The Underwriters Insider December 2014

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

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News 4 7 9

CA DOI Ready to Review Auto Policies To Cover Uber, Sidecare & Lyft Atlas General Insurance Recognized As Top Workplace Five Tech Gifts You Probably Shouldn’t Buy This Holiday Season - By Kim Komando

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Breach Of Contract Insufficient For Summary Judgement - Expert Analysis By Barry Zalma, Esq.

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ObamaCare: Finally, Hope And Change! OP/ED by Spencer Lehmann, RHU

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FTC Obtains Court Orders Shutting Down Massive Tech Support Scams California Insurance Agent Charged With 38 Felony Counts Hilarious Parody Shows How ObamaCare Liars Designed The ACA Florida Annunces a $3.2 Million Settlement Agreement With Sun Life Law Of The Land - Or Lie Of The Land? Key ObamaCare Architect Gruber Brags on How The “Stupid” American Voter Was Mislead... OP/ED by R Manera Ohio Insurance Agent Sentenced For Stealing More Than $52,000 From Clients

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News 21 23 25

Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places - Women Found They Were Part Of Massive Insurance Fraud Race Baiter & Presidential Advisor Al Sharpton Now Has More Than $3 Million In Federal & State Tax Liens Bogus Coffee Burn Leads To Arrest Of McDonald’s Customer For Insurance Fraud

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Florida Makes Agreement With Symetra Life For $1.2 M Settlement

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Jonathan Gruber & The President: Two Cynical Liars Exposed

To Error Is Human. To Err With Hair Can Make You Ridiculous - The Insider Advisor

Who’s Looking Stupid Now Gruber? M.I.T. Economic Losing Contracts As His Disrespect For The American Voter Becomes Public

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Ferguson: The Truth Doesn’t Matter Justice Doesn’t Matter. Mayor Giuliani Gives His Perspective

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Great White Shark VS Killer Whale Who Comes Out Sushi? Video! Florida Makes $3.2 Million Settlement With Sun Life Creepy Drunk Keeps Driving With Pedestrian Wedged In His Windshield! Brave Milwaukee County Sheriff Makes Historic Comments On Rioting In Ferguson Mo.

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Sponsors 4 6 7 8 17 20 18 22 26 26 27 38 39 40 37 43

JMJ Brokers Modern Insurance Consultants QQ Solutions H.O.P.E. 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

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CALIFORNIA READY TO REVIEW NEW AUTO INSURANCE POLICIES FOR DRIVERS OF TRANSPORTATION NETWORK COMPANIES LIKE UBER, SIDECAR AND LYFT Department of Insurance ready to review new auto insurance policies for drivers of Transportation Network Companies like Uber, Sidecar and Lyft

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ACRAMENTO, Calif. - Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today that his department is ready to accept insurance company filings to create new commercial coverage or endorsements to personal auto insurance policies that will provide coverage for Californians who transport passengers for Transportation Network Companies (TNCs) like Uber, Lyft and Sidecar. “In January my department issued a notice to drivers that personal auto insurance policies would not likely cover claims arising from transporting passengers for money,” said Commissioner Jones. “A new law, while not perfect, requires TNCs to provide coverage or make sure their drivers have coverage during all time periods the TNC application is on. In order to get drivers covered as soon as possible, we are prepared to review new auto insurance coverage for TNC drivers, ahead of the deadlines set by the new law calling for this insurance coverage.” A new law, Assembly Bill 2293, authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla, encourages insurers to create a new type of insurance coverage for these drivers. Transporting passengers for hire, also known as livery, has long been excluded from coverage under the personal auto insurance policies most Californians maintain on their personal vehicles. The new law allows the creation of endorsements to drivers’ personal automobile insurance companies to cover some of this TNC use.

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ATLAS GENERAL INSURANCE SERVICES IS RECOGNIZED AS A TOP WORKPLACE BY THE U-T SAN DIEGO TOP WORKPLACE AWARDS

The Workplace Excellence Awards are judged by a human resources expert judging panel. The awards are an evaluation of regional company HR practices that contributed to the proper execution or implementation of a strategic business strategy resulting in a positive bottom line impact.

an Diego, CA, November 11, 2014 - Atlas General Insurance Services, LLC, has been selected as a winner in the 2014 U-T San Diego Top Workplace Awards in the small business category. This is the second year that Atlas General has been nominated and the second year that they have been recognized as a winner.

About Atlas General Insurance ServicesÂŽ

Pay Yourself - Not The Ad Agencies!

Atlas General Insurance Services is a full service general insurance agency that offers a wide range of insurance solutions. Atlas has expertise in developing and

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U-T San Diego will publish the complete list of Top Workplaces in the Nov. 9 issue of U-T San Diego. For more information about the Top Workplaces lists and Workplace Dynamics, please visit www.topworkplaces.com and www.workplacedynamics.com.

underwriting programs with a variety of insurance carrier partners. Atlas has the primary goal to provide exceptional service and unique options for its clients.

Why Do Ad Agencies Hate The Underwriter’s Insider? Because Our Total Ad Cost is Less than Then They Normally Earn in Commission!

Top Workplaces is a regional evaluation of companies by their employees. The winners are chosen from 30 districts across the nation based on the results of an anonymous employee survey. Once all of the nominations and surveys are submitted, 150 companies with the highest scores are named Top Workplaces.

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DEC 2014 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 2014 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!

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5 TECH GIFTS YOU SHOULDN’T BUY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON Really Cool Info - by Kim Komando

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calories, hydration and other information for you. It’s beautifully designed and executed, but I’m not sure the novelty will last longer than a week or two for most users.

Amazon Echo looks interesting as a personal assistant for your home, but it’s not clear how So, without further ado, here are useful it will be for the average the tech gifts to avoid this holiday. person, or basically how well it works. Even as a family gift, you’ll probably want to wait a year until 1. Cutting-edge the next version comes out. It technology might also come down from its $200 price by then. This first category is a bit broad and includes smart watches, Both Vessyl and Amazon Echo Amazon Echo, Vessyl and other are so cutting-edge that you cutting-edge tech products. Not can only pre-order them now. Before you spend your hard- only are these expensive - $100 Amazon Echo even requires an earned money, take a second to to $3,000 - they’re so new that invitation. (By the way, here are read the following list. These tech no one really knows how useful more amazing tech gadgets that they’ll actually be in day-to-day no-nos are either on the way are just down the road). use. out, not quite ready for prime time There’s another consideration. Vessyl, for example, or something Even if you know the person is a $100 cup you just on your list is an early-adopter that knows shouldn’t who would love something like e x a c t l y buy for a smart watch, they may have what’s in a very specific model they’re your drink already interested in. People are a n d particular when it comes to tech. keeps Click here for my smart watch track feature comparison chart. Or they o f might be waiting for the Apple Watch, which doesn’t even arrive until next year. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars getting them the wrong thing. hen you’re trying to buy the perfect gift for a friend or family member this Christmas, you’re probably going to think about something digital. With smartphones, tablets, TVs, headphones, home theater soundbars, gaming consoles, robots, cameras, cases, video games and more in stores, the options are endless.

someone else.

See Kim Komando Pg 40 www.underwritersinsider.com

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BREACH OF CONTRACT NOT ENOUGH FOR SUMMARY JUDGMENT Expert Analysis & Commentary by Barry Zalma, Esq. (c) 2014 Barry Zalma

asserting that it sustained damage to its roof during a windstorm on April 27, 2011.

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hen an insurance c o m p a n y receives facts that support rescission of an insurance policy it is imperative that the remedy be exercised promptly. When the claim comes it becomes necessary to complete a thorough investigation, including demands for documents and the examinations under oath (EUO) of the insured. In Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London v. Lee Group Shelbyville Holding Co., LLCSlip Copy, 2014 WL 6601975 (Ind.App., 11/20/2014) the Indiana Court of Appeal was faced with what to do when the insured failed to appear for EUO.

