In December 2009, the mirror of a SEPTA bus clipped the mirror of an armored car at 15th and Walnut Streets. The bump was barely noticible, SEPTA officials reported. The bus received a small scratch. No injuries were immediately noted.
http://liarcatchers.com/insurance_fraud.html
But following the incident, SEPTA received multiple claims from people – all represented by the same attorney – stating they were injured in the “crash,” prosecutors said.
The combined medical bills for neck and back injuries and pain management totaled $80,000. SEPTA annually pays out about $40 million in claims, a spokesman said.
Their attorney also allegedly filed claims with Brinks, even though the armored car was owned by rival Loomis. Even when informed that the Brinks company was not involved, the attorney allegedly continued to press Brinks for claims, prosecutors said.
Recall those surveillance cameras. The Route 21 bus involved in the incident had several of them. Each offered a different view of the bus’ riders and the surroundings.
They showed that only two of the claimants, Lorraine Huff and Malik Spivey, had been on the bus, according to prosecutors.
Also on the video, a passerby Eric Lovett, is seen on video outside the bus, requesting an “incident card,” officials said.
According to prosecutors, Lovett allegedly enlisted five other people he found on the street or in his North Philadelphia neighborhood and convinced them to file for monetary injuries, prosecutors said.
“Some of these people were at home and the runner enlisted them to file claims,” said spokeswoman Tasha Jamerson.
This may be a bus they all may wish they had missed. They were all arrested last month, between Sept. 20 and 27.
Prosecutors declined to identify the attorney, noting that charges have not been filed against him.
The District Attorney’s Office today charged the eight people with insurance fraud, criminal conspiracy and related counts. The defendants include Kitt Smith, 48; Avis Jackson, 56; Spivey, 21; Lovett, 46; and Stephanie Williams, 36. Also charged and facing additional perjury counts are Huff, 45; Faith Rowley, 46; and Arthur Whaley, 55.
The surveillance cameras, which have been installed on about 60 percent of SEPTA’s bus fleet in recent years, have made a sizable dent in suspect claims, said spokesman Andrew Busch.
In the 2011 fiscal year, SEPTA received 5,219 claims. This year, that number was down about 10 percent to 4,656.
“We do believe the surveillance video system has proved to be a major asset in our fight against fraud,” Busch said. “These are the best witness we could possibly have.”
All are scheduled for a court appearance at the Criminal Justice Center on Oct. 15.
