Mark Di Lauro, a member of the special investigations unit ("SIU") of Mercury Insurance, has been named the 2019 investigator of the year by the Southern California chapter of the International Association of Special Investigation Units ("IASIU").
Mr. Di Lauro, who has been an investigator for Mercury's SIU for nearly three years, was recognized for his work examining a policyholder's reported water loss. His investigation revealed that the loss had, in fact, been staged and his findings saved Mercury nearly $50,000. Additionally, the policyholder was sentenced to 17 years in prison after a criminal trial and ordered to pay more than $900,000 in restitution to various insurance carriers.
"I am very proud of the award," said Mr. Di Lauro. "I would like to think that it not only encompasses this particular claim, but a culmination of claims that we investigate that result in millions of dollars of savings for our policyholders each year. I firmly believe that this was a team award for Mercury SIU and not just my individual award.
"I absolutely enjoy every aspect of this job – the investigation into the claim, the pursuit of fraud, getting into the mind of what the insured is doing, and ultimately protecting our insured from those who are engaging in criminal activity."
Mercury's SIU, which was founded in 1978, consists of 40 investigators in 11 states.
Learn more: http://www.mercuryinsurance.com.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].