The Case of the ‘Errant’ Golf Ball

Investigators from the California Department of Insurance (CDI) arrested Ralph G. Lattanzi, 36, of Orange County on two felony counts of insurance fraud and one felony count of grand theft. Bail was set at $25,000. The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case.

An investigation was initiated after a referral from a carrier was submitted to CDI. According to investigators, in July 2001, Lattanzi filed a claim with an insurer for damage to his vehicle. Lattanzi stated an errant golf ball struck and damaged his windshield while he was driving past a course. Subsequently, Lattanzi allegedly submitted a false invoice for windshield repairs to the country club’s carrier.

During the course of the investigation, an additional claim involving Lattanzi and another carrier was found. In June 2001, investigators said Lattanzi also submitted a false receipt, claiming reimbursement for vehicle rental needed due to a collision in which he had been involved.

Lattanzi was found to possess a Private Investigator license belonging to Thomas Hine Investigations of Mendocino County, Calif. He also possessed I.D. for the National Association of Fraud Investigators, indicating his membership under the alias Ralph G. Sanchez.