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
Allstate’s Annual Report Of The 10 Safest Cities For Drivers
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FTC Moves To Shut Down Alleged Phoney Debt Relief Scammers
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10 Awesome Google Features You Should Be Using - Kim Komando
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Lawyer Just A Claims Handler In Washington State - Barry Zalma Esq.
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ObamaCare: The Devil Is In The Details - OP/Ed by Spencer Lehmann
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Florida Announces Arrests Of Three Jacksonville Residents For P.I.P. Fraud
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Security Premium Offers Unique Opportunity In Broward Co. Florida
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California Beauty Contestant Busted Through Social Media For Worker’s Comp. Fraud
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Disinterested, Disconnected President Increasingly Panned By The Media For Excessive Golf...
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News 17
California Agent Convicted Of Embezzling Insurance Premiums
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Accuauto Honored With The PIA Of Louisiana’s 2014 Associate Member Of The Year Award
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North Carolina Agent Busted For Insurance Fraud
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California Agent Arrested And Facing 96 Felony Counts
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Al Sharpton Exposed: Wall Street Journal Columnist Give a Rare Analysis
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Sharia Law: Coming To A City Near You Soon? Watch This Vid!
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Would You Fly In An Invisible Plane? One Company Explores The Concept Video
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ObamaCare 40% Cadillac Tax Forcing Employers To Cut Benefits Or Pass Costs To Employees -Video Atlanta Area Insurance Agent Surrenders License FBI Launches National Campaign To Address Laser Threat To Aircraft
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10 ANNUAL ALLSTATE REPORT OF AMERICA’S SAFEST CITIES TO DRIVE
Top Bank Product Now Available to Independent Agents
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llstate Insurance Company today released its tenth annual "Allstate America's Best Drivers Report®." The report, based on Allstate claims data, ranks America's 200 largest citiesi in terms of car collision frequency to identify which cities have the safest drivers. The report underscores Allstate's commitment to keeping roadways safer for customers and other drivers.
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This year, new data uncovers how these cities rank when factors like population, population density and precipitation are considered. For the first time, Allstate is revealing the 10th annual report, new location factor rankings and historical rankings from the past 10 years in an interactive mapping tool found at www. allstate.com/BestDriversReport.
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FTC ASKS COURT TO SHUT DOWN ALLEGED PHONEY DEBT RELIEF AND CREDIT REPAIR SCAMMERS
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he Federal Trade Commission asked a federal court to shut down a scam that targeted financially distressed Americans by pitching a phony debt relief and credit repair program, and by falsely claiming the program was provided and funded by the federal government and endorsed by President Obama.
audio recording of him saying, “I and then arrange bogus approve this message.” electronic payments that gave consumers the impression their The complaint alleges that the debts were in fact being paid. defendants purported to offer up to $75,000 in debt relief to The scammers would then tell consumers, along with promises consumers to pay the “service that consumers’ credit scores charge,” typically through money would “increase within 30 days.” transfer services such as Western Consumers contacting the Union or MoneyGram. Once scammers, according to the consumers paid the charge, the complaint, were told that in scammers would then reverse the
The FTC’s complaint targets the operators of two websites that were allegedly full of misrepresentations about the fake program, which they called the“Bill Payment Government Assistance Program.” The sites claimed that the program was governed by the Recovery Accountability and Transparency Board, a government agency formed to oversee projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Beyond claiming affiliations with and/or endorsements from the Recovery Board, the Department of Treasury, and other federal agencies, the complaint alleges that YouTube videos created by the scam’s operators included a purported personal endorsement from the President with an www.underwritersinsider.com
exchange for an advance “service charge” of $900 to $1,100, the defendants would pay off the consumers’ debts.
payments made to consumers’ bills, leaving consumers without the promised debt relief or improvements to their credit scores or limits.
According to the complaint, scammers would ask consumers The FTC’s complaint charges the for details of their outstanding See Credit Repair Scam Pg 42 debt, including account numbers,
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10 AWESOME GOOGLE FEATURES YOU SHOULD BE USING Really Cool Info - by Kim Komando
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he real reason the Google home page is so bare is that way back when it was just starting out in a Silicon Valley garage, no one working there really knew how to program a web page to make it look pretty.
each date and Google’s graph of days with the cheapest tickets. Then, you can filter the results by flight length, airline, price, stops and more. When you find a flight you like, you can book it directly on the airline’s site. Click here to learn three more secrets to getting the lowest airfare.
tracking. They have many tricks and products that you don’t need to spend money on. Some Atari Breakout of these will make your life easier and others will just blow your Need to take a quick break? mind. Thanks to Google, you can play a version of the classic Atari Let’s take a look at 10 of them. Breakout game on your computer In fact, even the word Google was whenever you want. Simply go to a mistake. The founders really Google Flight Search the Google Image Search page wanted ‘Googol’ – the digit 1 www.google.com/images - and followed by 100 zeroes. Need to find the best price on a search for “Atari Breakout.” Then, flight? Google Flight Search is one wait for the fun to begin. Of course, Google is now a noun, of the easiest price-comparison a verb and a massive global sites around. Pick your start Google Public company equally point and destination - or loved for their Data Explorer destinations - on the innovations map, and then as much as pick your dates. Google’s normal search site is hated for When you pick great for most searches, but their user the dates, be Google has more specialized sure to pay search sites as well. For example, at te nt i o n the Google Public Data Explorer is to the a treasure chest full of information p r i c e s on public statistics. o n Go to the Google Public Data page and type in a topic. Keep your searches simple, like “Unemployment in the U.S.” Google will return results from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. You’ll end
See Kim Komando Pg 40 www.underwritersinsider.com
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LAWYER JUST A CLAIMS HANDLER IN WASHINGTON STATE Expert Analysis & Commentary by Barry Zalma, Esq. In 1967 I became a claims adjuster and served in that capacity until 1972 when I started a 40 year career representing insurers as their lawyer in first party claims presented in the state of California. I have never practiced law in the state of Washington and never will. I understand the difference between an insurance adjuster and a lawyer, not the least being a license to practice law. Lawyers are not, in my opinion adjusters, and adjusters are not lawyers. Their duties and work product are different.
lawyer claim that his work product was protected by the work product protection. Plaintiff Christopher Anderson argue that Country Mutual should be required to produce the documents pursuant to the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in Cedell v. Farmers Insurance Co. of Washington, 295 P.3d 239 (Wash.2013).
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.