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.

the failure to appear for EUO bars the lawsuit and their summary judgment should have been granted.

Certain Underwriters at Lloyd’s, London (“Underwriters”) appeal the trial court’s denial of their FACTS motion for summary judgment against The Lee Group Shelbyville Holding Company, LLC (“Lee Underwriters insured commercial Group”). Underwriters raised property of Lee Group through a only one issue on appeal, that policy (the “Policy”) for a period between March 28, 2011, and Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog: June 28, 2011. On April 29, 2011, http://www.zalma.com/blog Lee Group submitted a property loss notice to Underwriters 10

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Underwriters commenced an investigation to adjust the loss. On June 3, 2011, Robert Trombley, a property claims examiner sent an e-mail message to Murray Edward and attached the adjuster report and the property loss notice and certificate of insurance. Trombley provided some details regarding the claim and stated that Lee Group was not in compliance with the “80% co-insurance.” Trombley wrote that Roxanne Logan “advised the branch underwriter that based on these issues she was mailing out DNOC (direct notice of cancellation) to be effective 6/1/2011 in lieu of letting the policy expire on 6/28/2011. Trombley alleged that “it appears this risk was represented to us incorrectly.” He stated that the “DNOC [was] processed at 10:17 AM on the 29th of April prior to receiving notification of the loss.” He requested Edward to “review and advise how Underwriters wish to proceed with the claim.” On June 8, 2011, Daniel Mahoney sent an e-mail message to The Underwriter’s Insider


Trombley and Edward stating “Lead Underwriter has noted W.P. With the amount of discrepancies and issues on this Risk” and asked why the underwriter should have better placed in action work to rescind the policy due to material misrepresentation and return the premium. On June 14, 2011, Trombley sent an e-mail message to Mahoney and stated that “we do feel that there was material misrepresentation but wanted to provide Underwriters with all the facts and strongly feel that this should be referred to counsel” and recommended Walker Wilcox and Matousek. On June 16, 2011, Chris Bristow e-mailed Trombley and stated that Underwriters had agreed to the selection of Walker Wilcox and Matousek and were awaiting their advice. In a letter dated May 24, 2012, counsel for Lee Group wrote counsel for Underwriters and alleged that Lee Group suffered damage to their structure on April 27, 2011. The letter alleged that the roof was damaged and began to leak due to severe winds, that over the course of the next week or so, the Shelbyville area received over two inches of rain, and that due to the damaged roof, the rain was able to enter the structure and do serious, irreversible damage.

Underwriters’ counsel wrote a letter to Lee Group’s counsel which stated: “A deposition in the Lawsuit is no substitution for the EUO, which is a condition precedent to coverage. They are two entirely different things. Your letter also overlooks that the Lee Group breached the Policy when it sued Underwriters before sitting for the EUO and before producing documents to support the loss.” On September 13, 2013, the court held a hearing on Underwriters’ motion for summary judgment and took the matter under advisement. On September 23, 2013, the court denied Underwriters’ motion for summary judgment.

DISCUSSION The issue is whether the trial court erred in denying Underwriters’ motion for summary judgment. Summary judgment is appropriate only where there is no genuine issue of material fact and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. Underwriters argue that they are entitled to judgment as a matter of law based on Lee Group’s refusal to produce documents and sit for an EUO before suing Underwriters.

They assert that they are entitled to judgment on all of Lee Group’s On October 1, 2012, Burns filed causes of action, “whether a motion to dismiss, which sounding in breach of contract, the court later granted. In a bad faith or for punitive damages, letter dated October 3, 2012, www.underwritersinsider.com

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based on Lee Group’s breach of the Underwriters Policy Conditions.” They contend that Lee Group’s breach prevented Underwriters from determining the basis for the $753,347 claim made in Lee Group’s May 24, 2012 letter, prevented them from concluding their claim investigation, and put them to the expense of this suit and appeal. Underwriters also appear to argue that Lee Group’s claims for bad faith and punitive damages fail as a matter of law because the “undisputed material facts establish that Lee Group breached the Underwriters Policy’s ‘Duties In the Event of Loss or Damage’ Condition and ‘Legal Action Against Us’ Condition by failing to produce requested documents and sit for an EUO….”

A contract for insurance is subject to the same rules of interpretation as other contracts. Thus, if the language in the insurance policy is clear and unambiguous, it should be given its plain and ordinary meaning. However, if the language of the policy is ambiguous, we may apply the rules of construction in interpreting the language. When an insurance policy contains an ambiguity, it should be strictly construed against the insurance company. A policy is ambiguous only if it is “susceptible to more than one interpretation and reasonably intelligent persons would differ as to its meaning.” See ZALMA Page 24 11


OBAMACARE: FINALLY, HOPE AND CHANGE!

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OP/ED BY SPENCER A. LEHMANN, RHU

n 2008 and 2009, Barack H. Obama promised America “Hope and Change”. Those three words were his campaign mantra and his theme for his presidency after he took office. We got “Change”, no question about it, but not the kind of change we in America had “Hoped” to see. No, we’d hoped to see a the coming together in our Congress and our Country that Obama had promised us as candidate Senator Obama, and instead were given a far more divisive president who began his first term making clear that the Republicans and Conservatives were the Enemies of America, and he and the Democrats were America’s Saviors. Instead of bringing Congress and America together, Barack Obama divided us to an egregious degree. It was an inauspicious beginning, to say the least. When he first took office, America was in an economic downward spiral. Instead of immediately addressing this serious issue, and the attendant issues of high unemployment and jobs,

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Mr. “Hope and Change” went to work on the PPACA, aka Obamacare, aka the ACA, and finally known as the UnACA.

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.

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Secret corrupt meetings with many special interests in the crafting of Obama’sCare became the norm for this administration, and an attitude of arrogance and dismissing of the Public’s right to know, over what Mr. Obama and his cadre of con artists, including Senator Harry Reid, D, Majority Leader in the Democratic Party controlled Senate, and Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D, Speaker of the House, decided that America had to have, whether they wanted it or not. They did not want it. Much of the corruption and lies that have become the hallmark for this Administration, mired in scandals ranging from the UnACA, IRS, NSA, GSA, DOJ, State Department, and many more agencies of the Federal Government under the control of Mr. Obama since his taking office in 2009, have been discussed before in this column and in all forms of the media over the past 6 years, but his first con on the The Underwriter’s Insider


American People, the UnACA, is once again coming to the front burner, as the new ObamaCare enrollment period is now underway, and began November 15, 2014, and ends February 15, 2015. While we have become used to having new revelations of unexplained and unknown “hidden” facts about Obamacare, in this “We have to pass it before we can know what’s in It.” con, as said by then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, on a monthly basis, the newest revelation of the Obama Administration’s scam on US all, is breathtaking in its blunt and brazen arrogant view of the intelligence of The American Voter. Jonathan Gruber, an American professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, contracted by the Obama Administration to help develop the PPACA, has revealed that the creators of the UnACA relied on “The stupidity of the American People” to sell this con.

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Quoting from The Daily Caller:

advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American “Obamacare architect Jonathan voter or whatever, but basically Gruber said that lack of that was really really critical for transparency was a major part the thing to pass…” [ HERE ] of getting Obamacare passed because “the stupidity of the Most revealing as to the corrupt American voter” would have attitude of president Barack killed the law if more people Obama, who worked directly knew what was in it. with Jonathan Gruber discounts Gruber, the MIT professor who served as a technical consultant to the Obama administration during Obamacare’s design, also made clear during a panel quietly captured on video that the individual mandate, which was only upheld by the Supreme Court because it was a tax, was not actually a tax.

