Surplus Lines - WA Statutes & Regulations Flashcards
Insurance Definition
Contract whereby one undertakes to indemnify another or pay a speciifed amount upon determinable contingencies.
Insurance Transaction Defined
1) Solicitation
2) Negotiations preliminary to execution
3) Execution of an Insuraance Contract
4) Transaction of matters subsequent to execution of the contract & arising out of it
5) Insuring
Person Defined
Any individual, company, insurer, association, organization, reciprocal or interinsurance exchange, partnership, business trust or corporation
Immunity from Civil Liability
1) Any person who provides information required by Commissioner is immune from liability in civil action arising from providing the information unliss malice, fraud or bad faith shown.
2) NAIC for publication of information
3) Any licensee or licensee assoc. providing information regarding unauthorized insurers.
Domestic Insurer
Insurer formed under laws of WA state
Foreign Insurer
Insurer formed under US laws or US state, other than WA, or DC or Puerto Rico
Alien Insurer
Insurer formed under laws of country other than US
Certificate of Authority
Authorization by the insurance commissioner to transact business in state.
What must Certificate of Authority include?
1) Name of Insurer
2) Location of principal office
3) Name & location of attorney in fact id reciprocal insurer
4) Kinds of business authorized
Capital Funds
Excess of the assets of an insurer over its liabilities. Capital stock is not considerd a liability.
Foreign Insurer Deposit
Asset deposit w/commissioner in same amount required of a domesic insurer or certificae of proof of equivalent deposit in another state.
Alien Insurer Asset Requirement
Assets held in US equal to liabilites of US transactions.
Alien Insurer Deposit
1) Trust amount for not less than reserves
plus:
1) assets equal to equivalent domestic insurer
or
2) $200,000
Jurisdiction of State Courts
Alien & Foreign insures subject to WA state law if do business in WA
Service of Suit - Response Time
40 days from date of service on commissioner
Venue of actions against insurer
County in which cause of action arose
Affiliate (Insured)
Any entity that contols or is controlled by or under common control with the insured.
Control with respect to an insured is defined as:
1) Owns, controls, has voting power for 25% or more of any voting stock, OR
2) Contols the election of the majority of directors or trustees
Requirements to Qualify as Exempt Commerical Purchaser
1) Retains qualified risk manager to negotiate insurance
2) Paid aggregate premium > $100,000 for P&C in prior 12 months
3) One of the following:
i. net worth > 20M
ii. annual revenues > 50M or nonprofit expenditure > 30M
iii. FT Employees > 500 or >1000 in affiliated group
iv. municipality with population > 50,000
Are policies issued by an unauthorized insurer in violation of code enforceable?
Only with respect to the insurer. Otherwise voidable.
To what lines of commerical insurance does “Exempt Commercial Purchaser” apply?
P&C pertaining to a business, profession, occupation, nonprofit organization, public entity.
Definition of Insured’s Home State
1) State in which insured’s principal place of business is located
2) State in which individual insured resides
3) State to which greatest % of insured’s taxable premium for insurance contract is allocated - if 100% of insured risk is outside WA
Determination of “Home State” when affiliated group are named insureds on single policy.
Home State of affiliated group with highest % of premium on policy
State of Principal Place of Business is determined by
1) Insured HQ Location
2) Location where highest level officers direct, control & coordinate business activities of insured
Qualified Risk Manager criteria:
1) Employee or 3rd party consultant of commerical policyholder
2) Provides services in loss prevention, reduction or risk/insurance coverage analysis and purchase
3) BA or higher in discipline related to business & risk mgt + 3 Years experience in risk mgt/comm’l lines ins or insurance designation - CPCU, ARM - RIMS
OR
3) 7 Years experience + insurance designation
OR
3) 10 years experience
OR
3) Graduate degree
Personal Liability
Applies if RCW not followed in good faith
Penalties for violating statute re unauth insurers
$25,000 (each rule) & license suspension/revocation
Knowing Violation of RCW 48.15 is what kind of crime?
Class B Felony
Bond Requirements
1) $25,000 - State of WA - Taxes
2) $2,500 or 5% of premiums placed in preceding calendar year/ $100,000 max - People of WA - Premium Collection