Co-operators seeking $7 million in damages from auto insurance frauds
The Co-operators has filed a Statement of Claim (SOC) with the Ontario Superior Court of Justice against five Toronto-area assessment clinics and is seeking to recover $7 million in damages.
The Co-operators General Insurance Company and its subsidiary COSECO Insurance Company said the action comes after more than a year of investigation into assessments and treatments provided by five clinics and six individuals.
The SOC details several alleged abuses related to assessments and treatments of injured auto insurance claimants by the following defendants:
- 2171713 Ontario Inc.
- Century Diagnostic & Assessment Centre Inc.
- Fairview Assessment Centre Inc.
- M.D. Consult Inc. o/a Toronto Regional Medical Assessment Centre and Danny Grossi
- Pacific Assessment Centre Inc.
These abuses include:
- Unauthorized use of regulated health practitioners’ electronic signatures on documents such as assessments and treatment plans
- Submitting requests for assessments and treatment that clients are not aware of, which are unnecessary and/or never rendered
- Submitting invoices for payment related to assistive devices that are unnecessary and/or never purchased
The insurance company said it has implemented new procedures and practices to detect fraudulent activity during the claims process and has committed additional resources and expanded its Special Investigations Unit to deter fraudulent activity. The organization will continue to work diligently to bring those responsible to justice, to ensure that clients’ premium dollars are going towards those injured in accidents, not criminal activity.
