(a) The Commissioner may place on probation, suspend, revoke, or refuse to issue or renew a public adjuster's license or may levy a civil penalty in accordance with G.S. 58-2-70 or any combination of actions for any one or more of the following causes:
(1) Providing incorrect, misleading, incomplete, or materially untrue information in the license application.
(2) Violating any insurance laws or violating any regulation, subpoena, or order of the Commissioner or of another state's insurance regulator.
(3) Obtaining or attempting to obtain a license through misrepresentation or fraud.
(4) Improperly withholding, misappropriating, or converting any monies or properties received in the course of doing insurance business.
(5) Intentionally misrepresenting the terms of an actual or proposed insurance contract or application for insurance.
(6) Having been convicted of a felony or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or breach of trust.
(7) Having admitted or been found to have committed any insurance unfair trade practice or insurance fraud.
(8) Using fraudulent, coercive, or dishonest practices or demonstrating incompetence, untrustworthiness, or financial irresponsibility in the conduct of business in this State or elsewhere.
(9) Having an insurance license, or its equivalent, denied, suspended, or revoked in any other state, province, district, or territory.
(10) Forging another's name to an application for insurance or to any document related to an insurance transaction.
(11) Cheating, including improperly using notes or any other reference material, to complete an examination for an insurance license.
(12) Knowingly accepting insurance business from an individual who is not licensed but who is required to be licensed by the Commissioner.
(13) Failing to comply with an administrative or court order imposing a child support obligation.
(14) Failing to pay state income tax or comply with any administrative or court order directing payment of state income tax.
(b) If the action by the Commissioner is to deny an application for or not renew a license, the Commissioner shall notify the applicant or licensee and advise, in writing, the applicant or licensee of the reason for the nonrenewal or denial of the applicant's or licensee's license. The applicant or licensee may make written demand upon the Commissioner in accordance with Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes for a hearing before the Commissioner to determine the reasonableness of the Commissioner's action. The hearing shall be held pursuant to Article 3A of Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.
(c) The license of a business entity may be suspended, revoked, or refused if the Commissioner finds, after hearing, that an individual licensee's violation was known or should have been known by one or more of the partners, officers, or managers acting on behalf of the business entity and the violation was neither reported to the Commissioner nor corrective action taken.
(d) In addition to or in lieu of any applicable denial, suspension, or revocation of a license, a person may, after hearing, be subject to a civil penalty according to G.S. 58-2-70.
(e) The Commissioner shall retain the authority to enforce the provisions of and impose any penalty or remedy authorized by this Chapter against any person who is under investigation for or charged with a violation of this Chapter, even if the person's license or registration has been surrendered or has lapsed by operation of law. (2009-565, s. 1.)
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Last modified: March 23, 2014