Fireman’s Fund Pays $44M to Settles Crop Insurance Fraud Charges

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. has agreed to pay $44 million to settle allegations under the False Claims Act that it knowingly issued insurance policies that were ineligible under the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) federal crop insurance program and falsified documents, according to the Justice Department.

Between 1999 and 2002, Fireman’s Fund operated a crop insurance business and participated in the federal crop insurance program. Under the program, Fireman’s Fund sold and serviced crop insurance policies that were reinsured by the USDA for a portion of the risks.

The Justice Department alleged that between Jan. 1, 1999, and Dec. 31, 2002, Fireman’s Fund knowingly issued federally reinsured crop insurance policies that were ineligible for federal reinsurance. Specifically, Fireman’s Fund allegedly backdated policies, forged farmers’ signatures, accepted late and altered documents, whited-out dates and signatures, and signed documents after relevant deadlines.

The claims settled by this agreement are allegations only, and there has been no determination of liability.

The policies were issued by Fireman’s Fund offices in Modesto, California; Lambert, Mississippi; Fargo, North Dakota; Lubbock, Texas; Prosser, Washington; and Overland Park, Kansas.

Fireman’s Fund, an Allianz SE subsidiary headquartered in Novato, California, is now concentrating on commercial insurance after agreeing in December to sell its personal lines business to ACE.

Officials said the settlement resulted from an investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Division, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of North Carolina and the USDA’s Office of Inspector General, Office of Investigations, Office of General Counsel, and Risk Management Agency, including its Special Investigations Branch.

Source: U.S. Department of Justice