Nobody likes coinsurance penalties.1 For policyholders, they can be unforeseen, confusing, and costly. For policyholder advocates, they can present a host of legal issues that are difficult and time-consuming to navigate. Some of those issues have been addressed on this blog, including the coinsurance clause enforcement, agent liability, and valuation disputes.
Continue Reading Coinsurance in Court – Who Has the Burden of Proof?
On the night of February 26th, at least seven tornadoes tore through the Oklahoma City area, setting the record for most active tornadoes in February in Oklahoma history.1 The tornados and accompanying high wind speeds and hail caused widespread destruction and at least twelve injuries – thankfully, none of which are reported to be fatal.2 At the storm’s peak, OG&E reported 33,000 people were without power.3 The bulk of tornado damage occurred in Norman, Oklahoma – where I live – but the storm system caused damage throughout the south-central US, with 114 mile per hour winds reported in Texas.4 Photos of destroyed buildings, downed trees and powerlines, and flipped cars covered front pages Monday morning, highlighting just how extensive the damage is.
Continue Reading Late February Tornados Rip Through Oklahoma
The Oklahoma Insurance Department has released its 2022 Annual Report. Every year, the OID compiles a report summarizing the required financial disclosures of insurers in the state, highlighting new legislation, and breaking down certain regulatory activity taken by the department (although information about market conduct exams is noticeably missing). Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the more interesting information and statistics from last year:
Continue Reading Oklahoma Insurance Department’s 2022 Year in Review
As a law firm whose sole focus is representing policyholders in insurance disputes, we spend a lot of time alleging insurance companies are engaging in bad faith practices and fighting tooth and nail for evidence that demonstrates this. We get what information we can through the discovery process, the rules and logistics of which can vary drastically depending on the state, the court, and even the judge. Discovery must be tailored to each individual case, and insurance companies invariably object to requests for information about wider business practices or schemes as too vague, too broad, too burdensome, or irrelevant. This can make obtaining any evidence of bad faith practices we already know are occurring a long and costly battle.
Continue Reading The Case of the Missing Market Conduct Exams
The Wyoming Department of Insurance regulates the state’s insurance industry. One way it does this is by investigating consumer complaints against insurance companies, agents, and adjusters. If your claim has been delayed, denied, or underpaid, or your policy has been unfairly cancelled or terminated, you can file a complaint with Wyoming DOI requesting an investigation.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the Wyoming Department of Insurance
The Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance regulates the state’s insurance industry by investigating consumer complaints against insurance companies, agents, and adjusters. If you think that your insurance claim or policy has been delayed, wrongly denied, deliberately underpaid, or improperly managed, you can file a complaint with OCI and request an investigation.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
The West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner regulate the state’s insurance industry. One way the OIC does this is by investigating consumer complaints against insurance companies, agents, and adjusters. If you think that your insurance claim or policy has been delayed, wrongly denied, deliberately underpaid, or improperly managed, you can file a complaint with OIC and request an investigation.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the West Virginia Offices of the Insurance Commissioner
The Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC), created in 1902, regulates the state’s insurance industry to ensure compliance with all applicable laws.1 One way the SCC does this is by investigating consumer complaints against insurance companies, agents, and adjusters. If you think that your insurance claim or policy has been delayed, wrongly denied, deliberately underpaid, or improperly managed, you can file a complaint with SCC and request an investigation into the matter.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the Virginia State Corporation Commission
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (“TDCI”) “regulates and licenses both individuals and corporations, assesses suspicions of fraud, and provides resources to . . . citizens of Tennessee.”1 One way the TDCI does this is by investigating consumer complaints against insurance companies, agents, and agencies.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance
The Division of Insurance in South Dakota’s Department of Labor and Regulation (“SDDOI”) seeks to “protect the public and make insurance available and affordable.”1 One of its main functions is to answer consumer questions and investigate consumer complaints. If you think that your claim has been delayed, unfairly denied, or otherwise poorly handled, you can file a complaint with SDDOI requesting an investigation.
Continue Reading How to File a Complaint with the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation