Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies v. Sears

OPINION

VANCE, Justice.

In 1983, James Sears was an insurance agent for Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Companies (“Farm Bureau” or the “company”) in its Nacogdoches office, which was managed by Joe Sweat. Sears reported to Sweat that he suspected irregularities in how claims were being processed in the office. The allegations were that a local contractor, Mickey Walker, would inflate bids on repairs for property damage which would then be approved by Farm Bureau’s adjuster, Don Lackey, for a “kickback.” Some agents may also have been involved peripherally. Sears and Sweat reported the allegations…