View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southcentral/2022/01/14/649595.htm
The Louisiana Department of Insurance has issued a cease and desist order for a Baton Rouge agent who allegedly failed to remit clients’ premiums and misappropriated premium funds.
Trampus Scott Wagoner, a property and casualty producer and owner of Armor Insurance in Baton Rouge, accepted premium payments from multiple clients without remitting their premiums. According to the LDI’s cease and desist order, Wagoner accepted premium payments from three clients between March to May 2021 but failed to remit their premiums. The three clients sustained property damage from Hurricane Ida and were left uncovered because of no policies or inadequate policies issued by Wagoner.
In two instances, Wagoner paid clients $800 to have their roof tarped and applied a $5,000 deductible despite the clients having no home insurance coverage.
The third client told LDI he had purchased a policy that included wind and hail coverage, but the policy secured for the client didn’t secure such coverage.
“Louisiana citizens put great trust in their insurance agents and deserve to have that trust honored,” said Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon. “In this situation, it is especially egregious that these would-be policyholders did not find out about this fraud until they had claims for Hurricane Ida that they were unable to receive payment for. This sort of behavior will not be tolerated in the Louisiana insurance market.”
Wagoner and Armor Insurance have 30 days from Jan. 7 to request an administrative appeal. Donelon imposed a $7,500 joint fine upon Wagoner and Armor Insurance.