N.J. Stat. § 17:22-6.72

Current through L. 2024, c. 87.

Section 17:22-6.72 - Definitions relative to the Surplus Lines Insurance Guaranty Fund

Affiliate" means a person who directly, or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with an insolvent insurer on December 31 of the year immediately preceding the date the insurer becomes an insolvent insurer.

"Association" means the New Jersey Property-Liability Insurance Guaranty Association created pursuant to P.L. 1974, c.17 (C.17:30A-1 et seq.).

"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance.

"Covered claim" means an unpaid claim, including a claim for unearned premiums, which arises out of and is within the coverage, and not in excess of the applicable limits of an insurance policy to which this act applies, and which was issued by a surplus lines insurer which was eligible to transact insurance business in this State at the time the policy was issued and which has been determined to be an insolvent insurer on or after June 1, 1984, but prior to June 25, 2002, if (1) the claimant or policyholder is a resident of this State at the time of the occurrence of the insured event for which a claim has been made, provided that for an entity other than an individual, the residence of the claimant or insured is the state in which its principal place of business was located at the time of the insured event; or (2) the claim is a first party claim for damage to property with a permanent location in this State. A "covered claim" which arises because of an insolvency occurring on or after June 25, 2002 shall be limited to an unpaid claim, including a claim for unearned premiums, which arises out of either medical malpractice liability insurance coverage or property insurance covering owner occupied dwellings of less than four dwelling units within the coverage, and not in excess of the applicable limits, of an insurance policy to which P.L. 1984, c.101 (C.17:22-6.70 et seq.) applies, and which was issued by a surplus lines insurer which was eligible to transact insurance business in this State at the time the policy was issued and which has been determined to be an insolvent insurer on or after June 25, 2002, if (1) the claimant or policyholder is a resident of this State at the time of the occurrence of the insured event for which a claim has been made, provided that for an entity other than an individual, the residence of the claimant or insured is the state in which its principal place of business was located at the time of the insured event; or (2) the claim is a first party claim for damage to property with a permanent location in this State.

"Covered claim" shall not include:

(1) any amount due any reinsurer, insurance pool or underwriting association, as subrogation recoveries or otherwise, except that a claim for any such amount, asserted against a person insured under a policy issued by a surplus lines insurer which has become an insolvent insurer, which, if it were not a claim by or for the benefit of a reinsurer, insurer, insurance pool, or underwriting association, would be a "covered claim," may be filed directly with the receiver of the insolvent insurer, but in no event may any such claim be asserted in any legal action against the insured of that insolvent insurer;

(2) amounts for interest on unliquidated claims;

(3) punitive damages unless covered by the policy;

(4) counsel fees for prosecuting suits for claims against the fund;

(5) assessments or charges for failure by an insolvent insurer to have expeditiously settled claims;

(6) counsel fees and other claim expenses incurred prior to the date of insolvency;

(7) a claim filed with the fund, liquidator or receiver of an insolvent insurer after the final date set by the court for the filing of claims against the liquidator or receiver of an insolvent insurer or, if a final date is not set by the court for the filing of claims against the liquidator or receiver of an insolvent insurer, two years from the date of the order of liquidation, unless the claimant demonstrates unusual hardship and the commissioner approves of treatment of the claim as a "covered claim." "Unusual hardship" shall be defined in regulations promulgated by the commissioner. With respect to insurer insolvencies pending as of the effective date of P.L. 2004, c. 165(C.17:22-6.84 et al.), a "covered claim" shall not include a claim filed with the fund, liquidator or receiver of an insolvent insurer:

(a) more than one year after the effective date of P.L. 1996, c. 156 or

(b) the date set by the court for the filing of claims against the liquidator or receiver of the insolvent insurer, whichever date occurs later; and (8) any first party claim by an insured whose net worth exceeds $25 million on December 31 of the year prior to the year in which the insurer becomes an insolvent insurer provided that the insured's net worth on that date shall be deemed to include the aggregate net worth of the insured and all of its affiliates as calculated on a consolidated basis.

"Exhaust" means with respect to other insurance, the application of a credit for the maximum limit under the policy provided, however, in any case where continuous indivisible injury or property damage occurs over a period of years as a result of exposure to injurious conditions, exhaustion shall be deemed to have occurred only after a credit for the maximum limits under all other coverages, primary or excess, if applicable, issued in all other years has been applied. With respect to health insurance and workers' compensation insurance, "exhaust" means the application of a credit for the amount of recovery under the insurance policy. With respect to another insurance guaranty association or its equivalent, "exhaust" means the application of a credit for the maximum statutory limit of recovery from that other guaranty association or its equivalent. The amount of a covered claim payable by the fund shall be reduced by the amount of any applicable credits.

"Fund" means the New Jersey Surplus Lines Insurance Guaranty Fund created pursuant to section 4 of this act.

"Insolvent insurer" means an insurer which was an eligible surplus lines insurer at the time the insurance policy was issued or when the insured event occurred, and against whom an order of liquidation has been entered with a finding of insolvency by a court of competent jurisdiction in this State or the state or place in which the surplus lines insurer is domiciled. "Insolvent insurer" does not include an admitted insurer or any insurance exchange issuing insurance pursuant to section 10 of P.L. 1960, c.32 (C.17:22-6.44).

"Member insurer" means an eligible, nonadmitted or surplus lines insurer required to be a member of, and that is subject to, assessments by the fund.

"Net direct written premiums" means direct gross premiums on insurance policies written by a surplus lines insurer to which this act applies, less return premiums thereon and dividends paid or credited to policyholders on that direct business. If a policy issued by a surplus lines insurer covers risks or exposures only partially in this State, the "net direct written premiums" shall be computed, for assessment purposes, on that portion of the premium subject to the premium receipts tax levied in accordance with section 25 of P.L. 1960, c.32 (C.17:22-6.59). "Net direct written premiums" do not include premiums on contracts between insurers or reinsurers.

"Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, association or voluntary organization.

"Surplus lines insurer" means a nonadmitted insurer approved as an eligible, nonadmitted or unauthorized insurer pursuant to section 11 of P.L. 1960, c.32 (C.17:22-6.45) at the time the policies were issued against which a covered claim may be filed in accordance with this act.

N.J.S. § 17:22-6.72

Amended by L. 2004, c. 165, s. 2, eff. 12/7/2004.

L.1984, c.101, s.3; amended 1984, c.207, s.2; 1987, c.237; c. 156, s. 3; c. 30, s. 3, eff. July 1, 2002.

L. 2002, c. 30, s. 6, provides: "This act shall take effect immediately and be retroactive to June 24, 2002."