(WNY News Now) – New York Attorney General Letitia James has successfully reached an agreement to eliminate anti-worker practices within First American Financial Corporation (First American), one of the nation’s largest title insurance companies. The agreement comes as a result of an investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), which uncovered illegal no-poach agreements that hindered competition and harmed employee opportunities in the industry.
New York – New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a significant breakthrough in the battle against anti-worker practices within the title insurance industry. A comprehensive investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has led to an agreement with First American Financial Corporation (First American) to put an end to illegal no-poach agreements that have long been a detriment to employees within the sector.
The OAG’s probe revealed that First American, along with its competitors, had entered into illicit no-poach agreements, whereby they agreed not to solicit each other’s employees. This anticompetitive practice had the direct consequence of suppressing wages and limiting career opportunities for workers in the industry.
Under the terms of the newly announced agreement, First American will immediately terminate any existing no-poach agreements and pay the state of New York a sum of $4.5 million. Furthermore, the company has committed to cooperating with the OAG’s ongoing investigations concerning the title insurance sector. This cooperative effort represents a significant step towards rectifying the unfair labor practices and fostering a more competitive and employee-friendly environment within the industry.
The agreement, announced by Attorney General Letitia James, is an important milestone in her ongoing campaign to eliminate unlawful no-poach agreements that have stifled both competition and career growth. Attorney General James has been instrumental in putting an end to these harmful practices across the industry. The list of companies affected by her efforts includes not only First American but also Fidelity, Old Republic, Stewart, Amtrust, First Nationwide, and Kensington Vanguard – some of the largest commercial underwriters and title insurance agencies in the United States.
Attorney General James has recently led a coalition of 21 attorneys general in support of retail workers. This coalition submitted an amicus brief in the Second Circuit, advocating for the overturning of a lower court decision in the case of Giordano v. Saks, which could have far-reaching implications for retail workers’ rights.
This recent achievement in the title insurance industry follows a previous agreement in March 2019, where Attorney General James and a coalition of attorneys general reached an accord with four national fast food franchisors, including Dunkin’, Arby’s, Five Guys, and Little Caesars, effectively ending their use of no-poach agreements.
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