See ObamaCare- Page 30

“This bill was written in a tortured way to make sure CBO did not score the mandate as taxes. If CBO scored the mandate as taxes, the bill dies. Okay, so it’s written to do that. In terms of risk rated subsidies, if you had a law which said that healthy people are going to pay in – you made explicit healthy people pay in and sick people get money, it would not have passed… Lack of transparency is a huge political

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FTC OBTAINS COURT ORDERS TEMPORARILY SHUTTING DOWN MASSIVE TECH SUPPORT SCAMS FTC, State of Florida Charge Companies Bilked $120 Million from Consumers for Bogus Software and Tech Support Service

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t the request of the Federal Trade Commission and the State of Florida, a federal court has temporarily shut down two massive telemarketing operations that conned tens of thousands of consumers out of more than $120 million by deceptively marketing computer software and tech support services. The orders also temporarily freeze the defendants’ assets and place the businesses under the control of a court-appointed receiver. According to complaints filed by the FTC, since at least 2012, the defendants have used software designed to trick consumers into thinking there are problems with their computers, then subjected those consumers to high-pressure deceptive sales pitches for tech support products and services to fix their non-existent computer problems. “These operations prey on consumers’ lack of technical knowledge with deceptive pitches and high-pressure tactics to sell useless software and services to the tune of

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millions of dollars,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “There’s no excuse for it, and we are pleased the court has taken steps to temporarily shut down these scams while our lawsuit proceeds.”

“These operations prey on consumers’ lack of technical knowledge with deceptive pitches and high-pressure tactics to sell useless software and services to the tune of millions of dollars,” said Jessica Rich, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.

sweep of cases in 2011 and an action brought by the FTC earlier this year against a New York-based scammer. In this latest action, the FTC and the State of Florida have filed two separate cases against companies who allegedly sold the bogus software and the deceptive telemarketing operators who allegedly sold needless tech support services: In the first case, the defendants selling software include PC Cleaner Inc.; Netcom3 Global Inc.; Netcom3 Inc., also doing business as Netcom3 Software Inc.; and Cashier Myricks, Jr. The telemarketing defendants include Inbound Call Experts LLC; Advanced Tech Supportco. LLC; PC Vitalware LLC; Super PC Support LLC; Robert D. Deignan, Paul M. Herdsman, and Justin M. Wright.

In the second case, the defendants selling software include Boost Software Inc. These cases mark the third and Amit Mehta, and the in a series of actions by the telemarketing defendants FTC against the operators include Vast Tech Support of computer repair scams, LLC, also doing business as including an enforcement OMG Tech Help, OMG Total

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Protection, OMG Back Up, downloadsoftware.com, and softwaresupport.com; OMG Tech Help LLC; Success Capital LLC; Jon Paul Holdings LLC; Elliot Loewenstern; Jon-Paul Vasta; and Mark Donahue. According to the FTC’s complaints, each scam starts with computer software that purports to enhance the security or performance of consumers’ computers. Typically, consumers download a free trial version of software that runs a computer system scan. The defendants’ software scan always identifies numerous errors on consumers’ computers, regardless of whether the computer has any performance problems. The software then tells consumers that, in order to fix the identified errors, they will have to purchase the paid version of the software. In reality, the FTC alleges, the defendants pitching the software designed these highly deceptive scans to identify hundreds or even thousands of “errors” that have nothing to do with a computer’s performance or security. After consumers purchase the “full” version of the software at a cost of $29 to $49, the software directs them to call a toll-free number to “activate” the software.

computer repair services and computer software using deceptive scare tactics to deceive consumers into paying for unneeded computer support services.

“The software then tells consumers that, in order to fix the identified errors, they will have to purchase the paid version of the software. In reality, the FTC alleges, the defendants pitching the software designed these highly deceptive scans to identify hundreds or even thousands of “errors” that have nothing to do with a computer’s performance or security.”

According to the FTC, the telemarketers tell consumers that, in order to activate the software they have just purchased, they must provide When consumers call the the telemarketers with remote activation number, however, access to their computers. The they are connected to telemarketers then launch into a telemarketers who try to sell scripted sales pitch that includes www.underwritersinsider.com

showing consumers various screens on their computers, such as the Windows Event Viewer, and falsely claiming that these screens show signs that consumers’ computers have significant damage. After convincing consumers that their computers need immediate help, the telemarketers then pitch security software and tech support services that cost as much as $500. The two complaints allege that the defendants violated Section 5 of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The Commission thanks the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Department and the Delray Beach Police Department for their assistance in this matter. The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file each of the complaints was 5-0. The actions were both filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. The court signed the temporary restraining orders on Nov. 12. 2014.

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CALIFORNIA AGENT CHARGED WITH 38 FELONY COUNTS - HEADED TO COURT Former insurance agent swindled dozens of seniors, charged with 38 felony counts

CDI began its theft to obtain investigation when various annuities notified in March 2010 and coached their that Steen, a partner in senior clients Soutas and Associates to hide assets Insurance Services, in attempts to LLC, allegedly charged circumvent MediRESNO, Calif. - Gregory Alan one of his clients Cal eligibility rules Steen, 53, was arrested $1,500 to oversee her to qualify or lower in Clovis on 13 felony elderly father's Veteran the senior's share counts of grand theft, 13 felony Affairs benefits and of cost of coverage. counts of embezzlement and 12 annuity funds, but felony counts of identity theft. failed to do so. Evidence Patricia Ann Ramirez Steen was arrested An investigation by the California obtained January 30, 2014 Department of during the and his license was suspended. Insurance (CDI) i n v e s t i g a t i o n However, the investigation revealed that Steen, revealed that Steen revealed that he continued a licensed insurance enticed his senior swindling more seniors after his agent, was allegedly victims to make him arrest and release from jail. Steen, mishandling clients' the trustee on their Vann, Ramirez and Bennett will funds and using them trusts or executor appear in Fresno County Superior for his own benefit. of their wills, which Court, Department 33, on Tuesday, This scheme involved gave him full access November 18, 2014 at 8:30 a.m. for three co-conspirators: and control of their a preliminary hearing. Sara Vann, 37, of finances. Gregory A. Steen Studio City, Patricia This case is being Ramirez, 40, of Clovis, Steen was found to prosecuted and Lisa Bennett, 44, of Fresno. blatantly disregard by the Fresno his customers' wishes County District "Steen and his co-conspirators and neglected to Attorney's Office. have displayed a blatant disregard disperse estates to the If you believe that of the law and has stripped intended beneficiaries. you or a family consumers of their money Investigators believe member may have and their trust," said Insurance Steen targeted been a victim Commissioner Dave Jones. "The dozens of seniors and of Steen, please charges they are facing are not misappropriated more contact local law to be taken lightly and should than $56,000 for his enforcement or the Lisa Lynn Bennett make others think twice before personal benefit. California Department assuming they can get away with of Insurance Consumer Hotline at swindling seniors." In addition, Steen and his co- 800-927-4357. conspirators committed identity

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HILARIOUS PARODY SHOWS HOW OBAMACARE LIARS DESIGNED THE PPACA

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FLORIDA ANNOUNCES A $3.2 MILLION SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SUN LIFE

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ALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office), Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG) today announced that a $3.2 million life claim settlement agreement has been reached with the Sun Life Companies. This is the 14th such settlement reached by the three agencies with the cooperation of the industry in an ongoing investigation of illegal trade practices under the laws of Florida and seven other participating states.

Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania. The settlement agreement requires the company to implement the following business practices and reform measures: Compare all company records against the DMF Update File every month and against the complete DMF file at least annually to identify matches for potential unclaimed death benefits. Provide quarterly reports to the lead states about the implementation and execution of the requirements of the Agreement for 36 months following its conclusion. Agree to a follow-up examination by the Office to determine compliance 39 months following the conclusion of this Agreement.

