News Archive

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Edward J. Chadwick, of Yakima, was charged with first-degree theft in Spokane County Superior Court after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

Chadwick was an insurance producer and owned an insurance agency called Kelt, primarily selling insurance to transportation companies. He is accused of fraudulently obtaining 24 insurance premium finance loans totaling $2.8 million from April 2016 through July 2018 from Tepco, a premium finance company based in Spokane. He is accused of obtaining loans on behalf of…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued a fine of $950,000 against ACE American Insurance Co. and Indemnity Insurance Co. of North America for overcharging 18,000 Washington consumers for nearly five years. He ordered the companies to repay $4.7 million – including interest – to policyholders no later than April 15. 

Reimbursements to policyholders will range from less than $1 to over $2,500. 

“We found tens of thousands of law violations among the two companies,” said Kreidler. “The most egregious violations were overcharging consumers…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Charles and Genia Boyles are serving time in jail after pleading guilty to committing life insurance fraud involving the death of their 12-year-old son after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).

Charles Boyles pleaded guilty in Island County Superior Court to first-degree perjury, conspiracy to commit theft--both felonies--and a misdemeanor charge of conspiracy to commit a fraudulent insurance claim. He was ordered to pay $1,217 in court fees and to report to Island County Jail on Dec. 27, where he will…

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Effective Jan. 1, 2020, certain medical providers are prohibited from sending surprise bills to consumers in Washington state under a new law that Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler championed. 

Patients in Washington who receive emergency services or certain services at an in-network hospital or surgical facility cannot be surprise or ‘balance’ billed from an out-of-network provider. 

“For more than a decade, we’ve heard from many people hit with a balance or surprise medical bill,” said Kreidler. “They shared their stories (www.columbian.com)…