Insult to Injury: Insurance, Fraud, and the Big Business of Bad Faith [Hardcover]

Ray Bourhis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2005

Joan Hangarter bought a disability policy in 1990 to protect her in case of serious illness. When she did become disabled a decade later, she ended up homeless and on welfare when the company refused to pay. With the help of her attorney, Ray Bourhis, she fought back, winning a $7.7 million verdict against the company.
In "Insult to Injury, Bourhis walks readers through this case study in bad faith double-dealing by insurance providers. Bourhis, a national champion of policy-holder rights, uses an engaging narrative style to reveal the back-room strategic mind-set that drives these illegal practices, how low-level employees are duped into unethical conduct, and how insurers manipulate data and witnesses in the few cases that do go to trial. He also explains the key regulatory oversights that encourage such corruption, and how the American legal system actually facilitates insurer fraud. "Insult to Injury closes with a roadmap to reform -- advice no one who holds a policy can afford to ignore.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ray Bourhis was involved with the Domestic Peace Corps in his post-collegiate years, and then joined Senator Robert F. Kennedy's staff in 1968. After receiving his law degree he was engaged in civil trial practice specialising in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 263 pages
• Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers (2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1576753492
• ISBN-13: 978-1576753491
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,229 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Insurance > Liability
  • #76 in Books > Business & Investing > Industries & Professions > Insurance > Business

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the most disturbing exposes I have ever read, August 16, 2005

By 

Eggcrate "glodphlex" (New York City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insult to Injury: Insurance, Fraud, and the Big Business of Bad Faith (Hardcover)

If, like the average American citizen probably does, you view the insurance industry as a benevolent protector that exists to serve its' customers, you are in for one rude awakening. Ray Bourhis, who served as plantiff's counsel in the case detailed in the book he later wrote, confronts the awesome duplicity of his adversary, one of the largest insurance underwriters in existence, a company that seemed determined not to honor its obligations at any cost. Bourhis describes the unending legal gamemanship, the obdurate refusal to settle, the psychological brutality of a company that appeared to prefer to destroy a policyholder than pay a claim on the agreed terms. The jury was not deceived and awarded Bouris' client a $7.7 million judgement a compensation for the egregious bad faith demonstrated by the insurer. This is an absolutely revolting story of an "ends justify any and all means" philosophy run amok at the senior management level and the terrible human cost exacted from the trusting and powerless who had believed their policies would protect them in times of dire need, when illness or injury rendered them unable to work. If you ever plan on purchasing a long term disabilty insurance policy from any insurer, you MUST read this book first; you have no idea what you may be setting yourself up for.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fight the Power, September 12, 2005

By 

Bo Jackson "Bo" (NYC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insult to Injury: Insurance, Fraud, and the Big Business of Bad Faith (Hardcover)

Insult to Injury is a passionate account of the insurance-related problems so many Americans must face on a daily basis. Ray Bourhis makes a compelling argument for reform and does so with gusto. This book is relevant, engaging, and well worth a read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Offers a new Perspective..., October 4, 2005

By 

gilstrac "gilstrac" (az) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Insult to Injury: Insurance, Fraud, and the Big Business of Bad Faith (Hardcover)

It shows the worse of the worse in the insurance industry. I came away wondering if the all the money I spend on medical, auto, home and life is actually buying me something. Maybe I need reinsurance for my insurance. What a mess?

I always assumed they charged an appropriate rate for the risk and numbers. If they made a mistake like they made foreseeing interest rates, the new policies holders just paid more in premiums.

In the end, the case was made for higher punitive damages. I still struggle with this. It seems to me companies who are doing this much wrong by the numbers need to be deterred. But I still have trouble seeing dollars that large going to a few plaintiffs. I am not sure if this is where the class action suits come into play. I don't what the fix is but my gut says there must be a better way to punish them. One thing for sure is it needs to be stopped.