and will be expensive.

FREE CLASSIFIEDS! HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS

CLICK HERE!

24

Table of Contents

The Underwriter’s Insider


Continued From Page 19

CHUBB ACQUIRED said, “This is a compelling transaction for all Chubb and ACE stakeholders. The combination brings together two highly respected and successful companies with complementary capabilities, assets and geographic footprints. We are confident that it will deliver strong value to Chubb shareholders, including an immediate premium and participation in the future growth and profitability of a well-positioned combined company. We are pleased that the combined company will adopt the Chubb brand and view this as an affirmation that both companies share a commitment to the attributes of quality and service the brand represents. We look forward to working together as we create a best-in-class global franchise in P&C insurance.”

In personal insurance, Chubb is a leading provider of personal lines coverage to high net worth customers in the U.S. while ACE has been increasingly focused on these customers as well. Outside the U.S., ACE is a premier commercial insurer with a presence in 54 countries and a broad product, customer and distribution capability. Chubb’s operations in 25 countries will complement and deepen ACE’s presence. ACE has a leading market position in global accident and health (A&H) and both companies offer complementary personal lines offerings in Canada, Europe, Asia and Latin America. The combined company will have a leading position in professional lines globally with broad product offerings for all sizes of commercial customers.

“We will be well balanced with greater presence and capabilities in product areas that have less exposure to the commercial P&C cycle,” continued Mr. Greenberg. have complementary In the United States commercial “We lines business, ACE provides product strengths – where one a broad range of products of us is not present, the other is. and services for industrial Where one of us is strong, the commercial, multinational and other is even stronger. Where upper middle market companies there is overlap in product, with distribution substantially generally one of us is more through a major brokerage present at the large end of the presence. Chubb is primarily corporate market while the other a middle-market commercial, is serving the smaller or midspecialty and surety insurer market segment. The data and with a broad product portfolio insight we will gain from our and a major agency presence. respective skills and experience will allow us to do so much more. www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

FREE! free insider subscription! sign up yourself or any associate at this link

HERE

FREE CLASSIFIEDS!

HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS

CLICK HERE!

25


26

Table of Contents

The Underwriter’s Insider


“The Final Authority on Everything!” CNN VS FOX

I

t seems that everywhere cable TV news is shown in public, like airports, restaurants/bars or doctor office waiting rooms, the channel is always turned to CNN. Yet Fox’s (Fox News) audience market share is almost 3 times CNN’s share! Why don’t these public places, in your opinion, reflect audience choice? - C..J. Chattanooga, TN Here’s the cable news numbers: CNN: 654,000 viewers FOX News: 1.9 million viewers. Our perception is much like yours - 95% of public screens showing cable news are showing CNN - and without that forced viewership, audience share numbers would reflect even a greater disparity between the two cable news channels. The Advisor’s theory? CNN is widely thought to play to a liberal audience and FOX is widely thought to play to a conservative audience. While liberals are often outraged and offended by www.underwritersinsider.com

ADVISOR

conservative points of view - to the point of beet-faced anger conservatives seem much more tolerant of a liberal point of view - seemingly taking it all in stride. Those commercial enterprises showing CNN may be worried about offending their thinskinned liberal audience by offering Fox News while assuming that their much-larger & more tolerant conservative audience can handle CNN’s more liberal approach to news coverage without going into anaphylactic shock. As an aside, I’ve often noticed that liberal friends will actively

Table of Contents

avoid even conversation about politically charged topics with conservative friends, claiming “it will ruin our friendship,” or something along those lines. Conservatives, on the other hand, seem eager to have those same discussions, confident their logic will prevail. The Advisor, however has great sympathy for those liberals. After all, we would not want to attempt to argue in favor of ObamaCare, Hillary for president or the strategy of Socialism as a working economic model either!

27


Registered Customer Service Rep 4-40 Palm Beach County

Experienced Registered Cus-

FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider. tomer Service Representative com/classifieds. Ads must be less than 501 characters plus a title line. Eligible free classifieds include help wanted, position wanted, personal ads, agency for sale/purchase, or the one-time sale of an item or items. Place Ad HERE!

REGULAR CLASSIFIED RULES:

Submit all ads online at: www. underwritersinsider.com/classifieds. Only $1.00 per word, including title line and response info. Payment must be received prior to print date. Ads run 3 mo.

