Another great piece. Where is the response from the governor, mayor, city councilors who all allowed taxpayers to be shorted to the tune of $45 mil? How about the AG who has a role in enforcing board obligations to shareholders? Absolutely pathetic.

Brian, I have to tell you that you have done a great job dissecting Liberty Mutual, but enough is enough. This is private company, my only issue is the tax break given to them by Governor Patrick. We have lots of fraud in this state, let's see, EBT cards running rampant, people collecting unemployment, people collecting SS disability, and then there's the payroll board, the probation dept, let's focus on issues that cost the tax payer.

This is amazing, Brian. Keep up the pressure! Great investigative work...this is how the .01% rips us off.

Geez...what is this....10 days in a row? What happened? Did somebody over at Liberty turn down your auto claim? Seems to me that this is starting to smack of envy. Your complaints about the tax break are complaints about the State, and should be addressed to them. What were the details involved in that process, and WHO made that decision? Maybe Kelly is WORTH $50M, if he consistently gets his company deals like a $45M tax break. As for compensation and perks...well, that's between the executive and the Board, which has to answer to the policyholders in a mutual company. If you're not a policyholder, that's none of your business; if you are, stand up at an annual meeting and complain. That's your duty and your right.

Great work, but your point has been made regarding how much these crooks make. What you should focus on now is how many people they have actually put out of work, and out of business, because of the arrogant way they handle insurance cases. My first experience with them was back in 1989 when they sent the company I then worked for a bill for almost $300,000 that they demanded to be paid "up front" or they would lose their workman's compensation coverage. I was promptly laid off until the owner could reorganize his company. That isn't an unusual case, but a common one. I'm sure any owner of a construction company has a story about being ripped off by Liberty Mutual or others in the insurance industry.

At least they are using energy saving lighting systems.... Maybe your next thread to pull on is to follow political contributions. Perhaps Kelly and others at LM have been cutting large checks for the democrats? Maybe that is why the governor has decided to dummy up. And let's not overlook politically connectd Suffolk Construction. I would not be a happy camper if I was a LM employee. Your boss doesn't even want to mingle with you in the gym. I'm guessing it's a pretty crappy place to work under this leadership crew.

Great piece that affects everyone. This extravaganza probably exists at all insurance companies. There is no reason premiums should continue to increase. Board of Directors are useless and where are the regulators?

Another passionate and well written piece.

Well done, Brian. At this point, what's supposed to happen is that those who have been shamed into finally assuming their civic responsibility to reign in gluttonous behavior, would have stepped forward to do so. Yet, so far, the silence is deafening... Massachusetts and Boston political leaders, where are you? Does your silence imply you're "ok" with this? Who are the primary "Members" of this Mutual Company, and why aren't they up in arms in protest of this excessive behavior that Mr. McGrory has highlighted?

I'm so sick of these lame board of directors who are not doing there job. It's a total joke.

Brian, Keep hammering away. The greed of the filthy rich must always be exposed.

Here is my experience with the insurance industry: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I had homeowner's insurance for a place I rent on Cape Cod since 1987. After about 20 years of insuring with Vermont Mutual for maybe $75 a year and never making a claim I was summarily dropped because the condo was "too close to the water" (closer than 20 miles, if memory serves). The independent agency in Westford had NO OPTIONS for me (I think I was not enough profit for them). I found out about the Mass Fair Plan (MPIUA) -- the state entity that insures properties that no one else will. Insuring through an independent agency in Boxborough my Fair Plan cost was maybe $350 -- a steep rise. After maybe 5 years insuring for this amount it was discovered that my place had been listed as a single family, not a condo. The condo rate with 1/2 the cost. I got a check for the overpayment. Who listed the property incorrectly? Good question. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I added and then cancelled (after being out of work) primary residence coverage, and I lost the renewal for the Fair Plan property, which expired. The agency in Boxborough refused to re-up my Fair Plan application (because I had dropped the other insurance; not enough profit, again). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I contacted MetLife where I had had insurance for multiple cars for more than 10 years. I was told by the Chelmsford branch that they doubted the company would cover me but I would have to contact corporate. I contacted corporate who put me in touch with another local agent who send me a reasonable quote (once) but then never would respond to my phone calls about tailoring the insurance. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> To Be Continued (don't want to overflow buffer)...

