MEDIA – A Pennsylvania insurance company has filed legal action alleging one of its policyholders committed insurance fraud, in the wake of a motor vehicle accident in New York City about a year and a half ago.
Donegal Mutual Insurance Company of Marietta filed suit in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas on July 28 versus Raymond Vernon of Hollis, N.Y.
Per the litigation, Vernon purchased a personal auto insurance policy from the plaintiff on Dec. 31, 2014 and listed his address as being in Upper Darby – later renewing the policy under the pretenses that he resided in and maintained his vehicle in Pennsylvania.
On Feb. 13, 2016, Vernon notified Donegal Mutual that he was involved in an automobile accident while driving the insured vehicle, in the vicinity of Baisley Boulevard in Queens, N.Y.
The suit says when police responded to the accident, Vernon told them his address was located in Hollis, N.Y., but again represented to his insurance company that his address was in Upper Darby.
Following the accident, Vernon made a claim to Donegal Mutual for payment for damages to his vehicle and for payment of medical bills for injuries he claimed were caused by the accident.
However, the litigation states Vernon was later questioned under oath and admitted his residential address was not in Upper Darby when the accident occurred, nor was it located there when he purchased or renewed his insurance policy with Donegal Mutual. Further, the suit accuses Vernon of trying to procure his policy at a lower cost by claiming he lived in Pennsylvania.
For a single count of insurance fraud, the plaintiff is seeking damages not in excess of $50,000.00, plus attorney’s fees, costs and any other relief the Court deems necessary, in this matter.
The plaintiff is represented by Gino P. Mecoli of Reilly Janiczek McDevitt Henrich & Cholden, in Philadelphia.
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas case 2017-006695
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com