SUIT AGAINST AON GETS CLASS-ACTION STATUS

An Illinois county court has granted class-action status to a lawsuit that was filed five years ago against Chicago-based group Aon on allegations that the company accepted so-called contingent commissions from insurers without disclosing the payments to its brokerage clients. The payments have prompted a probe into broker commissions by New York state attorney general Eliot Spitzer, who earlier this year subpoenaed Aon and other major US brokers. The lawsuit against Aon is seeking collection of undisclosed commission payments, which insurers pay brokers as a reward for directing business to them.