Ohio Fines Company for Improper Info Disposal

Ohio Department of Insurance Director Mary Jo Hudson announced that the Department has ordered Rampage Marketing Services Inc. of Highland Heights, Ohio to pay nearly $15, 000 in fines, administrative costs and restitution for improperly disposing of client information. A Department investigation reportedly revealed that in August 2007, Rampage Marketing Services Inc., a licensed resident insurance agency, dumped 14 boxes of client insurance files into a dumpster. The files reportedly contained thousands of documents containing sensitive and personal data belonging to clients and insurance agents, such as names, social security numbers, dates of birth, personal medical information and personal financial data. An insurance agent with Continental Western Insurance noticed the boxes in the dumpster, secured them and sent them to the Ohio Department of Insurance for review. The dumpster was utilized by several different businesses in the area. The Department believes the actions of the insurance agent prevented any personal data from being stolen. The Department has ordered Rampage Marketing to pay a $10,000 fine and $2,000 in administrative costs. They must also pay Continental Western Insurance nearly $1,200, the cost to recover, secure and transport the abandoned data to the Department of Insurance. Rampage Marketing will be required to submit proof to the Department in 45 days that they paid Continental Western Insurance for their services. They must also pay the fine and administrative costs in one year. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of Rampage Marketing’s insurance licenses. The Department’s investigation of the matter determined that no personal information of Rampage Marketing clients was stolen.