612 A.2d 1094 | Pa. Commw. Ct. | 1992
This is an appeal by Felix Termini from an order of the Insurance Commissioner directing that Termini’s insurance agent’s license be suspended for a period of twelve months and that Termini pay a civil penalty totalling three thousand dollars.
After conducting a hearing, the Commissioner found that Termini sold insurance for both the Durham Life Insurance Co. (Durham) and the United Insurance Co. of America (United) during the period from February 14, 1989 to July 24, 1989, despite the fact that his contract with each company required that he sell insurance only on behalf of that company. During the six months that he worked for Durham, Termini received $700.00 a week in guaranteed salary. He left his employment with Durham after it was discovered that he had
The Commissioner further found that on or about April 26, 1989, Termini submitted to United life insurance applications on behalf of Diana Baldwin and Ian Baldwin, her son. In May of 1989 Termini then submitted to Durham life insurance applications on behalf of Diana and Ian Baldwin without Ms. Baldwin’s knowledge or consent. The applications submitted to Durham were signed by Termini and contained his certification that he had completed the applications on information provided by Ms. Baldwin. Further, the Commissioner found that Termini paid the premiums for these applications.
Based upon these findings, the Commissioner determined that Termini, by engaging in dual exclusive employment, had demonstrated his “unworthiness” to hold an insurance agent’s license under Section 603 of The Insurance Department Act of 1921, Act of May 17,1921, P.L. 789, as amended, 40 P.S. § 233 (Insurance Department Act) and 31 Pa.Code § 33.7(a)(7). She further determined that Termini had, by submitting false life insurance applications for the Baldwins, engaged in unfair insurance practices in violation of Section 1171.5(a)(2) and (12) of the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, Act of July 22, 1974, P.L. 589, as amended, 40 P.S. § 1171.5(a)(2) and (12). Accordingly, she assessed the one-year suspension and the civil penalty. Termini’s appeal to this Court followed.
On appeal Termini raises several issues for our consideration which we shall deal with seriatim, keeping in mind that our scope of review is limited to determining whether the necessary findings of fact are supported by substantial evidence and whether the Commissioner has committed a legal error. Insurance Department v. Ciervo, 24 Pa.Cmwlth.Ct. 29, 353 A.2d 900 (1976). The Commissioner is the ultimate fact finder and it is her duty to evaluate credibility, weigh the evidence and resolve evidentiary conflicts. Novak v. Insurance Department, 106 Cmwlth.Ct. 232, 525 A.2d 1258 (1987). Further, she is given broad discretion in imposing penalties. Id.
We must further determine, however, whether acting in a dual exclusive capacity is conduct covered by Section 603 of the Insurance Department Act. Section 603, which deals with issuing agents’ licenses, provides in pertinent part:
(a) Before any such license is granted, the applicant shall first make answer, in writing and under oath, to interrogatories on forms and supplements such as the Insurance Commissioner shall prepare and submit, which answers shall be vouched for by indorsement of the company, association, or exchange interested, and to the effect that the applicant is of good business reputation, and of experience in underwriting, other than soliciting, and is worthy of a license: ... When the Insurance Commissioner is satisfied that the applicant is worthy of license, and that he is reasonably familiar with provisions of the insurance law of this Commonwealth, [she] shall issue a license....
While at first blush this language appears to concern only the initial grant of a license, we have upheld the Commissioner’s revocation of an existing license under this provision. See, e.g., Fumo v. Insurance Department, 58 Pa.Cmwlth.Ct. 392, 427 A.2d 1259 (1981). Accordingly, since this provision is applicable to the case at bar, we now must decide whether, as a matter of law, Termini’s dual exclusive employment activity rendered him unworthy of a license. In Fumo Judge Blatt recognized that the statutory terms “good business reputation” and “worthy of a license” are “at best, inexact,” but held that (a) because insurance is a highly regulated industry, (b)
(a) The Department may deny an application for agent’s or broker’s license if any of the following are shown to have occurred:
(7) The applicant does not possess the professional competence and general fitness required for the doing of the business of insurance. Such determination will be made after thorough examination of the pertinent information and documents available to the Department which pertain to the honesty, reliability, efficiency, educational training and business experience, and reputation of the applicant. ...
31 Pa.Code § 33.7.
Termini produced a witness who testified that he was a good agent, ie., he produced a lot of business. This witness explained that Termini had been a leading sales representative for United in 1989, as well as having a high percentage of business that stayed on the books for at least four months. Further, Termini was honored as agent of the year for 1990. Termini claims that the Commissioner ignored all of this evidence when adjudicating his case. We disagree. This evidence does tend to establish that Termini had good business acumen. But is does not disprove that he knowingly entered into dual exclusive employment contracts, a fact that would call his honesty into question. And, Termini himself testified on direct examination that he had a different reporting date with Durham than did other agents so that “no other agents would find out that I would be working with Durham and then it would get back to United.” N.T. 107. This indicates that Termini himself knew that what he was doing
We now consider whether, as Termini asserts, the record does not support a finding the Termini placed insureds with insurers by making false applications
Ms. Baldwin did not testify specifically that Termini had fronted premiums for the Durham applications; however, she
While Termini argues that he could receive no benefit for fronting premiums, the record demonstrates otherwise. Termini’s arrangement with Durham provided that after six months with that company his contract was to be based upon his initial six-month production. N.T. 50-51. Therefore, he would achieve long-term benefits by generating more policies for Durham during his initial six months there.
Finally, Termini asserts that the penalty imposed here was too harsh. We note first that the Department had sought to revoke Termini’s license. The Commissioner, however, ordered only a one-year suspension and a civil fine. This alone evidences some discretion on her part. Moreover, Termini’s argument for leniency, based on his assertion that no one was injured by his actions, has previously been rejected by this Court. We stated in Redcay v. Insurance Commissioner, 116 Pa.Cmwlth.Ct. 425, 541 A.2d 1189 (1988), that an argument that maximum sanctions were justified only where the public was actually harmed was “specious.” See also Fumo (no specific harm to public). While here the maximum penalty was not imposed, we nonetheless believe the “no harm, no foul” argument to be without merit.
Having determined that the Commissioner’s necessary findings are supported by substantial evidence and that she committed no legal error or constitutional violation, we affirm her order.
NOW, May 4, 1992, the order of the Insurance Commissioner in the above-captioned matter is hereby affirmed.
. Section 1171.5(a) of the Unfair Insurance Practices Act, 40 P.S. § 1171.5(a), provides that unfair insurance practices or unfair methods of competition include:
(2) Making, issuing, publishing or circulating in any manner an advertisement, announcement or statement containing any representation or statement with respect to the business of insurance or with respect to any person in the conduct of his insurance business which is untrue, deceptive or misleading.
(12) Making false or fraudulent statements or representations on or relative to an application for an insurance policy, for the purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money or other benefit from any insurers, agent, broker or individual.