Virginia LTC Agent Sues Former Broker

June 21, 2010 at 08:00 PM
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The head of a long term care insurance agency in Virginia is suing a broker in connection with allegations concerning compensation for a sales lead.

Linda Tsironis Caruthers, the president of Long-Term Care Consultants, Richmond, Va., is suing LTC Financial Partners L.L.C., Kirkland, Wash., for about $1 million. In a lawsuit filed in a court in Henrico County, Va., she has accused LTCFP of "failure to appropriately compensate" her for introducing LTCFP to the National Education Association, Washington.

LTCFP has filed a countersuit in a court in Chesterfield County, Va. The defendants named in that suit are Caruthers, her agency, and Richard Smith, who is identified by LTCFP as an employee of NEA Member Benefits Corp.

Caruthers says her assistance helped LTCFP win the NEA endorsement to sell LTC insurance to the organization's members and their families through NEA Member Benefits. LTCFP estimates in its suit that the endorsement could generate $20 million in premiums during the first 24 months of the relationship.

LTCFP has acknowledged that Carruthers' assistance helped it to land NEA's endorsement, according to Carruthers.

Caruthers says LTCFP, a field marketing organization, has refused to pay Caruthers more than $10 per application submitted by NEA members.

The Henrico County case is is currently scheduled for a 2-day trial starting July 28, according to Carruthers.

Ken Dehn, in-house counsel for LTCFP, says Caruthers had an agreement with LTCFP as to what she would be paid.

"She testified under oath what we told her she'd get," Dehn says.

Carruthers has received about $40,000 from LTCFP, Dehn says.

Carruthers was not immediately available to comment on the situation, and Smith could not immediately be reached for comment.

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