§33-41-6 Immunity from liability. - West Virginia Statutes

§33-41-6. Immunity from liability.
(a) There shall be no civil liability imposed on and no cause of action shall arise from a person's furnishing information concerning suspected or anticipated fraud relating to the business of insurance, if the information is provided to or received from:

(1) The commissioner or the commissioner's employees, agents or representatives;

(2) Federal, state, or local law-enforcement or regulatory officials or their employees, agents or representatives;

(3) A person involved in the prevention and detection of insurance fraud or that person's agents, employees or representatives; or

(4) The national association of insurance commissioners or its employees, agents or representatives.

(b) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section are not applicable to materially incorrect statements made maliciously or fraudulently by a person designated a mandated reporter pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a), section five of this article or made in reckless disregard to the truth or falsity of the statement by those not mandated to report. In an action brought against a person for filing a report or furnishing other information concerning an alleged insurance fraud, the party bringing the action shall plead with specificity any facts supporting the allegation that subsection (a) of this section does not apply because the person filing the report or furnishing the incorrect information did so maliciously in the case of a mandated reporter or in the case of a person not designated a mandated reporter, in reckless disregard for the truth or falsity of the statement.

(c) Nothing in this article shall be construed to limit, abrogate or modify existing statutes or case law applicable to the duties or liabilities of insurers regarding bad faith or unfair trade practices.

(d) This section does not abrogate or modify common law or statutory privileges or immunities.