Outside Biz Ins Rep Needed - Can Be Home Based

Local Tri county ins agency needs help with local biz ins clients all over south fla. Pls email resume to jdr33433@gnail.com. Compensation based on experience and all expenses reimbursed. You need us and we need you! 15-7

Florida Agents with 2-20 License for Palm Harbor Want to work in an exciting work place? Looking for a career and not just a job! We pay higher commissions then the standard industry offers. We are expanding our independent Property and Casualty Insurance agency in Palm Harbor, FL and currently seeking highly motivated professional people who hold a Florida 2-20 insurance license to join our sales team. Contact: gary.s@insurancesolutionstb.com

Experienced 220/440 PL CSR Wanted-Apopka,FL

Experienced 220/440 licensed CSR wanted for busy personal lines dept. Must have Clear speaking voice and excellent communication skills. While working in a team environment required to manage individual book of business for servicing and cross selling. AMS360 knowledge a plus! Bilingual English/ Spanish a plus! Excellent benefits provided! Send resume to mail@gentryins.com or fax to 407-886-9530. 15-8

CSR WANTED Deerfield Beach, FL Established office seeking 440/220 licensed CSR. Family owned business that treats employees as family. Work for a successful office. fax resume 954/427-9065 15-6

15-3

FREE CLASSIFIEDS! HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS

CLICK HERE! 28

Property and Casualty Agents Wanted Looking for self motivated agents in the state of FL. Contact:info@insurebenefits.com

15-1

Table of Contents

4-40 Wanted Bilingual English / Spanish with experience, to work in Lake Worth, Palm Beach, excellent working conditions requested. Angel 561-755-2586. 15-4

Personal Lines Producer Destin, FL Area Wanting an experienced self motivated producer for this high end area. Don@mcmahonhadder.com 15-3

Entrepreneurial Underwriter

Entrepreneurial, qualityfocused, P & C underwriter and marketing person seeks part time or full time employment. I bring knowledge, team spirit and enthusiasm to the job. I can work from my office in Cocoa or your office in the Orlando area. Contact cee42@aol.com 15-3

Experienced Personal lines CSR Wanted St. Pete FL Looking for a self motivated, ambitious inside sales account rep, 2-20 lic., may consider 4-40 for full or part time, duties include quoting and servicing accounts and account rounding for Business owners, Workers Comp, General Liability and other lines of business Established agency since 1958 Contact: rbozeman@bozemaninsurance.com 15-4 The Underwriter’s Insider


220 Needed for Outside Sales!!

Experienced Commercial Agent Boca Raton, FL Area

Experienced and Licensed Insurance CSR

Local South Broward county ins office needs an outside licensed producer. Can work from home and office. Must have experience writing comm lines policies. Very high compensation package. Send resume and cover letter today! florida.firstins@yahoo.com

We are a family owned and operated General Lines Agency located in Boca Raton since 2002 looking for an experienced Commercial Producer. We have access to ALL commercial standard and excess surplus markets at the MOST competitive premiums. You: local success experience, a self starter and ethical. Flexible commission splits, start up assistance, long term minded. 561-305-9599.

Large, independent property and casualty insurance agency located in Lake Mary, Florida is seeking 220, 2044 or 440 licensed and experienced customer service representatives. We represent over 40 insurance carriers. Great written and verbal communication skills are required.

15-5

LICENSED 220 WANTED-FLORIDA INDEPENDENT LEAD GENERATOR FACE TO FACE OR PHONE CONTACT-COMMERCIAL & PERSONAL LINES-COMMISSION ONLY POSITION-50% NEW BUSINESS,25% RENEWALS-MUST HAVE OWN E&O COVERAGE-SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. APPLEINSURANCE@MSN.COM 15-2

Experienced CSR Wanted - Louisville Kentucky Insurer specializing in personal jewelry coverage seeks CSR. Job includes processing applications, giving quotes & issuing policies. Must have agency CSR experience, good phone presence, and hold an Ins Property license. You should also have an interest in jewelry. Computer keyboarding skills & working knowledge of MS Office are crucial factors. Agency Management systems experience is a plus. 15-2 www.underwritersinsider.com

15-6

EXPERIENCED AUTO INSURANCE AGENT EXPERIENCED AUTO SALES PROPERTY AND CASUALTY 220 AGENT SEEKING PROFESSIONAL AGENCY WHO APPRECIATES A WELLROUNDED SALES AGENT WHO IS EXCELLENT IN SALES AND VERY METICULOUS WITH RECORDING MEMOS AND HANDLING PAPERWORK. MUST HAVE A WARM AND FRIENDLY ATTITUDE AND BE CONCERNED ABOUT THE CLIENTS NEEDS. 15-2

