Insurance Litigation Law Blog | Regulatory Law | Bad Faith | California | Lawyer | Attorney | Barger & Wolen

Yesterday afternoon, the California Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) issued a decision finding that a rule adopted by California Department of Insurance (“CDI”) to restrict insurers’ investment in companies that do business with Iran was an improper “underground” regulation. A copy of the OAL’s decision is found here (pdf).

As we previously reported in this blog, on July 9, 2009, the CDI issued a broadly-drafted Data Call to all insurers admitted in California seeking information on their investments in or related to Iran.

The Data Call not only sought information as to insurers’ direct investments in organizations owned or controlled directly or indirectly by the Iranian government, but also indirect investments, including investments in a company that, in turn, does business with any of the five sectors set forth in the Data Call (defense, nuclear, petroleum, natural gas or banking). The information was due by September 30, 2009. 

At the time, it was announced that California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner sought such information as a measure to enforce U.S. governmental sanctions against Iran, including restrictions with respect to doing business with companies that do business in Iran.

On May 13, 2010, we reported that Commissioner Steve Poizner issued a press release advising that more than 1000 insurers licensed to do business in California had agreed to a voluntary moratorium as to future investments in companies that do business in Iran. He also released a list of 296 insurers doing business in California that would not agree to the voluntary moratorium. The press release further advised that, as of March 31, 2010, the CDI “disqualified an estimated $6 billion in holdings in the 50 Iran-related companies” (based on 2008 data).

Meanwhile, on March 29, 2010, five insurance trade associations (the American Council of Life Insurers, the American Insurance Association, the Association of California Insurance Companies, the Association of California Life and Health Insurance Companies, and the Personal Insurance Federation of California) filed a petition with the OAL contending that the Commissioner’s rule on Iran investment activity constituted an impermissible “underground” regulation. “Underground” regulations are rules issued by state agencies that meet the definition of a “regulation” under Government Code section 11342.600 and are subject to the California Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”), but were not adopted pursuant to the APA process.

The OAL found that the CDI’s rule on Iranian investments was indeed a “regulation,” such that it should have been, but was not, adopted pursuant to the procedures set forth in the APA. The OAL specifically advised that it was not evaluating the advisability or wisdom of the underground regulation, nor whether the CDI possessed the authority to issue such a regulation under the proper APA procedure.

Barger & Wolen will continue to follow further developments in this matter.

For more information, please contact Larry Golub at (213) 614-7312 or (lgolub@bargewolen.com)

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On September 30, 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger signed AB 2022 into law (Chaptered copy).

Introduced by Assembly Member Ted Gaines (R), AB 2022 revamps California’s Residential Property Disclosure Form (current page 3; new page 10) and the accompanied California Residential Property Insurance Bill of Rights (current page 13; new page 15). The new disclosure form, drafted in plain and simple language, significantly improves the current form and makes understandable the differences in residential insurance coverages available to California insurance consumers. The changes, however, are much more than stylistic.

Commissioner Poizner, whose office helped craft AB 2022, has also drafted comprehensive regulations in an effort to respond to the under-insurance problems caused by the 2003, 2007 and 2008 California wildfires.

The Proposed Regulations establish standards for accurate replacement cost estimating, broker agent training on replacement cost estimating, and new record keeping requirements. The Proposed Regulations place the burden of accurately estimating replacement value of a home squarely on the insurance industry. The new disclosure form, the first step towards this regulatory reform, removes critical language found in the current disclosure form that obligates the consumer to determine and maintain the proper policy limits on their home. 

PART 1

California Residential Property Disclosure Form (July 1, 2011)

Effective July 1, 2011, insurance companies must use the new disclosure form. The new form eliminates the legalese that plagues the current form and presents the different coverage levels in a reader friendly manner. The new form calls specific attention to the fact that “actual cash value” coverage is “the most limited level of coverage listed,” while “guaranteed replacement cost” coverage is “the broadest level of coverage.” The new coverage definitions are as follows:

