ATTORNEY NEWSLETTER
Insurance Agent Accused Of Stealing $200,000 In Premium Payments
32 Victims Including Many Seniors
Allegations Of Forgery And Falsified Documents
Seniors are vulnerable to financial elder abuse from all kinds of individuals and businesses, including insurance agents who can swindle seniors out of money. An insurance agent’s financial abuse of senior consumers may constitute theft and larceny under general Penal Code provisions and also crimes against seniors particularly. See Penal Code § 368. The individual or business will also be civilly liable for the financial elder abuse. See Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15610.30. Evans Law Firm, Inc. represents seniors in Napa and throughout California who have been victims of financial elder abuse by any persons or businesses, including insurance agents and agencies. If you or a loved one have been the victim of any kind of financial elder abuse in Napa or elsewhere in California, call us today at (415)441-8669 and we can help. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
Insurance Agent Arrested
In one recently reported case,[1] a former insurance broker was arrested on 90 felony counts including grand theft, insurance fraud, financial elder abuse, and forgery for allegedly collecting premiums and failing to place insurance coverage for her customers resulting in $183,047 in stolen premium payments from 32 victims, many of whom were seniors, over the span of eight years. The agent allegedly attempted to cover up the theft by providing her clients with fraudulent insurance documents as proof of insurance when no such coverage existed. She also allegedly transacted insurance without a license. The agent’s alleged fraudulent actions of overbilling, receiving excessive premium payments, and failing to remit the premiums to the insurance companies, resulted in many policies cancelling for nonpayment. The agent is also accused of diverting premium refunds to herself.
Steps To Prevent Abuse
Isolated seniors are particularly vulnerable to this kind of fraud because they have no trusted person reviewing paperwork presented to them by insurance agents or others. Always accompany a senior when they meet with any insurance agent or financial advisor. Staying involved in a senior loved one’s life is really the only way to ward off these kinds of financial predators. Keep an eye on a senior’s insurance policies, bank accounts and all financial statements to make sure they do not enter any transaction without talking it over with you or a professional. If you suspect any financial elder abuse, call Evans Law Firm immediately. We will pursue all available remedies against those responsible for the abuse, including an award of attorneys’ fees and costs for bringing your suit. Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 15657.5.
Contact Us
If you or a loved one has been the victim of financial elder abuse here in Napa or elsewhere in California, call Ingrid M. Evans at (415) 441-8669, or email us at info@evanslaw.com. Our toll-free number is 1-888-50EVANS (888-503-8267).
[1] Evans Law Firm, Inc. was not involved in the case in any way.
