insights. intouch.

Construction fraud doesn't begin with the claim—it begins with gaps in documentation, compliance, and accountability. In this episode of Insights. InTouch., Kristin Thorne sits down with Roni Szigeti, Founder & CEO of FieldFlow, to discuss how contractors can leverage technology to reduce risk, improve safety, and defend against fraudulent workers' compensation claims, ghost employee...

Construction costs continue to rise—but what's really driving them? In this episode of Insights. InTouch. , Kristin Thorne sits down with Elizabeth Crowley , President & CEO of the Building Trades Employers' Association (BTEA), to discuss New York's Scaffold Law, escalating insurance costs, litigation, fraud, and the challenges facing the construction industry. It's an insi...

In this episode of insights. intouch., Kristin Thorne sits down with personal injury attorney Kevin Habberfield for a thoughtful discussion on insurance fraud, auto reform, and the challenges facing New York's civil justice system. Habberfield offers a plaintiff attorney's perspective on Governor Hochul's proposed reforms, arguing that stronger enforcement of existing fraud laws, in...

Today on insights. intouch., we sit down with Sharky Laguana, CEO of Bandago and Chairman of the American Car Rental Association, for a fascinating and eye-opening conversation about the evolution of fraud in the vehicle rental industry. What begins with stories of mistaken vehicle rentals and stolen vans quickly turns into a deeper discussion about sophisticated criminal enterprises targeting ren...

On this episode of insights. intouch., Kristin Thorne sits down with New York State Senator Jeremy Cooney, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, for a candid discussion about New York’s proposed FRAUD Act and the growing impact of staged accident schemes across the state. From construction site fraud to organized auto insurance scams, Senator Cooney outlines why lawmakers believe strong...

On this episode of Insights. Intouch. , host Kristin Thorne delivers a sharp, no-nonsense conversation at the intersection of risk, fraud, and real-world impact. This episode cuts through the noise to examine how emerging schemes, legal developments, and industry blind spots are reshaping the fight against insurance fraud. From frontline investigations to the broader systemic challenges facing car...

On this episode of the Insights. Intouch. podcast, Kristin welcomes US Congressman, Nick Langworthy for a timely discussion on the future of infrastructure and construction reform in New York. Congressman Langworthy shares his perspectives and why he introduced the Infrastructure Expansion Act, the continued impact of New York’s Scaffold Law, and why many believe meaningful change is long overdue....

On this episode of insights. in touch., Kristin Thorne sits down with attorney Daniel Johnston, Supervising Partner at the Willis Law Group for a deep dive into the hidden financial engine behind today’s fraud landscape. What may seem like isolated claims and lawsuits is, in reality, part of a far more complex system—one fueled by litigation funding, private equity, and structured finance operatin...

In our first episode of Season 2 of insights. intouch., host Kristin Thorne sits down with former Congressman John Faso to discuss a critical issue impacting construction costs, insurance markets, and overall affordability in New York. At the center of the conversation is the proposed Infrastructure Expansion Act, a federal effort aimed at addressing New York’s long-standing Scaffold Law, also kno...

Kristin Thorne sits down with Kirk Willis, CEO of The Willis Law Group, PLLC and one of the major forces behind the barrage of RICO cases against these alleged law firms and medical professionals impacting our industry.  They have a heartfelt discussion about the impacts of this Fraudemic, how the Willis Group came to enter into this fight here in NY and what it means and why he and his team fight...

Kristin Thorne speaks with Earl Hall, Executive Director of the Syracuse Builders Exchange. The largest organization of it's kind in NYS with over 1100 members to discuss NY's unique and problematic Scaffold Law, the need to change to a comparative negligence standard, staged accidents, and the impact this is having on contractors and the everyday consumer. Thank you for listening!  If y...

In this eye-opening episode, Kristin Thorne sits down with Dr. J. Michael Skiba , internationally recognized as one of the world’s foremost experts in financial crimes and insurance fraud. Known as "Dr. Fraud," his insights are drawn from decades of experience in both private and public sectors across global markets. Together, they dive into the evolving tactics of fraudsters, the inters...

Kristin Thorne sits down for a one-on-one conversation with Tim Temple, Insurance Commissioner for the State of Louisiana. From fraud reform to industry innovation, Tim shares insights that every insurance professional needs to hear. Thank you for listening!  If you would like to be a guest on the show or have a fraud story we should look into email us at insightsintough@ifraudfoundation.org  For...

Kristen Thorne is joined by Brian Sampson, President of the Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter.  Discussing the impacts that the fraudemic is having on not just the developers but the our builders and general contractors.  Taking a look at the challenges that the industry is facing including how fraud is impacting the affordable housing market as well as touching on the bene...

Kristin sits down with Don Orlando, Director of Litigation at Tradesman Program Managers, for a powerful conversation on the frontlines of the fight against insurance fraud. They explore how and why Tradesman became a leader in this battle, the deep impact fraud has on migrant communities—including links to human trafficking and staged accidents—and the current state of the crisis. A driving force...