Insurers retain the services of a first party claims coverage counsel to assist them in the legal issues that arise as a result of a complex claim or a potentially fraudulent claim. They seek advice and counsel from the lawyer concerning the coverage issues, investigation required, and often take examinations under oath (EUO) of the insured to gather facts that will assist the lawyer in presenting advice to the insurer. Of course an adjuster can take an Join Barry Zalma’s new Blog:
http://www.zalma.com/blog
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EUO but will not do so with the legal training and knowledge of an experienced lawyer. In Anderson v. Country Mut. Ins. Co., Slip Copy, 2014 WL 4187205 (W.D.Wash., Aug. 25, 2014) the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington was called upon to apply Washington state law to a dispute over production of documents the insurer claimed were protected by the attorney client privilege and the insurer’s
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BACKGROUND Mr. Anderson owned a rental property in Seattle’s Seward Park neighborhood, and on December 26, 2012, the property caught fire. The fire caused extensive damage, so Mr. Anderson made a claim on his insurance policy with Country Mutual. Shortly thereafter, Country Mutual discovered evidence that there had been a marijuana grow operation located on the property. Consequently, Country Mutual undertook an extensive investigation of Mr. Anderson’s claim. Country Mutual retained outside counsel—the Thenell Law Group, P.C.—to assist with its investigation and coverage determination. Country Mutual eventually denied Mr. Anderson’s claim on October 14, 2013. The Underwriter’s Insider
Country Mutual filed a motion for protective order. In the motion, Country Mutual asserted that certain documents that Mr. Anderson had requested in discovery were protected by the attorney-client privilege. Country Mutual requested that the court conduct an in camera review pursuant to the Washington State Supreme Court’s decision in Cedell. Mr. Anderson opposed the motion. The court reviewed Country Mutual’s amended privilege log and concluded that in camera review was necessary to determine which documents were privileged and which were not. Country Mutual submitted the documents that remain in dispute, and the court reviewed those documents before it ruled on the motion.
ANALYSIS Standard on a Motion for Protective Order District courts have broad authority to issue protective orders where appropriate. The party seeking a protective order bears the burden, for each particular document it seeks to protect, of showing that specific prejudice or harm will result if no protective order isAttorney– Client Privilege The attorney-client privilege is a long standing doctrine established to encourage full and frank communication between attorneys and their clients and thereby promote broader public www.underwritersinsider.com
interests in the observance of law and administration of justice. When it applies, the privilege protects communications made in confidence by clients to their lawyers for the purpose of obtaining legal advice. In Washington, the attorney-client privilege applies differently in certain insurance cases. In a firstparty insurance bad faith action, the attorney-client privilege is presumptively inapplicable. The Washington State Supreme Court recently explained this in its opinion in Cedell. Cedell significantly altered application of the attorney-client privilege in the context of first-party bad faith claims. Most significantly, in such cases, Cedell creates a “presumption that there is no attorney-client privilege relevant between the insured and the insurer in the claims adjusting process, and that the attorneyclient … privilege[ is] generally not relevant.” Nonetheless, an insurer may overcome Cedell’s new “presumption of discoverability by showing its attorney was not engaged in the quasi-fiduciary tasks of investigation and evaluating or processing the claim, but instead in providing the insurer with counsel as to its own liability: for example, whether or not coverage exists under the law.” Where an attorney is acting as a de facto claims handler, the attorney’s communications likely will not be privileged. For example, in Cedell, the
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insurer’s attorney examined witnesses under oath. He also communicated directly with the insured, authored and signed the insurer’s denial letter, and initiated settlement negotiations with the insured. When an attorney became primary point of contact with insured regarding insured’s claim while, on the other hand, where the attorney is clearly acting as coverage counsel and advising the insurer of its potential for liability, the communications likely will be privileged. In addition, even a showing that the privilege applies can be overcome. Even if an insurer demonstrates that an attorney was not serving in a quasifiduciary role, under Cedell, an insured may still be able to pierce the insurer’s assertion of attorney-client privilege. If the insured asserts that the insurer has engaged in an act of bad faith tantamount to civil fraud and makes a showing that a reasonable person would have a reasonable belief that an act of bad faith has occurred or that an insurer has engaged in a bad faith in attempt to defeat a meritorious claim, then the insurer will be deemed to have waived the privilege. Something more than an honest disagreement between the insurer and the insured about coverage under the policy must See ZALMA Page 24 11
OBAMACARE: THE DEVIL IS ALWAYS IN THE DETAILS (THOSE PESKY DETAILS NANCY PELOSI DIDN’T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW ABOUT)
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OP/ED BY SPENCER A. LEHMANN, RHU
t’s September 2014. In two months America will be voting in the Midterm Elections, electing all of the 435 Members of the House of Representatives and 35 Senate Seats, 21 of them Democrats and 14 Republicans. Of the 21 Democratic seats up for reelection, 14 are considered to be vulnerable. The GOP only needs to pick up 6 of those seats to gain a majority, and that would change the dynamics of what happens in Washington, DC and the Congress for the next two years, in a dramatic way. Equally important to note is that the Democrats up for reelection are distancing themselves as far from Obama as possible. The American Public is very unhappy with Obamacare, mainly along party lines. They are also very unhappy with Obama as regards foreign policy, (ED - or lack thereof) and that is on a bipartisan basis. Both Democrats and Republicans are pretty disgusted with Obama’s lack of action in critical areas of the world, including the Israel/Hamas war in Gaza, the trade of Five
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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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High level Taliban terrorist officials for one Army deserter in Afghanistan, the giving of $47 Million to Hamas in Gaza (which anyone paying attention knows will go to Hamas to build more terrorist tunnels and purchase of more missiles to fire into Israel), and the signing of an $11 Billion Weapons deal with Qatar, the largest financial supporter of Hamas in the world, for Apache Helicopters and the Javelin Defense System. None are pleased with Obama’s reluctance to “Take out” ISIS, who is now murdering Christians by the thousands who refuse to convert to Islam, much of which would have been prevented had Obama not erased his “Redline” with Syria and the Assad regime. Certainly the preceding doesn’t cover all of the foreign policy blunders made by Obama, but this gives a pretty good idea of why, along with the Obamacare follies that have left the majority of Americans very disillusioned by this president who promised much and has delivered virtually nothing. It surely explains why those up for reelection in the Democratic Party are The Underwriter’s Insider
distancing themselves from Mr. Obama, who seems to have more time to attend $35,000 fundraising events for the Democrats, along with the perception that his golf score is of more concern to him than the beheadings of Christians and American Journalists, than his paying attention to the business of being president. Lost in all of this recent “activity” around the world are the upcoming Obamacare “Devils” in those details that are about to show their faces and say “Howdy” to an unsuspecting America. This fact is likely a welcome diversion for those who would like to pretend that all is calm on the Obamacare “Front”, but that would be hiding from reality. Here is at least some of what lies ahead in the coming months:
CBO REPORT: OBAMACARE DENTING LABOR FORCE
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“The Congressional Budget Office is out with its long-term budget and economic projections. What the CBO does write is that one of the downward pressures on the labor force is Obamacare. As the report finds: “Over the next few years, CBO expects that the rate of labor force participation will decline about 1/2 percentage point further... the most important of those factors is the ongoing movement of the baby-boom generation into retirement, but federal tax and spending policies will also tend to lower the participation rate. In particular, certain aspects of the Affordable Care Act will tend to reduce labor force participation, with the largest effect stemming from the subsidies that reduce the cost of purchasing health insurance through the exchanges.
