Fraud of the Week
Public Adjuster Fraud – Louisiana
Amount – $267,441.43
The Office of Insurance Fraud at the Louisiana Department of Insurance has issued a cease-and-desist order and notice of summary suspension to a non-resident public adjuster for intentionally and knowingly supplying false or fraudulent information to the department, and for withholding, misappropriating or converting monies while conducting insurance business. A total of $267,441.43 was withheld from the policyholders of two claims; investigators discovered the policyholders had not been paid and that the adjusting company's bank account did not have the funds to cover the checks the adjuster claimed he was paying. The licenses of both the adjuster and the company have been revoked and a $50,000 fine has been ordered.
Christine G. Barlow, CPCU
Christine G. Barlow, CPCU, is Executive Editor of FC&S Expert Coverage Interpretation, a division of National Underwriter Company and Arc Network. Christine has over thirty years’ experience in the insurance industry, beginning as a claims adjuster then working as an underwriter and underwriting supervisor handling personal lines. Christine regularly presents and moderates webinars on a variety of topics and is an experienced presenter.