Case Details

Year Initiated/Committed

2007

Year Resolved

2009

Settlement Amount

$176,000 ($60,000 to Analog Devices, $116,000 to the state)

Court

Suffolk Superior Court

Docket Number

n/a

Lead State

MA

Participating States

MA

Defendant(s)

Great American Insurance Group

Case Description

The complaint alleges that in 2004, at the request of insurance broker Marsh & McLennan, Great American submitted a fake and intentionally uncompetitive quote to Norwood based semiconductor manufacturer Analog Devices. Great American submitted this fake bid to make another insurance company’s bid look competitive. In return for this favor, Marsh & McLennan steered another one of Analog Devices’ insurance policies to Great American at a pre-determined price. Insurers such as Great American paid Marsh & McLennan lucrative contingent commissions based on the volume of business Marsh & McLennan placed with them. In May 2009, the case settled. Under the terms of the settlement, Great American is required to pay $60,000 to Analog Devices and $116,000 to the state. The agreement also requires Great American to undertake conduct reforms aimed at preventing insurance bid rigging in excess casualty insurance. Among other things, Great American is specifically prohibited from colluding with brokers or other insurance companies to unlawfully fix insurance prices and is required to retain certain records concerning its bidding practices.