Fire Department and Chief Indicted for Insurance Fraud

A volunteer fire department and its fire chief from Ohio have been indicted for defrauding an insurance company.

Hopedale Volunteer Fire Department and Fire Chief Michael Moore were arraigned last week in Harrison County Court of Common Pleas. They were named in a secret indictment handed down on February 9, 2012.

The Ohio Insurance Fraud Division alleges that the department filed an insurance claim for damage to equipment following an October 14, 2011 incident. The claim totaled $21,000, which was allegedly paid by the insurance carrier. The indictment alleges the equipment was not damaged.

No word on what type of equipment was involved. The chief was released on personal recognizance.

More on the story.

About Curt Varone

Curt Varone has over 45 years of fire service experience and 35 as a practicing attorney licensed in both Rhode Island and Maine. His background includes 29 years as a career firefighter in Providence (retiring as a Deputy Assistant Chief), as well as volunteer and paid on call experience. He is the author of two books: Legal Considerations for Fire and Emergency Services, (2006, 2nd ed. 2011, 3rd ed. 2014, 4th ed. 2022) and Fire Officer's Legal Handbook (2007), and is a contributing editor for Firehouse Magazine writing the Fire Law column.
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