Texas lawyer sentenced for insurance fraud involving roof claims

This story is reprinted with permission from FC&S Legal, the industry’s only comprehensive digital resource designed for insurance coverage law professionals. Visit the website to subscribe.

A former Texas attorney is headed to prison on charges of insurance fraud and barratry for a scheme involving fraudulent lawsuits filed after hail storms.

A judge in Tarrant County sentenced R. Kent Livesay to five years in prison after he pled guilty to the crimes.

Filed lawsuits against insurance companies over roof claims

A Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) investigation led to the charges against the former attorney, who at one time had offices in McAllen and Arlington. Investigators found multiple cases where Livesay had filed lawsuits against insurance companies over roof claims following storms without the homeowners’ knowledge or consent.

Along with the prison time, Livesay agreed to pay restitution to victims and testify against other participants in the scheme. Livesay also had to surrender his law license.

The case was prosecuted by Tarrant County Assistant Criminal District Attorney Matt Smid. “It was a great team effort by Tarrant County prosecutors and the TDI investigators,” said Smid. “We hope this sentence sends a message that this conduct will not be tolerated in our county.”

Fighting insurance fraud

Tarrant County is one of six locations around the state where TDI has embedded prosecutors and investigators in district attorneys’ offices focused on fighting insurance fraud.

TDI investigators are certified peace officers and work with law enforcement authorities around the state.

Related: Texas insurer sues public adjuster & lawyer for storm-related insurance fraud

Steven A. Meyerowitz, Esq., (smeyerowitz@meyerowitzcommunications.com) is director of FC&S Legal, editor-in-chief of Insurance Coverage Law Report, and founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc.