Life's not all rosy in the offices of MMC. Legal action by dumped CEO Roger Egan threatens to dredge up some unwelcome history.

Mr Egan filed the suit in the New York State Supreme Court last week. He is seeking unspecified damages, claiming the company failed to negotiate a proper severance package when he left in December 2004.

That was just as then New York Attorney-General Eliot Spitzer was suing Marsh in relation to alleged bid-rigging and steering complaints. Mr Egan agreed to step down but stayed with the company to help with the transitional process and - according to his complaint - negotiate a suitable exit package.

He was asked to leave permanently just a few months later and says MMC has not been willing to continue negotiations.

Mr Egan has since launched a competing brokerage, Integro, in partnership with two other former Marsh executives.

MMC says it will not comment on the case.