The Insurance Council of British Columbia has assessed a fine of just $2,500 against David Ian Somerville, a former agent, and regional director accused of taking production and client information and forwarding it to multiple managing general agencies (MGAs), not his own, in an effort to gain favour for future employment.
Licensed in British Columbia since April 2009, Somerville requested to have his British Columbia life agent license terminated in January 2023. He remains licensed in Alberta and Ontario.
Working in Vancouver Island, the British Columbia intended decision says “though his employment had ended, the agency had not terminated the former licensee’s ability to submit future business through the agency.”
The MGA says Somerville sent confidential information to three MGAs. The leaked information included a report of business submitted through the agency by another contracted advisor. The record included consumer names, carrier information, face amounts, premiums and first year commissions from January 2014 until January 2020. He also forwarded an excel spreadsheet containing names and contact information for 1,300 active advisors contracted by the agency in the province and a production summary report of business submitted by British Columbia advisors from January until November 2020.
“The MGAs confirmed that they had not solicited the information from the former licensee, and that the documents were deleted upon receipt,” the intended decision states.
Before asking to have his license terminated, the agent enrolled in three ethics courses, and expressed remorse for his actions, saying his lapse in judgment was due to personal issues.
In addition to the $2,500 fine, Somerville was assessed costs totalling $1,581.25. He was also ordered to complete coursework prior to being licensed again in the province in the future.
