§ 27-4.1-4 - "Legal services insurance" defined. - Rhode Island Statutes

SECTION 27-4.1-4

   § 27-4.1-4  "Legal services insurance"defined. – "Legal services insurance" is insurance which involves the assumption of acontractual obligation to reimburse the beneficiary against or pay on behalf ofthe beneficiary all or a portion of his or her fees, costs, or expenses relatedto or arising out of services performed by or under the supervision of anattorney who is not an employee of or under the control of the insurer directlyor indirectly and who is licensed to practice in the state of Rhode Island orany other state where the attorney provides these services. "Legal servicesinsurance" may also include provisions for basic legal services rendered to thebeneficiary, by telephone or mail, by one or more attorneys licensed topractice in the state of Rhode Island or any other state where the attorneyprovides these basic legal services none of whom are employees of or under thecontrol of the insurer directly or indirectly. "Legal services insurance" doesnot include the provision of or reimbursement for legal services incidental toother insurance coverage. Beneficiaries of legal services shall not be requiredto select an attorney other than one of the beneficiary's own choosing exceptfor basic legal advice rendered by telephone or mail as described in thissection. Attorneys providing basic legal advice rendered by telephone or mailunder legal insurance policies shall refer all beneficiaries to an attorney ofthe beneficiary's choice for other than basic legal services and shall beprohibited from taking any of these referrals.