Listening to a neighbor isn’t always a good idea.
Joan Burns, 63, of Kensington, was arrested Thursday and charged with insurance fraud for claiming to have been hurt when a falling tree limb landed on her car.
Burns’ story changed several times about what happened on Aug. 6, 2011, while she was attending a child’s birthday party about a mile from her home, according to the criminal complaint.
http://liarcatchers.com/fraud_investigation.html
Although she initially told insurance representatives she wasn’t in her S2006 Suzuki Grand Vitari when the limb came down, she later sought medical treatment, obtained legal representation, and began declaring she sustained injuries in the mishap, the complaint alleges.
After witnesses contradicted her version of events, though, she admitted lying about being in the car, saying she “sought treatment because she listened to someone in the neighborhood who told her she could get money by saying she was hurt in the accident,” according to the complaint.
At one point, she claimed to have needed several thousands of dollars’ worth of medical treatments.
Burns was charged with insurance fraud, criminal attempt to commit insurance fraud, and theft by deception.
After her arraignment in district court in West Reading, she was released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 11.