How Many Obamacare Enrollees in Your State Have Citizenship Issues? “In another effort to clear up enrollment inconsistencies in Obamacare, the federal government announced that 310,000 enrollees will receive See ObamaCare- Page 30
Because the subsidies decline with rising income (and increase with falling income) and make some people financially better off, they reduce the incentive for some people to work as much as they would without the subsidies.” - [LINK]
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FLORIDA ANNOUNCES ARRESTS OF THREE JACKSONVILLE RESIDENTS FOR P.I.P. FRAUD
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ALLAHASSEE – Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the arrests of three Jacksonville residents for personal injury protection (PIP) fraud. Yolanda Vargas, Christian Vargas and Willdelyn Rodriguez are each charged with one count of committing a staged motor vehicle accident and one count of insurance fraud.
tolerate these harmful acts, and Anyone with information of I am proud of our investigators suspected insurance fraud for diligently working to hold is asked to call 1-800-378these fraudsters accountable.” 0445. Citizens who provide tips can remain anonymous. Investigators are still searching The Department of Financial for Felix Vargas who is accused Services to date has awarded of recruiting the arrested almost $349,000 to nearly 60 individuals to participate in the citizens as part of its AntiPIP scheme. He is believed to Fraud Reward Program. The be connected to a large scale program rewards individuals identity theft ring in New York up to $25,000 for information City as well an IRS scam in that directly leads to an arrest “PIP fraud hurts all Floridians by which he directed the payment and conviction in an insurance driving up the cost of insurance,” of others’ tax returns to himself. fraud scheme. said CFO Atwater. “I will not
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CALIFORNIA BEAUTY CONTESTANT BUSTED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA FOR WORKERS’ COMPENSATION FRAUD
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IVERSIDE, Calif. - Shawna Lynn Palmer, 22, of Riverside was arrested on Friday for workers' compensation fraud after video evidence showed her participating in the 2014 Miss Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix beauty contest.
Brothers and on March 10, 2014 reported to her employer that she fractured a toe on her left foot at work. During multiple doctor visits Palmer claimed that she could not place any weight on "Fraudulently collecting workers' her foot, could compensation benefits by not move it in lying about the severity of an any direction, injury is illegal, and insulting to or wear a shoe legitimately injured Californians," for any length said Commissioner Dave Jones. of time. Palmers' "This suspect made the job of our doctor provided departments' detectives easier an ortho shoe, crutches, and by openly participating in high gave her orders to refrain from profile events." working and to elevate her foot whenever possible. Palmer stated Palmer worked as a clerk at Stater that she was not able to work due
to her foot injury and continued to collect workers' compensation benefits. While collecting workers' comp benefits, Palmer participated in at least two beauty contests wearing high heels and walking without any signs of discomfort. Video was posted on YouTube of Palmer as a contestant in the 2014 Miss Toyota Long Beach Grand Prix beauty contest. Palmer, if convicted, faces up to one year in county jail, three years of probation, and restitution of $24,000.
DISINTERESTED AND DISCONNECTED PRESIDENT INCREASINGLY PANNED BY THE MEDIA FOR EXCESSIVE GOLF AS WORLD CRISES PILE UP
A We are not sure what the president’s chorus girl golf pose was in reaction to, but photos such as this one are beginning to show up on the mainstream media that once fawned over Obama. Honeymoon over?
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ccording to a report in Western Journalism, “A top-secret Pentagon mission to try to rescue captured American journalist James Foley was reportedly delayed some 30 days, while President Obama weighed the political consequences of either success or failure…and calculated about timing for a high-profile
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photo op…and played half-adozen rounds of golf. Foley was beheaded by an ISIS terrorist, a barbaric act shown in a horrific video.” President Obama finally did get his photo op while announcing Foley’s brutal murder - and immediately returned to the golf course. The Underwriter’s Insider
CALIFORNIA AGENT CONVICTED 0F EMBEZZLING INSURANCE PREMIUMS
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ENTURA COUNTY, Calif. Matthew Arriaga, 37, of Ventura pleaded guilty to four counts of felony grand theft after embezzling more than $99,440 in premiums prior to his arrest in October of 2013. While out on bail, Arriaga continued his criminal activity which added to his charges and landed him back in custody.
license, Arriaga continued to embezzle funds from at least two additional victims. Thanks to insurance investigators' efforts in discovering the continued criminal activity, with cooperation A Department of Insurance with the Ventura County District investigation revealed that Attorney's Office, Arriaga's bail Arriaga was collecting premium was revoked and he remained in payments for commercial liability custody from May 19, 2014 until policies and failing to place his conviction. the policies with an insurance "The fact that this former company. In some instances Arriaga is the second suspect to insurance agent lied to consumers Arriaga would forward funds after plead guilty to multiple felony and then continued to commit his clients' policies were cancelled charges stemming from an the same crime while out on due to lack of payment. According investigation into a wholesale bail is appalling," said Insurance to investigators, while out on bail and retail commercial insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. and working under a suspended agency co-owned by Arriaga. www.underwritersinsider.com
"California has a vibrant insurance marketplace and the criminal activity of those looking to degrade the trust of professional agents will not be tolerated."
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The Underwriter’s Insider
ACCUAUTO HONORED WITH THE PROFESSIONAL INSURANCE AGENTS OF LOUISIANA’S 2014 ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD
Shay Robinson Receives 1752 Club of Louisiana’s 2014 Insurance Woman of the Year Award
Louisiana’s 2014 Insurance Woman of the Year Award.
The Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana hold their annual awards banquet during their annual convention. Awards include Associate Member of the O R C R O S S , Year, Insurance Agent of the Year, GEORGIA ‐ AccuAuto Insurance Woman of the Year and was recently named the Volunteer of the Year. Professional Insurance Agents of Louisiana’s 2014 Gordon Ragan, Associate Member President of of the Year. The AccuAuto, said, PIA of Louisiana’s “We would like awards ceremony to thank the took place at Professional the 71st Annual Insurance Agents Convention of Louisiana for in Point Clear, this honor and recognition. We look forward to a Alabama. AccuAuto’s Louisiana continued successful relationship State Coordinator, Shay Robinson, with the PIA. We’re also very received the 1752 Club of proud of our own Shay Robinson.”
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N. CAROLINA AGENT BUSTED FOR INSURANCE FRAUD
About AccuAuto
AccuAuto is a proud Platinum Partner of the PIA of Louisiana. Since 1986, AccuAuto, has offered a variety of services for independent insurance agencies. AccuAuto’s products include comparison rating or personal automobile insurance, agency management, carrier downloads, document storage, agency websites, 24/7 Consumer Rating and web marketing services. More information about AccuAuto’s products and services can be found at www.accuauto.net and www.agencythrive.com.
CONTACT INFO: Vikki Thomas, Marketing (770) 242‐6832, ext. 219 vikki@accuauto.net
insurance agent, used driver's license numbers and dates of birth from several of his clients to write auto insurance coverage for other clients so they could obtain better rates and so he could gain the commissions. Boykin received approximately $55,000 in commissions from ALEIGH -- Insurance Department of Insurance Sentry Insurance Company as a Commissioner Wayne criminal investigators allege that result of his alleged misconduct. Goodwin today between 2010 and 2014, Boykin, Boykin was arrested on Aug. 15 announced the arrest of while acting as a licensed and placed under a $9,000 bond.
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www.underwritersinsider.com
Manargo Victor Boykin, 52, Mount Olive N. Carolina; he was charged with one count of obtaining property by false pretense and six counts each of corporate malfeasance, rate evasion and misrepresentation on an insurance application.
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The Underwriter’s Insider
CALIFORNIA INSURANCE AGENT ARRESTED IN CHICAGO FACES 96 FELONY COUNTS
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RANGE, Calif. -Jacob Richard Bonzer, 27, formerly of Lake Forest, California was arrested Wednesday (Aug. 13, 2014) in Chicago by the Chicago Police Department and a U.S. Marshals Task Force on 96 felony counts including grand theft, forgery and denial of benefits. If convicted, Bonzer faces a maximum sentence of more than 87 years in state prison.
Jacob Richard Bonzer
"Bonzer allegedly created more than a thousand insurance policies based on fraudulent information, which allowed him to collect $285,000 in unearned commission payments," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. A joint investigation between the California Department of Insurance, the Orange County District Attorney's Office and the Brea Police Department revealed Bonzer perpetrated www.underwritersinsider.com
several schemes for his personal financial gain.
residential short-sale business to Bonzer for homeowners insurance. Bonzer used the same Homeowner Insurance scheme leading the insurer to believe they would receive Policy Scheme premium payments at the close of escrow. Numerous policies The department received a were resubmitted multiple times complaint alleging Bonzer with an explanation that escrow submitted 128 closing had f r a u d u l e n t been delayed. California homeowners In some cases insurance agent i n s u r a n c e Bonzer received applications arrested in duplicate containing bogus commission Chicago faces information using payments for the nonexistent 96 felony counts same property. policyholders for Allegedly stole Between August real properties, 2010 and approximately causing valid November 2011, policies to be $600,000 from approximately issued for phantom 790 fraudulent multiple victims homeowners in homeowners with multiple escrow between insurance April and July schemes applications, 2010. Bonzer containing received $46,000 b o g u s in advanced commissions from information, were submitted by the insurance company that Bonzer under another agent. expected to collect premiums As a result Bonzer received when the properties closed commission payments of escrow. Since the applicants were $239,000. bogus, the insurer never received premium payments and Bonzer Workers' Comp Scheme was eventually fired. Investigators allege Bonzer continued his scam through another agent after he was fired. It was determined Bonzer created a fictitious mortgage company that referred all
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Investigators also discovered that in 2012 Bonzer created a fictitious insurance company
See Agent Arrested Page 39 21
Breaking News
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ccording to a recent AP story, “For the first time ever, U.S. public schools are projected this fall to have more minority students than non-Hispanic whites enrolled, a shift largely fueled by growth in the number of Hispanic children.”
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he Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has approved the removal of up to 91,499 multi-peril personal residential policies and 5,732 commercial lines polices from Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (Citizens) to the following four c o m p a n i e s : · Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Company has been approved to remove 17,000 policies from Citizens’ Personal Lines Account, 3,000 from Citizens’ Coastal Account, and 2,400 from Citizens’ Commercial Lines Account; 22
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SafePoint Insurance Company has been approved to remove 30,000 policies from the Personal Lines Account and 5,000 from the Coastal Account; Tower Hill Preferred Insurance Company has been approved to remove 17,797 policies from the Personal Lines Account and 4,449 from the Coastal Account; And, Weston Insurance Company has been approved to remove 14,253 wind-only policies from the Personal Lines Account and 3,332 from the Commercial Account.
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Citizens’ Personal Lines Account contains noncoastal properties and the Coastal Account contains coastal properties. The takeout periods are October 21, 2014 for Personal Lines and Coastal Account policies and October 14, 2014 for Commercial Account policies and are at the request of the above companies. This is part of the state’s ongoing effort to reduce the number of policies in state-backed Citizens and transfer them into the private insurance market.
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eorgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens announced today that a Gwinnett County insurance agent currently under investigation by the Commissioner’s office has
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agreed to surrender his license to sell insurance in Georgia. Insurance agent John Paul Kill, 63, signed a consent order on July 31, agreeing to voluntarily surrender his agent and agency licenses. Kill operated Appeal Insurance Agency at 5548 Naylor Court in Norcross, Ga. The order is effective immediately, and bars Kill from selling or soliciting insurance in the state.
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ccording to Pew Research, “The American public backs air strikes against Islamic militants in Iraq and more now say the U.S. has a responsibility to act, but there is widespread concern about the U.S. becoming too involved in the situation.”
