"This company has lost its core philosophy and abandoned its policyholders in the process," State Farm agent Mike Morgan, Dayton, Ohio said. "People need to know what's really going at this company."

State Farm has more than 66 million policyholders nationwide. The company has lost more than $1.5 billion in legal cases in 1999 accusing the company of doctoring claims, using fraudulent medical consulting firms, fraudulently using after-market replacement parts and misrepresenting life insurance policies as savings accounts to its customers.

"This company has not learned its lessons and has not changed its ways. These problems go all the way to CEO Ed Rust Jr., and we believe he should resign from this company," former 27-year State Farm agent Rich Pyorre said.

"This company overcharges homeowners, tries to force its agents to sell life insurance whether clients need it or not and then turns around and blames its agents when they get caught," former California agent Verne Walton said.

"State Farm has a history of consumer abuse, fraud and deception that reaches into every policyholder's pocket. It is time that regulators take a long hard look at this company," Alliance for Insurance Reform spokeswoman Ina De Long said. "Once we thought State Farm was a good neighbor, now we know they're a consumer's nightmare. They would be more at home on America's most wanted list."

The agents unveiled a new web site, www.SFAgentsWhoCare.org, which offers information to consumers about State Farm and litigation involving State Farm. It also provides a central location for consumers to post stories of their problems with the company.

Broadcast stations will be able to download a satellite feed of the press conference from 2:30-3:00 PM EST on Galaxy 6; Transponder 17 on a C-band frequency.

PARTICIPANTS
Agents Call for Investigation: A group of current and former State Farm agents across the country called upon state and federal authorities to investigate widespread consumer abuses against the insurance giant. They include:

California
Bill Cornelison (Fresno) Art Appling (Santa Rosa) Larry Daveggio (Santa Rosa) Rich Pyorre (Ft. Bragg) John Wier (Crescent City) Leonard Doctor (Northridge) Verne Walton (San Jose) Marilyn Cusimano (San Jose) Dan Brumfield (Fair Oaks) Doug Perry (Auburn) Matt Pickett Jr. (Campbell) Jo Ann Searcy (Lancaster) Dennis Farrell (Bermuda Dunes) Ray Gilmore (Livermore) Bob Kennedy (Apple Valley) Terry Walker (Sebastopol) Fred Love (Granite Bay) Jacob Castroll (Brentwood) Paul Julian (Palm Desert)

Texas
Clifford Lykke (Houston) Larry Wilson (Austin)

Florida
Jerry Flanders (West Palm Beach) Mike Hartman (W. Palm Beach)

Nebraska
Andy Gaines (Omaha)

Utah
Rosanne Smith (Pleasant Grove) Harold Little (St. George)

Colorado
Chuck Lewis (Littleton)

Arizona
Dale Pitney Jr. (Scottsdale) Anthony Vito (Tucson)

Idaho
Judy Leathers (Boise) Lyle Chambers (Nampa)

Washington
Alan Perkins (Tacoma)

Ohio
Michael Morgan (Dayton)

Nevada
Paul Quilici (Reno)

Maryland
Tana Shultz (California) Lee Saghirian (Millersville)

The group held a press conference at 10:00 am ET on October 29, 1999 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. A video file of the conference can be found at www.connectlive.com/events/insuranceabuse/

Please Also See > State Farm Responds to Accusations