The following are instances in which licensees or
other persons violated the Florida Insurance Code and the administrative
action the department has taken against them.
Note: All
administrative investigations are subject to referral to the Division of Insurance Fraud for criminal investigation.
Case:
An investigation of a general lines, life, health and variable
annuity agent and his agency alleged that he aided and abetted a
permanently barred customer representative in the transaction of
insurance, which caused the misappropriation of fiduciary funds in
excess of $1,600, failed to perform due diligence in attempting to
appoint a customer representative, failed to properly supervise the
agency, failed to forward premiums to insurers, and failed to return
premiums to an insured.
Disposition: Licenses of the agent
and agency were revoked.
Case: An
administrative complaint filed against a public
adjuster alleged that he failed to maintain the
required surety bond on file with the Department.
Disposition: Fined $2,000 and license
suspended for 3 months and will remain so until a
replacement bond has been filed and the fine paid.
Case:
An investigation of a general lines, life, health and
variable annuity agent alleged that he issued a fraudulent
Letter of Reinstatement to an insured, aided and abetted an
unauthorized insurer, and obstructed the Department in the
course of the investigation.
Disposition: License suspended for 18 months,
must complete 6 hours of CE in ethics and 4 hours related to
unauthorized entities, and is responsible to pay restitution for
any unpaid claims that may arise related to his actions.
Case:
An investigation of a customer representative alleged
that she misrepresented herself as an agent on an
insurance application and continued to transact beyond
the scope of her license after being notified by the
Department.
Disposition: Fined $3,500 and
probation for 6 months.
Case:
An investigation of a life, health and variable annuity
agent alleged that he made misleading statements in annuity presentations,
unnecessarily replaced an annuity, and failed to deliver annuity contracts
in a timely manner.
Disposition: Fined $3,500,
restitution of $5,400, and
probation for 12 months.
Case:
An administrative complaint filed against a general lines
agent and her agency alleged that she submitted fraudulent wind
mitigation inspection forms to an insurer.
Disposition: Fined $10,000 and
probation for 6 months.
Case:
An administrative complaint filed against a nonresident general
lines and surplus lines agent alleged that he misappropriated over
$6,000 of insurance premium and failed to maintain a surety bond.
Disposition: License suspended for 15
months.
Case:
An administrative complaint filed against a general lines
agent and his agency alleged that he had misappropriated
insurance premiums.
Disposition: Licenses of the agent
and agency were revoked. He was arrested by fraud detectives and
remains in jail with multiple felony charges pending.
Case:
An investigation of a roofing company alleged that it advertised
adjusting services on its website when it was not licensed to do so.
Disposition: Ordered to cease and
desist from advertising it provides public adjusting services.
Case:
An administrative complaint field against a life, health and
variable annuity agent alleged that he submitted to an insurer numerous
insurance applications containing false and misleading information for the
purpose of obtaining commissions to which he was not entitled.
Disposition: License revoked and he
was subsequently arrested for his conduct and pled nolo contendere, along
with the payment of restitution and costs totaling $8,500.