May 6, 2019
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Tiffany Rennie, of Everett, pleaded guilty in King County Superior Court on May 3 to one felony charge of filing a false insurance claim after an auto collision. Rennie was sentenced to serve 12 months of work/education release in lieu of jail starting June 3, and to pay court fees and restitution to be determined at a later date.
Officials charged Rennie after an investigation by Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler’s Criminal Investigations Unit (CIU).
According to Kreidler’s investigation, Rennie’s uninsured vehicle was in a multicar collision in May 2017 while being driven by Rennie’s child. After the collision, Rennie reinstated her Progressive auto policy that had been canceled for nonpayment in April 2017 and then filed a claim for the damage to the car. Progressive denied Rennie’s claim when it determined the car was damaged before she reinstated the policy. Progressive referred the case to Kreidler’s CIU, as required by state law.
Kreidler’s CIU investigates insurance fraud and works with the Washington State Patrol and state and local prosecutors on criminal cases. Insurance fraud costs the average family $400 to $700 per year in increased premiums. Insurance companies are required by law to report fraud to the commissioner.
Consumers can report suspected insurance fraud on the insurance commissioner’s website.