Insurance Industry Experience (continued): >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Next I contact another independent agency in Acton and they submitted a Fair Plan app for me (and for the same $175 approx cost as I was previously paying). I enquired about primary residence insurance and they said that would have to be Fair Plan also since my previous plan has "lapsed". I got various comments like "We don't know what the state of the condo is since you let the insurance lapse". When I enquired about items costs that were optional insurance (ie, not minimums) I was told that "this is the minimum policy we will do". >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I contacted Libery Mutual. I got primary homeowners at a lower cost than had previously been quoted with anyone else. THey didn't play games. THey were very quick, but somewhat sloppy with the app data (but revised it quickly). But it was so refreshing to be dealing with a company that was not playing games that I cancelled my car insurance (via Liberty) and insured with them also. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> MetLife sent me a letter that they were unable to cancel my auto insurance from the 3rd party notification because they didn't know whether the insurance was auto or homeowners. This is not credible because I had never had homeowners with them. Also, the phone number they said to contact in the letter was "not in service" according to the phone company. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> So, Brian, now that you are an expert on lavish corner offices (for one company) and airplane travel (for 2 companies) perhaps you could branch out and cover the inappropriate (and illegal) lack of equal and fair treatment some in the insurance industry provide to the public.

We can assume during the presidential elections our governor will be taking shots at Romney as the "out of touch rich man" (which in fact he is). So how can he square that with going radio silent on this? Unless of course there is another connection which hasn't been uncovered. Which political parties and candidates have LM execs contributed to? Reasonable question.

PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO REVOKE LIBERTY MUTUAL'S TAX BREAKS. WE NEED 50,000 SIGNATURES -- ONE FOR EVERY DOLLAR LIBERTY MUTUAL GAVE TO GOV. DEVAL PATRICK IN "CAMPAIGN DONATIONS" BEFORE HE GAVE THEM THIS MONEY. READ THE PETITION, WHICH PRESENTS ALL THE FACTS. THIS DEAL IS FRAUDULENT AND MUST BE RESCINDED. IT'S YOUR MONEY. TAKE IT BACK. http://www.green-rainbow.org/liberty_mutual_tower_subsidy_petition

Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Keep shining the light on these thieves and grifters posing as corporate leaders. This is a mutual, not a Silicon Valley idea machine. They have no right to spend like this while raising premiums and demanding tax breaks.

Based on my last 2 posts it should be obvious that there is reason to investigate the way the insurance industry operates in this state (independent agencies and companies). I'm sure there are many more stories out there. You can check out Liberty Mutual while you're at it (perhaps they have been unwilling to kiss certain unmentionables of the Boston power brokers like the other companies may be willing to do)...

Why do people continue to give Liberty Mutual their money? There's other companies out there. Maybe the policyholders don't care.

Deval Patrick should hang his head in shame. What type of Democrat Governor would keep silent on this? A Political Hack that's who. Deval is a disgraceful governor who has done nothing but raise taxes and maintain his status as the top Political Hack in Massachusetts. He's friends with LM's President?????? No ---t Dick Tracy.

Also, Globe, it had become obvious that there needs to be wider investigative effort for this story (more reporters). There are many people out there who know what is hidden under the rug and in the closets. This is true with most things in Mass -- it being a one party, back room, good old boy kinda place. (Need I mention one area where abuse was ongoing for decades in spite of parents, teachers, police, lawyers, and prosecutors knowing about it?) Have other reporters talk to industry people, agents, state people, and -- most of all -- customers. Dig, dig, dig, and then report the whole story. What you have now is a single reporter and a bunch of his fans (employees of other insurance companies, what?) who seem to have an axe to grind (a bias). It does not reflect that the Globe's reporting is "in good faith".

retiredlawyer wrote: "Why do people continue to give Liberty Mutual their money? There's other companies out there. Maybe the policyholders don't care." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Or maybe you would find out if you read some of the other comments...

jmlawren wrote: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Keep shining the light on these thieves and grifters posing as corporate leaders..." >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, I agree, but "selective sunshine" is just another name for "phony openness" (ie, the same old same old bias and corruption).

I love that their tag line is: "Responsibility. What's your policy?" Great job.

I would like to add that Liberty Mutual's CEO can now look down from his highrise in the Back Bay and see the tops of the triple deckers a mile away in Mission Hill. Last month Liberty Mutual, with whom we had a house and 3 cars insured, turned down our application to insure a triple decker. Why? Literally, "We don't insure in THAT NEIGHBORHOOD." And, apparently, in Massachusetts this RACIST REDLINING is legal. Needless to say, we are not shareholders any more... Brian, please keep asking them questions. Perhaps you can include one about redlining in urban neighborhoods....

An excellent series, and fine investigative reporting by McGrory and Globe business reporter Todd Wallack. Thank you for serving the public so well. We need a lot more like you. Here's another line of inquiry I hope you two will pursue: what political donations have been made over the past 5 years by Liberty Mutual, Ted Kelly, David Long and their colleagues and directors? How much, when, and to whom? If we want to know who's been cultivating Congressional and state votes through Grover Norquist or myriad other channels, we need reporters like you to follow the money wherever it leads.