Texas Enforcement Actions in May Result in More than $224K in Fines

The Texas Department of Insurance announced enforcement actions taken by Commissioner Mike Geeslin that became final during May. The actions include eight license revocations and fines and restitution totaling $224,967.

Copies of Geeslin’s orders may be obtained by contacting TDI’s Public Information Office.

Only final orders are listed. An order imposing disciplinary measures becomes final 20 days after the agent or insurance company has received notice of the order unless a motion for rehearing is filed within that period. A motion for rehearing stays the finality of an order until the Commissioner of Insurance acts upon the motion or upon the operation of law.

Commissioner’s orders are subject to appeal to state district court.

TDI’s Final Disciplinary Orders for May 2006:

Barton Abstract & Title Company, Inc. dba Elliott & Waldron/Shelby County Title of Center
Order Number: 060489
Date of Order: 6/15/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $2,200 fine
Violation: Failed to timely remit title insurance policy guaranty fees

BCS Insurance Company; World Access Service Corp. of Oakbrook Terrace, IL; Richmond, VA
Order Number: 060528
Date of Order: 5/26/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $25,000 fine
Violation: Used unapproved policy forms and endorsements; Distributed misleading advertising material; World Access Service Corp. used an unregistered trade name

Cordova, Hugo of Brownsville
Order Number: 060420
Date of Order: 5/1/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Crouch, Robert M. of Sunnyvale
Order Number: 060490
Date of Order: 5/15/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: General Property and Casualty License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Davila, Eladio Moreno of McAllen
Order Number: 060530
Date of Order: 5/31/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $750 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Day, Daniel Patrick of Fort Worth
Order Number: 060473
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Adjuster Property and Casualty License revoked
Violation: Felony conviction

Diaz, Carlos of Laredo
Order Number: 060424
Date of Order: 5/1/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Duose, Jeffrey Harlan of New Braunfels
Order Number: 060491
Date of Order: 5/15/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Ellis, Herbert Wayne of Arlington
Order Number: 060508
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Must surrender General Life, Accident, and Health License
Violation: Allegedly engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices

Fuentes, Patrick of Ingleside
Order Number: 060418
Date of Order: 4/28/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine and $600 restitution.
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Funeral Directors Life Insurance Company of Abilene
Order Number: 060499
Date of Order: 5/17/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Consent Order
Violation: Race based pricing

Gaines, Harold N. of Dallas
Order Number: 060531
Date of Order: 5/31/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Gibbs Armstrong Borochoff Mullican & Hart, P.C. of Tulsa, OK
Order Number: 060423
Date of Order: 5/1/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $2,400 fine
Violation: Taught a continuing education course without a valid certificate

Gill, John Dale of Wichita Falls
Order Number: 060476
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $650 fine; Must complete 30 hours of continuing education
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Harper, Kim Lynette of DeSoto
Order Number: 060404
Date of Order: 4/25/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $20,000 fine and restitution; Cease and Desist Order
Violation: Acted as an escrow officer without a proper license

McGowan, Thomas Bernard III of Bay Village, OH
Order Number: 060450
Date of Order: 5/9/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,000 fine
Violation: Failed to timely file required Annual Agent Reports

Murphy, Harold of Celina
Order Number: 060421
Date of Order: 5/1/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,150 fine
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Myers, Charles R. of San Antonio
Order Number: 060501
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $5,000 fine
Violation: Acted as an agent without appointment by an authorized insurance company

Neergaard, Dan Nielsen of Cleburne
Order Number: 060471
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: General Life, Accident and Health License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Committed a felony involving moral turpitude

Nolan, William Floyd of Gainsville
Order Number: 060474
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: General Property and Casualty License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Northshore Title, Inc. of Portland
Order Number: 060517
Date of Order: 5/22/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $5,500 fine
Violation: Failed to timely remit title insurance policy guaranty fees

Rawlings, George Phil of Houston
Order Number: 060451
Date of Order: 5/9/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $11,742 restitution; Limited Lines License and General Life, Accident and Health License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Renaissance Title, L.L.C. of Allen
Order Number: 060461
Date of Order: 5/10/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Title Insurance Agent’s License revoked
Violation: Failed to comply with Commissioner’s Order

Ross, Chanda Celeste of Forney
Order Number: 060509
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $975 fine; Must complete 30 hours of continuing education
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Rutherford, Kerry Anne of Jacksonville, FL
Order Number: 060533
Date of Order: 5/31/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Insurance Adjuster License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Sanchez, Robert of Garland
Order Number: 060522
Date of Order: 5/24/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine; Must complete 30 hours of continuing education
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Scott, Sean Lee of San Antonio
Order Number: 060475
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1500 fine; License suspension
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Slovak, Johnny of Houston
Order Number: 060452
Date of Order: 5/9/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine; License suspension
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Smith, Richard Sydney of College Station
Order Number: 060510
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $33,000 fine subject to a dollar-for-dollar reduction by restitution to $3,000
Violation: Acted as an agent for unauthorized entity

Stevens, Wesley Royce of San Antonio
Order Number: 060500
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $ 75,000 fine subject to a dollar-for-dollar reduction by restitution to $50,000; General Life, Accident and Health License and General Property and Casualty License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Misappropriated or converted money belonging to an insurer or insured

Strahan, Bruce B. Jr. of Colleyville
Order Number: 060434
Date of Order: 5/5/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: General Life, Accident and Health License revoked
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices

Texas Premier Roofing; Nelson Morales of Pasadena
Order Number: 060492
Date of Order: 5/15/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: Cease and Desist
Violation: Acted as a public insurance adjuster without a license

Travelers Property Casualty Insurance Company of Hartford CT
Order Number: 060532
Date of Order: 5/31/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $5,000 fine
Violation: Failed to timely file required experience rating data

Van Wagoner Companies Inc. of Plano
Order Number: 060502
Date of Order: 5/18/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $2,000 fine
Violation: Taught a continuing education course without a valid certificate

Vidal, Claudia Gariela of Dallas
Order Number: 060401
Date of Order: 4/21/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine; Adjuster License suspened for one year
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Whitlock, Johnnie Mae of Houston
Order Number: 060523
Date of Order: 5/24/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $1,500 fine subject to a dollar-for-dollar reduction by restitution to $500
Violation: Engaged in fraudulent or dishonest acts or practices; Acted as an agent for unauthorized entity

Wittenberg, Marc Stephan of Dallas
Order Number: 060518
Date of Order: 5/22/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $17,500 fine subject to a dollar-for-dollar reduction by restitution to $4,500
Violation: Acted as an agent for unauthorized entities

Wixson, Howard D., III of Colleyville
Order Number: 060422
Date of Order: 5/1/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: $500 fine; Must complete 30 hours of continuing education
Violation: Failed to comply with continuing education requirements

Wright, Leslie Kent of Snyder
Order Number: 060472
Date of Order: 5/12/2006
Order Final In: May
Action Taken: General Life, Accident, and Health License revoked
Violation: Failed to comply with Commissioner’s Order

For more information contact: PIO@tdi.state.tx.us.

Source: TDI