§ 27-14.4-21. Agent’s responsibilities.
In the event of the entry of a decree ordering liquidation of an insurer, the responsibility of the agent to render premiums to the receiver shall be as follows:
(1) Any agent upon receiving notice that a policy of insurance is being cancelled shall as of the date of policy termination immediately remit unearned premiums in the possession of the agent to the insured who paid them, or with the written approval of the insured, purchase new coverage for the insured with a different insurer. The agent shall not owe, or remit to the insurer or to the liquidator-receiver any premiums that are unearned as of the date of commencement of the proceedings. The insurance commissioner shall promulgate rules in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of title 42, establishing guidelines for use by agents to calculate unearned premium.
(2) An agent who places initial insurance coverage, or renewal coverage, with an insurer admitted to do business in this state or with any insurer conducting business in Rhode Island which is an admitted carrier on the date of the coverage placement shall be deemed to have fulfilled his or her duty to the insured regarding the financial condition of the insurer and a claim for monetary damages shall not be brought or maintained against the agent for breach of duty or for any other cause of action resulting from the financial condition of the insurer.
(3) An agent who places initial insurance coverage, or renewal coverage, with an insurer that is not admitted to do business in this state or with any insurer conducting business in Rhode Island which is a non-admitted carrier on the date of the coverage placement, or if the insurer is not rated in the most recent published issue of Best’s Key Rating Guide, shall be deemed to have fulfilled his or her duty to the insured regarding the financial condition of the insurer and a claim for monetary damages shall not be brought or maintained against the agent for breach of duty or for any other cause of action resulting from the financial condition of the insurer, but only if the insured voluntarily signs this statement:
(AFFIDAVIT BY INSURED)
(Name of insured of (street, city or town, state), being duly sworn, deposes and says that on (date), he (she) directed his (her) insurance agent or broker to obtain insurance against certain risks covering property as described on the reverse side; that his (her) insurance agent or broker informed him (her) that (only part of) (no part of) the required insurance could be obtained from companies admitted to transact business in the state of Rhode Island, to wit: ($_______________ ); and that he (she) informed me that he (she) made a diligent effort to procure the full amount of insurance from admitted insurers, but was unable to do so.
The following companies or groups and officer(s) or agent(s) of these companies or groups are among those which have declined the offering or accepted a part of it:
_________________________________________
I was further informed that the amount of insurance shown below could be obtained from certain insurers not admitted to transact business in the state of Rhode Island. I therefore directed ________ a licensed Rhode Island agent (broker) to obtain this insurance from these non-admitted companies through the office of ________ a licensed surplus line broker. This insurance was only the excess over the amounts procurable from admitted insurers. ________ personally appeared before me _______ and made oath that the above affidavit signed by him (her) is true to the best of his (her) knowledge and belief.
____________________________________
(Notary Public)
History of Section.
P.L. 1994, ch. 141, § 2; G.L. 1956, § 27-14.4-23.