Spitzer to File Insurance Suit Friday By Joseph A. Giannone NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer will file a lawsuit as early as Friday against an insurance company, the second suit stemming from his sweeping probe into bid-rigging in the industry, Spitzer told Reuters on Friday. Spitzer on Oct. 14 filed suit against Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) , accusing the world's largest insurance broker of rigging what were presented as competitive bids, steering business to carriers based on who paid the highest fees to Marsh. The suit, which implicated many of the largest U.S. insurance companies, was only the first of many, he said. "We're working as hard as we possibly can. There will be new chapters, some of them perhaps later today in terms of cases that will come out," Spitzer said at the 2004 Reuters Finance Summit in New York. "There may be a filing later today." Spitzer declined to name the target of the suit. In the past month, more than a dozen insurers have reported receiving subpoenas from Spitzer's office, as well as requests from other state prosecutors and regulators. People familiar with Spitzer's investigation have said that Chicago-based Aon Corp. (AOC.N: Quote , Profile , Research ) , the No. 2 insurance broker, has been a top focus. Speaking exclusively to Reuters reporters at Reuters New York offices, Spitzer said the investigation continues to expand, reaching a range of companies across the spectrum of insurance products. In all, Spitzer estimated his office is in talks with "15, 20 (companies), at least." Indeed, a lawsuit Friday may not involve companies involved in property casualty coverage, which to date have been at the center of the probe. Spitzer also stressed that his office intends to seek criminal actions against companies and individuals, as warranted. "There will be insurers who will be charged. There may be a settlement at the time they're charged, but there will be complaints filed laying out the nature of the wrongdoing," Spitzer said. "There will be more criminal actions: I can guarantee you that, at companies you aren't yet looking at, necessarily." Last month Spitzer said he would not pursue a criminal suit against Marsh, stating he believed that a combination of civil actions plus criminal charges against individuals would be sufficient to effect the reforms he desires. (News from the Reuters Finance Summit will be delivered throughout the day Wednesday through Friday to Reuters terminals and to the Reuters.com Web site, http://reuters.com) Quelle "Spitzer to File Insurance Suit Friday" : reuters.com Main page for "Spitzer to File Insurance Suit Friday"