Baltimore insurance brokers file complaint accusing Erie Insurance of discriminating against Black

Baltimore insurance brokers file complaint accusing Erie Insurance of discriminating against Black customers


Three Baltimore-area insurance brokers have filed complaints with state regulators accusing Erie Insurance of discriminating by engaging in insurance “redlining” of predominantly Black neighborhoods in the city.

The brokerage firms, two of which are Black-owned small businesses, filed separate complaints this week with the Maryland Insurance Administration. The firms included Baltimore Insurance Network LLC of Bowie, Ross Insurance Agency of Windsor Mill and Welsch Insurance Group of Baltimore, all of which contract or had contracted with Erie as agents to sell policies.

They accuse Erie, which underwrites policies sold by the firms, of redlining, the practice of denying services to residents of certain neighborhoods based on race or ethnicity. The complaints say Erie refused to underwrite policies based on a potential client’s race, ethnic origin, neighborhood and/or socioeconomic status.

“Erie Insurance brokerages that serve Baltimore, and in particular that serve the poor areas of Baltimore which are predominately African American, are being told that even when customers meet their underwriting standards and when they would otherwise qualify, Erie is not interested in certain customers,” said Cary J. Hansel, an attorney for Baltimore Insurance.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-insurance-brokers-allege-discrimination-by-erie-insurance-20210114-kkxcwt4oyzckzeoy6r2no4krs4-story.html