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he Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has selected Chris Davis as the new associate commissioner of TDI’s Fraud Unit. Davis is a licensed Texas attorney and peace officer. He was previously employed as a managing associate at the Kroll Security Group. Prior to Kroll, Davis served as the associate commissioner of TDI’s Fraud Unit. In 2009, Davis was the director of the Enforcement and Legal Division at the www.underwritersinsider.com
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Texas Commission on Law ew Research reports that Enforcement (TCOLE). He has “Blacks and whites have also worked as a supervisor sharply different reactions special agent with the FBI. to the police shooting of an unarmed teen in Ferguson, ellpoint Insurance, the Mo., and the protests and giant health insurance violence that followed. Blacks provider often named it’s are about twice as likely products “Anthem.” Now as whites to say that the they’ve decided to change shooting of Michael Brown their corporate name to “raises important issues Anthem. Wellpoint will be about race that need to be no more. “We believe it is discussed.”” important to call ourselves by the name that people know he number of Muslims best — Anthem. Changing the in Britain has doubled corporate brand to Anthem is since 2002, according to a an important expression of recent report, and the name our commitment to serve as “Muhammad” is now the top a trusted partner in health,” name for baby boys in that according to Joseph Swedish, country, perhaps helping company CEO. to explain why 17% of the residents in Great Britain ryn Mawr Bank view ISIS “very favorably” Corporation, today in a recent poll. ISIS is the reported that they entered Islamic State that has been into a stock purchase butchering its way across agreement to acquire Powers Syria and Iraq - notably Craft Parker & Beard, Inc. (the decapitating an American “Company”), independent journalist on video. insurance brokers and risk management consultants Florida judge has ruled located in Rosemont, that the Florida Worker’s Pennsylvania. The Company Compensation Law is provides expert consulting unconstitutional - claiming services for personal and that its “exclusive remedy,” for commercial insurance claimants being the comp clients. Founded in 1922, coverage was inadequate the Company has been and that employees ought to serving the insurance and be able to sue employers as risk management needs of its well as make claim against an clients for more than 92 years. insuror. The ruling is bound to cause havoc in the industry.
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in the quasifiduciary process of investigating, evaluating, or processing the claim, but rather be at play. in providing Documents Protected by c o v e r a g e Attorney–Client Privilege advice, or other For some documents, Country legal advice, Mutual has not met its burden to Country of overcoming Cedell’ s Mutual. These presumption that the attorney- documents do client privilege does not apply. not need to be For each of these documents, the produced. court’s review has revealed that either (1) the attorneys involved Work Product were engaged in the quasiDoctrine fiduciary process of investigating, evaluating, or processing the claim or (2) the attorney- Federal law governs the court’s client privilege is otherwise inquiry into whether the work inapplicable. For most of these product doctrine applies. documents, the communications concern de facto claims handling. Trial Preparation: The communications involve, Materials. for example, conducting an examination under oath, making factual assessments and The work product doctrine is determinations, or being the not an evidentiary privilege, direct point of contact with the but rather a qualified immunity insured. protecting from discovery
ZALMA
For some documents, Country Mutual demonstrated that the attorney client privilege applies. In other words, Country Mutual has met its burden of overcoming the Cedell presumption, and there is no countervailing showing that there is bad faith tantamount to civil fraud. For these documents, the court’s review revealed that the attorney-client privilege applies and the attorneys involved were not engaged 24
documents and tangible things prepared by a party or his representative in anticipation of litigation. The primary purpose of the work product rule is to prevent exploitation of a party’s efforts in preparation for litigation. Thus, the party asserting the privilege must demonstrate the threat of litigation was impending. The Ninth Circuit has stated that “a document should be deemed
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prepared in anticipation of litigation and thus eligible for work product protection under Rule 26(b)(3) if in light of the nature of the document and the factual situation in the particular case, the document can be fairly said to have been prepared or obtained because of the prospect of litigation. Documents Protected by Work Product Doctrine Country Mutual makes two assertions that the work product doctrine applies. The vast majority of the e-mail do not involve anything that could be remotely construed as having been produced in anticipation of litigation. Instead, they involve mostly routine claims-handling matters with no indication that anything outside the ordinary is being done in anticipation of litigation. In other words, these documents would have been produced in substantially similar form in the ordinary course of business
The Underwriter’s Insider
ZALMA OPINION
of insurers from the state.
collection of posts on this blog; “Zalma on Diminution in Value © 2014 – Barry Zalma Damages – 2013,”“Zalma on Insurance,” “Heads I Win, Tails arry Zalma, Esq., CFE, has You Lose,” “Arson for Profit” and practiced law in California others that are available at www. for more than 42 years zalma.com/zalmabooks.htm. as an insurance coverage and claims handling lawyer. He now limits his practice to service as an FREE insurance consultant and expert CLASSIFIEDS! witness specializing in insurance HELP WANTED — POSITION coverage, insurance claims WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS handling, insurance bad faith and CLICK HERE! insurance fraud almost equally for insurers and policyholders. He also serves as an arbitrator or mediator for insurance related disputes.
The courts of Washington state have created a situation where, like in George Orwell’s Animal Farm that litigants in Washington state are all equal but some are more equal than others. They have converted the work of a lawyer into the work of an insurance adjuster even though the work conducted by the lawyer is necessary to his or her duty to provide legal advice and counsel to the insurer. Insurer’s lawyers, in Washington, are different from every other lawyer and its privileged communications with clients are presumed to be claims handling and not privileged. He founded Zalma Insurance I nterestingly, Consultants in lawyers for 2001 and serves as policyholders its only consultant. are not presumed The American HERE to be claims Bar Association, handlers and Tort & Insurance their communications appear to be privileged. As a result, Practice Section has published insurers in Washington have no Mr. Zalma’s book “The Insurance choice but to use adjusters to do Fraud Deskbook” available at what could be done better by a http://shop.americanbar.org/ lawyer, like taking an EUO, and eBus/Default.aspx?TabID=251& then presenting that information productId=214624; or orders@ to the lawyer for advice. The americanbar.org, or 800-285Supreme Court of Washington, 2221 which is presently available.
