Hartford Fires 2 For Balking At Spitzer Probe
By Michael Ha
NU Online News Service, Nov. 11, 3:18 p.m. EDT?The Hartford Financial Services Group revealed today it has fired two employees in its Los Angeles office who failed to "fully cooperate" with the investigation into bid-rigging and broker contingency fee abuse led by New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer.[@@]
The Hartford explained that the two employees were dismissed "after the company concluded that they were not fully cooperating with the investigation by the New York Attorney General into insurance industry practices."
The company stressed that the dismissal is part of The Hartford's commitment to help Mr. Spitzer's investigation, and that the carrier–with the assistance of outside counsel–is thoroughly reviewing the matter internally as well. "To this end," the company stated, "all employees have been instructed to provide assistance with the external investigation and the internal review."
"Our conclusion that these employees failed fully to cooperate with the New York Attorney General gives us no alternative but to part ways with them," said a Hartford representative, Josh King. "There is simply no room for compromise regarding The Hartford's commitment to cooperate."
The Hartford representative declined to elaborate further on the two dismissed employees, except to say that they worked for The Hartford's property-casualty operations in the Los Angeles office. But a source familiar with the situation told National Underwriter that the two dismissed employees were working as underwriters in the Los Angeles region.
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