"Judge's decision on airport contract pending"

[Surety Insider]

An affidavit received from the Department of Insurance declared that “neither Infinity Surety nor Infinity Surety of Louisiana Inc. are licensed insurance companies in Louisiana and, thus, are not authorized to write surety insurance (including bid bonds) in Louisiana.”

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

"As Monroe city officials prepare to celebrate Friday with a groundbreaking for a new $35 million Monroe Regional Airport terminal, the attorneys representing a bidder on the project have filed another amended lawsuit seeking to stop the construction."

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

"Contract administrator Jackie Slack also testified that Mayor Jamie Mayo “took me to the wood shed” and “chewed me out for three-and-a-half hours for something I didn’t do.”

Read it here.

[lareason]

I think the surety is fishy. On the LA SoS website, Infinity Surety Agency, LLC.is registered on the SoS website, stating it is based out of Saginaw, TX.I searched the TX SoS. However, TX requires a search fee to pull the information.

Infinity Surety of Louisiana, Inc. is based out of Metairie. George Black, 2701Homer Blvd, ste B, Metairie, is the agent and director. Leslie Chappetta is an officer. Francine Black is VP.

Public records for political donations show George Black of zip code 76179 listed himself as CEO of "Infinity Surety" in a 2008 political contribution. 76179 is a Fort Worth zip code.

Neither entity has been a party to any LA state or TX state lawsuits. They are a defendant in one LA federal suit that was filed on August 18, 2009 in the LA Eastern District. Benentech, LLC v. Infinity Surety Agency, LLC, Infinity Surety of Louisiana, Inc. and George Black Sr., 2:2009cv05814 (E.D.LA, 8/18/09).

From this information, I assume the 2 entities are affiliated. I also assume the surety company did not pay on the bond that is in question in the federal suit. I assume fraud was involved. Why else would plaintiffs name the owner/officer directly.

If you search online, you can find 2 forms for Infininity Surety Agency, LLC. Most of the website's information has been removed. All that remains are 2 online forms: (1) a bond request form; and (2) Questionnaire. Each form provides 2 numbers. One is a Fort Worth, TX phone #, and one is a DC phone #. FYI - Saginaw is a suburb of Ft. Worth. The forms also provide a DC address - 6230 3rd St, Washington, DC‎.

This address is apparently an office complex, because multiple businesses show up at this address. The only business having anything to do with insurance is Minus & Associates Insurance‎, 6230 3rd St NW # 15, Washington, DC‎ - (202) 722-0377.

Searching online, I've found that Reggie Minus is the agent and apparent owner. His email address is rcminus@hotmail.com. Fax is 202-722-4744. I also found a DC business type website - Minus & Associates Inc.. It states that Minus & Associates does offer bid and performance bonds.

[Surety Insider]

"EnviroTech Services LLC’s expert witness testified Wednesday that the company submitted a bid bond that met the city of Monroe’s vague specifications, but then admitted under cross examination that everything wasn’t perfect."

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

"The defense began its case Tuesday with testimony from Mike E. Boutwell, who heads up the licensing division of the Louisiana Department of Insurance. Boutwell said information that he gathered on Infinity Surety of Texas was sent to the department's fraud division."

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

"Patrick said the pre-bid conference is where those interested bidders receive needed information and can ask questions about what is expected. His testimony basically was that all licensed contractors should know what’s expected when it comes to bid bonds and other financial obligations such as performance bonds."

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

"Suit filed against Infinity Surety - Cease-and-desist order filed against company"

Read it here.

[Surety Insider]

Detailed Times-Picayune article here.