Over $1.5M of false benefits, this is what the TTC is trying to claim from a Scarborough personal injury law firm after the law firm allegedly doctored the benefit claims of streetcar and bus collision victims.
Fraud Uncovered?
TTC accused a law firm for falsifying records so that they can claim payments for housekeeping, home care, and other services that were never rendered to the accident victims. The TTC, together with their in-house insurance company stated their claim on January 24, 2017 against the law firm of Meleni David for allegedly falsifying records to claim fake expenses.
The law firm filed their defence in April 2017 with the company, David herself, and an employee as co-defendant stating that they deny engaging in unlawful scheme and added that TTC?s claims are excessive, exaggerated, and remote; therefore the court should dismiss the case.
TTC Fires Back
The TTC allegedly found evidence that fraudulent claims were connected to 13 of the firm?s clients who got into accidents between 2005 and 2014. TTC shared that they made a total of $654,553 in payments for the clients but did not share the exact amount involved in the fraud.
TTC stated in their claim that they grew suspicious in 2015 when they found fake documents in a claim handled by Meleni David?s law firm, a law firm that advertises TTC Accident as a key area of their practice.
In relation to the above, a former legal assistant at David?s firm admitted to forging signatures on invoices for home care services for an accident victim though the legal assistant stated that David wasn?t aware of what he did. The same legal assistant is also being sued by the TTC but he denied involvement in other false claims and also denied involvement in the scheme uncovered by TTC. David?s statement of defence stated that she fired the assistant as soon as she discovered the forged signatures and inappropriate handling of invoices.
Was There Fraud?
The TTC says that their discovery of the inconsistencies in the file is what lead to their in-house insurance provider?s review of the other claims handled by David?s law firm. After their review, the TTC allegedly found demonstrably forged invoices in more than half of the files they?ve audited prompting then to charge the law firm for scamming them by making claimants sign blank invoice forms for expenses such as home care, housekeeping, and other services. The invoices were then signed by fabricated suppliers and service providers and then submitted to TTC?s insurance company to claim reimbursement.
The TTC also shared that further investigation lead to them finding out that the victims did not receive the services that were allegedly rendered to them. This case is currently undergoing litigation with no set date for a trial.
Do you suspect fraud at work or fraud at your business? We can get you answers. Contact us for our private investigation services and we?ll get back to you asap regarding how we can be of best assistance to you.
