NEW YORK ANTI-FRAUD ALLIANCE ELECTS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS

ALBANY, N.Y. (11/15/2013)(readMedia)-- Insurer anti-fraud leader Jim Berrigan has been elected chairman and Jim Potts vice chairman of the New York Alliance Against Insurance Fraud (NYAAIF). The elections come after the retirement of longtime chair Jack Houston.

The NYAAIF is a nonprofit that increases public awareness of insurance fraud and its impact. Members include more than 100 insurance companies writing auto, workers comp and health policies in New York State.

Berrigan is National Manager of the special investigations unit of Crum & Forster. He has been NYAAIF vice chair since 2008, and secretary from 2000 to 2008. Berrigan has 25 years of experience in managing and investigating insurance fraud. He is a Certified Insurance Fraud Investigator and member of several anti-fraud associations, including the International Association of Special Investigation Units. Berrigan is a New York resident and graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Potts has been vice president of the Special Investigations Division for New York Central Mutual since 1993. He has served in the insurer's underwriting, claims and special investigations divisions for 29 years. He has a B.B.A in financial services from SUNY Cobleskill, and was recognized as a Fraud Claims Law Specialist by the American Educational Institute.

Potts also is a co-founder and past officer of the New York State Special Investigations Units Association. He is a vice chair of the New York Anti-Car Theft Executive Board, serves on the New York Motor Vehicle Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Board, and is a member of the Insurance Fraud Management Committee.

The NYAAIF board also elected John McHale of Erie Insurance as secretary, and appointed Tom Mansfield of the New York Auto Insurance Plan and David Covino of Unum to open board seats.

NYAAIF has sponsored advertising on television, radio, billboards and other media outlets for 13 years. The goal is to expand public understanding of insurance fraud, increase reporting of suspected fraud and deter people from committing this crime. NYAAIF's current outreach campaign is titled "No Gain. Just Pain." It can be viewed on the NYAAIF website at www.FraudNY.com.