Aspiring country singer/claims adjuster from Alabama charged with CMA bail violation

An Alabama court examiner known as an up-and-coming country singer has been arrested again after reportedly violating the terms of his bond following his arrest earlier this year.

Austin Tanner of Orange Beach also appears to be a partner in 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 charged with insurance fraud and theft in April after he allegedly overcharged for damage control work, including estimates for a condo community and a Baptist church in south Alabama, according to local news outlets and court records. These policyholders were represented by Morgan & Morgan, which was founded in Florida and bills itself as the largest personal injury law firm in the country. Tanner pleaded not guilty and posted $20,000 bail.

Tanner, who was once head of ATA Loss Consulting, and his attorney have strongly denied any wrongdoing by the adjuster, news site Lagniappe noted. But late last month, Tanner was charged with violating the conditions of his bail, which required him to remain in Alabama unless a court granted permission to do so, Al.com reported.

Instead, Tanner attended the Country Music Awards in Nashville on November 20 and posted photos about it on social media.

“Last night was nothing short of magical walking the red carpet,” he posted on Facebook.

An Alabama judge approved an arrest warrant for Tanner and a bond revocation last week. A bond revocation hearing is scheduled for Wednesday in Mobile.

Tanner has been pursuing a music career for about a year and released a single in March. The song “All We Need” is available on Apple Music.

According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ license search page, Tanner held an Alabama insurance producer’s license from 2010 to 2012 and an adjuster’s license from 2012 to 2014. The NAIC has not presented a license for ATA Loss Consulting.

Messages left at phone numbers listed for Tanner were not returned as of late Sunday.

Read more about Tanner’s lawsuit against the plaintiffs’ law firms.

Photo above: Austin Tanner’s Facebook photo.

Topics
Claims Alabama