The California Department of Insurance (CDI) has announced that Michael Keklikian, 38, was arrested by investigators from the Department of Insurance Fraud Division. Keklikian was arrested on a $30,000 felony warrant charging him with one count of Penal Code Section 550 (a) (1), insurance fraud. If convicted, Keklikian could face up to five years in state prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000 or double the amount of the fraud.
According to investigators, Michael Keklikian, a licensed chiropractor with a practice in Glendale, Calif., suffered a water loss on July 7, 2004 at his residence in Northridge, Calif. The loss resulted in damage to several rooms in the residence. He submitted an estimate for repairs to State Farm Insurance in the amount of $168,443. The estimate was on the letterhead of contractor Martin Nehme (DBA: Universal Tile). State Farm paid the claim based on the estimate. Dr. Keklikian contacted State Farm and advised that he had additional damage and provided a supplemental estimate in the amount of $38,604. The supplemental estimate was also submitted on the letterhead of contractor Martin Nehme.
The investigation revealed that both estimates submitted by Dr. Keklikian were fraudulent, CDI said. Contractor Martin Nehme was interviewed and he stated he did not prepare or sign the estimates submitted by Dr. Keklikian. Nehme stated that he was hired by Dr. Keklikian to perform tile work repair and only provided a contract for $13,000 for the completed work. The case was completed by Investigators from CDI’s Valencia Regional Office and is being prosecuted by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Topics California Fraud
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