Current through the 2024 Regular Session
Section 41-3309 - DIRECTOR'S SUMMARY ORDERS AND SUPERVISION PROCEEDINGS(1) Whenever the director has reasonable cause to believe, and determines, after a hearing held under subsection 5 of this section, that any domestic insurer has committed or engaged in, or is about to commit or engage in, any act, practice, or transaction that would subject it to delinquency proceedings under this act, he may make and serve upon the insurer and any other persons involved, such orders as are reasonably necessary to correct, eliminate, or remedy such conduct, condition, or ground.(2) If upon examination, or at any other time, the director has reasonable cause to believe that any domestic insurer is in such condition as to render the continuance of its business hazardous to the public or to holders of its policies or certificates of insurance, or if such domestic insurer gives its consent, then the director shall, upon his determination:(a) Notify the insurer of his determination; and(b) Furnish to the insurer a written list of the director's requirements to abate his determination.(3) If the director makes a determination to supervise an insurer subject to an order under subsections (1) and (2) of this section, he shall notify the insurer that it is under the supervision of the director. During the period of supervision, the director may appoint a supervisor to supervise such insurer. The order appointing a supervisor shall direct the supervisor to enforce orders issued under subsections (1) and (2) of this section and may also require that the insurer may not do any of the following things, during the period of supervision, without the prior approval of the director or his supervisor:(a) Dispose of, convey or encumber any of its assets or its business in force;(b) Withdraw from any of its bank accounts;(c) Lend any of its funds;(d) Invest any of its funds;(e) Transfer any of its property;(f) Incur any debt, obligation or liability;(g) Merge or consolidate with another company; or(h) Enter into any new reinsurance contract or treaty.(4) Any insurer subject to an order under the provisions of this section shall comply with the lawful requirements of the director and, if placed under supervision, shall have sixty (60) days from the date the supervision order is served within which to comply with the requirements of the director. In the event of such insurer's failure to comply within such times, the director may institute proceedings under sections 41-3312 or 41-3317, Idaho Code, to have a rehabilitator or liquidator appointed, or extend the period of supervision.(5) The notice of hearing under subsection (1) of this section and any order issued pursuant to such subsection shall be served upon the insurer pursuant to the applicable rules of civil or administrative procedure. The notice of hearing shall state the time and place of hearing, and the conduct, condition or ground upon which the director would base his order. Unless mutually agreed between the director and the insurer, the hearing shall occur not less than ten (10) days nor more than thirty (30) days after notice is served and shall be either in Ada county or in some other place convenient to the parties to be designated by the director. The director shall hold all hearings under subsection (1) of this section privately unless the insurer requests a public hearing, in which case the hearing shall be public.(6)(a) Any insurer subject to an order under subsection (2) of this section may request a hearing to review that order. Such a hearing shall be held as provided in subsection (5) hereof, but the request for a hearing shall not stay the effect of the order.(b) If the director issues an order under subsection (2) of this section, the insurer may, at any time, waive a director's hearing and apply for immediate judicial relief by means of any remedy afforded by law without first exhausting administrative remedies. Subsequent to a hearing, any party to the proceedings whose interests are substantially affected shall be entitled to judicial review of any order issued by the director.(7) During the period of supervision the insurer may request the director to review an action taken or proposed to be taken by the supervisor, specifying wherein the action complained of is believed not to be in the best interest of the insurer.(8) If any person has violated any supervision order issued under the provisions of this section which, as applied to him was then still in effect, he shall be liable to pay a civil penalty imposed by the district court not to exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000).(9) The director may apply for and any court of general jurisdiction may grant, such restraining orders, preliminary and permanent injunctions, and other orders as may be deemed necessary and proper to enforce a supervision order.(10) In the event that any person, subject to the provisions of this act, including those persons described in section 41-3306(1), Idaho Code, shall knowingly violate any valid order of the director issued under the provisions of this section and, as a result of such violation, the net worth of the insurer shall be reduced or the insurer shall suffer loss it would not otherwise have suffered, said person shall become personally liable to the insurer for the amount of any such reduction or loss. The director or supervisor is authorized to bring an action on behalf of the insurer in the district court to recover the amount of the reduction or loss together with any costs.[41-3309, added 1981, ch. 249, sec. 2, p. 509.]