As we enter the next phase of life under COVID-19, new issues are emerging for the insurance industry. Locke Lord lawyers will tackle some of the issues over the next few months. Sign up for each program that interests you below. We look forward to sharing time with you as we navigate the new normal. One hour of CLE for each program is approved in CA, IL, TX and NY. Other states are pending.
Read MoreCOVID-19 is impacting all facets of the insurance industry, and while the surplus lines market is somewhat inoculated from the impact of various state orders and emergency regulations, many states as well as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) are subjecting surplus lines insurers and brokers to their mandates. This article provides a sample of various state and NAIC requests and orders in recent weeks with applicability to the surplus lines industry, including but not limited to moratoriums on cancellation/nonrenewal, orders to return premium with respect to insurance policies where COVID-19 has altered the nature of the underlying risk, and various data calls.
Read MoreOn March 26th, Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a data survey (the “Survey”) to all admitted and non-admitted insurance companies, requesting information on business interruption and related coverages provided by commercial insurance policies. Responses to the Commissioner’s request are not mandatory.
Read MoreOn March 18th, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a notice (the “Notice”) to all admitted and non-admitted insurance companies, all licensed producers, and other interested parties requesting that all insurance companies provide their insureds with at least a 60-day grace period to pay insurance premiums so that insurance policies are not cancelled for nonpayment of premium.
Read MoreLocke Lord’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Newsletter provides topical snapshots of recent developments in the fast-changing world of privacy, data protection, and cyber risk management. For further information on any of the subjects covered in the newsletter, please contact one of the members of our privacy and cybersecurity team.
Read MoreThe long-awaited amendments to the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA) have finally become law. On October 11, 2019—two days before the October 13 deadline—California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he signed all of the California Legislature’s September 2019 amendments to the CCPA: AB-25, AB-874, AB-1146, AB-1355, and AB-1564.
Read MoreThe Surplus lines market has traditionally been a method for insurance placement available to property and casualty products only, although states are increasingly opening up other lines of insurance to the nonadmitted market. For example, a growing number of states have either expressly or indirectly allowed for accident and health coverage to be written through the surplus lines market, and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners released guidance earlier this year advising the states on how to effectively legislate for the expansion of insurance lines that may be written on a surplus lines basis.
Read MoreRead about the latest in CCPA, GDPR, NY DFS, NAIC and State Updates in Privacy Law, and more in the current Locke Lord Privacy & Cybersecurity Newsletter.
Read MoreEarlier this month, Florida passed House Bill 301 to remove the cap on the amount of fees that may be charged by a surplus lines broker in connection with the procurement of surplus lines insurance for a prospective insured. Instead of the old cap of a maximum of $35 per policy, surplus lines brokers will be able to charge any fee that is “reasonable” and disclosed to the insured in advance.
Read MoreThe Surplus Lines Law Group held its spring meeting on Friday, April 5 in Biloxi, Mississippi. A number of presentations were given at the meeting, including updates on the trends around the nation with respect to the diligence search requirement, international tax and cybersecurity issues, as well as a presentation by this author as to the challenges surrounding placing group insurance coverage on a surplus lines basis (including unique hurdles applicable to risk purchasing groups).
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