Posted On: April 29, 2004, 1:06 pm CDT

Posted By: Ken

Unfortunately, the probation charge is the criminal conviction. The perpetrators should serve actual jail time, be called upon to pay higher criminal fines/penalties, and also be ordered to pay restitution to the insurance carrier (think about the investigative costs incurred by the carrier to determine that this is a fraud case). The Insurance dept. and insurance industry has to do more in regards to publicizing the cost/affect of fraud on the insuring public, as well as the criminal and civil consequences of fraud. Of course, we will need the legislature and the courts to impose harsher penalties.