The investigative media is whistleblowing on Florida’s insurance coverage officers for not conducting a full and immediate investigation into insurance coverage fraud by insurance coverage firms. They seem like investigating and searching for proof on the identical charge as Florida’s insurance coverage firms alter claims. The story, Yearlong Case of Alleged Hurricane Insurance coverage Fraud, Underpaid Claims Nonetheless Levies No Penalties, famous the next:

WESH 2 Investigates has discovered that one of many circumstances involving allegations of insurance coverage firm fraud, which can have led to underpayment of claims to owners following main storms, has been closed.

…

Regardless of Chief Monetary Officer Jimmy Patronis informed WESH 2 in a number of interviews in the course of the previous 9 months that his ‘crew’ is investigating the allegations, not one of the adjusters we talked with say they’ve been referred to as, emailed, or contacted in any approach.

Let’s give a spherical of applause to Florida’s politicians, who appear to have mastered the artwork of cozying up with insurance coverage trade bigwigs. It’s like they’ve taken ‘defending your belongings’ to an entire new stage – particularly if these belongings belong to the insurance coverage firms!

So, think about you’re invited to play detective in an exciting story of insurance coverage fraud. You get all of the goodies: secret paperwork, spicy emails, intriguing texts, and even a juicy witness assertion. It’s like being in a thriller novel, besides you’re the hero with the magnifying glass. However right here’s the twist – no one, and I imply no one, desires to speak with the whistleblower witness. Properly, besides the media as a result of, let’s face it, they love scandal.

It’s virtually as if there’s an unstated rule: ‘See no evil, hear no evil, however by all means, let’s not speak to the one who noticed and heard the whole lot!’ It’s comedy gold, of us. Or perhaps it’s a technique? ‘Ignore the whistleblower, and perhaps they’ll simply go away.’ However alas, on the planet of scandals and secrets and techniques, the reality has a approach of surfacing, typically with a microphone and a digicam crew in tow.

So, hats off to our flesh pressers and their insurance coverage friends for his or her Oscar-worthy efficiency in ‘Fake It’s Not Taking place.’ Coming quickly to a information outlet close to you!

Step one of a felony investigation when a witness is offered usually includes interviewing the witness. This course of is essential because it permits investigators to assemble preliminary info, which will be pivotal in shaping the route of the investigation. Right here’s how this step is usually approached:

1. Preliminary Contact and Evaluation: The investigator first makes contact with the witness to determine a rapport. That is vital for making the witness really feel snug and prepared to share info. This seems to be no downside since two of them are on the information.
2. Info Gathering: The investigator will ask the witness about what they noticed. This consists of questions in regards to the incident’s time, location, description of suspects or autos, and some other related particulars. The objective is to assemble as a lot factual info as potential.
3. Verification of Info: The investigator might attempt to corroborate the witness’s account with different proof, comparable to surveillance footage, bodily proof, or statements from different witnesses. A lot of this has already been given to the investigators by the American Policyholders Affiliation and Doug Quinn.
4. Documentation: The investigator paperwork the witness’s statements, both in written kind or by way of audio/video recording, making certain accuracy and completeness for future reference.
5. Evaluation of Credibility: The investigator assesses the credibility of the witness, contemplating elements like consistency of the story, demeanor, and potential motives for offering false info.
6. Observe-Up Questions and Clarifications: If wanted, the investigator will ask follow-up inquiries to make clear any ambiguities or inconsistencies within the witness’s account.

This preliminary interview with a witness lays the muse for the investigation. It helps kind a preliminary understanding of the incident and guides subsequent investigative steps, comparable to gathering bodily proof, searching for further witnesses, and creating potential leads.

To be truthful, official investigators don’t usually inform the general public the whole lot they’re doing. Additional, one whistleblower seems to have gone MIA.

Alternatively, my private expertise, as famous in Are Florida’s Division of Monetary Service Investigators Competent or Merely Refusing to Examine Alleged Insurance coverage Firm Corruption? and Chip Merlin Busted By Florida Insurance coverage Investigators! suggests different motives. You simply must surprise in regards to the motivations behind the Florida legislature and its leaders not holding hearings in regards to the DFS and its competency to control the insurance coverage trade. The tales from the media about insurance coverage policyholders not having claims paid and outrageous premium will increase appear to fall on deaf ears. Do the Republicans in control of the legislature and the manager branches care?

To be citizen attempting to assist, the DFS investigators can now discover Ben Mandell at Dino’s Cookies. Dino’s Cookies has some implausible treats for the vacation season. I encourage readers of this weblog to order some cookies and ship Ben Mandell a notice of thanks for standing as much as the insurance coverage trade’s disgraceful claims dealing with of Hurricane Ian claims.

Thought For The Day

When you make listening and commentary your occupation, you’ll achieve rather more than you’ll be able to by speak.

—Robert Baden Powell