Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and the California Department of Insurance asked, for the third time in three years, that the Fraud Assessment Commission approve a one-time realignment of how anti-fraud funds are divided between CDI and county District Attorneys. CDI argued for a bigger piece of the pie given that the DAs were again leaving …
Orange County Superior Court judge Israel Claustro agreed to plead guilty to federal charges that he defrauded the California workers’ comp system, in particular the Subsequent Injuries Benefits Trust Fund, …
The California Department of Insurance will hold a public meeting to discuss potential changes to regulations governing insurance fraud grant programs. The agency has developed draft regulations to standardize oversight of programs that grant California’s district attorneys funding to pursue insurance fraud. “The proposed regulations aim to standardize the management of grant programs administered by …
Federal officials filed an eight-count federal indictment naming seven staffing industry executives as defendants. The case alleges a scheme to pocket payroll taxes from client employers and workers, and to cheat workers’ comp carriers out of premium. Proceeds from the $90 million scheme allegedly went toward buying real estate, luxury cars, expensive vacations, and other …
The California Department of Insurance Fraud Assessment Commission (FAC) voted to hold the anti-fraud assessment steady next year. That marks the third year the Commission has voted not to increase the employer assessment for fraud fighting. The Commission may review a potential one-time shift in the funding split between District Attorneys and CDI’s Fraud division …
The California State Bar states that a convicted attorney did more than just provide bookkeeping services to a workers’ compensation fraud scheme; it also alleges that he provided legal services that furthered the fraud. The Bar maintains that these actions warrant much more than the public warning originally issued and is again asking a State …
Tehama County, its District Attorney Matt Rogers, County Sheriff Dave Kain, and other county officials are facing a federal lawsuit alleging conspiracy and malicious prosecution stemming from the failed prosecution of a former county correctional officer for workers’ comp insurance fraud. Factual Innocence The fraud charges against Yvette Bline were dismissed for lack of evidence …
The Tulare County District Attorney’s office slashed its workers’ comp anti-fraud program to a single, part-time deputy district attorney (DDA) and will no longer handle its own investigations of suspected workers’ comp fraud in any of its various forms. It substantially decreased its request for funding. The move comes against a rise in violent crime, …