General NJ Insurance Law Flashcards
What is the DOI?
Division of Insurance
What is the purpose Division of Insurance?
DOI is tasked with the responsibility of enforcing insurance laws passed by Legislature
What Branch does the Division of Insurance belong to?
Executive Branch
What is the Commissioner of the Insurance Department?
Commissioner is the one who issues rules and regulations that Producers must follow.
Who can Conduct hearings and impose administrative penalties such as fines or revocations?
The Commissioner of the Insurance Department
What is Paul v.s. Virginia?
In 1868, Samuel Paul a NY insurance agent in Virginia sought out to sell insurance. This was to argue against discrimination of out of state insurance agencies sales. Supreme Court denied the case.
What is United States v.s. South-Eastern Underwriters Association?
In 1944, It was the case that overturned ‘Paul v.s Virginia’s ruling. Sherman Act does apply to interstate commerce of insurance and will become regulated under Congress (Federal Government) under commerce law.
What is the McCarran-Feguson Act?
Public Law 15. In 1945, its a federal law that came to be after ‘U.S v.s. SEUA’ stating that business regarding to insurance are exempt from most federal regulations, including anti-trust laws.
What does the McCarran-Feguson Act not cover.
Does not cover Federal Anti-laws that are in regard to Boycotting, coercion, and intimidation.
What is the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance?
Appointed by the Governor with advice and consent of Senate, the commissioner is an individual who is in charge of the insurance department and tasked with administrating and regulating rules, policies and licenses.
What authority does the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance have?
They are tasked with administrating the Department to keep it running efficiently and effectively, they put laws into place regarding to the Department, companies, and agencies and licensees and regulate those laws, put in process of legal proceeding, and makes a reports annually to the governor and Legislative Department
What power does the Commissioner have?
Commissioners have the power to conduct investigations, issue subpoenas, order penalties & reimbursements, and can require immediate action before completion of hearing.
a written order that demands one to attend court; a summons to court.
subpoenas
What are the penalty for violations committed in court issued by the Commissioner.
Penalties for first offense is $5000. subsequent offenses are $10,000 each
What powers can a Commissioners Subpoena have?
Examine all individuals under oath, force attendance of witnesses, the production all forms of documentations, records, and other media of evidence. and request any court to produce evidences and testimonies.
What reason would the Commissioner would hold a hearings?
Commissioner can hold hearings to investigate unfair methods of competition, practices, or deceptive acts.
What is difference in a hearing by the commissioner than a normal hearing?
Hearing will be held before 10 days after notice was issued. Subject of hearing will be given opportunity to be heard or present evidence to make sure an order of cease & desist . Anyone can appear at the hearing and formal rules of evidence and pleading will no be enacted at the hearing.
What are the penalties for violating the Unfair Practice Acts?
An order for a cease and desist will be placed on the behavior that violated the act. There will also be a fee of $1,000 for every violation that the individual was not aware of and a fine of $5,000 for each violations that the individual was aware of.
What is the Judicial involvement with the Commissioner?
The Supreme Court reviews the Commissioners orders.
Can an individual only be liable for what the court hearing is in regard to?
Even if the Commissioner finds an individual guilty, they will still be liable for other violations and damages outside the realm of the original case by the court of law.
The Unfair Practice Acts is only applicable with the specified violations, right?
The Commissioner can deemed an individual as a suspect to deceptive acts. If the behavior of the individual is not specified in the Act, Commissioner can still proceed as if the Act were violated, according to public interest.
What is an Intervenor?
An intervenor is when someone, specifically a third-party, intervenes the proceedings in the Superior Court to enjoin and restrain the practice or act the subject of the case committed. Can only be done within the 30 day window of the Commissioner deciding to not charge a violation of insurances law.
a court or governmental agency that issues a legally enforced order to stop certain activities.
Cease and Desist
instruct or urge (someone) to do something.
enjoin
What are the penalties to resist a cease and desist order?
The penalties are the forfeit of ones case, and to pay the state $5,000 for each violation conducted. Payment can be done through civil actions.
How does the Fifth Amendment apply in the hearings by the commissioner?
It applies by giving immunity from liability, Witnesses may produce testimonies and evidence without the fear of being prosecuted. One can give excuse to not appear and not testify, however it can be overruled and must comply. Immunity from prosecution does not protect from punishments of perjury, suspension and revocation of your license.
What actions must one do to renew ones license after suspension and revocation?
One must send over an application for a renewal. Commissioner holds the power to deny and not renew ones application.
What power does the Commissioner have in regards to licenses?
They have the power to place an individual on probation, suspension, revoke, and the refuse to issue or renew a license. This is in regards to both individuals and business entity (agencies).
What are the penalties if a business’s officers or managers of any quantity, ignores or are unaware of violations?
This is the failure to supervise. There is a lack of awareness and lack of action regarding the violation(s). If such a thing is occurring, the commissioner can suspend, revoke or refuse the Producer license of both the individuals and agency.
True or False. An individual can only receive penalties and punishment after a hearing.
False. Commissioner has the authority to enforce provisions and impose penalties when the individual is under investigations for violation of the Unfair Practice Acts. Lapsed , a surrendered license, or resignation does not grant any kind of immunity.
For insurance businesses, what are the rules in regard too?
Rules are in regard to:
- Selling, Soliciting, Negotiating, or binding policies
- Communication with policy owners
- Office Management policies
- Processing claims
- Transmitting funds between policy owners, agencies, producers, and banks.
An insurance company formed and acts within the same state.
Domestic Insurer
An insurance company that is formed in one state and does business in another.
Foreign insurer
An insurance company formed in another country and does business in any region within ones country.
Alien Insurer
an owner of shares in a company
a Shareholder/ a stockholder
the owning to a fraction of company’s property, capital, and being entitled a proportion of the profits along side other joint owners.
Shares
An insurance company incorporated the same state of business that has its capital divided into shares owned by stockholders
Domestic stock insurance company
An insurance company incorporated in the same state as business without permanent capitol stock. its governing body is elected by the policyowners, except while temp. capitol stocks is outstanding.
Domestic mutual insurance company
Insurance that an insurance company buys from another insurance company to insulate from major risks, such as claims.
Reinsurance
The insurance company that buys insurance for it’s self is called?
ceding insurance company
The insurance company that sells insurance
Insurance company that sells reinsurance to another insurance company is called?
assuming insurance company
When the assuming insurance company buys its own reinsurance to share its own risk.
retrocession
when a reinsurance company buys reinsurance from another reinsurance company but inadvertently buys back its own risk.
Spiraling
Certificate of authority
A certificate issued by the commissioner that authorizes an insurance company to manage insurance within the respective state.
What does one need to sell insurance?
Certificate of Authorization and a license for the insurance company and the individual in question.
What is a Producer
Person or business entity (that needs a state-issued license) that sells, solicit, or negotiate insurance.
a Producer authorized by an insurance company to solicit, sell, or negotiate insurance contracts on their behalf. As well as collect premiums and countersign insurance policies.
an Agent
What is a Broker?
They represent either a company or a prospective policy owner. They are capable of placing insurance with companies they do not represent as a producer. They are working for a fee, they assist in regards to negotiating policies for others.
a Person who acts or holds himself out to the public or any licensees offering advice, counsel, or services. For a fee or commission.
Consultant
To exchange a contract or policy by any means of for money.
Sell