McGriff takes former exec’s $10M fraud suit to federal court

TIH Insurance Holdings LLC subsidiary McGriff Insurance Services LLC removed a former executive’s $10 million fraud lawsuit to federal court in Los Angeles.

The retail brokerage said in the July 26 notice of removal filed in Shianne Hollander v. McGriff Insurance Services et al., that the allegations against Mark Russ, Michael Breedlove and Michael Martini are inadequate under California law.

Ms. Hollander said in her initial state court lawsuit filed April 24 that while working at Lockton Insurance Brokers LLC, the individuals aggressively recruited her to join McGriff by promising a better work-life balance, resources and business leads. She filed an amended complaint June 26.

She agreed to join McGriff in June 2021 and signed an offer of employment that guaranteed her a 40% commission on new business and 25% on renewals. After she began working for McGriff in August 2021, she was forced to sign another employment agreement that included less favorable terms than the June offer, she said.

Ms. Hollander said that contrary to the representations made by McGriff, the individuals and TIH, she was not given the resources to excel at her job and that the stress caused her to suffer health problems.

She resigned from McGriff last month, court records show.

Ms. Hollander asserts claims for fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of contract, gender discrimination, hostile work environment and retaliation.

McGriff said in its recent filing that the case should proceed in federal court because Ms. Hollander is seeking damages of $10 million, and because the parties are from different states.

Representatives for the parties did not respond to requests for comment.