Established in 2011, the multistate examination process is guided and coordinated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life/ The settlement agreement with Annuities Claim Settlement Sun Life and other similar insurers Practices Task Force (Task focuses on the companies oneForce), which is chaired by sided use of the Social Security Commissioner McCarty. This Administration’s Death Master File multi-state national project has (DMF) to stop paying a deceased resulted in the return of more person’s annuity, but not use the than $1 billion to beneficiaries same information to find and directly by the companies and begin paying the deceased’s family over $1.7 billion delivered to or other beneficiaries for life insurance policies. the states’ unclaimed property bureaus, which Sun Life has agreed to implement business continue efforts to locate and pay beneficiaries. reforms correcting this practice and to make a payment, which will be disbursed among the The Office discovered this industry practice participating states. Florida’s allocation of the during a 2009 market investigation and through $3.2 million payment is expected to be more a joint effort with Chief Financial Office Jeff than $227,000. Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi, became the first insurance regulator in the nation The multi-state examination was conducted by to reach a regulatory settlement agreement Florida, which served as the managing lead state, requiring these corrective actions. California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New 18

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LAW OF THE LAND OR LIE OF THE LAND? KEY OBAMACARE ARCHITECT JONATHAN GRUBER BRAGS HOW THEY MISLEAD THE “STUPID AMERICAN VOTERS” TO PASS THE AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE LAW - GRUBERGATE? OP/ED by Ron Manera, Senior Editor

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e were promised the most “open & transparent” administration ever by candidate Barack Obama. What the American people got was a pack of lies and a cynical, back room Chicago politician who believed the reductions that would result from the ACA. American voter was too “stupid” to figure out his end game of foisting socialized health care and The highly paid and widely respected (until another massive federal bureaucracy on a recently) academic, frequently cited by free-market people. both President Obama and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi predicted a $2500 M.I.T. economic professor and key annual family reduction in health care ObamaCare architect Jonathan Gruber, paid costs and across-the-board savings as $5.9 million by the federal government the result of the new law. for his alleged economic expertise, has been recorded dozens of times in various Testifying before the U.S. Senate, Gruber videos disparaging the American voter as stated that “ObamaCare would “stupid” and lacking in basic “economic guarantee “sizable premium understanding.” It’s how they passed savings for [the] young . . . . Even ObamaCare. larger premium savings for older Sadly, his statements on the American voter are far more accurate then his predictions on health care cost

individuals. . . . Also large premium savings for a family. What we know for sure the bill will do is that it will lower the cost of buying non-group health insurance.”

M.I.T. Economic Expert Jonathan Gruber

The “sizable savings” for the young turned out to be an average increase of 62.5%. Older folks were staggered by an increase of 50%, while deductibles and other “out-of-pockets” increased by as much as 500%. It turns out that master-economist Gruber, who has been paid almost $6 million by the federal government, was not even capable of doing basic math. What “expert” See Lie Of The Land Page 37 www.underwritersinsider.com

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OHIO INSURANCE AGENT SENTENCED FOR STEALING MORE THAN $52,000 FROM CLIENTS

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OLUMBUS, Ohio – Former Warren insurance agent Timothy J. Mulvey was sentenced today in the Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas to five years of community control, 17 months of suspended prison time, 60 days in the Warren Alternative Sentencing Program and to pay restitution for stealing $52,325.46 of his clients’ premium payments, Lieutenant Governor and Department of

Insurance Director Mary Taylor announced. “It is unfortunate that someone who is supposed to be a trustworthy member of the community decided to abuse that privilege,” Taylor said. “I appreciate the effort put forth by the investigative team to send the message that this type of conduct will not be tolerated in Ohio.”

An investigation initiated by the Ohio Department of Insurance found that Mulvey, owner of Mulvey Insurance Agency, failed to forward multiple premiums payments from his clients to the insurance companies. Mulvey instead kept the money for his personal use. Mulvey surrendered his Ohio insurance agent and the Mulvey Insurance Agency licenses in April 2013.

LOOKING FOR LOVE IN ALL THE WRONG PLACES - WOMEN FOUND THEY WERE PART OF A $700,000 FAKE ACCIDENT SCHEME

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allas - Derrick Jimerson was quite the ladies’ man, attracting a boatload of woman as co-inspirators in a fake accident scheme he was working with a local chiropractor. It was going well until one of the women found out she was not Jimerson’s only love interest. Jimerson, who told the women he was an ex-Dallas Cowboys player with some IRS problems, convinced the women to purchase a car for him - but put it in their name and purchase their own insurance. Shortly www.underwritersinsider.com

thereafter, he would contact the woman and tell her that he had an accident in their car, but they would have to report it to the insurance company and claim they were driving since it was the car and the insurance was in the woman’s name. He would give them a detailed script of the accident to repeat. Bogus claims were billed to the insurance companies by the chiropractor.

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Jimerson thought the ruse would insulate him from involvement in the scheme, but adjusters evenutally became suspicious and caught on to the scheme. Jimerson was sentenced to 11 years five months in prison for mail fraud.

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Breaking News

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esearcher have recently learned that a common ingredient in anti-bacterial soaps may increase the risk of cancer in mice. Triclosan

analysts is it may be a device capable of precise movements and intercept capabilities. The US Military is now tracking the object under NORAD designation 39765.

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he Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has approved an overall decrease of 5.2% in workers’ compensation insurance rates in Florida, is used in Dial Complete the first decrease in four and many other consumer years. The National Council products and you may wish on Compensation Insurance to take note. (NCCI), which represents about 250 insurers, ussian space debris or satellite killer? It seems the Russians recently launched some military satellites and a strange object among them. The object has been darting around the heavens - coming into close proximity with other Russian satellites. Speculations among

submitted a corrected rate filing Tuesday at the direction of the Office, following its disapproval of NCCI’s original rate filing request. Insurance Commissioner McCarty signed the Final Order yesterday, making the new rates effective January 1, 2015 for both new and renewal policies.

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lorida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the appointment of Michelle Dahnke as Deputy CFO of the Florida Department of Financial Services. In her new role, Dahnke will oversee communications

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strategy and community outreach. Dahnke has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communication and Public Relations and a Master of Science Degree in Integrated Marketing and Communication, both from Florida State University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Public Health degree in Biostatistics and Epidemiology from the Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University.

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disease. The research suggests polyphenols and caffeine contained in the brew provide a protective e f f e c t . According to Dr. Arfran Ikram, “The majority of human epidemiological studies suggest that regular coffee consumption over a lifetime is associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer’s Disease, with an optimum protective effect occurring with three to five cups of coffee per day.” Red wine, fresh fruits and vegetables have already been associated with cutting the risk of Alzheimer’s.

ccording to a UPI story, “Al Sharpton now has personal federal tax liens of more than $3 million and state tax liens of $777,657. Raw Talent and Revals Communications, his companies, owe another $717,329 on state and ccording to a federal tax liens.” recent Glassdoor Sharpton, a racereport, “there is a baiter infamous for $6,000 discrepancy showing up almost in median base salary anywhere there when comparing is the potential of women ($94,967, 3.2 stirring up racial years of experience) derisiveness, is to men ($101,006, one of President Obama’s 3.3 years experience) in advisors and confidants. the software development engineer role at Microsoft. In recent study finds that some of these jobs, however, drinking just 3 cups of women report earning more coffee daily can significantly than men. At Google, for reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s example, women software

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engineers report earning an annual base salary of $117,740 (and report 3.5 years experience), more than $4,000 more than men ($113,548, with 3.9 years experience) in the same role.” Some pundits have maintained it makes no more sense to compare the salaries of men vs women then it does to compare the price of tomatoes vs potatoes - in a free market. It’s up to the vegetable to bring value but the consumer to set the price.

