A disciplinary committee convened by the Registered Insurance Brokers of Ontario (RIBO) has reprimanded and suspended Christopher Coons, a level 3 broker first registered in April 1996, after Coons admitted to forging a client’s signature in order to expedite a renewal.
The misconduct was reported by a colleague in the same insurance group Coons worked for. Following his admission, Coons was terminated by the firm in March 2024. The complainant alleged that the broker forged a client’s signature on a renewal application and failed to reply to that client’s emails and calls in a timely manner.
“While the client confirmed that the signature on the renewal application was not hers, she did not bring the complaint and chose not to participate in it,” the decision and reasons in the case states.
Coons confirmed to investigators that he forged the client’s signature and also confirmed that the client was not aware that the broker intended to sign the renewal application on their behalf.
“If the broker were to testify, we would state that there was no malice or deceit intended on his part, but that he only forged the client’s signature to try to expedite the renewal process for the client,” the decision and reasons document continues. “He only delayed in responding to the client because he did not yet have the certificates of insurance she was requesting.”
In addition to a reprimand, Coons is suspended for two months and must complete three hours of RIBO-accredited education focused on the topics of ethics and ethical practice. “This requirement is in addition to the annual continuing education obligations of the broker,” they write.
