|
|
IC 27-4-6-1
Purpose; liberal construction
Sec. 1. (a) The purpose of this chapter is to subject to the
jurisdiction of the insurance commissioner of this state and to the
jurisdiction of the courts of this state insurers, not authorized to
transact business in this state, which place in or send into this state
any false advertising designed to induce residents of this state to
purchase insurance from insurers not authorized to transact business
in this state. The legislature declares it is in the interest of the
citizens of this state who purchase insurance from insurers which
solicit insurance business in this state in the manner set forth in the
preceding sentence that such insurers be subject to the provisions of
this chapter. In furtherance of such state interest, the legislature
provides in this chapter a method of substituted service of process
upon such insurers and declares that in so doing, it exercises its
power to protect its residents and also exercises powers and
privileges available to the state by virtue of 15 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.,
which declares that the business of insurance and every person
engaged therein shall be subject to the laws of the several states; the
authority provided in this chapter to be in addition to any other
powers of this state.
(b) The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.1.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.170.
IC 27-4-6-2
Definitions
Sec. 2. When used in this chapter:
"Commissioner" shall mean the commissioner of insurance of this
state.
"Residents" shall mean and include person, partnership, limited
liability company, or corporation, domestic, alien, or foreign.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.2.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.171; P.L.8-1993, SEC.419.
IC 27-4-6-3
Advertising in violation of Unfair Trade Practice Act by
unauthorized foreign or alien insurer; notice to insurer and
supervisory official of domiciliary state
Sec. 3. No unauthorized foreign or alien insurer of the kind
described in section 1 of this chapter shall make, issue, circulate, or
cause to be made, issued, or circulated, to residents of this state any
estimate, illustration, circular, pamphlet, or letter, or cause to be
made in any newspaper, magazine, or other publication or over any
radio or television station, any announcement or statement to such
residents misrepresenting its financial condition or the terms of any
contracts issued or to be issued or the benefits or advantages
promised thereby, or the dividends or share of the surplus to be
received thereon in violation of IC 27-4-1, and whenever the
commissioner shall have reason to believe that any such insurer is
engaging in such unlawful advertising, he shall give notice of such
fact by registered mail to such insurer and to the insurance
supervisory official of the domiciliary state of such insurer. For the
purpose of this section, the domiciliary state of an alien insurer shall
be deemed to be the state of entry or the state of the principal office
in the United States.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.3.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.172.
IC 27-4-6-4
Failure of unauthorized foreign or alien insurer to cease unlawful
advertising after notice; action under Unfair Trade Practice Act
Sec. 4. If after thirty (30) days following the giving of the notice
mentioned in section 3 of this chapter such insurer has failed to cease
making, issuing, or circulating such misrepresentations or causing the
same to be made, issued, or circulated in this state, and if the
commissioner has reason to believe that a proceeding by him in
respect to such matters would be to the interest of the public, and that
such insurer is issuing or delivering contracts of insurance to
residents of this state or collecting premiums on such contracts or
doing any of the acts enumerated in section 5 of this chapter, he shall
take action against such insurer under IC 27-4-1.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.4.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.173.
IC 27-4-6-5
Acts of unauthorized foreign or alien insurer appointing
commissioner as attorney for service of process; method of service
Sec. 5. (a) Any of the following acts in this state, effected by mail
or otherwise, by any such unauthorized foreign or alien insurer:
(1) the issuance or delivery of contracts of insurance to
residents of this state;
(2) the solicitation of applications for such contracts;
(3) the collection of premiums, membership fees, assessments
or other considerations for such contracts; or
(4) any other transaction of insurance business;
is equivalent to and shall constitute an appointment by such insurer
of the commissioner of insurance, and his successor or successors in
office, to be its true and lawful attorney, upon whom may be served
all statements of charges, notices and lawful process in any
proceeding instituted in respect to the misrepresentations set forth in
section 3 of this chapter under the provisions of IC 27-4-1 or in any
action, suit, or proceeding for the recovery of any penalty therein
provided, and any such act shall be signification of its agreement that
such service of statement of charges, notices, or process is of the
same legal force and validity as personal service of such statement
of charges, notices, or process in this state, upon such insurer.
by law, and nothing in this chapter shall limit or prohibit the right to
serve any statement of charges, notices, or process upon any insurer
in any other manner permitted by law.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.5.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.174.
IC 27-4-6-6
Short title
Sec. 6. This chapter may be cited as the Unauthorized Insurers
False Advertising Process Act.
(Formerly: Acts 1963, c.163, s.7.) As amended by P.L.252-1985,
SEC.175.