$30k salary plus monthly bonus and excellent benefits. Check us out at www. TheFIS.com 15-3

MORE CLASSIFIEDS

Purchase Retiring Agency (or merge) South Florida Purchase (or merge) a retiring agent’s or agency’s book of business in Palm Beach, Broward or possibly MiamiDade County. We prefer Homeowner and Commercial accounts. We have MOST Standard contracts. Must have demographics and performance history for last 5 years+. Flexible terms offered, possible partnership as well. Call 561-305-9599. CONFIDENTIAL 15-6

Table of Contents

2-20 or 20-44 Wanted-Miramar FL Send resume to timinsurance1@yahoo.com, fax 954404-7234 or visit us 6590 Pembroke Road Suite B., Miramar, FL 33023 15-2 29


Continued From Page 13

Product Manager Experienced Insurance Agent QQSolutions, Inc. - Strong insurance agency experience? Love technology and want to shape the future of software for independent agents? Join our Product Management team. Must have extensive experience working in commercial lines. 2-20 (220) Agent or 4-40 (440) CSR License Required. Direct experience using and administering agency management systems. Contact bnason@qqsolutions.com

Florida 2-20 or 4-40 Agent Hialeah

15-3

Small agency has an opening position for a commercial lines agent with homeowner and auto insurance knowledge in Hialeah Fl 33018 15-2

Producer/Brokers Wanted: Nationally

Cont’d... S. Florida Hialeah Area 2-20 / 4-40 Needed Opening position in small Hialeah agency for a Commercial line with personal line knowledge, fluent in English and Spanish. Send your resume to customerservice@jonrayinsurance.net 15-3

Experienced Licensed CSR Wanted Ft. Lauderdale Agency needs experienced 440 licensed CSR for renewals/ sales. Renew policies upon expiration dates; obtain information to determine coverage changes/requirements, and binding. Quote to shop renewals. Prepare/provide information to insureds using verbal and written communications. Cross-sell opportunities for auto, life, and flood. Fax resume to 561948-4582 or email to ahart@ accessaip.com. 15-3

2-20 Agents & Producers USG Insurance Services, Inc. Wanted - FL & GA is a national wholesaler and MGA seeking experienced commercial E&S Producer/ Brokers for multiple locations. Mandatory E&S insurance experience, only those with a proven track record in sales should apply that are self-motivated, team players. Find out more about the position and how to apply at www.usgins.com under Careers. 15-3 30

We Insure Group, Inc. is one of Florida’s ‘Fastest Growing Companies’ and is looking to expand even more! Currently seeking new Agency Owners in Central and North Florida, as well as, experienced Producers throughout the entire state! Please Contact: We Insure Group Franchising franchise@ weinsuregroup.com 855-483-3901 15-3

Table of Contents

OBAMACARE COSTS SOAR completed our post-filing analysis, we are committed to conducting additional outreach to taxpayers, including letters to these specific taxpayers who did not have to report or make a payment. These letters will inform them about available exemptions and note that they may benefit from amending their return,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. Penalties will increase to $395 or 2 percent of income per person in 2015; that will jump to $695 or 2.5 percent of income in 2016. Those penalties are supposed to force Americans to purchase health insurance — or to at least make it financially wise for them to do so.” [HERE]

PLACE YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED

HERE The Underwriter’s Insider


Now given that Americans are already discovering that they can’t afford the premiums (already high and expected to jump as much as 30% in 2016) nor the deductibles when they need care, does anyone think that more and more will sign up for an insurance plan to avoid a $395 penalty when the premiums will be many thousands?

FLORIDA CFO ATWATER APPOINTS SHA’RON JAMES AS INSURANCE CONSUMER ADVOCATE

With the increase in penalties does it make sense that Americans will jump to the Federal (or State ALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Chief where they exist) Exchange Financial Officer Jeff Atwater to sign up, or will they instead today announced the grow increasingly angry with the Democratic Party that “gave them appointment of Sha’Ron James, a long-time voice for the people this gift”? of Florida, as the state’s Insurance In another 466 days, we will elect Consumer Advocate effective the next President of the United August 3. The role of Florida’s States. We will also be electing Insurance Consumer Advocate the 2017 Congress. Those is to independently and ardently Democrats who voted for this represent the needs of policyholders horrible punitive law, might find when insurance decisions are made. themselves wondering what James enters the role with a history they’ll be doing for work when highlighted by years of dedication 2017 comes around. We can hope. advocating for Floridians on insurance-related matters.

