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Possible Outcomes for Regulatory Action by the ASD

If ASD finds probable cause that a licensee has committed a violation, regulatory action may be taken against a licensee in the following forms:

Voluntary Settlement Agreements: At the informal stage, a licensee and ASD agree to settle by entering into an agreement.  The licensee waives a right to a hearing.  A monetary penalty often is imposed with voluntary settlement agreements.

Surrender of License(s):  In lieu of a regulatory hearing, the licensee can surrender the license(s) by signing a notarized surrender document.  The licensee must also agree in writing (s)he is forfeiting his/her rights to a regulatory hearing.

Consent Orders: If the matter is referred by ASD for a formal hearing and ASD files a Notice of Hearing, the licensee and ASD can voluntarily agree to the regulatory action, subject to approval by a Hearing Officer appointed by the Commissioner to preside over the matter.

Revocation of License(s), Suspension of License(s) and/or Imposition of Monetary Penalty: If a settlement cannot be reached or a licensee does not want to surrender his/her license, the case will be scheduled for a formal public hearing, which is an evidentiary hearing with many similarities to a trial in court.   The licensee or  his or her legal counsel have the right to present evidence in defense, including calling witnesses and introducing exhibits, to make objections, to cross-examine any witness called  by ASD, and to make a closing argument. If they have not done so already, most professionals decide that they need to retain an attorney at the formal stage, with which our firm has experience. The Hearing Officer, after a full regulatory hearing, may dismiss the case, or enter a decision to suspend or revoke a license or impose a monetary penalty. Appeal of the Hearing Officer’s decision is to the court system.  Generally, it is much more difficult for a licensee to prevail once the matter reaches the court system on an appeal, even if he or she retains legal counsel at that point.

Actions on Applications for Licensure

ASD may deny licensure upon initial application or a reinstatement request.  If ASD finds that the applicant has not fully met the requirements for licensing, it will refuse to issue the license and will notify in writing the applicant and the appointing insurer, if any, of the denial, stating the grounds for the denial.  Generally, an applicant must make a written demand upon the Commissioner for a review no later than thirty (30) days after service of the notification of denial upon the applicant.

If an applicant requests a review, he or she should receive notice by letter of the time and place of the informal review.  The purpose of the review is to determine the reasonableness of the decision to deny an applicant a license.  At that time, an applicant may present evidence and arguments to challenge the decision.   A licensee may engage counsel to represent him or her at the review conference, which our firm does.

Once the review is complete, an applicant is notified in writing of the outcome of the review. Generally, an applicant must make a written demand upon the Commissioner for a hearing no later than thirty (30) days after service upon the applicant of the notification of the outcome.  This is a very important deadline.

After Regulatory Action by ASD

If regulatory action is taken, it can have significant effects on a licensee.  Generally, the North Carolina Department of Insurance:

  • Provides the insurer with a copy of the documentation of the regulatory action when requested;
  • Notifies the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) of the action.  The NAIC maintains a shared database for all states and the regulatory actions are posted on the NAIC website;
  • Codes the licensee record with “Regulatory Action Taken” which means regulatory action has been taken against the licensee;
  • Includes the name of the licensee and the action taken in the Department’s newsletter;
  • Shows the regulatory action on the license record on the Department’s website through the information portal.  The online license record displays “Agent has Regulatory Action” for individual licensees and “Regulatory Action Taken” for agencies and companies.

NOTE: The regulatory coding remains part of the licensee’s public record.

Impact of Decision of Whether to Retain an Experienced Law Firm

If you have received a letter from ASD or have a pending review conference or formal hearing, you should consider retaining a firm like ours that has experience representing licensees before the Department.  Regulatory action could have a significant and permanent impact on your license(s) in NC and other states, which also can substantially affect you financially and personally.  Hiring an experienced law firm can be an investment in your professional future.

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