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GEICO faces lawsuit over captive agents' employment classification

In adjacent news, could the Labor Department’s proposed rules on independent contractors spell the end of the captive agent model?

The insurer deems captive agents independent contractors, but a class action suit alleges these agents are actually employees. (Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM) The insurer deems captive agents independent contractors, but a class action suit alleges these agents are actually employees. (Credit: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM)

The question of whether captive agents are independent contractors or employees of an insurance company is at the heart of a class action lawsuit filed against several GEICO companies in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Eastern Division.

The suit alleges that although the insurer “may call its insurance agents independent contractors, they do not treat them as such,” as the financial and management structure between the company and its captive agents are more in line for those classified as employees. The suit, which was filed on behalf of a GEICO captive agent located in Northeast Ohio, claims the company employs hundreds of captive agents across all 50 states.

Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo

Steve Hallo is managing editor of PropertyCasualty360.com. He can be reached at [email protected].  

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