ADVISORY/Local Insurance Agent Files Injunction Against 21st Century Insurance Group.

Business Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Tuesday (June 17)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:    PRESS CONFERENCE announcing the details of a case involving a
         local black businessman battling 21st Century Insurance Group

WHO:     Alfred George, owner of 21st Century Insurance and Financial
         Services; family; ministers; attorneys; community activists;
         and business organizations

WHEN:    Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at 11:00 AM

WHERE:   Lobby of 6565 Sunset Blvd. (between Cahuenga and Highland),
         90028

CONTACT: Pat Tobin or Sharif Frink, Tobin & Associates, [phone]

KEY POINTS

-- Alfred George, owner of Los Angeles-based 21st Century

Insurance and Financial Services for the past 13 years, files

a counter-claim against 21st Century Insurance Group (formerly

known as 20th Century Insurance) over the use of the name

"21st Century Insurance" in Los Angeles County. Mr. George is

also seeking a permanent injunction against the Insurance

Group from using the name "21st Century Insurance" in Los

Angeles County.

-- Mr. George received a letter and a complaint filed against him

from 21st Century Insurance Group demanding him to change the

name of his 13-year-old business. Public records show first

use of "21st Century" by the insurance giant only in 1999.

-- Attorneys are the LAW OFFICES OF JONATHAN STEIN and Mansfield

Collins of Collins, Mesereau, Reddock & Yu, LLP

-- "The pending action reveals vestiges of the historical

attitudes of prejudices encountered by hard-working African

Americans. The 20th Century Insurance Group's conduct in suing

an African-American businessman because they want to take his

hard-earned and well-deserved business name, is typical of the

many problems the African-American community has with

insurance companies," says Co-counsel, Mansfield Collins of

Collins, Mesereau, Reddock & Yu, LLP. "Other industries have

shown willingness to substantially change the historical

manner in which they often times discriminated against

African-Americans. 20th wants to change its name but not the

manner in which it conducts business with the African-American

community. In 2003 this is still an ongoing problem and this

case will shed light on unfair redlining business practices

that are racially motivated and hidden by economic profiling."