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FREE CLASSIFIEDS
and this District Court following Washington law, have made lawyers who represent insurers less a lawyer than those who represent policyholders or any other person in any pre-litigation distpute. The Legislature of Washington should cure this problem or face the withdrawal www.underwritersinsider.com
Mr. Zalma e-book, “Zalma on California Claims Regulations – 2013″ explains in detail the reasons for the Regulations and how they are to be enforced; “Rescission of Insurance in California – 2013;” “Random Thoughts on Insurance” a
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“The Final Authority on Everything!” Work at Home Make Six Figures
I
quit my job at with a Chattanooga insurance agency (I’m still receiving the Insider - thank you!) because I was bored and had been doing the same thing for 9 years. Plus I was scammed by a company that promised me big affiliate commissions ($100k +) if I paid them to set up my website. Bottom line is I lost several hundred dollars in expenses, earned nothing and lost a pretty good job that I cannot get back. People should be warned. H.S. Chattanooga, TN
ADVISOR
Figure Program’ Work- The Online Entrepreneur, at-Home Scheme Settles will be banned from selling business and work-at-home FTC Charges opportunities. The final defendant charged by the Federal Trade The FTC action was part of a Commission in a business federal-state crackdown on opportunity scheme that scams that falsely promise he falsely claimed would jobs and opportunities to enable consumers to earn a “be your own boss” to people significant income by affiliate who are unemployed or marketing with websites of underemployed. well-known companies such as Prada, Sony, Louis Vuitton, According to an FTC complaint and Verizon has agreed to filed in November 2012, the settle. Under the settlement, scheme, called the “Six Figure Benjamin Moskel, a former officer in the corporation, See Advisor Page 42
There will always be more scams than real opportunities in the “Work at Home” department and you are not the first to learn the hard way. You didn’t mention the name of the company that tricked you, but here’s an August 2014 press release from the FTC where a Work at Home scammer was busted: Defendant Behind ‘Six www.underwritersinsider.com
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FREE CLASSIFIED RULES: Submit all ads online at: www.underwritersinsider.
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!
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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.
Wholesale Broker Wanted Hallandale, FL
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
2-20/2-15 AGENT POSITION WANTED MELBOURNE, FL AREA
Licensed 220/215 Agent with over 30 years experience looking for a position to help your agency grow. Prefer the Brevard County / Melbourne area Please send any inquiries to aainsctr@yahoo.com Thank you for your consideration. aainsctr@yahoo. com 11-6
QQ Evolution
Independent Contractor Agency seeking individual with experience in QQ EVOLUTION management system. Part time and project requirements,possible ongoing. Central Florida Coastal can work remotely. Send Resume to Ins4Biz@gmail.com or fax to 321-574-5915. 11-6
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2-20 Agent Wanted Port Orange, FL
Part-Time Up to $18/hr -Independent Agency looking for a licensed 2/20 insurance sales producer. Don’t bother responding unless you are the best in sales and are able to prove it. Start now at the ground level of a new independent insurance agency in Port Orange. Must be good at sales and have a great ability to close deals and round out accounts. Email resume for additional information. If you are an ambitious insurance sales producer email me now: PortOrangeInsuranceAgent220@gmail.com 11-6
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
Roswell, GA Premium Finance Sales Opportunity Are you ready to take your sales career to the next level? Est. in 1984 and based in Roswell, GA, Advanced Insurance Systems Inc. is a fast paced, highf growth technology company that develops and markets premium finance software throughout N. America. While working mostly inside-sales in our Roswell office, you will be challenged by the development of new business and the on-going support for existing clients. Help move sales opportunities through demos, proof of concept and responding to requests for information and proposals. Resumes to:
Arthur@financemaster.com
10-10
Experienced CSR Wanted
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
Senior Marketing Officer Needed Broward County, FL
Security Premium Finance is seeking just the right person for a unique opportunity. See our ad [HERE] 11-9
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
INSURANCE AGENCY FOR SALE 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
Insurance Agent Tampa St Pete Area Are you interested in a long term career that builds your income from year to year; is a great place for a selfmotivated person to succeed; allows you to be the expert others look to for answers; provides you a training period working side-by-side with an experienced agent; gives assistance to people, who will really appreciate it. Uses a business model that is cutting edge and when you follow, duplicate and master, you will be successful¡Kand we will show you how! jeanette@floridabestquote.com 11-6
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.,
Deer-
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
MORE CLASSIFIEDS
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
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Cont’d... Experienced CSR and/or AgentsFt. Lauderdale area
Experienced Life Agency Personnel Wanted
-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
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.
11-7
Agents • CSRs Producers Pembroke Pines & Kendall, FL Area
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
Experienced CSR/Agent Boca Raton-Deerfield
OBAMACARE notices about questionable citizenship or immigration data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which is in charge of Obamacare’s federal health insurance marketplace, says notices require consumers to send in documents supporting their citizenship status by Sept. 5 or face losing their Obamacare health plan Sept. 30.” - [LINK]
Who Will Have to Pay Obamacare’s Individual Mandate Fine?
Established agency seeks experience CSR/Agent for non-standard agen- “Millions of Americans are cy. Good opportunity to expected to pay a fine rather grow with us.Excellent than buy health insurance. working conditions. Obamacare’s individual mandate Contact: forces people to either purchase insure4u954@aol.com 11-6 a government-approved level of insurance coverage or pay a fine. The Congressional Budget Personal Lines H.O. Office (CBO) recently updated 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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PLACE YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED
HERE The Underwriter’s Insider
its projections on how many will pay the mandate penalty to about 4 million payers in 2016… Without a doubt, the individual mandate tax is one of the law’s most contentious provisions but taxpayers must remember that it is just one of the law’s 18 new tax increases—which are estimated to bring in an estimated $771 billion in revenue over a decade.” - [LINK]
IRS Struggling to Figure Out Which Companies Owe This Obamacare Tax “NASHVILLE — Internal Revenue Service officials must enforce a new Obamacare tax designed to collect money from medical device manufacturers, but they’re losing money because they don’t know which companies even qualify for the tax, a new audit shows. On top of that, the IRS wrongly penalized more than 200 of these companies for not paying their taxes when, in fact, they did pay, the audit from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration reports. Why doesn’t the IRS know whom to tax?” - [LINK]
Who will pay the new Obama care Tax? You will. ““When Congress passed the Affordable Care Act, it required health insurers, hospitals, device makers and pharmaceutical companies to share in the cost www.underwritersinsider.com
because they would get a windfall It should be obvious to even the of new, paying customers. But most casual observer that the with an $8 billion tax on insurers problems inherent in this poorly due Sept. 30 — the first time the made and poorly implemented new tax is being collected — the law, spell a great deal of trouble industry is getting help from an for those who insisted that this unlikely source: taxpayers... State was a wonderful new historical Medicaid agencies say they have change in our American Health little choice but Care System to pay the tax for that was “The damage this health plans they working well hire to insure their law has caused and for 90% of poorest residents. has yet to cause to Americans. That’s because the America is truly tax is part of the The damage health plans’ costs this law has egregious and of doing business. caused and has immeasurable. Federal law requires yet to cause to Those who love to America is truly states to pay the companies utter those infamous egregious and adequate rates. .. immeasurable. words, ‘It’s here, Those who The Centers for deal with it”, clearly love to utter Medicare & Medicaid don’t have to “deal those infamous Services declined words, ‘It’s here, with it”, or they too, to comment on deal with it”, would be deeply how states and the clearly don’t federal government have to “deal concerned...” are covering part of with it”, or they the tax.” - [LINK] too, would be deeply concerned about what Also of note: “By April, more than 8 the Obama Administration million people had used the law’s and the equally complicit health insurance exchanges to Congressional Democrats sign up for private coverage, with have done to our country. Let 86 percent of enrollees receiving us hope that the American financial assistance. Millions Electorate voices their more enrolled into Medicaid or disapproval this November in the Children’s Health Insurance the Midterm Elections, and Program, which offers insurance to gives the Republican Party children in families with incomes the opportunity to make right too high for Medicaid.” - [LINK] what the Democratic Party had refused to do since the “And more Americans are opposed inception of this poorly made to O’Care than ever before.” - [LINK] and poorly implemented UNAffordable Care Act.
