Lawyer Accused of Fraud in Case of Dead Woman

A Beverly Hills lawyer and two of his assistants at a subsidiary office in the Bay Area have been arrested and charged with felony auto insurance fraud, grand theft and conspiracy in an alleged misappropriation of a $16,000 settlement with a woman who was dead, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi announced Tuesday.

Arrested were lawyer Robert Allan and office assistants Wilfredo Jaravata and Geomer Dublin. Garamendi charged that the three knew their client had died but did not inform anyone and pocketed almost the entire settlement. Allan did not return a call asking for comment.