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study shows fewer young people are learning to drive. Motoring Research’s study indicated that 15 to 24 year-olds hit a peak at 788,246 in 2007 and dropped to just 698,263 in 2013.

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t has recently been disclosed that the IRS improperly gave the White House thousands of taxpayer documents. In what was called a “shocking revelation” by the Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard, the disclosure only resulted after Cause of Action sued TIGTA over its refusal to acknowledge the documents existed. 23


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concluded that issues of material fact exist because Underwriters did not eliminate the claim that they breached the contract or whether Underwriters acted in bad faith. As a result the appellate Based upon review of the court concluded that the trial designated evidence, issues of court did not abuse its discretion material fact exist as to whether in denying Underwriters’ motion Underwriters acted in bad faith for summary judgment. or breached the contract, and the court was unable to say that the ZALMA OPINION trial court abused its discretion in denying Underwriters’ motion for When a prospective insured summary judgment. misrepresents material facts in the application for insurance, as did the Lee Group in this case about the value of the property, the proper r e m e d y available to an insurer is rescission. The insurer declares the policy void from its inception and offers To the extent that Underwriters to return the premium paid or argue summary judgment is returns the premium paid. That proper based on Lee Group’s is what the leading underwriter refusal to produce documents suggested when it determined and sit for an EUO before suing that Lee Group misrepresented Underwriters, the court noted a material fact in the application. that a party first guilty of a Counsel for the Underwriters material breach of contract may took what appeared to be an not maintain an action against the easy course, summary judgment other party or seek to enforce the based on a clear breach of the contract against the other party contract, the refusal to appear for should that party subsequently EUO. breach the contract.

ZALMA

Accordingly, because the court 24

as a matter of law, to deny the claim for breach of contract. Because of the weakness in the motion for summary judgment, and the fact that many judges are loathe to grant motions for summary judgment, it was denied and the appellate court found an issue of fact, that is, whether Underwriters had breached the contract before the breach by the insured. The case teaches that even when there is an excellent ground for summary judgment failure to properly document the motion and failure to assert the material misrepresentations led to a suit that will need to be resolved at trial.

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This should have been sufficient,

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BOGUS COFFEE BURN PHOTOS LEAD TO ARREST OF MCDONALD’S CUSTOMER FOR INSURANCE FRAUD Bogus coffee burn photos lead to arrest of McDonald's customer for fraud

"By copying legitimate burn photos from the internet, Edwards attempted to make a profit from another person's pain and suffering and for this AN BERNARDINO, Calif. she will be prosecuted to the full - Selena Edwards, 38, of extent of the law," said Insurance Victorville, was arrested Commissioner Dave Jones. and faces 21 E d w a r d s felony counts claimed that of insurance when she was and workers' handed a cup compensation of coffee at a fraud, including McDonald's submitting drive-thru, a fraudulent the lid was insurance claim, not secured false statements, and the coffee and false evidence spilled on her associated with an alleged fraudulent claim against right hand. Edwards submitted McDonald's for second-degree an injury claim with photos of a burns to her hand from spilled hand with second-degree burns, but detectives discovered that coffee. some of the photos had been copied from a hospital website. In an attempt to exaggerate her injury, Edwards also submitted FREE counterfeit documentation for treatment that she claimed CLASSIFIEDS! to have received from a local HELP WANTED — POSITION hospital.

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FLORIDA MAKES $1.2M LIFE CLAIM SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SYMETRA LIFE

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ALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office), Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG) today announced that a $1.2 million life claim settlement agreement has been reached with the Symetra Life Insurance Company and Symetra National Life Insurance Company. It is the second such settlement in the past two weeks and 15th overall reached by the three agencies with the cooperation of the industry in an ongoing investigation of illegal trade practices under the laws of Florida and seven other participating states.

The settlement agreement with the companies and other similar insurers focuses on their onesided use of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File (DMF) to stop paying a deceased person’s annuity, but not use the same information to find and begin paying the deceased’s family or Edwards was released on her own other beneficiaries for life insurance recognizance and is scheduled policies. Florida’s allocation of the Monday, November 10, 2014 to $1.2 million payment is expected return to court for a preliminary to be more than $110,000 hearing.

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“The Final Authority on Everything!”

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Hair Apparent

work in a fairly large MGA in the Chattanooga area as a commercial property underwriter. One of the owners is a man of about 65 years old who wears a very bad hairpiece. He’s really a great guy, but he looks ridiculous. First, the fake hair looks like it belongs to a 20 year old — from the 50’s. It’s a dark, dark brown without a trace of gray complete with a big Elvis wave in the front. Half the time it’s sliding to one side or another. The entire staff laughs about it behind his back. We all wonder why his wife doesn’t do anything about it. Anyway, I’m writing for the whole office - how can we tell him gently to lose the rug? And thanks for The Insider. It’s the only insurance magazine we read. — B.C. Chattanooga, TN

ADVISOR

with this dilemma, many men fall victim to the lure and promise of hairpieces only to end up as the butt of endless jokes and ridicule. But there are ways to limit the obvious nature of most hairpieces. First, if a man is 65 years old, he should go for a color and style that would be found on a 65 year old fortunate enough to have retained his hair. Too many men, in their fifties, sixties or seventies are looking for the same head of hair they sported when they were 20. Keep it short and include some natural grey. The best example of a decent hairpiece we’ve seen

lately is on Burt Reynolds. His hairpieces are always age and color appropriate and I remember being shocked when I first learned, years ago, that he was bald. Like breast enhancements, hairpieces have no value unless at least the possibility exists that they are real. When you can spot ‘em two blocks away, well... As to your question, first, we bet his wife has been arguing against the hairpiece since he purchased it — and has just given up. Second, there is no gentle way to tell him he looks the fool — unless you want to leave this page of The Insider opened on his computer.

To many men, the second worst thing on their bodies they could lose would be the hair on their head. Since before the time of Samson, a full head of hair meant strength, vitality, virility and youth. Add to this image problem a cosmetic realty: nothing makes a man look younger than a thick head of hair and nothing will age his look faster than a balding head. Confronted www.underwritersinsider.com

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FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider.

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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.

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Regency Insurance Brokerage Services is seeking a top quality broker with deep relationships in the industry. If interested, please respond with your resume to the email address provided below. Thank you. mmartinez@riemerinsurance.com 11-6

Pembroke Pines FL 2-20 / 4-40 Established insurance agency is looking for Insurance agents for our Pembroke Pines and Miami locations. We are seeking for self-motivated, sales driven team member to increase sales and productivity in our company. At least one year experience required. Salary and aggressive bonus structure. lortega@bestoneins.com 11-11

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EXPERIENCED COMMERCIAL LINES CSR PALM BEACH,FL AREA Boca Raton,Fl- MGA/Wholesaler looking for experience commercial lines CSR/ Rater ,must be highly motivated,energetic with good communication skills. Good salary and benefits. Contact: ccalver@niuw.com 11-6

2-20 AGENT WANTED! BROWARD COUNTY, FL

Broward County Ins Agency needsan energetic, hardworking, experienced Commercial Lines Producer. Pls fax resume to 954-208-0011. 11-6

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4-40/2-20 Agent Wanted Deerfield/Boca Raton Licensed 440/220 Wanted in the Boca/Deerfield area for Active office. Great opportunity for the right person. Contact:insure4u954@aol.com 11-6

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Lake Worth/Lantana, FL Busy Lantana/Lake Worth insurance office seeking a full time customer service representative. Office experience is a must. A 440 is preferred however, not required. Hours are M-F 8:30-5:30 with 1 hour lunch. Please email resumes to csr@sfcins.net 11-6 The Underwriter’s Insider