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SAY WHAT? Notable Quotes You May Have Missed!
Sharpton Exposed
“
What happened in Chicago—black people shooting black people—is sadly routine and of secondary concern to civil rights industry operators like Mr. Sharpton, whose agenda is keeping the focus on whites and the supposedly racist “system.” The Chicago shootings don’t advance that agenda, so Mr. Sharpton is taking his talents to St. Louis, where he will put racial solidarity ahead of condemning bad behavior and pretend that our morgues are full of young black men due to miscreant police officers. The reality is that blacks are 13% of the population and half of all homicide victims—90% of whom are killed by other blacks. The problem is not cops shooting blacks but blacks shooting each other. The problem is black criminality. According to police, this is what led to Brown’s demise, and it is what the nation has witnessed in response to the killing: Black people burning down their own neighborhoods, stealing sneakers and Snickers bars to protest the death of someone who is accused of resisting arrest.” Wall Street Journal Columnist Jason Riley, not pulling any punches while
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offering an opinion on racial politics and racehustler Al Sharpton shared by the majority of Americans - but voiced by few.
Nero Fiddles While Rome Burns...
“
When people are dying, you must come back from vacation.” - French foreign minister Laurent Fabius slaming Obama for golfing while Iraq burns as the president and his family were on one of their frequent, extended, multimillion dollar vacations, this time to a ritzy neighborhood in Martha’s Vineyard. It seems even the French, long noted for their love of time-off, are shocked by our president’s detachment and disinterest as the enemies of the West continue to grow in strength and influence.
Cowardly ISIS Slaughters Another American Journalist
“
Obama, your foreign policy of intervention in Iraq was supposed to be for the preservation of American lives … so why is it that I’m having to pay the price of the interference with my life. Am I not an American citizen?” the man says, clad in an orange jumpsuit. “Where is the American people’s interest in reigniting this war? I remember a time when you could not win an election without promising to bring our troops back home from Iraq, from Afghanistan and close down Guantanamo … Here
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The Underwriter’s Insider
you are, Obama, nearing the end of your term and having achieved none of the above … [instead] marching us, the American people, into a blazing fire.” - American Journalist Steven Sotloff, almost certainly coerced and scripted, just before his cowardly beheading by ISIS - for whom our president admitted, just prior to returning to the golf course, he has “no strategy.”
Cameron: Taking The Lead
“
quite a while. I promise you things are much less dangerous now than they were 20 years ago, 25 years ago or 30 years ago. This is not something that is comparable to the challenges we faced during the Cold War.” President Barack Obama in a “you gotta be kidding” moment at an August fund-raiser, convincing only himself that we are not facing a historic and growing global threat fueled by insane Islamic fanatics intent on either slaughtering all of us or converting us to their barbaric 7th century religion. Our president’s disinterest and naivete regarding the urgent geopolitical threat represented by ISIS and radical Islam has every rational leader on Earth concerned as the powervacumn created by his lack of leadership is pulling in the radicals and power-hungry to fill the gap once occupied by the United States of America.
The European Council believes the creation of an Islamic caliphate in Iraq and Syria and the Islamist extremism and export of terrorism on which it is based is a direct threat to every European country. To confront the threat of Islamist extremism, we need a tough, intelligent, patient and comprehensive approach to SHARIA LAW: COMING TO defeat the terrorist threat at A CITY NEAR YOU SOON? its source. We must use all the Watch this video on what’s happening in resources at our disposal, our Brussels and see if you think it’s time aid, our diplomacy and our military.” - British Prime Minister we take our heads out of the sand. David Cameron presenting to Parliament in August, expressing not only a clear concern over the threat of ISIS (Islamic State), but showing resolve and courage that the evil radical Islamist movement can and will be defeated.
Obama, In Stark Contrast
“
Yes, the Middle East is challenging, but the truth is it’s been challenging for www.underwritersinsider.com
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August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
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November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
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OBAMACARE 40% “CADILLAC TAX” FORCING EMPLOYERS TO CUT BENEFITS OR PASS COSTS TO EMPLOYEES
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ATLANTA AREA INSURANCE AGENT SURRENDERS
A
tlanta – Insurance effective immediately, and bars Commissioner Ralph Kill from selling or soliciting Hudgens announced insurance in the state. today that a Gwinnett County insurance agent currently Hudgens said an ongoing under investigation by the investigation into Kill’s Commissioner’s office has practices at Appeal agreed to surrender his Insurance Agency license to sell insurance in will continue. Georgia. Anyone who believes they Insurance agent John received or were Paul Kill, 63, signed paying for a policy a consent order on from Kill or Appeal July 31, agreeing to Insurance Agency voluntarily surrender his should contact agent and agency licenses. Commissioner Kill operated Appeal Hudgens’ office Insurance Agency at 1-800-656at 5548 Naylor 2298 and ask Court in Norcross, for the Fraud Ga. The order is Division.
FREE CLASSIFIEDS! HELP WANTED — POSITION WANTED 4 — SALE ITEMS
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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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For More Victims
AGENT ARRESTED
Bonzer orchestrated these elaborate scams by using multiple post office boxes, virtual assistants, business entities, office called GW Mutual Risk Retention spaces, email accounts, Website Group, LLC, which was registered domains and bank accounts. The in Florida. GW Mutual is not department has reason to believe licensed to write insurance in that there are additional victims. California though Bonzer sold workers' compensation and commercial insurance policies through his agency, Bonzer Insurance Brokerage, located in Orange County. Bonzer collected approximately $280,000 in premium from 58 California businesses that believed they were purchasing valid coverage.
