This article was taken from: PropertyCasualty360.com
“Everything is not “coming up roses” for a Fontana, Calif. man who is facing workers’ compensation fraud and perjury charges.
Fifty-four-year-old Jose Cortez formerly earned a living as a gardener until Oct. 2010, when a large tree branch fell and landed on him during his shift for L. Barrios & Associates Landscaping. Cortez was then transported to a local hospital and sent home with “minor work restrictions.”
Although Cortez claimed the injuries sustained that day prevented him from completing his customary work duties, at least one person was not convinced. The following year, a tip aroused enough suspicion to initiate video surveillance of Cortez. During the course of the probe, insurance investigators observed Cortez carrying on as if it were business as usual. In fact, investigators documented at least six separate occasions when they saw him performing his normal duties as a gardener without any obvious signs of discomfort.
In Sept. 2012, investigators from the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office Workers’ Compensation Insurance Fraud Unit conducted a thorough criminal investigation, collecting surveillance footage allegedly incriminating Cortez, who was still collecting insurance benefits at the time.
“Mr. Cortez had previously stated that he was unable to perform the full range of his duties,” said Deputy District Attorney Scott Byrd, who is assigned to the case. “However, our investigation revealed that he had misrepresented the extent of his injuries and received more compensation than [to which] he was entitled.”
On Jan. 21, the prosecution filed criminal charges against Cortez, resulting in a felony arrest warrant being issued. Cortez was taken into custody outside his residence without incident by District Attorney Investigators. He was then transported and booked at the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s West Valley Detention Center. On Jan. 22, Cortez entered a plea of “not guilty” in San Bernardino Superior Court.
If convicted as charged, Cortez could enter a system far different from workers’ compensation—namely prison, where he could serve as many as eight years.
“This type of fraud is harmful because it causes premiums that businesses have to pay to go higher,” Byrd says. “It drains business profits, which in turn costs honest workers money in raises or other benefits that they may have been eligible to receive.”
Read more HERE!
For more information about Workers Compensation or to obtain a new policy, simply contact Scurich Insurance Services located in Watsonville, California today at 800-320-3666 and we will be happy to help you.
Scurich Insurance Services did not originally write this content
Read more
We at Scurich Insurance Services located in Watsonville, California, know how troublesome it can be when you apply for an insurance quote. That is why we have launched a program that will make applying for an insurance quote 10 times easier.
Simply visit our Happy Customer Follow-Up page and select the products and services you currently have as well as the ones that you need. Once you press submit we will receive your information and the products and services that you need and one of our agents will contact you!
It’s as easy as that! If you would like to speak with someone directly you can always contact us today at 800-320-3666. Don’t forget to spread this information with your family and friends.
If the link above for the Happy Customer Follow-Up page does not load please copy and paste this link into your browser:
http://aom.imms.com/promotions/startpage.aspx?id=37
Read more
Agriculture Insurance is purchased by agricultural producers, including farmers, ranchers, and others to protect themselves against either the loss of their crops due to natural disasters, such as hail, drought, and floods, or the loss of revenue due to declines in the prices of agricultural commodities. The two general categories of crop insurance are called crop-yield insurance and crop-revenue insurance.
- Crop-hail insurance is generally available from private insurers (in countries with private sectors) because hail is a narrow peril that occurs in a limited place and its accumulated losses tend not to overwhelm the capital reserves of private insurers. The earliest crop-hail programs were begun by farmer’s cooperatives in France and Germany in the 1820s.
- Multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) covers the broad perils of drought, flood, insects, disease, etc., which may affect many insureds at the same time and present the insurer with excessive losses. To make this class of insurance, the perils are often bundled together in a single policy, called a multi-peril crop insurance (MPCI) policy. MPCI coverage is usually offered by a government insurer and premiums are usually partially subsidized by the government. The earliest MPCI program was first implemented by the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation (FCIC), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 1938. The FCIC program has been managed by the Risk Management Agency (RMA), also a U.S. Department of Agriculture agency, since 1996.
If you want to learn more about Scurich Insurance and what they have to offer, click the link to be directed to their website!
[formidable id=21 title=true]
Read more
As you may know, an insurance policy is issued for a limited time, and, at the end of that period, the insurance company renews the policy.
Renewal dates are
important times for insurance companies and policyholders. A renewal date is when a policy period expires and a new policy period begins. Renewal dates typically occur six months or one year after the policy began or the last renewal date occurred.
Policy Changes
- If the insurance company determines that the risk posed by the policyholder has changed, it may amend the policy, add restrictions or terminate coverage. General policy changes that affect all insured’s also take place at policy renewal.
Premium Changes
- A change in risk may also trigger a premium change at renewal. A policyholder who has not filed any claims may see a premium reduction, while a policyholder with several claims may see an increase.
Changing Policies
- If you find a better rate with another company or are unhappy with your company’s service, consider switching policies at renewal. You will avoid cancellation fees that may be imposed for mid-term cancellations.
Be sure to stay up to date with your current insurance policy. Not sure when you need to renew your policy? Simply contact Scurich Insurance Services located in Watsonville, California today at 800-320-3666 and we will be happy to tell you.
Read more
Our Happy Customer program is specially designed to capture your feedback and opinion. If you would also like to share your experience with Scurich Insurance Services, please do participate in Happy Customer. We would love to hear from you!
Here are a few testimonials from some of our Happiest Customers!
| sharon j. watsonville, CA |
|
| We have been with Scurich Insurance for over twenty years and have always been extremely satisfied with the services they provide our company. No high pressure sales pitch, just professionals who work with us to find the right policies to fit our business needs. The entire staff makes us feel as if we are their most important client. A rarity in today’s business climate. |
| Louis I. Corralitos, CA |
|
| Countlessadvertisements depict “Flo”, or a gecko, as possible advocates in theinsurance arena. Hopefully our competitors will take the bait and settle on afictitious character or a reptile to save a few bucks. Our firm sees the valuein the genuine article, the seasoned professional. The Scurich Family hasprovided both insurance products and valued advice to my family for threegenerations. Many uncertainties exist today in business; fortunately, theexcellence with which Scurich Insurance Services serves its clients is not oneof them. Their expertise, as a broker, to competitively shop for coverages, hashelped us manage costs–without unnecessary exposure. We have referred severalfriends and colleagues to the Scurich agency, for both commercial and personallines, all of whom have experienced the same high level of professionalism fromthe partners and their well-trained, courteous staff. I look forward to the daywhen the fourth generations of our two families are able to continue thismutually beneficial relationship.
LouisIvanovich, V.P.
WestLake Fresh, Watsonville, CA |
All of our agents at Scurich Insurance Services will answer any questions that you may have regarding your insurance policy with us. We would like to invite you to take our Happy Customer Survey and tell us why you are a Happy Customer of ours and we would like to invite you to connect with us on Facebook.
Read more
