| News News Archive  Email A Friend
April 22, 2024
California Division of Workers’ Compensation Posts Updated Time of Hire Notice April 22, 2024
Sullivan on Comp Launches ChatSOC. It's an Innovative Chatbot for California Workers' Compensation Professionals Integrated with an Authoritative Legal Treatise April 19, 2024
Workers Compensation Bill 2024: One percent of employee’s salary to contribute to workers’ compensation fund in Kenya. April 15, 2024
Colorado Worker Shows Head Injury Happened as a Consequence of a Knock on the Head at Work
| | Los Angeles Insurance Broker Sentenced After Stealing Clients' Premiums, Including A Construction Company's Work Comp Premiums
By Lonce LaMon, from the News Release of the California Department Of Insurance - December 25, 2015
A former Los Angeles insurance broker was sentenced earlier this week after she stole clients’ premiums including one construction company owner’s workers’ compensation premiums. Mia Chang, 51, the owner of Lotte Insurance Services formerly at 3470 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, 90010, was arrested last June 2015 after she closed her business and disappeared for about three years after the owner of the construction company confronted her.
After being sentenced to three years of formal probation and 200 hours of community service, Mia Chang returned $19,218 in premiums with interest to the construction company owner.
"Chang violated her clients' trust when she stole their premiums and left them vulnerable to financial loss," said Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones. "Liability falls on the employer if they do not have workers' compensation insurance and a worker is injured on the job."
After receiving a letter from a collection agency for nonpayment of premium, the construction company owner contacted Chang who assured him there had been an error, that he was still insured and issued him a bogus insurance certificate. The victim remained suspicious, contacted the insurance company and discovered he had been uninsured for several months.
Unaware of the resources available to help him, the victim did not file a complaint with the California Department of Insurance until two years after the premium theft was discovered. By the time the victim requested help, the department had already revoked Chang's license and she was convicted of grand theft for stealing premiums from five businesses and one individual. The department launched a new investigation and a warrant for Chang's arrest was issued, which she evaded for over three years until investigators located and arrested her in La Quinta in June 2015.
Consumers and businesses should always contact the insurance company directly to verify their coverage and should report suspected fraud immediately to the department. Consumers can file a request for assistance online at insurance.ca.gov or by calling 800-927-HELP.
from the News Release issued by the California Department of Insurance, December 23, 2015
|
__May11th2017.gif)
.gif)