A Valley Springs, Calif., body shop owner was sentenced to 36 months felony probation, 60 hours of community service, ordered to surrender his Bureau of Automotive Repair (BAR) license and pay approximately $28,000 in restitution after pleading no contest to a single count of insurance fraud in Amador County District court.
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The investigation involved post repair inspections of vehicles repaired by Larry Robbins, owner of Franks Frame and Body Shop. Farmers Insurance, SIU Major Operations Unit, conducted post repair inspections on Farmers insured vehicles and supplied the inspection documentation to the Amador County District Attorneys Office and California Bureau of Automotive Repair for investigation.
In 2011, The California Attorney General, on behalf of the Bureau of Automotive Repair, filed formal accusations, alleging fraud, misleading statements and departure from accepted trade standards.
“This case illustrates the cost of fraud for auto repair shops and owners. The shop owner has been ordered to surrender his BAR license and pay significant restitution,” said Sean Zavala, Farmers director of special investigations. “We will assist law enforcement on criminal matters and file our own civil actions when appropriate to deter anyone who submits false insurance claim(s). It is our commitment to our policyholders to protect their premium dollars.”
Farmers said it supports the efforts of the Amador and Calaveras County District Attorneys Offices and the California Bureau of Automotive Repair for their ongoing efforts in fighting insurance fraud.
For more information about Farmers, visit www.farmers.com.
