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If the PIs had been investigating these people at the grocery store, no one would say a thing, but because it's a church, everyone's throwing a fit. It's still a public place, insurance fraud is still illegal.

I have to agree with gnasher - taping those meetings was more like taping an AA meeting or a group therapy session. if this was taping the church social, I think you could compare it to the book club or some other setting people gather among those that they think are "friendly". The problem with a grocery store is at the store you have several random people, and conversations are unlikely to stray far beyond "do we get the turkey bacon or the regular bacon." When people are among those that they are more likely to trust, they will be open. I think going to a church social should inspire the same discomfort that the government going to an ACLU meeting to find "rabble-rousers" would inspire.

PIs and investigations aren't cheap. Progressive wouldn't be doing all of this if they didn't think something fishy was going on.

Lawsuits aren't cheap either. The PI probably cost a lot less than any potential payout. All the more reason to go to whatever lengths you feel necessary.

They can tape as much as they like, whatever was said in that church would be hearsay and inadmissible in court, and if it violates someone's privacy, the insurance company would get into deep **** just for trying to mention it at court.

I don't think it would be hearsay if the company could introduce it as a party admission. Recording the couple saying "we really aren't injured" or whatever, would likely be admissible. As for invading the privacy, I don't think it was violated. I'm sure you could argue otherwise, but if the meeting was open to the public, privacy would be irrelevant. The psych privilege may be a better bet, if they can argue that the meeting was closed and that the leader was an approved by some approvally organization and that the group sessions were considered part of the treatment (and that the PI faked some psych problem). A stretch, but I think you could convince a judge.
 
This does not surprise me at all. I deal with insurance companies every day and they lie every chance they get. I'm sure this kind of behavior is routine for them, they just got caught this time.
 
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