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Corporate Crimefighters of America Archives Index
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March24, 2004 - Corporate Crimefighters of America >> |
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CORPORATE CRIMEFIGHTERS OF AMERICA -- March 22, 2004 ====================================================== After you have read a few issues, please consider purchasing a Subscription to help fund our work. Info at bottom. ====================================================== MORE ABOUT THE CORRUPT MAIN INSURANCE COMMISSION Exposure Of Collusion Between Maine Doi And Unum On Fraudulent Merger With Provident May Help Both Victims And Cheated Shareholders: Augusta, Maine (March 22, 2004) -- In 1999, the Maine Bureau of Insurance (MBI) commissioned the now-infamous accounting firm Arthur Andersen to prepare a report to be used as evidence in MBI's decision whether to approve the application for merger of UNUM Life Insurance Co. and Provident Co., Inc. into the world's largest private disability insurer - controlling a major share of the U.S. market. MBI approved the merger - but refused to disclose to the public potentially vital information contained in the report. On March 8, 2004, in a victory for insurance consumers and open government, after years of relentless efforts on behalf of consumers, the Consumer Federation of America, California Consumer Health Care Council and United Policyholders obtained a court order from Kennebec County Superior Court requiring that the Andersen report be disclosed in its entirety, excepting only an appendix in which individual policyholders were named. The consumer groups thank the lawyers who worked tirelessly in bringing this matter to a proper conclusion,. especially lead attorney, Sloan J. Zarkin, of Anderson Kill & Olick, and local Maine counsel, Robert Morris. UnumProvident's Record Since The Merger The obtaining of this document may have important implications for many consumers who have had difficulty in obtaining prompt or complete payment of their claims from UnumProvident, since the merger in 1999. It has been reported that between 1997 and August 2002, more than 2500 sick and disabled policyholders have sued UnumProvident, claiming UnumProvident defrauded them of the benefits they were promised when they paid their premiums in exchange for the promises of protection if they became sick and disabled. Courts in California, Arizona, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Florida, among others, have upheld jury verdicts based on evidence that UnumProvident implemented a strategy to unfairly deny disability claims. Numerous class and representative actions are slogging their way through the courts, all across America, alleging similar misconduct by UnumProvident. The Georgia Insurance Commissioner imposed a $1,000,000 fine on UnumProvident. It has also been reported that the Insurance Departments in 45 states are currently investigating the company. John Metz, Chairman of the California Consumer Health Counsel, said, "There have been so many lawsuits filed against UnumProvident, and so many consumers have said they have been hurt by its conduct, that it is essential that all the facts about the merger that created this company be made available. The Court's ruling is truly a victory for consumers and open government that may help repair the public's badly damaged trust." Please call or email if you would like to speak Ms. Zarkin or Mr. Metz or if you would like a copy of the court decision. Case reference: Consumer Federation of America, California Consumer Health Care Council and United Policyholders vs. Maine Bureau of Insurance, Kennebec County Superior Court, Civil Action Docket No. AP-03-07 3/22/2004 ====================================================== NO ERISA DISABILITY CHEATING ALLOWED IN CALIFORNIA PART II: ORDER FOR INFORMATION pursuant to California Insurance Code ?§?§ 10508.6; 12924 The Insurance Commissioner directs all insurers licensed to offer disability insurance in California to create and submit to him a list of its forms which currently may be offered to California insureds that would (1) provide disability income, health or other coverages classified under California Insurance Code ?§106 and (2) contain Discretionary Clauses similar to those described in this notice. The list shall include (1) the form numbers of policies, certificates, SPD's, riders or other forms evidencing coverage. It shall also identify for each form number (2) the type of form (for example: policy) and (3) the type of coverage (for example: dis ability income). This list shall include and shall identify (4) those forms previously approved by the commissioner as well as (5) those offered for use without such approval. The list shall be certified by an officer of the company. The lists shall be delivered within 45 days of the date of this notice to: California Department of Insurance 45 Fremont Street, 21st Floor San Francisco, CA 94105 Attn: Jean Hipon Or by e- mail in Excel format to: hiponj@insurance.ca.gov Questions about this order should be directed via e-mail to one of the following persons: Alice Gates, Senior Staff Counsel at: gatesa@insurance.ca.gov Cximare Dye, Staff Counsel at: dyec@insurance.ca.gov Caitlin Smith, Staff Counsel at: smithc@insurance.ca.gov Elena Asturias, Staff Counsel at: asturiase@insurance.ca.gov Nancy Neu, Staff Counsel at: neun@insurance.ca.gov Dated: February 27, 2004 ____________________________ JOHN GARAMENDI California Insurance Commissioner ====================================================== DEATH TOLL Unum Provident is involved in about 35 suicides a year. Not much else I can say about that. ====================================================== A GOOD CEO BLASTS ALL THE ROTTEN ONES http://nationmultimedia.com/page.news.php3?clid=6&id=110485&usrsess=1 Body Shop founder sounds blast against CEO focus Published on Mar 22, 2004 Dame Anita Roddick, founder and co-chair of The Body Shop, gave a spirited and refreshingly