33-2-1362. Recovery of premiums owed. - Montana Statutes

     33-2-1362. Recovery of premiums owed. (1) (a) An insurance producer or any other person responsible for the payment of a premium, other than the insured, is obligated to pay any unpaid premium for the full policy term due the insurer at the time of the declaration of insolvency, whether earned or unearned, as shown on the records of the insurer. The liquidator may recover from the person any part of an unearned premium that represents a commission of the person. Credits or setoffs or both may not be allowed to an insurance producer for any amounts advanced to the insurer by the insurance producer on behalf of but in the absence of a payment by the insured.
     (b) An insured shall pay any unpaid earned premium due the insurer at the time of the declaration of insolvency, as shown on the records of the insurer.
     (2) Upon satisfactory evidence of a violation of this section, the commissioner may pursue either one or both of the following courses of action:
     (a) suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the licenses of any offending party;
     (b) impose a penalty of not more than $1,000 for each act in violation of this section by the party.
     (3) Before the commissioner may take any action as set forth in subsection (2), the commissioner shall give written notice to the person, company, association, or exchange accused of violating the law, stating specifically the nature of the alleged violation and fixing a time and place, at least 10 days after the notice, when a hearing on the matter will be held. After the hearing or upon failure of the accused to appear at the hearing, the commissioner, if a violation is found, shall impose penalties under subsection (2) that the commissioner considers advisable.
     (4) When the commissioner takes action in any of the ways set out in subsection (2), the party aggrieved may appeal from the action to the district court.

     History: En. Sec. 33, Ch. 383, L. 1979; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 713, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 1114, Ch. 56, L. 2009.