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$3.9 Million Verdict Sends Strong Anti Fraud Message

Facts at a glance:
•An Orlando jury returned a verdict yesterday ordering Irving Colvin, M.D., Robert Colvin, and Physicians Injury Care Center (PICC) to pay State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company® $3.9 million in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages.


•The State Farm lawsuit claimed PICC (and owners Dr. Irving Colvin and Robert Colvin) created a pre-determined treatment protocol for auto accident patients with a one-size-fits-all application in order to maximize payment to the clinic.


•The unanimous jury found Robert Colvin, Dr. Irving Colvin, and PICC liable for Fraud, Unjust Enrichment, and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.


•Insurance fraud costs the property-casualty insurance industry--and its customers--about $30 billion a year according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB).
Read the original press release by clicking here



Helpful Links


http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/claim_center/ins_claims_fraud.asp - for more information from State Farm about reporting fraud.


Full Story


Florida - In a verdict yesterday, an Orlando jury ordered Irving Colvin, M.D., Robert Colvin, and Physicians Injury Care Center (PICC) to pay State Farm Mutual Auto Insurance Company® $3.9 million in compensatory damages and $750,000 in punitive damages. The court also released State Farm and its customers from any obligation to pay outstanding medical bills from PICC.


According to State Farm’s lawsuit, PICC (and owners Dr. Irving Colvin and Robert Colvin) created a pre-determined treatment protocol with a one-size-fits-all application for patients who came into their office following an automobile accident. The treatment protocol was rarely altered to meet the individual recovery needs of the patient. The protocol was designed to maximize payment to the clinic.


In returning the verdict in favor of State Farm, a unanimous jury found Robert Colvin, Dr. Irving Colvin, and PICC liable for Fraud, Unjust Enrichment and violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.


"We hope this verdict sends a loud and clear message to those who choose to commit insurance fraud,” said Russ Kile, State Farm Special Investigative Unit Claim Section Manager for Florida. “State Farm is committed to fighting insurance fraud.” Nationally, State Farm has more than 1,300 employees in 160 special units who investigate suspicious claims and work with law enforcement, the NICB and state fraud bureaus to combat the insurance fraud problem.

Fraud drives up the cost of insurance, and can add $200 to $300 to insurance premiums paid by the average American household. Insurance fraud costs the property-casualty insurance industry--and its customers—more than $30 billion a year, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The NICB works with law enforcement to curb insurance fraud and organized vehicle theft.


Contact: Michal Connolly, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist, (863) 318-3088
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