Minnesota Insurance Agency Fined for AIG Ad

A Duluth insurance agency has agreed to pay thousands of dollars in fines for taking out an ad questioning the financial health of insurer AIG.

The state Department of Commerce said that insurance agent Gregory Brisky agreed to pay a $2,000 fine. His agency, the Dwight Swanstrom Co., agreed to pay a $3,000 fine.

The department says the agency took out a newspaper ad soliciting AIG customers who might be “nervous” about their insurance company in an attempt to get them to switch insurers.

American International Group was bailed out last month when the federal government offered it an $85 billion loan during the ongoing credit crisis.

The Commerce Department says it has affirmed the financial solvency of AIG’s insurance companies, despite the troubles with the parent company.

It’s against Minnesota law to make misleading statements on the financial condition of any insurer.

Brisky says he has no comment.

Minnesota Department of Commerce.

Dwight Swanstrom Co.