• ACTUAL CASH VALUE COVERAGE pays the costs to repair the damaged dwelling minus a deduction for physical depreciation. If the dwelling is completely destroyed, this coverage pays the fair market value of the dwelling at the time of loss. In either case, coverage only pays for costs up to the limits specified in your policy.
• REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE is intended to provide for the cost to repair or replace the damaged or destroyed dwelling, without a deduction for physical depreciation. Many policies pay only the dwelling’s actual cash value until the insured has actually begun or completed repairs or reconstruction on the dwelling. Coverage only pays for replacement costs up to the limits specified in your policy.
• EXTENDED REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE is intended to provide for the cost to repair or replace the damaged or destroyed dwelling without a deduction for physical depreciation. Many policies pay only the dwelling’s actual cash value until the insured has actually begun or completed repairs or reconstruction on the dwelling. Extended Replacement Cost provides additional coverage above the dwelling limits up to a stated percentage or specific dollar amount. See your policy for the additional coverage that applies.
• GUARANTEED REPLACEMENT COST COVERAGE covers the full cost to repair or replace the damaged or destroyed dwelling for a covered peril regardless of the dwelling limits shown on the policy declarations page.
• BUILDING CODE UPGRADE COVERAGE, also called Ordinance and Law coverage, is an important option that covers additional costs to repair or replace a dwelling to comply with the building codes and zoning laws in effect at the time of loss or rebuilding. These costs may otherwise be excluded by your policy. Meeting current building code requirements can add significant costs to rebuilding your home. Refer to your policy or endorsement for the specific coverage provided and coverage limits that apply.

In addition, the new disclosure form removes the following statements from the replacement cost coverage definitions in the current disclosure form:

To be eligible for [this coverage], you must insure the dwelling to its full replacement cost at the time the policy is issued, with possible periodic increases in the amount of coverage to adjust for inflation and increases in building costs; you must permit inspections of the dwelling by the insurance company; and you must notify the insurance company about any alterations that increase the value of the insured dwelling by a certain amount (see your policy for that amount).”

To be eligible to recover this benefit, you must insure the dwelling to [company shall denote percentage] [ ] percent of its replacement cost at the time of loss.”

California Residential Property Insurance Bill of Rights (July 1, 2011)

The revised bill of rights that must accompany the new disclosure form eliminates the first 16 lines of the current disclosure form. The omitted lines include statements concerning the applicant’s/policyholder’s burden to determine and maintain proper policy limits such as: “Take time to determine the cost to rebuild or replace your property in today’s market.” “Once the policy is in force, contact your agent or insurance company immediately if you believe your policy limits may be inadequate.” 

The language deleted from the current versions of the disclosure form and bill of rights marks a significant change in California public policy. In Everett v. State Farm General Ins. Co., 162 Cal. App. 4th 649 (2008), the court held that the homeowner, rather than the property insurer, had the duty to maintain insurance policy limits equal to replacement costs. In reaching this conclusion, the court relied on the current version of the residential property disclosure which places the burden of determining whether a higher policy limit is needed on the homeowner.

AB 2022 and Commissioner Poizner’s proposed regulations effectively nullify Everett.

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On October 6, 2010, the California Court of Appeal issued a landmark decision involving Proposition 103 insurance rate approval in MacKay v. Superior Court, B220469 & B223772. 

The legal issue, as Division Three of the Second Appellate District explained, was

whether the approval of a rating factor by the DOI [Department of Insurance] precludes a civil action against the insurer challenging the use of that rating factor.”  

In MacKay, the plaintiff class sued 21st Century Insurance Company asserting that its use of certain rating factors (persistency and accident verification) was illegal and therefore actionable under California’s Unfair Competition Law (“UCL”), Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200. 

In a unanimous decision, written by Justice Croskey, the Court held "that the statutory provisions for an administrative process . . . are the exclusive means of challenging an approved rate,” precluding a UCL action and therefore ordered the trial court to enter judgment for 21st Century.

Prior to this decision, previous decisions had created uncertainty as to whether insurers, having fully complied with the requirements of Proposition 103 rate approval, could charge approved rates free from subsequent civil challenges. 

While Walker v. Allstate Indemnity Co, 77 Cal. App. 4th 750 (2000) held that approved rates could not thereafter be civilly challenged, Donabedian v. Mercury Ins. Co., 116 Cal. App. 4th 968 (2004) created confusion on this issue.

The MacKay decision resolves all prior confusion in declaring that approved rates and rating factors cannot thereafter be civilly challenged.

21st Century Insurance Company was represented in this action by Kent R. Keller, Steven H. Weinstein, Marina M. Karvelas and Peter Sindhuphak of Barger & Wolen.

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Barger & Wolen is proud to join JVP Partners in sponsoring the 14th Annual Insurance Forum on November 9th, 2010 in Chicago. This complimentary event is open to all.

14th Annual Insurance Forum
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
The Union League Club
65 West Jackson
Chicago, IL

What is the Insurance Forum? The Forum is an event presented by the Insurance Forum Committee, chaired by Kenneth M. Weine. This is an executive level program designed for insurance and risk management professionals, accountants, attorneys, corporate officers, financial examiners, and regulators.

Can I Earn Continuing Education Credit? Continuing Education credit is available for attorneys, AIRs, CPAs, CFEs, CIRs and other insurance designations. (Certain restrictions apply, so please verify that your designation is approved in the state(s) you require).

To register for this complimentary event, click here

For more information, click here

Panels & Speakers (order subject to change)

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