INSURANCE AGENCY FOR SALE

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Position Needed Workers Compensation Orlando - Fl E. Coast Experienced Workers Compensation underwriter/marketing representative. Years of experience in the Florida market. Also experienced in the PEO industry and all casualty lines including Trucking. Please contact Tom @ toogreatt@yahoo.com 11-6

Marketing Rep Wanted

Orlando or Jacksonville The Marketing Sales Representative is accountable for the daily management and business relationship between the Company and a specific group of independent agents. Responsibilities range from establishing and managing agent’s sales against the Company’s strategic business goals; developing and monitoring sales; to training all levels within the agency regarding specific rating and service functions. Contact: marketing@windhaveninsurance.com 11-6 www.underwritersinsider.com

Well known South Florida based insurance agency with over 35 years of experience. Opportunities in Broward, West Palm, Orange and Hillsborough Counties. Great opportunity to get into the business with one of the industry’s most locally recognized brands. 8 week training and ongoing support. Operations Manual, marketing & advertising. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY, INSURANCE EXPERINCE WELCOMED. contact: franchise@estrellainsurance.com or call us at 1-888-511-7722 11-6

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Broward County 2-20 Agent Wanted Broward County Ins Agency needs An energetic, hardworking, experienced Commercial Lines Producer. Pls fax resume to: 954-208-0011 11-6

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Insurance Agent up to $60K 4-40 / 2-20 (Near Boca Raton)

QQSolutions, field Beach

Inc.,

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agency management software Train new customers in use of QQSolutions products & services. 220 / 440 at least 3 years of customer service experience working in a P&C insurance agency. Experience in using agency management systems, such as QQSolutions, QQEvolution/ QuickFile, QQCatalyst, TAM/DORIS, AMS 360, Hawksoft, etc.Excellent verbal & written communications skills Great presenter and trainer. Contact: dsteinberg@qqsolutions.com 11-6

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Position Wanted Worker’s Comp Underwriter Orlando/East Coast of FLA Experienced Workers Compensation underwriter/marketing representative. Years of experience in the Florida market. Also experienced in the PEO industry and all casualty lines including Trucking. Please contact Tom @ toogreatt@yahoo.com 11-5 29


Continued from Page 13

Cont’d... Experienced CSR and/or AgentsFt. Lauderdale area

Experienced Life Agency Personnel Wanted

that fact and plays him as a person who has an opinion with which Obama disagrees, in spite of Obama having praised Gruber:

-220 or 440 minimum of 1 year exp.in Auto/Home/Commercial -Must have a GREAT “Can Do” attitude -Must be able to multi-task and be a willing and able Team Player -Must have the ability to treat our clients with the respect they deserve and give them the best service they have ever received Please, only happy serious people apply Marlinsii@aol.com or fax 954-587-7778 11-7

Seeking marketing and customer service personnel with life insurance experience to work at office in Oviedo. We are a wholesale Brokerage General Agency serving independent agents and financial advisors across the nation. Contact: info@lifeagents.com 11-7

“A day after President Obama tried to distance himself from a top health-care architect who said voter “stupidity” led to ObamaCare’s passage, a video surfaced of Obama praising the offensive professor for his bright ideas.

Commercial P&C Underwriter Orlando, FL Area Surplus Lines Experience Preferred. Orlando, FL Fashion Square area. Please e-mail your resume to: Resume@ChelseaSurplus.com No phone calls please.

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Established and financially stable insurance agency is looking for Agents, CSR, and Producers for our Pembroke Pines (33029) and Kendall locations(33173). We offer: Base salary plus bonus and incentives Professional & pleasant work environment Great support and opportunities to grow with our company Send your resume to info@bestoneins.com 11-7 30

OBAMACARE

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The Washington Free Beacon uncovered a video from 2006 of Obama telling a Brookings Institution panel he had “stolen ideas liberally” from MIT professor Jonathan Gruber.

Established agency seeks experience CSR/Agent for non-standard agency. Good opportunity to grow with us.Excellent Then-Sen. Obama praised Gruber working conditions. and other academic and policy Contact: experts as the “brightest minds.” insure4u954@aol.com 11-6 [ HERE ] Personal Lines H.O. Underwriters Needed Palm Beach,FL South FL (Palm Beach County)Dynamic growing homeowners ins company looking to grow their underwriting department. Must have a strong knowledge of FL HO market. Prefers insurance company underwriting experience. Minimum 3 years insurance experience in personal lines. Will evaluate risk and determine pricing and coverage. www.linkedin.com/ in/brendonporges/ 11-8

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And former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi at first denied knowing him, and then denied that he played any key role in the crafting of the UnACA, forgetting that in this age of instant technology and video, her praise and adoration for Jonathan Gruber are on record: Democratic minority leader Nancy Pelosi is denying that Jonathan Gruber was involved in creating Obamacare — or even that she knows of the MIT professor. A 2009 video of the then-majority leader, however, shows otherwise. Pelosi dismissed this week’s blow-up over comments made by Gruber, widely seen as one of the chief architects of the healthcare law. The professor claimed that the lack of transparency around the law was a good thing, as it allowed its framers to take advantage of “the stupidity of the American voter.”

“I don’t know who he is. He didn’t help write our bill,” she told a reporter on Thursday. “So with all due respect to your question, you have a person who wasn’t writing our bill commenting on what was going on while we were writing the bill, who has withdrawn some of the statements that he made. So let’s put him aside.” But a C-SPAN video from November 2009, while the Obamacare bill was being debated in a Democraticcontrolled Congress, showed Nancy Pelosi specifically praising Gruber’s analysis of the law. “I don’t know if you have seen Jonathan Gruber of MIT’s analysis of what the comparison is to the status quo versus what is in our bill,” she told a reporter at the time, explaining that his research demonstrated that Obamacare would reduce health-care costs. Pelosi’s website also referenced Gruber’s work multiple times during debate on the law.” [HERE] So here we have both Obama and Pelosi lying again to America, proving once again that they are both pathological liars, incapable of being honest with the voters who elected them to represent US. All of this notwithstanding, we now have some real Hope, and maybe even some real Change coming our way. In this year’s 2014 Midterm Elections the Republicans took

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the Senate, winning at least seven of the needed six seats to take the majority, and increased the number of seats they hold in the House to 233 versus 199 for the Democrats. What this means is that finally the GOP can pass legislation from the House to the Senate, and with Harry Reid now the Minority Leader and not the Majority Leader, he can no longer prevent GOP bills from moving through the Senate to find themselves on Obama’s desk, as he’s done to hundreds of Republican sponsored Bills to date. Now Mr. Obama will have to decide to veto or sign the legislation that the GOP controlled Senate will send his way. When that legislation is vetoed, it will be clear to all of America’s Electorate that it is indeed Mr. Obama and the Democrats in Congress who have been intractable, refused to negotiate, and come to consensus, and not the Republicans, as the Democratic party mantra has been singing for the past six years. This next two years should prove to be a time of real Hope, and hopefully positive Change for America, as once promised by Mr. Obama and the Democrats, and which the Republicans may now deliver, in part depending on the actions of an up-to-now totally intractable and uncompromising President Obama. We can “Hope”. 31


SAY WHAT? Notable Quotes You May Have Missed!

