Friday, August 21, 2009

WESTERN NEWS ZONE......

A.M. Best Co. will exhibit at booth #206 at the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Annual Meeting and Seminars, set for Aug. 29–Sept. 1 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel in Denver, Colo. Visitors to A.M. Best’s booth can speak with company representatives, see product demonstrations and pick up informational brochures.


While at A.M. Best’s booth, attendees will learn how they can:

  • Examine in-depth analysis of insurers, reinsurers and groups with the new online Best’s Insurance Reports® – Property/CasualtyUnited States & Canada

  • Underwrite with confidence using Best’s Underwriting & Loss Control Center

  • Perform targeted analysis and strategic planning using the aggregated data contained in Best’s Aggregates & Averages – Property/Casualty – Online


  • Obtain additional information about A.M. Best's property/casualty products and more by visiting A.M. Best booth #206 at the CPCU Annual Meeting and Seminars, or by visiting www.ambest.com/sales.

More information about the conference is available at www.cpcusociety.org.


  • Ventura County (Calif.) District Attorney Gregory Totten announced that Paul Lafflitio (DOB 6/25/1984) of Simi Valley was sentenced after previously pleading guilty to felony evading a peace officer and felony auto insurance fraud.

  • Lafflitio was placed on formal probation for three years and ordered to serve 218 days in the Ventura County jail. He was ordered to pay restitution of $1,278 to Alliance United Insurance Company and an additional $1,592 to the property owners where he crashed his truck.

  • On March 25, 2009, at 9 p.m., two Simi Valley Police Department officers were working undercover in an unmarked patrol vehicle. They were stopped for a red light at the intersection of Sycamore and Royal when they saw a silver Dodge Ram pick-up truck approach the intersection. The Dodge failed to stop for the red light. As the Dodge drove through the intersection, one of the officers shined his spotlight into the cab of the Dodge and got a good look at the driver, Lafflitio. The officers tried to pull over the Dodge but the truck sped away. Lafflitio drove at times between 90 and 100 mph while fleeing from the officers. Because he was driving so fast and recklessly, the officers decided to terminate the pursuit. Minutes later, however, the officers discovered Lafflitio's truck crashed and abandoned on private property off Wood Ranch Parkway.

  • The officers discovered Lafflitio was the registered owner of the truck and called him. Lafflitio answered his cell phone and told the officers that he was “night-clubbing” in Hollywood . He added the vehicle must have been stolen from where he last parked it in Simi Valley . He said he would come to the police department the following day to report it stolen. Unbeknownst to Lafflitio, both officers got a good look at him driving as the pursuit began.

  • Additionally, cell phone tracking evidence placed Lafflitio in Simi Valley at the time of the pursuit, not in Hollywood as he told the officers. When Lafflitio arrived at the Simi Valley Police Department the next day, he was identified and arrested.

  • The officers subsequently learned that prior to arriving at the police department, Lafflitio called Alliance United Insurance Company and falsely reported his vehicle was stolen.

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