Barry Zalma is an internationally recognized expert on insurance coverage, insurance claims handling and insurance fraud. He limits his law practice to insurance coverage, insurance fraud detection, the defeat of false and fraudulent claims, insurance claims handling, and the resolution of insurance disputes as a lawyer, mediator or arbitrator. Mr. Zalma also serves as an expert witness and consultant for both defendant and plaintiff on issues of insurance coverage, insurance claims handling, insurance fraud and the tort of bad faith.
Mr. Zalma learned investigation techniques from the United States Army Intelligence Corps and applied that training and experience to his work as a claims representative for the Fireman’s Fund American Insurance Companies where he served for five years (while attending law school at night) as a liability and property field claims representative, with emphasis on property claims.
Mr. Zalma’s law career involved serving primarily as an attorney representing insurers faced with coverage problems and potential fraud. He has taken hundreds of depositions and examinations under oath and has testified, both as a percipient and expert witness, more than 40 times.
Mr. Zalma litigated insurance coverage issues until October, 1992 when he announced his intention to limit his practice to insurance coverage advice and counsel and insurance fraud detection for the insurance industry and those involved in the business of insurance. He now refuses to accept any litigation cases as trial counsel so he can be readily available for almost instantaneous insurance coverage advice and counsel to his clients.
Mr. Zalma is a member of the faculty of the Virtual University of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers Association of America ("IIABA") and an occasional member of the faculty of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners.
Mr. Zalma serves as a Superior Court Arbitrator for the Los Angeles Superior Court and has acted as Judge Pro-Tem for the Culver City Court.
Barry Zalma was the host of "Insurance Fraud," a series of television interview programs, for the Insurance Broadcast System. of television interview programs, for the Insurance Broadcast System.
Mr. Zalma is a Certified Fraud Examiner and life member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners and serves on its faculty as well as the faculty of the Virtual University of the Insurance Agents and Brokers of America. Barry Zalma is an Expert Commentator for the International Risk Management Institute ("IRMI") that publishes his commentaries at http://www.irmi.com.
Mr. Zalma was named a Super Lawyer by Los Angeles Magazine in February, 2005. He is a Director and Secretary Treasurer of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Forensic Expert Witnesses Association (http://www.forensic.org). He has served as a director of the Southern California Fraud Investigators Association and was the editor of its Newsletter for more than five years. He is also a member of the California Conference of Arson Investigators, the International Association of Arson Investigators.
He is a member of the ABA, Tort & Insurance Practice Section and its Property and Coverage Committees, the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and the Defense Research Institute.
He also holds the designation Fraud Claim Law Specialist awarded by the American Educational Institute, Inc
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