PRC civil trial is first test of state’s whistle-blower law [The Santa Fe New Mexican]
By Tom Sharpe, The Santa Fe New Mexican | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Feliciano, a former chief examiner and compliance director for the Insurance Division, is suing the commission, Mayfield and former division superintendent
Feliciano's lawyers,
The jury trial began Tuesday before state District Judge
In his
"Defendants Chavez and Mayfield, however, were more concerned with obtaining government jobs for their friends and political allies, making nice with the insurance companies, and avoiding statutory responsibilities to enforce the New Mexico Insurance Code for, and on behalf of, the citizens of
On Wednesday, Mayfield said he believed the lack of cooperation between the commission's insurance and legal divisions was hindering the ability to make speedy examinations into allegations of insurance fraud and that Feliciano was the "common denominator."
"He went through seven to nine attorneys in the legal division," Mayfield said. "He was the one variable that seemed not to work."
Chavez, who also testified Wednesday, said some commission staffers reported that Feliciano was seldom at his desk and often was at his wife's beauty salon in
Nevertheless, Chavez said he thought Feliciano "was in over his head" in trying to get the Insurance Division re-accredited by the
Feliciano's lawyers rested their case after Mayfield and Chavez's testimonies concluded Wednesday afternoon. After the jury was dismissed for the day,
Gardner and Macke are expected to call two witnesses Thursday. Final arguments are planned for Friday morning, so that the case can go to the jury by Friday afternoon.
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