CONCORD, N.H., May 3 – A new insurance fraud prosecutor position has been established within the Department of Justice by Insurance Commissioner Roger A. Sevigny and Attorney General Kelly Ayotte.

Catherine Tucker, a former assistant district attorney for Suffolk County, Mass., was appointed to fill the position and is responsible for the coordination of insurance fraud investigations and prosecutions for New Hampshire, according to PIA of New Hampshire, which praised the creation of the fraud-fighting office. In her new position, Tucker will work with the insurance industry and New Hampshires law enforcement agencies to investigate suspected insurance fraud activities.

Insurance fraud costs consumers billions of dollars each year and PIANH supports efforts " such as the formation of an insurance fraud prosecutor " that are designed to combat fraud, said Tod ODowd, CIC, president of PIANH. By establishing this position, which is responsible for prosecuting all the insurance fraud cases in New Hampshire, the state is demonstrating a commitment to eliminating insurance fraud. We applaud Commissioner Sevigny and Attorney General Ayotte for taking this wise action.