Find Laws Find Lawyers Free Legal Forms USA State Laws

NEW HAMPSHIRE STATUTES AND CODES

Section 153:13-a Fires of Suspicious Origin.


   I. An authorized investigator from the state fire marshal's office, or from any fire department or law enforcement agency may request an insurance company investigating a fire loss of real or personal property to release any information in its possession relative to that loss. The company shall release the information and cooperate with any official authorized to request such information pursuant to this section. The information may include, but shall not be limited to:
      (a) Any insurance policy relevant to a fire loss under investigation and any application for such policy;
      (b) Policy premium payment records;
      (c) History of previous claims made by the insured for fire loss; and
      (d) Material relating to the investigation of the loss, including statements of any person, proof of loss, and any other relevant evidence.
   II. If an insurance company has reason to suspect that a fire loss in the amount of $1000 or more to its insured's real or personal property was caused by other than accidental means, the company shall notify the office of the state fire marshal and furnish him, either through a recognized bureau or organization of companies or through the secretary or other officer of the insurance company, with all relevant material acquired during its investigation of the fire loss, cooperate with and take such reasonable action as may be requested of it by any law enforcement agency, and permit any person so ordered by a court to inspect any of its records pertaining to the policy and the loss.
   III. The state fire marshal or any fire chief whose department is investigating any fire loss of real or personal property shall notify any insurance company believed to have an interest as insurer of such property. Notification shall include a statement of the nature of such investigation.
   IV. In the absence of fraud or malice, no public official or insurance company or person who furnishes information on its behalf, is liable for damages in a civil action or subject to criminal prosecution for any oral or written statement made or any other action taken that is necessary to supply information required pursuant to this section.
   V. The recipient of any information furnished pursuant to this section shall hold the information in confidence and not release it, except to another official referred to in paragraph I, until such time as its release is required pursuant to a criminal or civil proceeding.
   VI. Any official referred to in paragraph I of this section may be required to testify as to or to release any information in his possession regarding the fire loss of real or personal property in any civil action in which any person seeks recovery under a policy against an insurance company for the fire loss.
   VII. (a) No person shall purposely refuse to release any information requested pursuant to paragraph I of this section.
      (b) No person shall purposely refuse to make the necessary notification of a fire loss pursuant to paragraph II of this section.
      (c) No person shall purposely refuse to supply to the proper authorities pertinent information requested to be furnished pursuant to paragraph II of this section.
      (d) No person shall purposely fail to hold in confidence information required to be held in confidence by paragraph V of this section.
   VIII. Whoever violates paragraph VII(a), (b), (c), or (d) of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. It shall not be considered a violation of this section if an insurance company acts in good faith and believes it has done everything required of it by this section.

Source. 1979, 231:2. 1981, 104:1, 2, eff. June 22, 1981.

New Hampshire Forms by Issue

New Hampshire Abortion Forms
New Hampshire Bankruptcy Forms
New Hampshire Business Forms
New Hampshire Court Forms
> Small Claims
New Hampshire Divorce Forms
New Hampshire Family Forms
New Hampshire Guardianship Forms
New Hampshire Gun Forms
New Hampshire Marriage Forms
New Hampshire Name Change Forms
New Hampshire Tax Forms

New Hampshire Law

New Hampshire State Laws
    > New Hampshire Child Support
    > New Hampshire Gun Laws
    > New Hampshire Statute
New Hampshire Tax
    > New Hampshire State Tax
New Hampshire Court
    > Chpalinsky v. New Hampshire
New Hampshire Labor Laws
    > New Hampshire Unemployment
New Hampshire Agencies
    > New Hampshire DMV

New Hampshire Court Map

Tips