Pennsylvania Department of Insurance News
PA Insurance Department Releases Quarterly Enforcement Action Results
Department Begins 2008 with 28 Actions and 11 Market Conduct Examinations
HARRISBURG, Pa., April 18 PRNewswire-USNewswire — Acting Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario today announced the results of the department's first-quarter enforcement actions against entities and individuals who were found guilty of violating insurance laws. The actions resulted in penalties and restitution totaling more than $14 million.
"Insurance is a promise of protection, and the most important thing this department does is to protect our insurance consumers," Ario said. "My office continually monitors the insurance marketplace for unlawful behavior, and when we find individuals or entities who are not following insurance laws, or who are operating without an insurance license, we discipline them accordingly."
An enforcement action, by definition, is the result of an investigation or examination that reveals a violation of Pennsylvania insurance law. Actions can result in fines, restitution, cease and desist orders, license supervision or a revocation/surrender of a license.
A comprehensive list of all enforcement actions and market conduct examinations, dating back to 1998, as well as a glossary of commonly used enforcement terminology, can be found at www.insurance.state.pa.us (keyword: enforcement). Each entry is listed alphabetically and includes the findings of fact, the violation(s) of insurance law that occurred and the order issued by the department.
Consumers who have a question about their insurance coverage, or who may suspect wrongdoing on the part of their insurance company or agent, should contact any of the department's Bureau of Consumer Services' regional offices at:
— Harrisburg: (717) 787-2317
— Philadelphia: (215) 560-2630
— Pittsburgh: (412) 565-5020
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a list of enforcement actions concluded by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department in the first quarter of 2008, by county. In some cases, the parties referenced did not admit any liability. Those interested in seeking additional information are encouraged to review the actions in their entirety on the department's Web site, www.insurance.state.pa.us, (keyword: enforcement)
Allegheny
Terence Young - Pittsburgh - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
Berks
Matthew A. Delp Jr. - Douglassville - Unauthorized use of license number for annuity sales; license surrender.
Bucks
Suanne Bender - Quakertown - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
Larry R. Douglas - Croydon - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision of motor vehicle physical damage appraiser license granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
Darin W. Martin - Yardley - Deceptive and misleading solicitations to mortgagers; $4,000 penalty and five-year license supervision.
Sherri Yilmaz - Croydon - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
Delaware
John W. Eberle - Wayne - Advertised a $125,000 viatical policy for sale on E-Bay; surrender of license.
Shawn M. Guido - Drexel Hill - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
John J. Lynch - Havertown - Failure to indicate annuity and life replacement and give notice of annuity replacement, misquoted an annuity rate; $5,000 penalty and five-year license supervision.
Brian J. Newmark - Havertown - Felony conviction for wire fraud, mail fraud and perjury; license revocation.
Stephen J. Washkalavitch - Glen Mills - Failed to leave copy of appraisal; three-year license supervision of motor vehicle, physical damage appraiser license.
Fayette
Patricia Sines - Markleysburg - Failure to remit $79 cash premium payment to Nationwide; surrender of license.
Lackawanna
Angel L. Gonzalez - Scranton - Felony conviction; indefinite license supervision granted with approved SS 1033 waiver application.
Lehigh
Kyle P. Reilly - Alburtis - Replacement error without policyholder authorization; five-year license supervision.
Montgomery
Michael P. Graham - Huntingdon Valley - Unlicensed public adjuster activity; $1,000 fine and five-year license supervision.
Philadelphia
AIG National Insurance Company - Philadelphia - Alleged scheme involving contingent compensation; $6,600 fine, $2,613,350 costs, $2,525,400 reimbursement of investigative costs, $1,813,613 premium taxes, three-year reporting obligation, additional business reforms, disclosure to prospective policyholders and a compliance program.
Aida E. Padilla - Philadelphia - Automobile insurance violations; license revocation
Donte Sterling, dba Silverline Adjustment Inc. - Philadelphia - Failure to release client from contract, failure to resolve client issues; $2,000 penalty and two-year supervision of public adjuster license.
Westmoreland
Kathleen B. Thomas - North Huntingdon - Diverted mortgage-related fund of $890,000 in 2007, misrepresentation; license revocation.
Out of State
American Business & Personal Insurance Mutual Inc. - Chicago, IL - Late filing of workers compensation accident & sickness report; $3,000 penalty.
American Investors Life Insurance Company - Topeka, KS, AmerUs Life Insurance Company - Des Moines, IA - Failure to properly oversee producers on annuity sales; $78,000 payment for administrative and legal fees, cooperation with related investigations, full enforcement of current compliance plan.
Joseph B. Jehoich - Virginia Beach, VA - Failure to report two felony arrests and convictions; license revocation.
Kelli M. Miller - Chicago, IL - License revocation in home state and four others; license revocation.
Hanna M. Olson - Elk Grove, CA - Felony conviction in home state; license revocation.
Paramount Insurance Company - New York, NY - Untimely submission of workers compensation accident & illness prevention report; cease and desist.
Public Service Mutual Insurance Company - New York, NY - Untimely submission of workers compensation accident & illness prevention report; cease and desist.
Rami Ikbal Saba - Lowell, MI - Felony arrest in Michigan for felony mail fraud, financial institution fraud and aggravated identity theft; non-resident license revocation.
Michael J. Spillert - Parsippany, NJ - Failure to report National Association of Securities Dealers action; surrender of non-resident license.
CONTACT: Melissa Fox or Katy Gresh
(717) 787-3289
SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Insurance
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