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