The Destruction Of Our Democracy

It will dramatically increase the draw for illegal immigrants to come into our country, because you have the President of the United States sending out a message that we have no problem with people ignoring our immigration laws. They’re looking for a wink and nod that says Sheriff Tom Hodgson ‘yeah, come on in’ – we’ve seen it with the DACA. It is the worst message you can possibly send. Come in, don’t worry about the laws, don’t wait your turn. You invite people to ignore our laws. We have no knowledge of these individuals’ background or criminal histories. We [have] minors coming in right now who have confessed to murder. We in these communities are left trying to find out: who are these people? If didn’t learn anything else post-9/11, it’s that we need to know who is in our communities and what they’re purpose is. The President’s planned order is a formula for national disaster and public safety. Every predator who is out to commit crimes is looking for the weakest link in our system. Having large illegal immigrant populations creates a safe haven for criminal activity. Criminals are becoming

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more emboldened. When the President of the United States is sending a message that he’s not concerned with lawbreaking, those words are the beginning of the destruction of our Democracy. - Sheriff Tom Hodgson, Bristol County, Massachusetts reacting to President Obama’s “Executive Action” on immigration where Obama bypassed the congress and the American constitution to grant legal status to 5 million illegal immigrants - hoping to turn these illiterate immigrants into Democratic voters.

Gruber & The President: 2 Cynical Liars Exposed

In one newly discovered video, Gruber notes that the tax sounds at first blush like a tax on insurers, when in fact the charges are eventually passed along to employers and individuals. The whole point of the tax, he notes, is to limit the tax deductibility of group health insurance—something that virtually all economists believe makes health care more expensive. But clawing back a tax break for individuals sounds bad while slapping a tax on insurers sounds good, so the Administration and its allies decided to do the latter.” - From a column by Jonathan Cohn in the New Republic, discussing Jonathan Gruber mocking the American people on video, giving an insider’s look at how ObamaCare was designed: Not what was best for the American people - but what was the most palatable politically. In order to sell the massive government takeover of the health insurance system, Obama and his cohorts cynically and knowingly lied to the American people over and over again. Yet, clueless, they seemed to forget about video videos that clearly show the lies and are now coming back to haunt them.

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ObamaCare: Everything That’s Wrong With Liberalism

president as a tax on insurance companies (evil insurance companies deserve to be taxed) rather than the reality: a cost to be passed along to the consumer. Smug, snarky Gruber found the deception quite humorous but the laugh may be on Gruber himself. As his remarks are becoming public, he has been fired as an advisor by both Vermont and North Carolina - with more terminations to come.

This spectacle represents not just everything that’s wrong with the Obama administration, but sort of everything that’s wrong with liberalism, and a lot that’s wrong with America itself. Mayor Giuliani On The You’ve got this guy Ferguson Unrest who is pretending M.I.T. Economic “Expert” to be an objective, Jonathan Gruber This grand jury is under independent incredible pressure … to analyst… being touted around through a transmission belt indict. I feel sorry for these people because of liberal journalists, who all are pretending they know if they walk out of that grand jury to be objective analysts too, quoting each room and have not indicted they may have other… all with the help of the White House, created a massive riot in their city and maybe throughout the United States. which went along with this soup to nuts, a To me, that kind of pressure is process this guy says was all about lies and completely inconsistent with misleading the American people.” - National the American criminal justice Review’s Jonah Goldberg commenting on system. And the people who embattled ObamaCare architect Jonathan are putting on that pressure Gruber’s comments about the “stupidity” of should be ashamed of American voters “exemplify problems that themselves.” - Mayor Rudy go far beyond the Affordable Care Act.” Giuliani remarking on the trouble makers and Who’s Looking Former NYC Mayor race-baiters who claim to Rudy Giuliani Stupid Now, Gruber? want “justice” in Ferguson before the grand jury decision not to indict. They proposed it and that passed, All of the evidence available to the grand jury because the American people are too would indicate that Michael Brown, fresh from stupid to understand the difference.” - a robbery in a nearby liquor store, was the Key ObamaCare architect Jonathan aggressor and responsible for his own demise. Gruber, paid $26,000 to speak at a forum at These folks, encouraged by Attorney General Eric Washington University. The subject was Holder and demonstrated by their actions after the so-called “Cadillac Tax” a 40% excise tax the decision, didn’t want justice - they wanted a applied to comprehensive health insurance certain result. They wanted a lynching. plans - which was sold to the public by the

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November 2014

October 2014

September 2014

August 2014

July 2014

June 2014

May 2014

April 2014

March 2014

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February 2014

January 2014

December 2013

November 2013

October 2013

September 2013

August 2013

July 2013

June 2013

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FERGUSON: THE TRUTH DOESN’T MATTER - JUSTICE DOESN’T MATTER

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Officer Wilson Tells His Story - Mayor Rudy Giuliani Gives His Analysis

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Continued From Page 19

LIE OF THE LAND

would have predicted major premium cuts at the same time insurors were forced to accept pre-existing conditions?

and over again in furtherance of the passage of the so-called Affordable Care Act in what can only be called contempt for the American voter.

Who’s Stupid Now?

Yet Americans did finally appropriately to What’s more disturbing then respond Gruber’s incompetence as an this administration’s lies and economist? The President of the incompetence in the November United States collaborated with election. President Obama and this snarky fool to deceive the the entire Democratic party was American people - unforgivable. repudiated in a historic election where Dems not only lost control Sadly, during the Obama of the Senate - but lost further administration, the American ground in the House. people had become almost bored with presidential lies: “If Time will tell if it is too late to stop you like your health plan, you the damage done to our country can keep your health plan!” “If by this massive federal take-over you like your doctor, you can of the health-care system - and keep your doctor!” These lies it’s tentacles into every aspect of were told by our president over our lives.

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Underwriting Consultant & Marketing Assistant Needed - Central Florida

Creekmore Insurance Group is a life insurance brokerage general agency serving a network of independent agents and financial advisers across the nation. Our mission is to recruit independent agents and advisers to write their life, long term care, and individual disability insurance with the insurers we represent. We have an immediate opening for a full-time underwriting consultant and marketing assistant.

Duties will include: www.underwritersinsider.com

• fielding inquiries from our existing network of agents • running quotes and creating proposals and sales presentations • calling on existing agents to offer support and generate additional business • This position does not involve cold calling. This is a full-time position at our office in Oviedo. For the right candidate, we provide significant career and income growth opportunities, including full time telecommuting and operat-

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ing an independent franchise agency on our network.

Experience Experience in financial services is required, including at least one year of life insurance sales, underwriting, or administration experience. CONTACT: John A. Creekmore, CLU, CFP, ChFC, CEBS Creekmore Insurance Group, Inc. (800) 359-5102 x 340 john@lifeagents.com 365 Aulin Avenue Oviedo, FL 32765 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.

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FLORIDA ANNOUNCES A $3.2 MILLION MULTI-STATE, MULTI-AGENCY LIFE CLAIM SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WITH SUN LIFE

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ALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office), Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS), and the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG) today announced that a $3.2 million life claim settlement agreement has been reached with the Sun Life Companies. This is the 14th such settlement reached by the three agencies with the cooperation of the industry in an ongoing investigation of illegal trade practices under the laws of Florida and seven other participating states.

conducted by Florida, which served as the managing lead state, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and Pennsylvania.

The settlement agreement with Sun Life and other similar insurers focuses on the companies onesided use of the Social Security Administration’s Death Master File (DMF) to stop paying a deceased person’s annuity, but not use the same information to find and begin paying the deceased’s family or other beneficiaries for life insurance policies. Sun Life has agreed to implement business reforms correcting this practice and to make a payment, which will be disbursed among the participating states. Florida’s allocation of the $3.2 million payment is expected to be more than $227,000.

Provide quarterly reports to the lead states about the implementation and execution of the requirements of the Agreement for 36 months following its conclusion.

