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Commissioner Steve Poizner's Task Force On Insurance Fraud Holds Inaugural Session.
First-of-It's-Kind Panel Of Experts Convened by Commissioner Poizner To Work On Eliminating $500 million dollar "Fraud
Tax" In California, Protecting Consumers And Stimulating Economy.
Editors Note: Where are any representatives of injured worker advocacy on this task force? After all, these members
of big business glorify injured workers as the #1 fraudsters in the state even though injured worker fraud is less than
1%. Some of the employers of members on these committees are the proximate cause of much of the insurer fraud that we
see today. Where is Commissioner Poizner when injured workers come to the DOI with their prima facie complaints of fraud
committed by these insurers?
SACRAMENTO - Today the Advisory Task Force on Insurance Fraud (Task Force), the first of its kind created by a California
insurance commissioner, held its inaugural meeting. The Task Force is an integral part of Commissioner Steve Poizner's
2007 Strategic Plan for the California Department of Insurance (CDI). The Task Force brings together public and private
sector experts to develop innovative methods to combat insurance fraud, forwarding an aggressive anti-fraud campaign
introduced by the Commissioner.
"California's diverse, $118 billion insurance industry and large population make the Golden State a golden opportunity
for criminals," stated Commissioner Poizner. "We need to be bold and creative if we are to lessen the lure of insurance
fraud."
The Task Force's members include leaders from consumer protection groups as well as the judiciary, law enforcement
community, and insurance industry.
"Insurance business is a significant driver in the California economy. Unfortunately, fraud is a major cost-driver in
the insurance system," added Commissioner Poizner. "These crimes impose a $500 'fraud tax' on every man, woman and child
in California. By attacking insurance fraud, we can stimulate our economy."
Insurance fraud costs California consumers and businesses an estimated $15 billion per year.
The Task Force is comprised of a Working Committee, which will produce findings and recommendations, and a Blue Ribbon
Review Committee, which will approve the findings and recommendations in a final report.
Convening for one year before issuing its report in December 2007, the Task Force will address five major issues:
- Efficiency of the CDI Fraud Division,
- Anti-fraud efforts by the insurance industry,
- Review criminal and regulatory statutes dealing with insurance fraud,
- New technology for the investigatory process, and
- Outreach efforts by the CDI Fraud Division.
Blue Ribbon Review Committee members are:
- Mike Brown, Commissioner, California Highway Patrol.
- Robert Bryant, President & CEO, National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
- Steve Cooley, District Attorney, Los Angeles County.
- Bonnie Dumanis, District Attorney, San Diego County.
- Hon. Harry Low, Justice (ret.), California Appellate Court / Former Insurance Commissioner.
- John McGinness, Sheriff, Sacramento County.
- Jan Scully, District Attorney, Sacramento County.
- David Snowden, Chief of Police, Beverly Hills.
- Allan Zaremberg, California Chamber of Commerce.
Working Committee members are:
- Eric von Geldern, Deputy District Attorney, Consumer & Environmental Protection Division, Alameda County.
- Diane Ortmann, Claims Processing Expert, Allstate Insurance Company.
- Dan Brogdon, Manager, Special Investigations Unit, Auto Club of Southern California.
- Timothy Evans, Manager, Special Investigations Unit, California Casualty Management Company.
- Christine Baker, Executive Officer, Commission on Health & Safety and Worker's Compensation, California Department
of Industrial Relations.
- Kathleen Webb, Insurance Advisor to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, California State & Consumer Services Agency.
- Jerry Galiotto, Manager, Special Investigations Unit, California State Automobile Association.
- Dennis Jay, Executive Director, Coalition Against Insurance Fraud.
- Zhenya Kirueshkin-Stepanoff, State & Local Specialist, Government Solutions, Dun & Bradstreet.
- Jack Teagarden, Regional Claims Manager, Special Investigations Unit, Liberty Mutual.
- Darlyn Regan, Manager, Fraud Investigation Program, State Compensation Insurance Fund.
- Alan Haskins, Anti-fraud Coordinator, National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
- Erik Laykin, Director, Navigant Consulting.
- Bob Wilson, Membership Coordinator, NICB.
- Joe Malikow, Director, Special Investigations Unit, Praetorian Financial.
- Bill Zachry, Vice President, Corporate Worker's Compensation, Safeway, Inc.
- Dominic Dugo, Deputy District Attorney, Fraud Division, San Diego County.
- Michael Bynum, Manager, Special Investigations Unit, Fire Claims, State Farm Fire and Casualty Co.
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