Section 402-C:11 Commissioner's Summary Orders.
I. Summary Order After Hearing. Whenever the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe, and determines after a hearing held as prescribed in paragraph III, that any insurer has committed or engaged in, or is committing or engaging in or is about to commit or engage in any act, practice or transaction that would subject it to formal delinquency proceedings under this chapter, he may make and serve upon the insurer and any other persons involved, such orders other than seizure orders under RSA 402-C:12 and 13 as are reasonably necessary to correct, eliminate or remedy such conduct, condition or ground. If the order is for a restoration of or addition to capital, it may be carried out as provided in RSA 403.
II. Summary Order Before Hearing. If the conditions of paragraph I are satisfied, and if it appears to the commissioner that irreparable harm to the property or business of the insurer or to the interest of its policyholders, creditors or the public may occur unless he issues with immediate effect the orders described in paragraph I he may make and serve such orders without notice and before hearing, simultaneously serving upon the insurer notice of hearing under paragraph III.
III. Service, Notice, Hearing. The notice of hearing under paragraphs I or II and the summary order issued under paragraphs I or II shall be reasonably calculated to fairly and reasonably notify the recipient of the time and place of hearing, and the conduct, condition or ground upon which the commissioner would base his order; the notice of hearing under paragraph II shall state the time and place of hearing. Unless mutually agreed between the commissioner and the insurer, the hearing shall occur not less than 10 days nor more than 30 days after notice is served and shall be either in Concord or in some other place convenient to the parties to be designated by the commissioner.
IV. Judicial Relief. If the commissioner issues a summary order before hearing under paragraph II, the insurer may at any time waive the commissioner's hearing and apply for immediate judicial relief by means of any remedy afforded by law without first exhausting administrative remedies. Subsequent to a hearing the insurer or any person whose interests are substantially affected shall be entitled to judicial review of any order issued by the commissioner.
V. Sanction. If any person has violated any order issued under this section which as to him was then still in effect, he shall be liable to forfeit a sum not to exceed $10,000. The penalty shall be imposed and collected in an action brought by the attorney general and shall be paid into the state treasury.
VI. Enforcement by Injunction. The commissioner may apply for and any superior court may grant, such restraining orders, temporary and permanent injunctions and other orders as are deemed necessary to enforce a summary order.
Source. 1969, 272:1, eff. June 23, 1969.