Firm Charged With Fraud in Indiana Gets Off With Fines, Fees

April 20, 2009

The owner of a Florida-based repair company accused of faking hail damage to drum up business after a 2006 storm in Indiana agreed to $660 in fines and fees in return for dropped charges, prosecutors say.

Indianapolis, Ind., prosecutors dropped insurance fraud charges against CPM Construc-tion President Joseph M. Rad-cliff after he accepted a diversion agreement in which he admitted there was probable cause for his arrest on a charge of misdemeanor criminal mischief, but didn’t admit any guilt.

Radcliff was charged last fall with 14 felony counts, including corrupt business influence, criminal mischief, insurance fraud and theft. Prosecutors had alleged that CPM Construction offered free wind- or hail-damage inspections to potential customers following a massive hailstorm that damaged thousands of Indianapolis roofs. Employees then allegedly damaged shingles and siding – sometimes using golf balls in socks – and the company would try to arrange insurance claims to pay for repairs, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors say witnesses later revised statements and in some cases backed out. Defense attorneys said the agreement shows prosecutors never had much of a case.

Topics Fraud

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Insurance Journal Magazine April 20, 2009
April 20, 2009
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