The multi-state examination was www.underwritersinsider.com

The settlement agreement requires the company to implement the following business practices and reform measures: Compare all company records against the DMF Update File every month and against the complete DMF file at least annually to identify matches for potential unclaimed death benefits.

resulted in the return of more than $1 billion to beneficiaries directly by the companies and over $1.7 billion delivered to the states’ unclaimed property bureaus, which continue efforts to locate and pay beneficiaries. The Office discovered this industry practice during a 2009 market investigation and through a joint effort with Chief Financial Office Jeff Atwater and Attorney General Pam Bondi, became the first insurance regulator in the nation to reach a regulatory settlement agreement requiring these corrective actions. To date, state insurance regulators have either reached settlements or concluded the investigation of 16 of the top 40 companies constituting 60% of the total market. Efforts continue to be focused on the examination of the remaining 24 insurers.

Today’s agreement with SunLife Agree to a follow-up examination includes the Sun Life Assurance by the Office to determine Company of Canada, Delaware compliance 39 months following Life Insurance Company (formerly the conclusion of this Agreement. known as Sun Life Assurance Established in 2011, the multistate Company of Canada (U.S.)), examination process is guided Independence Life and Annuity and coordinated by the National Company, Professional Insurance Association of Insurance Company, Sun Life & Health Commissioners’ Life/Annuities Insurance Company (U.S.), and Claim Settlement Practices Task Delaware Life Insurance Company Force (Task Force), which is chaired of New York (formerly known as by Commissioner McCarty. This Sun Life Insurance and Annuity multi-state national project has Company of New York).

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KIM KOMANDO

you should look for and what you can ignore.

Buyer beware: Most stores will sell you a cheap TV and then try 2. High-end TVs to make the money back with expensive cables and other You’ll see fantastic deals on TVs accessories. Don’t fall for it; this holiday. However, if you look cheaper cables work just as well closely you’ll notice the deals as the expensive versions. are on low-end TVs - screens less than 48 inches, off-brand 3. Streaming media manufacturers and lower specs gadgets like 60Hz refresh rate or no Internet connection. Sticking with home entertainment The TVs from major manufacturers for a minute, I’d also avoid like Sony, LG and Samsung with streaming-media gadgets like 48+ inch screens, 120Hz or 240Hz the Roku, Google Nexus Player, refresh rates, 4K resolution, AppleTV, Amazon’s Fire TV and Internet apps and other advances similar streaming boxes. are just as expensive as ever. Not that there is anything wrong Expect to pay north of $1,500. with these units, but they’re Most stores wait until just before just not something I would the Super Bowl to drop the prices buy for someone else - unless it is specifically stated on their on the high-end models. Christmas list. If you’re after a cheap second TV, this is a good time to buy. To Even if the person could use replace your main living room TV, a streaming box, not every however, it’s a better idea to wait streaming box supports every online service. AppleTV, for until late January. example, is the only one Don’t forget that 4K TV prices are that supports streaming and still dropping rapidly - some 40- downloading from iTunes. If you inch screens are dipping below buy a Roku for an iTunes user, it $1,000 - so every month you does them no good. wait to buy gets you closer to affording the latest and greatest Like a smart watch, a streaming box is a tech item that you can TV technology. only really buy for yourself - here’s Before you head to the store to how to pick the right one if you’re buy any new TV, be sure to read in the market. If you want to help my HDTV buying guide. It will your friend or relative with the help you figure out the features purchase, get them a gift card 40

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

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to an electronics store or online shop. Streaming gadgets cost $50 to $100.

4. Standalone gadgets This is another broad category, and it covers any low-cost gadget that does just one thing, such as a point-and-shoot camera or a media player, like an iPod. Odds are that the person you’re buying for already has a smartphone or tablet that takes decent pictures and holds plenty of music and movies. A smartphone or tablet also has a calendar, address book, video chat, video recording, games and tons more that used to require separate products. Unless someone specifically asks for a standalone gadget, steer clear. If they do ask for one, then they probably mean a gadget that’s better than what’s in their smartphone like a mirrorless hybrid camera - these start around $500 - or a GoPro video camera, which starts at $130. The Underwriter’s Insider


5. Laptops A laptop is a good gift for a college student or someone on the go. However, the holidays aren’t the best time to buy. Laptops generally see the best deals after the Consumer Electronics Show in January or during back-toschool sales in July and August. Plus, if your gift recipient is looking for a bargain laptop say less than $400 - to surf the Web, watch movies, listen to music, read books, play casual games and perform other light computing tasks, they might just want a tablet instead. A tablet is more portable, has a better battery life and you don’t have to worry as much about viruses. Click here for a comparison of the best tablets on the market.

For the kid who already has enough stuff, look at a 529 college-savings plan through a site like Upromise. Sign up for a free account and then make purchases on Upromiselinked sites or stores. Up to 8% of the purchase goes into the child’s account. You can get other relatives to sign up to the account and their purchases will contribute as well. With the average cost of college starting at $19,000 a year, the kid’s parents will love this gift - and the kid will too, eventually. Copyright 2014, 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 Bonus: For the person online privacy and data hacks. For who has everything her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando. Every year, you get that one com. Kim also posts breaking tech person whose gift wish list is news 24/7 at News.Komando.com. a shrug and an “I don’t need anything.” Every year, you get that one person whose gift wish list is a shrug and an “I don’t know.” Instead of knocking yourself out trying to find the perfect gift anyway, get them a gift card. That way, they can buy what they want. Check out CardCash, Cardpool and GiftCardRescue to save up to 35% on the face value of gift cards. www.underwritersinsider.com

VIEW THE FAMOUS OBAMA WORKOUT!

CREEPY DRUNK KEEPS DRIVING WITH PEDESTRIAN WEDGED IN WINDSHIELD

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ew Jersey - Marcos Ortega was having such a good time during a recent drinking binge while driving (DBWD) that he failed to notice that a pedestrian had somehow become wedged in his windshield.

In fact Ortega continued for 1.5 miles after striking Kenneth Moeller, 61, who had been walking on the shoulder of the highway - and only then stopping when pulled over by police. Moeller was taken to the Jersey Shore Medical Center in critical condition. Ortega went straight to jail in lieu of $150,000 bond.

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SHERIFF CLARKE: IRRESPONSIBLE GROUPS DESCENDED ON FERGUSON LIKE VULTURES ON A ROADSIDE CARCASS

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ilwaukee, WI - One brave, Black Wisconsin sheriff is having none of the nonsense coming out of Ferguson and Washington D.C. He calls out the New Black Panthers, Eric Holder, Al Sharpton and the rest of the agitators inciting unrest, violence and racial divisiveness after Officer Darren Wilson was acquitted in the shooting death of Michael Brown. A grand jury convened, looked at all the evidence surrounding the shooting of Michael Brown, including the eye-witness accounts of at least six African-Americans and concluded that the death of Brown was justifiable.

the businesses and destroy the property of completely innocent citizens.

In spite of the evidence and the grand jury ruling, Eric Holder and President Obama himself wasted The nearly 300lb. Brown was no time in using the discontent to the clear aggressor, fresh from advance anti-police measures such a convenience store robbery, as new “anti-profiling” rules and physically assaulting Officer Wilson, going for his gun and finally charging the officer while Wilson yelled, “Stop! Stop!” The trouble-makers in Ferguson repeatedly calling for “justice” proved themselves complete hypocrites when the ruling was announced. The grand jury gave them justice - what they really wanted was a Darren Wilson lynching. And then, those so concerned with “justice,” proceeded to burn down 42

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police body-cameras initiatives none of which, if in place, would have prevented the Michael Brown shooting. Michael Brown is dead because he was a brutal thug with no respect for the law. There was not the slightest evidence of a racial component in the shooting. Yet rather than President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder using the event to advance initiatives that might actually improve relations between law enforcement and the AfricanAmerican community, they continued to comment as if Michael Brown’s death had nothing to do with Michael Brown’s behavior - nor did they spend much time condemning the destruction of Ferguson. In fact, one almost got the impression they understood and approved of the riots. The Underwriter’s Insider


www.underwritersinsider.com

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