An Alabama public adjuster known as an aspiring country music singer has been re-arrested after reportedly violating the terms of his bond from an arrest earlier this year.
Austin Tanner, of Orange Beach, also appears to be part owner of a law firm that made headlines last year when it sued other firms for failing to pay referral fees on hundreds of insurance claims that resulted in litigation.
Tanner, 37, was indicted in April on insurance fraud and theft charges after allegedly overcharging for claims adjusting work, including estimates for a condominium association and a Baptist church in South Alabama, according to local news outlets and court records. Those policyholders were represented by Morgan & Morgan, which began in Florida and calls itself the nation’s largest injury law firm. Tanner pleaded not guilty and posted a $20,000 bond.
Tanner, who was once head of ATA Loss Consulting, and his attorney have strongly denied any wrongdoing by the adjuster, Lagniappe news site noted. But late last month, Tanner was to be charged with violating the terms of his bond, which had required him to stay in Alabama unless given permission by a court, Al.com reported.
Instead, Tanner attended the Country Music Awards in Nashville on Nov. 20 and posted photographs about it on social media.
“Last night was nothing short of magical as we walked the red carpet,” he posted on Facebook.
A judge in Alabama approved an arrest warrant for Tanner last week and a bond revocation. A bond revocation hearing has been set for Wednesday in Mobile.
Tanner has been pursuing a music career for the past year or so and he released a single in March. The song “All We Need” is available on Apple Music.
Tanner held an insurance producer’s license in Alabama from 2010 to 2012, and an adjuster’s license from 2012 to 2014, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ license search page. The NAIC did not show a license for ATA Loss Consulting.
Messages left at phone numbers listed for Tanner were not returned by late Sunday.
Read more about Tanner’s lawsuit against plaintiffs’ law firms.
Top photo: Austin Tanner’s Facebook photo.
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