irreverent speech, her last in the country, at Chiang Mai University as a part of a one-year event calendar to celebrate the university's 40th anniversary. She spoke on the role of corporations and their potential to affect the world in a positive way, using her own business as a model of how success in a business context and an attitude of respect for nature and people need not be mutually exclusive. To be recognised as a successful businesswoman holds no value for her whatsoever, she said. "No one is ever remembered for what they do in business, but only for what they do for society. People these days want to run all institutions like a business, in a way that is hierarchical, military and imposing assessments. It's wrong. Leadership without a heart leads to corporate crimes. Business is no longer about trade. It's no longer about keeping communities intact. Corporate wealth is celebrated, and corporations are now more powerful than religion, politics, but they have no moral sympathy. Businesses must be held accountable. "Organisations like the World Bank and the IMF are hideous and are leading the world towards impending social catastrophe. It's revolting, and the people will revolt. Global corporations are creating an unpredictable environment, and governments are absolutely useless. Businesses are not good at social regulation. Indifference and greed must be met with a revolution of kindness." Her own business was remarkably successful, even though "we were hopeless business people, but we had a vision for an idea and wanted to see how far it could go". "It was not an interest in money. It was what I didn't do that saved my soul. I never went to business school, and I didn't know who Milton Friedman was, but we were zealous. "Enthusiasm when it goes to the heart is unstoppable. When we started we didn't have many products, so we produced five sizes of the same product and used urine-sample bottles. What I brought to the table was my DNA. "I dedicated my company to the environment, social responsibility and the community. Running a business by profit alone is unspeakably unimaginative. I believe in politics of consciousness, networking with human-rights groups and environmental groups. "We have to consider the bigger questions. How do you bring human fulfilment to the world? How do you bring jobs to communities? Businesses create wealth, not jobs. How to bring joy to the workplace? I've tried to create a family-like, friendly company that is responsible, supports the community, human rights, the environment and values the work of women." Roddick reflected again on the early days. "In Glasgow we built a factory in the poorest part of the city and provided the best possible working conditions, pay and benefits and returned 25 per cent of the profits to the community." Even at the beginning, community service was woven into the fabric of her business. "We started publishing The Big Issue, which is sold by homeless people who receive a percentage of the profits. It's a sexy, well-written investigative magazine and communicates ideas and receives contributions from famous people such as George Michael to help raise awareness of social issues. We don't spend a penny on TV advertising and use our trucks to show banners with details of missing children. "I believe in productivity of the human spirit. I took 30 of my staff and my two daughters to Romania and refurbished an orphanage. "I define spirituality in the words |of Mahatma Ghandi: 'being in service for the weak and frail'. We went to |the mountains of Albania and set up |a mobile hygiene unit and a medical vehicle to treat gunshot wounds. In Kosovo we built a school, a |child-care centre and a conflict-resolution centre. We also built a school in Serbia." Roddick talked about her management philosophy. "I'm a firm believer in community trade and local, small-scale economic initiatives. I believe in supporting family farmers and local businesses, dealing directly with farmers and taking out the middleman. We try to use ingredients for our products where it helps communities, such as Ghana, where we get our cocoa butter." And she attacked the prevailing MBA orientation. "CEOs care only about share prices. The media are heinous: they talk to you like you're a capitalist hippie. Fortune never reported on imaginative social responsibility, taking the attitude that ethics are irrelevant. We've proved that you can fight for human rights, put kindness on the agenda, protect the environment and still make a profit. Businesses must show more developed emotions than fear or greed. "Privatisation hasn't worked. You don't need to go down that road. When life-changing research is claimed for profit, it's the work of the devil. Don't despair; just be irritated." Scott McGregor ====================================================== THE JUSTIFICATION FOR JURY NULLIFICATION OF UNJUST LAW US Constitution Amendment 7 In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law. ********************************* Unfortunately, Common Law is being destroyed and replaced with the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) - to corporate advantage of course. ====================================================== Please Pay For The Subscription To Support Our Cause - $15/Yr Minimum, More If You Feel This Is Important Work. Send subscription fees or donations for our work to: James Mooney PMB # 106 4495-304 Roosevelt Blvd Jacksonville, FL 32210-3381 OR Via Paypal at: https://www.paypal.com/affil/pal=cybervigil@earthlink.net Jim Mooney, webmaster: www.micethatroar.com www.corporatecrimefighters.com UNUM'S SECRET "DESTROYED" CLAIMS MANUALS NOW AVAILABLE - Email manuals@micethatroar.com for details. THE UNFINISHED TASK "Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To destroy this invisible government, to befoul the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics is the first task of the statesmanship of the day." --Theodore Roosevelt, April 19, 1906 |
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