T

“A Tallahassee resident, James most recently served as the Director of the Department of Financial Services’ Division of Rehabilitation & Liquidation, which oversees complex litigation proceedings if a Florida insurance company faces financial failure. In this role, James fervently represented Florida’s families, recognizing that consumers, far more than company board members or directors, are most impacted by the collapse of a carrier’s ability to provide coverage.

www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

VIEW THE FAMOUS OBAMA WORKOUT! (Now Banned On YouTube...)

31


SAY WHAT? Notable Quotes You May Have Missed!

A SCANDAL A DAY?

so they will become ubiquitous and cheap for all significant military powers to mass-produce. It will only be a matter of time until they appear on the black market and in the hands of terrorists, dictators wishing to better control their populace, warlords I’ll Be Back... wishing to perpetrate ethnic cleansing, etc. Autonomous weapons are ideal for tasks such as assassinations, destabilizing nations, subduing populations and selectively killing a particular ethnic group. We therefore believe that a military AI arms race would not be beneficial for humanity. Starting a military AI arms race is a bad idea, and should be prevented by a ban on offensive autonomous weapons beyond meaningful human control.”

The Clintons have made it extremely easy for me. I don’t have to do a lot of research, because it’s not just a scandal a day. It’s about two or three scandals a day. So what I’m doing is kind of a compilation of these scandals and explaining them in simple terms so most people can understand what’s going on, and what they’re up to and why they are lying every day. [Hillary] is, without a doubt, the most corrupt politician that this nation has ever seen, man or woman. She IS the war on women, as far as I am concerned. ... she’s made it a point to find out ... every woman ... who’s crossed his path over the years. She’s orchestrated a terror campaign against every From an open letter presented at the Kathleen Willey one of these women, including me.” International Joint Conference on Artificial

Kathleen Willey, former volunteer aid to Bill Clinton who said she was sexually harassed by the president in the 1990s in an interview with Aaron Klein on New York’s AM 970 Radio. Willey was talking about her new website, www.ascandaladay.com where she has invited other women who may have been harassed or assaulted by Bill Clinton to come forward now. To hear the entire interview, click HERE.

TALK TO THE HAND

“ 32

Intelligence in Buenos Aries and signed by Professor Stephen Hawking, SpaceX Founder Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, linguist Noam Chomsky, co-founder of Sky, Jaan Tallinn & director of Human Rights Watch’s arms division, Stephen Goose.

NINE-ONE-WHAT?

Okay, do you know what ma’am? You can deal with yourself. I’m not going to deal with this, okay?”

Matthew Sanchez, a 911 dispatcher, to an Unlike nuclear weapons, they require no unnamed women desperately trying to save costly or hard-to-obtain raw materials,

Table of Contents

The Underwriter’s Insider


the life of a teen who had been shot with CPR ONSTAR/OFFSTAR after the women snapped at him during their conversation. Sanchez, a 10-year veteran of We believe the chances of replicating the department, was immediately removed this demonstration in the real world are from the dispatch center and an investigation unlikely. In addition, the action involves one was initiated. Sadly, the teen died. user at a time, and would impact only that specific user’s account.”

WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE? (cackle, cackle)

GM spokesperson Terrence Rhadigan in an interview with Reuters commenting on a report that “White-Hat” hacker Samy Kamkar had figured out a way open an Onstar equipped She is no doubt lying again, just as GM vehicle and start the engine remotely via it’s she did to the Senate Armed Services acclaimed OnStar remote function. This was Committee. Yet the the same hacker who announced a couple question remains: of weeks earlier he had hacked into a Jeep Why did she use Cherokee allowing him to gain remote her husband’s control of a Jeep traveling along a public fo u n d at i o n’s highway at 70mph. computer server instead of a SOME REPUBLICANS government server, NEVER LEARN as the law requires? She did that so she I am opposed to the Iran deal, but @ could obscure what Sen. Ted Cruz is way over the line on the server recorded and thus be made to appear different according to history from the Obama terrorism charge. Hurts the cause.” how she was in reality. Why did she lie about all this? Because she thinks she can Oh so polite, oh so careful, Mitt Romney tweeting after Sen. Ted Cruz said the Obama get away with it.” administration would become the “leading Former Federal Judge Andrew P. Napolitano financier of radical Islamic terrorism if Congress commenting on why Hillary Clinton, as approves the Iran nuclear deal.” Cruz responded Secretary of State under President Obama, to Romney saying, “One of the reasons may have routed her emails through her Republicans keep getting clobbered is that we husband’s charitable foundation’s server. He have leaders like Mitt Romney or like Jeb Bush went on to say, “Let’s be realistic and blunt: If who are afraid to say that.” Many feel it was the president wants Clinton prosecuted for Romney’s “kid glove” approach to Obama in failing to secure classified materials, then she the second 2012 presidential debate that cost will be, no matter the exculpatory evidence him the election. And do you think he might or any political fallout. If he does not want have noticed Donald Trump’s poll numbers? her prosecuted, then she won’t be, no matter Unafraid, direct dialogue is exactly what the voters are seeking in this next election. what the FBI finds or any political fallout.

