Three insurance fraudsters plead guilty after investigations by Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit

07/30/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Three suspects pleaded guilty to insurance fraud in May and June after investigations by Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit. 

The fraud cases included a suspect from Qatar who had been on Kreidler’s Insurance Fraud Most Wanted list since 2013, a home burglary claim with falsified items, and an auto policy purchased after a collision.

Man from Qatar pleads guilty after 10 years on Kreidler’s Most Wanted list

Ahmed Mesbah — of Qatar and formerly from Seattle — pled guilty in King County Superior Court to…

Kreidler fines LifeTime Home Warranty $200,000 for unauthorized business and refusing claims without just cause

07/25/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a cease-and-desist order and fined LifeTime Home Warranty LLC $200,000 for acting as an unauthorized insurer, refusing claims without just cause and failing to respond to the insurance commissioner’s inquiries. 

The order, filed July 25, 2024, bars LifeTime from transacting insurance business or acting as a service contract provider in Washington state. 

LifeTime sold home appliance service contracts in Washington without first registering with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner,…

Kreidler urges caution to homeowners offered an assignment of benefits

07/22/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler urges homeowners to make sure they have all the necessary information before signing a post-claim assignment of benefits agreement. 

An assignment of benefits (AOB) is a contract between a homeowner and a third party that transfers the insurance claim rights and/or benefits in an insurance policy to the third party. This allows the third party — typically a contractor, plumber, roofer or other construction professional — to file the claim, make decisions about home repairs and collect insurance payments…

Kreidler names Jim Odiorne chief deputy insurance commissioner

07/09/2024

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler today announced that Jim Odiorne will return to the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) to serve as the new chief deputy commissioner. 

Odiorne previously served as Kreidler’s Chief Deputy from 2013 to 2018 before he retired. Prior to that he was Deputy Commissioner for Company Supervision from 1996 to 2013. He starts his new role on July 29.

“Jim is widely regarded by the insurance industry and OIC employees as an expert regulator and brings a breadth of experience and knowledge of the issues we face today”…