Marsh & McLennan Agency Files Lawsuit Against Alliant Insurance Services
Marsh & McLennan Agency (MMA) has initiated legal action in federal court in New York, alleging that Alliant Insurance Services Inc. and five former employees engaged in a conspiracy to lure clients away from MMA. This alleged conduct is said to breach nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreements that the brokers had previously signed.
The suit, titled Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC v. Alliant Insurance Services et al., outlines how the brokers were formerly associated with a Bend, Oregon, branch of PayneWest Insurance Inc., which MMA acquired in April 2021. According to MMA, Alliant has a history of expanding its market presence by recruiting key personnel. This time, MMA claims that Alliant targeted and successfully recruited Travis Davis, Susan Coetzee, Keegan Richardson, Raiza Robles, and Amanda Gunn, persuading them to entice their clients to switch affiliations.
In a similar legal complaint filed against Alliant in December, MMA highlighted ongoing concerns about client retention and competitive practices. Notably, Mr. Davis, a part owner and sales executive at PayneWest, had signed a restrictive covenant aimed at safeguarding MMA’s confidential information following the acquisition. Court documents reveal that by 2024, Mr. Davis’ client portfolio had generated annual revenues exceeding $1 million.
The lawsuit alleges that in March 2024, Alliant began actively recruiting Mr. Davis, who subsequently encouraged members of his client support team to make the move to Alliant as well. As a result of this recruitment effort, MMA asserts that over 30 of its clients have departed to join Alliant since Mr. Davis’ resignation.
Based in White Plains, New York, MMA is seeking various forms of legal recourse, including:
- Declaratory and injunctive relief
- Compensatory and punitive damages
These claims are premised on alleged violations of the former brokers’ restrictive covenants, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference with existing contracts, and breach of fiduciary duty.
As of now, representatives for both parties have not responded to requests for comment regarding the ongoing legal matter.