Anyone who did business with Jacob Bonzer or believe they may be a victim, are encouraged to contact Department of Insurance supervising investigator Vera Grunke at (714) 712-7600. Bonzer is currently being held at the Cook County Detention Center pending extradition to Orange County. Bonzer's bail is set at $600,000.
When questioned by a client about GW's ability to offer insurance in California, Bonzer provided an altered CDI report of examination as proof. Department investigators also discovered premium payments entrusted to Bonzer were used on personal living expenses including the rental of luxury high-rise apartments, travel, wine clubs and fine dining. "The fact Bonzer's criminal activity left legitimate businesses without valid workers' compensation insurance put business owners, their employees and the state at great financial risk. His multiple schemes to rip off insurers and businesses are egregious," said Commissioner Jones.
The Search www.underwritersinsider.com
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Continued From Page 9
KIM KOMANDO
into the Google search bar, such as “define tintinnabulation” and you’ll have the definition instantly - it’s “a ringing or tinkling sound,” if you were wondering.
up with an easy-to-read graph, and you can even tweak it with You’ll also get pronunciation, part options like gender, age and of speech, and you can click the state. gray arrow for more information, including word origins.
Google translations
Need a quick translation of a word? Go to the normal Google search page and type in “translate (word) to (language)” in the search bar. For instance, you could type “translate apple to French.” Google will let you know in less than a second that “pomme” is French for apple. It also includes a small speaker icon that will let you hear the word if you aren’t sure how to pronounce it. For longer translations, check out Google Translate.
Whether you’re cooking or helping your child with math homework, odds are you’re going to have to convert units of measurement. On the Google search page, enter a search like “convert eight ounces to cups” or “convert 10km to mi.” You’ll have your answer instantly, and you can even tweak the numbers and units after the fact.
Google nGrams is a great research tool that lets you search how
What’s healthier, an orange or a banana? Type “compare” into Google’s search bar, along with the foods you want to look at, such as “compare broccoli and asparagus.” Google will do the rest.
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When you don’t know what a word means, don’t reach for the dictionary. Type “define (word)”
You can put in multiple words separated by commas to compare two or more words at once. Google lets you adjust the time period, language of the books and see what books contain the words.
Google Sky If you think Google Earth is great, then Google Sky is going to blow your mind. It lets you search the heavens and see images of stars, planets and galaxies taken from telescopes, probes and satellites.
Google nGrams
Google nutrition comparison search
Google definitions
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Google Conversions
many times specific words occur in more than 5 million books written between 1800 and the present. You can see how words get more or less popular over time.
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The Underwriter’s Insider
FBI LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO ADDRESS LASER THREAT TO AIRCRAFT Campaign Includes Up to $10,000 Reward to raise public awareness have shown early signs of success in he FBI today announced reducing the number of laser a national campaign attacks in those 12 cities, the laser to deter people from threat remains a problem on a pointing lasers at aircraft, a much larger scale,” said Joseph federal violation that presents Campbell, Assistant Director of danger to pilots, passengers, and those on the ground. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $10,000 for information that leads to the arrest of any individual who aims a laser at aircraft. The reward is available for 90 days in all 56 FBI field offices.
FBI National Press Office
T
Since the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) began tracking laser strikes in 2005, data shows a more than 1,100 percent increase in the the FBI’s Criminal Investigative deliberate targeting of aircraft by Division. “We hope to build on our success through this national people with handheld lasers. campaign in an effort to reduce The dramatic increase in the overall threat.” reported laser attacks in recent years prompted the FBI to create a pilot program aimed at raising awareness and offering a monetary reward in 12 field offices. Since the launch of the pilot program on February 11, 2014, the major metropolitan areas of those 12 field offices have seen a 19 percent decrease in the number of reported incidents. “Although our previous efforts www.underwritersinsider.com
include digital billboards, radio public service announcements, video, social media, a presence on www.fbi.gov, and partner websites and more. “I can’t stress enough how dangerous and irresponsible it is to point a laser at an aircraft,” said FAA Administrator Michael Huerta. “We know that targeted enforcement has succeeded in driving down laser incidents in a number of cities, and we’ll continue to partner with law enforcement to address this problem nationwide.”
“Intentionally aiming a laser at an aircraft poses a serious threat to those in the air and on the ground—and it’s a serious crime with serious consequences,” said Air Line Pilots Association International President Captain Lee Moak. “The Laser Threat The FBI is partnering with the Awareness Campaign has Federal Aviation Administration resulted in an overall reduction of (FAA), the Air Line Pilots incidents, and we look forward to Association International, continuing to work with the FBI law enforcement at all levels on these efforts.” nationally and internationally, school resource officers, and Thousands of laser attacks go other stakeholders in its efforts unreported every year. If you to continue to educate the public have information about a lasing about the dangers associated incident, or see someone pointing with laser strikes to aircraft. a laser at an aircraft, call your local Campaign outreach efforts FBI field office or dial 911.
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Continued From Pg 42
CREDIT REPAIR SCAM
Continued from Page 27
and he can substantiate it.
THE ADVISOR
The order also bars Moskel from selling or otherwise benefitting from consumers’ personal information, and Program,” was sold as a requires him to properly purported no-risk opportunity dispose of customer for consumers to make money information. via their own website, by falsely claiming that, for $27, The order imposes a judgment they could affiliate with well- of more than $2.9 million, known companies’ websites which will be suspended when and earn commissions. After Moskel has paid the income paying, consumers learned he earned from the scheme, it would cost an extra $100 $259,394, and surrendered or more just to set up their certain bank accounts and websites. personal property. The full
unnamed defendants with two counts of violating the FTC Act’s prohibition on deceptive acts or practices, as well as two counts of violating the Credit Repair Organizations Act’s prohibitions on collecting advance fees before providing credit repair services and making untrue or misleading representations about their services. The complaint asked the court to take steps to halt the scam immediately, as well as for a permanent order stopping judgment will become due the defendants’ activities and In March 2014, the FTC immediately if he is found requiring them to give up their announced a settlement to have misrepresented his ill-gotten gains.
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with the other defendants in the scheme. The settlement order announced today permanently prohibits Moskel from having ownership in any non-publicly traded company that sells business or workat-home opportunities, misrepresenting that consumers are likely to earn money and misrepresenting any material fact about a product or service; failing to disclose the terms of any offer before consumers provide billing information; and making a business opportunity, product, or service claim unless it is true
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financial condition.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the proposed final order was 5-0. The final order was entered by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida on July 30, 2014.
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