The International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) recently honored Johnson & Bell Attorney Rick Hammond, for his nearly ten year contribution as the columnist of “Legal Update” which appears in each issue of their international publication “SIU Awareness.” He was recognized on September 30 during the 19th Annual IASIU Seminar & Expo on Insurance Fraud, held in Pittsburg.

Founded in 1984 by a handful of insurance industry fraud investigators, the International Association of Special Investigation Units (IASIU) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting a coordinated effort within the industry to combat insurance fraud; providing education and training for insurance investigator; developing greater awareness of the insurance fraud problem; encouraging high professional standards of conduct among insurance investigators; and supporting legislation that acts as a deterrent to the crime of insurance fraud.

“Rick’s column has provided many years of insight and observation to insurers regarding the changing law as it pertains to insurance fraud and bad faith,” noted Matthew Cole, IASIU board member and State Farm Insurance Company team manager. “His column has been credited with guiding numerous insurers through the pitfalls and mine fields of potential bad faith while they undertake an insurance fraud investigation.”

Hammond concentrates his practice on property insurance coverage and bad faith litigation. He previously served as executive director of the Insurance Committee for Arson Control, a national insurance trade association, and he currently serves as both their general counsel and as general counsel for the International Association of Arson Investigator’s Foundation. He is also the former head of the Chicago office of the Illinois Department of Insurance.

His publication “Good Faith/Bad Faith,” serves as a guide to insurers on avoiding bad faith. He is a member of Johnson & Bell's Insurance Coverage Group and also maintains a Web site at www.insurancefraudlaw.com which serves as a valuable resource to the insurance industry on matters involving insurance fraud and coverage issues.

For more information on IASIU, SIU Awareness, or his Legal Update column, please contact Mr. Hammond at (312) 984-3425 or hammondr@jbltd.com.