North State Custom Cleared of Fraud Charges in Case Vs. Progressive
The over five-year-long court battle between North State Custom and Progressive finally came to an end yesterday when the jury cleared the collision repair facility and its owner, Greg Coccaro, of fraud charges. "I’m so grateful that the jury was able to see through Progressive’s tactics and didn’t fall for the fairytale Progressive tried to
13 Charged in Philadelphia Body Shop’s Insurance Fraud/Theft Scheme
An insurance fraud and theft ring operating out of a Philadelphia body shop was broken up recently by the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation Organized Crime Eastern Task Force Unit. Attorney General Tom Corbett said the investigation, which began in November 2008, focused on Phillip "Phil" Sessa, of Ventnor, N.J., the owner and
Five Florida Allstate/State Farm Adjusters Arrested in $5 Million Fraud Scheme
Five former insurance company claims adjusters for State Farm and Allstate were arrested in Florida last week for their roles in several auto insurance fraud schemes that relied on the cooperation of vehicle owners and collision repair shops, NBC Miami reported. The arrests stem from an investigation by the Hialeah Police Auto Theft Unit, Miami-Dade
California Governor Vetoes Crash Part Disclosure/Airbag Fraud Bill
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed S.B. 427 on Sept. 24. The legislation, proposed by California State Sen. Negrete McLeod, D-Chino, would increase penalties for failing to repair airbags and require repairers to disclose whether OEM or non-OEM parts are used in a repair. The bill’s language condemned perpetrators of airbag fraud, stating that those who
Rhode Island Governor Signs Airbag Fraud Prevention Act
Rhode Island Gov. Donald L. Carcieri has signed SB 2514, the Automobile Airbag Fraud Prevention Act. The act was introduced in February by Sens. Joshua Miller, D-District 28, and David Bates, R-District 32. The new law seeks to combat airbag fraud. The act outlines the actions that would constitute “deceptive trade practices,” including when: •
Crash Part Disclosure/Airbag Fraud Bill Passes California Senate
California S.B. 427, which would increase penalties for failing to repair airbags and require repairers to disclose whether OEM or non-OEM parts are used in a repair, passed the California Senate and now awaits a signature from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The bill requires all work done and parts supplied by an automotive repair dealer to
Pennsylvania Legislator Proposes Motor Vehicle Airbag Fraud Prevention Act
Pennsylvania Rep. Matthew Bradford, D-District 70, has introduced a bill to penalize fraudulent practices regarding airbag installation and reinstallation. The legislation includes penalties for those who: (1) install or reinstall, as part of a motor vehicle inflatable occupant restraint system, an object in lieu of an airbag, including a light manipulating system; (2) sell or
California DA Charges 53 Body Shop Employees with Insurance Fraud in Sting Operation
The Orange County, Calif., District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) has charged 53 defendants in Operation Straight Body following a five-month undercover sting by the OCDA Automobile Insurance Fraud Unit targeting auto body repair facilities engaging in insurance fraud. Between January and May 2010, the OCDA conducted 152 undercover operations throughout Orange County. The targets for this
Florida Claims Adjuster, Four Others Arrested in Insurance Fraud Scam
Suspects accused of stealing more than $240,000 using phony auto insurance claims.
CA Insurance Commissioner’s Cousin Charged with Insurance Fraud, Embezzlement Totaling $300,000
Auto insurance claims adjuster Paul Poizner, cousin of California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner, has been charged with 60 counts of auto insurance fraud and embezzlement, the Los Angeles Times reported. Paul Poizner, an adjuster for California Casualty Management, is accused of submitting auto claims totaling more than the repair cost and pocketing the difference –