photo #6716956

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Vernon, Florida, was responsible for two-thirds of all loss-of-limb accident claims in the U.S. due to a widespread insurance scam. Residents dismembered themselves for insurance payouts, earning the town the nickname "Nub City." Vernon was economically struggling as steamboats and railroads bypassed it, and its sawmill had closed. The scam began when one resident received a large insurance payout after losing a limb. This led to more residents intentionally injuring themselves, often shooting their limbs, to collect insurance money. Claims initially ranged from $5,000 to $10,000 but grew bolder, reaching over $100,000. Insurance investigator John Joseph Healy described Vernon as having an eerie atmosphere with many residents missing limbs. By the mid-1960s, 50 of the town's 700 residents were part of the "Nub Club." Convictions for fraud were rare because jurors couldn't believe people would mutilate themselves intentionally. The scam ended in the late 1960s when insurance rates became too high, and insurers left the area. However, the town retained its notorious reputation. In the 1980s, filmmaker Errol Morris attempted to make a documentary about Vernon but switched to a different topic after receiving threats, resulting in the film "Vernon, Florida."