Fraud & Forgery Watch Program 2008 Procedures

Report and Statistics

Award Nomination Form

Upon approval as outlined below of a Stewart Title Guaranty (STG) Fraud & Forgery Watch Award application, STG pays an amount (the “Award”) to each qualifying Stewart associate or employee of an independent issuing agent. Please review a description of the Award process.

  1. Eligibility for Award
    Any currently employed Stewart Associate or employee of an independent agent is eligible for nomination for a STG Fraud & Forgery Watch Award. A Stewart Associate is defined as an employee of Stewart Title Guaranty Company, Stewart Title Company, and all Stewart Title affiliates. Employees of all independent agents that issue Stewart Title policies are eligible for Award nomination.
  2. Amount of Award – Up to $500.00 in discretion of the STG General Counsel.
    The president or manager of the title agency or affiliate may decide to split the Award among several people if the fraud of forgery “find” was a team effort.
  3. Criteria
    1. Award nominee discovers fraud or forgery (or both) connected with an order for a Stewart Title Guaranty Company title insurance policy.
    2. Award nominee informs supervisor or district manager of facts surrounding the fraud or forgery “find”.
    3. Only one Award is issued in connection with material fraud or forgery involving a particular tract of land offered for security of one or more title policies.
    4. Only one Award is granted for prevention of material scams or fraud connected with potential future orders for title insurance policies.
      • The Stewart associate who discloses information that prevents scam or fraud connected with several potential orders for title insurance will receive only one Award.
    5. The Stewart associate or an independent agent associate, who is nominated for the Award submits the following documentation to their Supervisor (or if the title agent’s Manager or President is the applicant, documentation may be sent directly to Mary Kay Hemenway at Stewart Legal Services, Stewart Title Guaranty Company, 1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 710, Houston, Texas 77056 or email mhemenwa@stewart.com):
      1. copy of title policy order sheet or preliminary title report
      2. narrative detailing discovery of fraud or forgery
      3. exemplars (copies of forged or falsified document and prior documents with signatures for comparison)
    6. Completion of the Award nomination form signed by both the nominee’s Supervisor, and by the Office Manager or President of the title agency or affiliate.
    7. Within 60 days after the discovery of the fraud or forgery, the signed Award application is emailed, faxed or mailed to:
      Mary Kay Hemenway
      Email: mhemenwa@stewart.com
      Facsimile: 713-629-2248
      Stewart Legal Services/Fraud & Forgery Watch Program
      Stewart Title Guaranty Company
      1980 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 710
      Houston, Texas 77056
      Phone: 800-729-1902 ext 8264
  4. Approval of Award
    Each Award nomination is approved by the Stewart Title Guaranty Company Region Manager or his designee, who may be a state District Manager or state Agency Manager with final approval by STG’s General Counsel.
  5. Transmittal and Presentation of Award
    Upon review and approval of the nomination by Stewart Title Guaranty’s General Counsel, the Award check is forwarded by certified mail, return receipt requested, or by federal express (upon request), directly to the appropriate President or Manager of the title agent. The Region Manager, state District Manager, or state Agency Manager may direct that the Award check and transmittal letter be sent directly to any one of them or to a particular designee for public presentation at an employees’ meeting.

To comply with IRS regulations, the STG accounting department requires a completed W-4 be sent with the second Award application nominating the independent agent's employee, who has previously received at least one STG Fraud & Forgery Watch Award.

From 1990 through 2008, Award winners have shielded Stewart Title Guaranty Company from $274,461,968.201 in potential fraud and forgery claims (plus substantial, potential legal fees connected with ensuing settlement and litigation). By reducing losses caused by fraud and forgeries, we cooperate to build a stronger company for the benefit of Stewart policyholders and stockholders.

If you have any questions about this program please call Mary Kay Hemenway at 1-800-729-1902 ext 8264, or email her at mhemenwa@stewart.com.


The amount shown references policy amounts saved as of June 26, 2008.