USI accuses former broker of poaching clients
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USI Insurance Services LLC Thursday sued a former broker, claiming he retained business with clients he brought to the brokerage firm after being terminated in September 2023 and joining a competitor.
USI says in the suit filed in federal court in Virginia that John “Freddy” Ewan breached his employment agreement when obtaining new policies or renewals for three childcare franchise businesses shortly after becoming an affiliate of competitor Robertson Ryan Insurance after his 10-month tenure at USI.
Sundance Kids NJ/PA and Sundance Kids WI, franchisees of early learning centers, and Playbook LLC, doing business as the Learning Experience Academy, which operates more than 350 childcare centers across the U.S. and the United Kingdom, were clients of Mr. Ewan before he joined USI. While at USI, Mr. Ewan secured business with New Garden Early Care and Education Center LLC, court records show.
Valhalla, New York-based USI also alleged that Mr. Ewan retained some of its confidential files after he was terminated.
Mr. Ewan worked for CBIZ Insurance Services Inc., before joining USI in November 2022, and brought a book of existing clients, mostly franchisees of childcare facilities. Mr. Ewan provided verbal notice of his resignation to his supervisor in August 2023, after complaining about the timeliness of the receipt of his commissions. He was terminated in September 2023 after he refused to submit a written resignation as required by his employment agreement, court records show.
USI did not respond to a request for comment.
