N.J. Man 'Falls' Into Fraud Scam; Charged Newspaper Delivery Person Responsible for Injury

February 9, 2005

New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice Director Vaughn McKoy announced that an Ocean County man has pleaded guilty to charges of perjury and falsifying records as part of a phony "slip and fall" bodily injury lawsuit.

According to McKoy and Insurance Fraud Prosecutor Greta Gooden-Brown, Robert P. Scott, 55, of Point Pleasant, Ocean County, pleaded guilty before Monmouth County Superior Court Judge Bette Uhrmacher to a criminal Accusation filed by the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor.

The Accusation charged Scott with perjury (3rd degree) and falsifying records (4th degree). When sentenced on May 20, Scott faces up to six and half years in state prison and a fine of up to $35,000. In addition, the Division of Criminal Justice - Office of Insurance Fraud Prosecutor will seek more than $10,000 in restitution from the defendant.

At the guilty plea hearing, Scott reportedly admitted that between Nov. 19, 2001 and March 21, 2003, he filed a false slip and fall law suit against the Asbury Park Press newspaper.

In the lawsuit, Scott asserted that, as he was attempting to retrieve a copy of the Asbury Park Press from his front porch, he "slipped and fell," which resulted in physical injuries. Specifically, Scott claimed in depositions and interrogations that the newspaper was "negligently" placed on his front porch by an Asbury Park Press newspaper delivery person and, as a result of the placement, he fell and injured himself.

An investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice determined that Scott lied under oath in the depositions and interrogatories.

While the lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Ronald Lee Reisner of Monmouth County on March 21, 2003, the Asbury Park Press spent in excess of $10,000 defending Scott's fraudulent claim.