Ohio Agents Have Licenses Revoked

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Lee Covington has signed the second of two orders revoking the insurance licenses of Matthew J. Bower and Abigail Bower, both formerly of Toledo and former agents of the Baron Insurance Agency. Their licenses were revoked for several violations of Ohio insurance law, including alleged misappropriating insurance premiums.

On six different occasions between the beginning of May and the end of August of 1999, Matthew and Abigail allegedly collected insurance premiums totaling more than $9,000 but failed to obtain insurance coverage, remit payment to the managing general agent or return payment to the insured.

Matthew Bower, on two occasions, allegedly failed to disclose the identity of the insurer or the managing general agent involved in the insurance transaction. Matthew also is alleged to have illegally charged a writing fee to a customer, misrepresented the type of insurance policy he sold to a customer, illegally issued multiple unauthorized policies to a customer, and illegally invoiced additional fees to customers without the customers’ consent. Abigail Bower is alleged to have also failed to disclose to a customer that she was not appointed by an insurance company.

The Department of Insurance issued a Cease & Desist Order against the Bowers’ Baron Insurance Agency in September 2001 alleging that the Baron Insurance Agency, 5629 Sloan Drive, Toledo, had been operating as an unlicensed insurance agency. The order demanded the agency to immediately cease and desist from engaging in insurance activities.

It is alleged that the Bowers and Baron Insurance Agency have engaged in illegal activities throughout the state of Ohio.