T.P.I. -- CRIM. 11.10

FALSE OR FRAUDULENT INSURANCE CLAIM

            Any person who commits the offense of presenting a false or fraudulent insurance claim is guilty of a crime.

            For you to find the defendant guilty of this offense, the state must have proven beyond a reasonable doubt the following essential elements:¹

[Part A:

            (1)  that the defendant [presented] [caused to be presented] a false or

                   fraudulent [claim] [proof in support of a claim] for the payment of [a

                   loss] [any benefits] upon a contract of [insurance coverage]

                   [automobile comprehensive or collision insurance] [certificate of

                   insurance];

and

            (2)  that the defendant did so intentionally.]

or

[Part B:

            (1)  that the defendant prepared, made or subscribed to a false or

                   fraudulent [account] [certificate] [affidavit] [proof of loss] [document]

                   [writing] for an insurance claim;

and

            (2)  that the defendant did so with the intent that the same may be

                   presented in support of such claim.]

            "Intentionally" means that a person acts intentionally with respect to the nature of the conduct or to a result of the conduct when it is the person's conscious objective or desire to engage in the conduct or cause the result.²

            "Fraud" is defined as the term is used in normal conversation and includes, but is not limited to, deceit, trickery, misrepresentation and subterfuge.³

            [The trial judge should now instruct the jury with respect to fixing the value of the fraudulent claim.  See T.P.I. -- CRIM. 11.03.]

FOOTNOTES

 1.  Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-133.

 2.  Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(18).

 3.  Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-11-106(a)(13).

COMMENTS

            1.  Presenting a false or fraudulent insurance claim is punished as theft.  Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-133.  See the comment to T.P.I. -- CRIM. 11.01 (theft of property).