www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

33


34

Table of Contents

The Underwriter’s Insider


www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

35


FREE! free insider subscription!

OBAMA ONLY CARES WHEN IT FITS HIS POLITICAL AGENDA? SEEMS SO... WH SENDS DELEGATES TO THUG MICHAEL BROWN’S FUNERAL {AND TRAYVON MARTIN’S AND FREDDIE GRAY’S) BUT COMPLETELY IGNORES TRAGIC SHOOTING OF KATE STEINLE

sign up yourself or any associate at this link

HERE MASSIVE EARTHQUAKE IN PACIFIC NORTHWEST OVERDUE - CASCADIA FAULT WILL UNLEASH 30X THE ENERGY OF SAN ANDREAS

36

Table of Contents

To Visit Insider Sponsors, simply click on the Sponsor’s ad! The Underwriter’s Insider


PALM BEACH COUNTY, FLORIDA AGENT ARRESTED FOR FALSIFYING $3 MILLION WORTH OF LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES

W

EST PALM BEACH, As the head of AIMS, Oakley Fla. – The Florida received monetary commissions Department of from the sale of the policies but Financial Services’ Division of purposefully neglected to pay the s u b s e q u e nt Insurance Fraud today premium announced the arrest payments. of Cledith E. Oakley W h e n III, owner of Asset, confronted by Insurance & Mortgage investigators, Services, Inc. or AIMS O a k l e y in Boynton Beach, on admitted to charges of grand theft intentionally and insurance fraud defrauding after it was discovered insurance that he stole the identity companies and information of for the sole his business partner purpose of in an effort to conceal receiving commission profits commission made from the sale of payouts. fraudulent life insurance Cledith E. Oakley III policies. Oakley utilized his experience in the insurance Oakley’s scheme unraveled when industry to write fraudulent life the business partner whose insurance policies for himself and identity was stolen became his two minor sons, and falsely suspicious and contacted the inflated his income in order to Florida Division of Insurance Fraud. Bank records subpoenaed obtain higher commissions. as part of the investigation An investigation conducted proved that Oakley was the in coordination with the sole signer on bank accounts Department’s Division of Agent that contained the fraudulently and Agency Services revealed obtained commission payouts. that Oakley, a licensed insurance Bank records further proved that agent, executed an elaborate Oakley withdrew funds from scheme in which he created these accounts for personal use. a shell company, AIMS, and directed an employee to file false In total, Oakley acquired nearly applications for life insurance $30,000 in commissions from the policies in excess of $3 million. sale of five bogus policies that totaled $3 million in coverage. www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

This case will be prosecuted by the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor in West Palm Beach. The Division of Agent and Agency Services, which licenses insurance agents, will be permanently barring Oakley from any direct or indirect participation in the insurance business. Anyone with information about suspected insurance fraud is asked to call 1-800-378-0445. Citizens who provide tips can remain anonymous. The Department of Financial Services has awarded $350,000 to 60 citizens as part of its Anti-Fraud Reward Program. The program rewards individuals up to $25,000 for information that directly leads to an arrest and conviction in an insurance fraud scheme.

