Southeast Edition Florida Georgia Alabama Mississippi
29
YEARS
www.autobodynews.com ww ww.autobodynews.com
Raid on Tampa Medical Clinic is Latest Pushback on Staged-Crash Medical Fraud
A West Tampa, Fla., medical clinic was raided and shut down, and four people were charged with racketeering offenses, as Florida officials continue to combat staged auto accidents and bogus medical clinics. The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office raided Medical Rehab Choice at 3615 West Waters Ave in Tampa, earlier this month as part of a three-month undercover probe into staged car crashes and medical clinic fraud. Investigators uncovered evidence that people involved in staging auto accidents were associated with the clinic, and also found discrepancies in medical bills submitted to auto insurers for treatments that suppos-
edly occurred, according to a statement from Direct General Insurance Co., which is supporting law enforcement efforts. Jacqueline Rosales, 27, a receptionist, and Sugeidi Serrano, 32, a licensed medical technician, were arrested during the raid on charges of operating a racketeering influenced corrupt organization (RICO), according to the statement. Others facing RICO charges in connection with the alleged scheme include Juan Martinez, 28, the clinic manager, and Ernie Azucey, 25, also a licensed medical technician, the statement said. The racketeering charges
Florida-based consulting firm Auto Damage Experts, Inc (ADE)—known for its vehicle appraisal expertise— has established a “Collision Industry Legal Defense Fund” nominally designed to support Ray Gunder’s case but intended to expand to other collision-related litigation in future. The president of ADE, Barrett R. Smith, in a personal communication to Autobody News, explained the fund: “The fund was initially set-up with the sole intent to provide financial assistance to Gunder’s Auto Center for their ongoing legal action against State Farm for slander and
Tortious interference. We hope and anticipate the fund will grow to be available to others even before Gunder’s vs. State Farm is resolved; however this remains to be seen based upon the response and level of support it receives. We all know one distinct advantage insurers have and employ in such litigation is the ability to outspend and out-time the plaintiffs. Someone once told me that: Litigation is like two men sticking their heads in a bucket of water and the first one who comes up for air loses. The “Collision Industry Legal
See Raid, Page 15
Gunder Update on Case Against State Farm, Legal Defense Fund Established
See Gunder Case, Fund, Page 11
VOL. 1 ISSUE 7 SEPTEMBER 2010
California Congresswoman
JACKIE SPEIER
talks with Autobody News about her long-time interests, including finance reform, insurance and automotive repair, replacement parts and steering. Collision repairers nationwide need to pay attention. Here’s why...
“You first came to national prominence as a shooting victim in the prelude to the grisly nine hundred murdersuicides in Jonestown, Guyana, in 1978. At that time you were a 28-year old lawyer and legislative aide accompanying Congressman Leo Ryan to inquire about Jim Jones’ Peoples’ Temple cult. Many of our readers know that five of your party, including Congressman Ryan, were killed, and that you were left for dead for nearly 24 hours before help arrived. What readers likely don’t know is that after your rescue you endured a dozen surgeries to recover from five gunshot wounds, and that you still had bullet fragments in you when you first ran for Congress. Tragedy struck again in 1994 when your first husband was killed when his car was hit by an unlicensed driver with faulty brakes. What no one but you knows is how these horrific experiences shaped your political views and perceptions. Tell us how they did” see page 20 inside
Change Service Requested
P.O. BOX 1400, OCEANSIDE, CA 92051-1400
Presorted Standard US Postage PAID Ontario, Ca. Permit No. 1