2010 Tennessee Code
Title 56 - Insurance
Chapter 5 - Rates and Rating Organizations
Part 3 - General Provisions
56-5-317 - Violations Penalties Suspension of licenses.

56-5-317. Violations Penalties Suspension of licenses.

(a)  If the commissioner finds that any person or organization has violated this part, the commissioner may impose a penalty of not more than five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation, to be recovered for the use of the state in a civil action brought in the name of the state by the commissioner in a court of competent jurisdiction. Technical violations arising from systems or computer errors of the same type shall be treated as a single violation. In the event of an overcharge, if the insurer makes restitution, including payment of interest, no penalty shall be imposed.

(b)  The commissioner may, in lieu of subsection (a), impose a civil penalty after notice and hearing in accordance with the Uniform Administrative Procedures Act, compiled in title 4, chapter 5, if the commissioner finds that any person or organization has violated this part. This civil penalty shall not exceed five hundred dollars ($500) for each violation as provided for in subsection (a).

(c)  The commissioner has the discretion to abate the part of the penalty in this section that the facts of the particular case warrant and to bring suit for a lesser amount that may be determined, or to accept the lesser amount in settlement of the state's claim for penalties. Any abatement or settlement of the penalties by the commissioner shall be with the consent and approval of the attorney general and reporter.

(d)  The commissioner may suspend the license of any rate service organization or insurer for failure to comply with an order of the commissioner within the time limited by the order, or any extension of the time that the commissioner may grant. The commissioner may determine when a suspension of license becomes effective and it shall remain in effect for the period fixed by the commissioner, unless the commissioner modifies or rescinds the suspension, or until the order upon which the suspension is based is modified, rescinded, or reversed.

(e)  No license shall be suspended except upon a written order of the commissioner, stating the commissioner's findings, made after a hearing held upon not less than ten (10) days' written notice to the person or organization, specifying the alleged violation.

[Acts 1983, ch. 66, § 18.]