37


Experts and Consultants for Insurance Disputes 4441 Sepulveda Boulevard Culver City, California 90230 310-390-4455 zalma@zalma.com http://www.zalma.com

Consultation from Zalma Insurance Consultants (ZIC) can save you or your client thousands of dollars in the defense or prosecution of an insurance dispute. ZIC provides expert advice and counsel insurers and plaintiffs’ counsel find indispensable. Consultation from ZIC can save you, your counsel or client hundreds of hours of investigative and legal work. ZALMA INSURANCE CONSULTANTS is a service of Barry Zalma, Inc. a California professional corporation. Barry Zalma is an internationally recognized expert on insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance bad faith, insurance fraud detection, the defeat of false and fraudulent claims, Barry Zalma, Esq. insurance claims handling, and the resolution of insurance disputes. As a consultant, expert witness, lawyer, author, mediator or arbitrator he serves all parties who need consultation or expert testimony on matters relating to insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance fraud and the tort of bad faith. Barry Zalma founded Zalma Insurance Consultants to help resolve any insurance claim problem faced by you or your clients that do not need Mr. Zalma’s services as a lawyer. His experience and skill as a consultant and expert witness can make the difference before a jury or other trier of fact. For more than 44 years as a claims person and insurance coverage attorney, Barry Zalma has represented insurers, advised insurers on claims handling, interpreted coverages and testified as an insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, insurance claims handling and insurance fraud expert on behalf of insurers and policyholders in state and federal courts.

Expert Testimony

Zalma Insurance Consultants serves insurers, policyholders, underwriters, brokers, agents, adjusters, public insurance adjusters, lawyers and any person involved in an insurance dispute. Because he is an attorney licensed to practice law in the state of California M r. Zalma may be prohibited by California case law from acting as a consultant or expert witness and, therefore, refuses to serve in any situation where a past client of his law firm, Barry Zalma, Inc. is adverse to anyone seeking his services.

Y ou can obtain M r. Zalma’s C.V . at http://www.zalma.com and his e-book publications http://www.zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm and blogs daily at Zalma on Insurance, http://zalma.com/blog.

38

Table of Contents

at

The Underwriter’s Insider


Continued From Page 9

KIM KOMANDO

However, you don’t need a highspeed camera to slow things down.

Click the gear icon in the lowerright corner of the video player and look at the number next to “Quality.”

Handy hint: Copying the link using the CTRL+C command doesn’t always work. If you test the link and it doesn’t start the video at the right Try dropping it down one setting time, do this instead: Right-click the and see if that smoothes things video and select “Get video URL at out. So if it’s 1080p, make it 720p. current time.” Then right-click on If you’re still having trouble, drop the link and select “Copy.” Then it down another level until the paste it and it should work. buffering stops.

On any video, click the gear icon in the lower-right corner of the video player and click the drop-down box next to “Speed.” You can drop the video speed to half or a quarter You can also use this to force of the normal playing speed. YouTube to a higher quality setting than it would normally go for Or, if you want, you can speed your connection. You’ll be waiting the video up by a quarter, half or longer for the video to start playing, double. Speeding up a video is but it should be smooth once it a good way to condense a long gets going. instructional video, or just a fun new way to listen to favorite song. Of course, continual buffering might actually indicate a problem 4. Get smoother with your Internet connection or Wi-Fi. Here are three tricks that can streaming improve your streaming speed.

YouTube is fairly smart when it comes to picking video quality 5. Share a video settings. It adjusts the quality at the right time based on your Internet connection speed so you don’t get too much You found a hilarious video buffering (i.e. waiting around for you want to share with a friend. the video to load). Unfortunately, it doesn’t get good until three minutes in. The first part Unfortunately, if you have an is boring and you don’t want your unstable Internet connection friend to stop watching. that speeds up and slows down, it can throw YouTube for a loop. Cue up the video to the start of the When your connection speeds up, section you want your friend to YouTube will try to push you to a see. Then right-click the video and higher video quality setting, and select “Get video URL at current then you’re stuck buffering when time.” Copy the link that appears the connection slows down again. and paste it into an email or on Facebook. When someone clicks Fortunately, if that starts on the link, the video will start at happening, you can take control. the exact spot you wanted. www.underwritersinsider.com

Table of Contents

Bonus: Autoplay Just recently, YouTube added an autoplay feature that advances you to a new video when your current video is done. It bases the next video off of related videos and what you’ve watched in the past. But what if you want to stay on the same video? Just click the gear icon in the lower-right corner of the video player, and next to “Autoplay” click “Off.” You can also turn it on and off from the “Up next” area of the right-hand column next to the video.

Copyright 2015, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. On the Kim Komando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show, Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando. com. Kim also posts breaking tech news 24/7 at News.Komando.com. 39


40

The Underwriter’s Insider


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.