Class Action Says State Farm Agents Were Misclassified as Contractors

State Farm Insurance Co. may be a good neighbor to policyholders, but it hasn't been there for hundreds of sales agents who were misclassified as independent contractors, according to a class action lawsuit filed in Illinois. The lawsuit, filed last week, contends that State Farm companies violated the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and deprived the agents of employment benefits. Filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois, where State Farm is headquartered, the complaint does not mention workers' compensation benefits, but it speaks to ...