Patriot Growth Insurance Services is suing a former producer and a rival brokerage, alleging a planned grab of confidential client data that moved dozens of accounts.
In a verified complaint filed June 23, 2026, in federal court in New York, Patriot alleges that producer Adam Gurdus emailed himself a 19-page spreadsheet of confidential client information in December 2025 - months before he quit. The filing says the file, labeled "AGBook1a," held client identities, policy and premium details, and commission information.
Gurdus resigned on May 1, 2026, "without notice," according to the complaint, and joined competitor Bradley & Parker, Inc. Patriot says the fallout came quickly: at least 89 policies tied to 38 clients moved away, and nine clients left on a single day, June 9, 2026 - which Patriot calls a sign of "coordinated solicitation."
The case hinges on a Restrictive Covenants Agreement that Patriot says Gurdus signed on or about March 8, 2024, when it bought his prior employer, SDL Brokerage Inc. The deal let him work for a competitor but, per the filing, barred him for 24 months from soliciting or servicing "Restricted Clients" or using Patriot's confidential information.
For brokers, the clause language is the heart of it. Patriot quotes the confidentiality definition as covering "policy expiration dates, and insurance premium amounts of any client or prospective client." The non-solicitation clause bars Gurdus from any move to "solicit, offer, sell, market, quote, provide, place, write, renew, and/or service" Patriot products to a restricted client.
Patriot says it warned Gurdus and Bradley & Parker on June 9, 2026, and sent over a copy of the agreement. According to the complaint, the firm "directed Patriot to BPI's outside lawyers."
The complaint also leans on industry habit, alleging this "type of restrictive covenants is common in the insurance brokerage industry" - the foundation for its interference claim against Bradley & Parker.
On the money, Patriot pegs the lost annual premium at "at least $300,000" and seeks damages "in excess of $300,000," plus injunctions, disgorgement and fees. It brings five counts, including two breach-of-contract claims against Gurdus and tortious interference against the rival firm.
Why it matters: this is a classic book-of-business fight. It shows how brokerages guard client lists and renewal data as trade secrets, how broker-of-record letters can shift accounts fast, and how the hiring firm gets pulled in. Patriot says it has received "no fewer than 89 BORs" moving clients to Bradley & Parker.
The allegations have not been tested, and no court has ruled.
