Byline: Susan E. Peterson; Staff Writer

As part of a yearlong investigation and crackdown on real estate title insurance companies, the Minnesota Commerce Department on Wednesday announced enforcement actions against four companies, including the California-based giant First American Title Insurance Co.

First American was fined $500,000 for operating what the department said were sham title agencies that provided illegal referral kickbacks to local real estate agents, mortgage brokers, developers and other industry players.

The department, working in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, expects additional enforcement actions as ...