The 2023 Florida Statutes (including Special Session C)

Title XXXVII
INSURANCE

Chapter 624
INSURANCE CODE: ADMINISTRATION AND GENERAL PROVISIONS

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F.S. 624.4211

624.4211 Administrative fine in lieu of suspension or revocation.—

(1) If the office finds that one or more grounds exist for the discretionary revocation or suspension of a certificate of authority issued under this chapter, the office may, in lieu of such revocation or suspension, impose a fine upon the insurer.

(2)(a) With respect to a nonwillful violation, such fine may not exceed:

1. Twenty-five thousand dollars per violation, up to an aggregate amount of $100,000 for all nonwillful violations arising out of the same action, related to a covered loss or claim caused by an emergency for which the Governor declared a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36.

2. Twelve thousand five hundred dollars per violation, up to an aggregate amount of $50,000 for all other nonwillful violations arising out of the same action.

(b) If an insurer discovers a nonwillful violation, the insurer shall correct the violation and, if restitution is due, make restitution to all affected persons. Such restitution shall include interest at 12 percent per year from either the date of the violation or the date of inception of the affected person’s policy, at the insurer’s option. The restitution may be a credit against future premiums due, provided that interest accumulates until the premiums are due. If the amount of restitution due to any person is $50 or more and the insurer wishes to credit it against future premiums, it shall notify such person that she or he may receive a check instead of a credit. If the credit is on a policy that is not renewed, the insurer shall pay the restitution to the person to whom it is due.

(3)(a) With respect to a knowing and willful violation of a lawful order or rule of the office or commission or a provision of this code, the office may impose a fine upon the insurer in an amount not to exceed:

1. Two hundred thousand dollars for each such violation, up to an aggregate amount of $1 million for all knowing and willful violations arising out of the same action, related to a covered loss or claim caused by an emergency for which the Governor declared a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36.

2. One hundred thousand dollars for each such violation, up to an aggregate amount of $500,000 for all other knowing and willful violations arising out of the same action.

(b) In addition to such fines, the insurer shall make restitution when due in accordance with subsection (2).

(4) The failure of an insurer to make restitution when due as required under this section constitutes a willful violation of this code. However, if an insurer in good faith is uncertain as to whether any restitution is due or as to the amount of such restitution, it shall promptly notify the office of the circumstances; and the failure to make restitution pending a determination thereof shall not constitute a violation of this code.

History.—s. 1, ch. 72-248; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; s. 21, ch. 78-95; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 55, 64, 809(1st), ch. 82-243; ss. 187, 188, ch. 91-108; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 183, ch. 97-102; s. 800, ch. 2003-261; s. 4, ch. 2008-66; s. 6, ch. 2023-172.

F.S. 624.4211 on Google Scholar

F.S. 624.4211 on Casetext

Amendments to 624.4211

Arrestable Offenses / Crimes under Fla. Stat. 624.4211

Level: Degree
Misdemeanor/Felony: First/Second/Third

Current data shows no reason an arrest or criminal charge should have occurred directly under Florida Statute 624.4211.

Annotations, Discussions, Cases:

Cases from cite.case.law:

REGIONS BANK, v. COMMONWEALTH LAND TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY,, 977 F. Supp. 2d 1237 (S.D. Fla. 2013)

. . . is subject to the penalties in § 624.418(2) [suspension of insurer’s certificate of authority] and 624.4211 . . .

CHALFONTE CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. v. QBE INSURANCE CORPORATION, v. QBE v. QBE, 695 F.3d 1215 (11th Cir. 2012)

. . . . § 624.4211(1) (allowing the Department to impose a fine on an insurance company instead of suspending . . .

QBE INSURANCE CORPORATION, v. CHALFONTE CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, INC., 94 So. 3d 541 (Fla. 2012)

. . . . § 624.4211(1) (allowing the Department to impose a fine on an insurance company instead of suspending . . .

CHALFONTE CONDOMINIUM APARTMENT ASSOCIATION, INC. v. QBE INSURANCE CORPORATION,, 526 F. Supp. 2d 1251 (S.D. Fla. 2007)

. . . any person found in the proceeding to have violated any provision of the Insurance Code”); Section 624.4211 . . .

ROCHE SURETY AND CASUALTY COMPANY, INC. v. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES, OFFICE OF INSURANCE REGULATION,, 895 So. 2d 1139 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 2005)

. . . See § 624.4211(4), Fla. . . . See § 624.4211(3). Willfulness is a question of fact. McGann v. Fla. . . . We add that our review of the Department’s interpretation of the willful requirement in section 624.4211 . . .

DYER, v. DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND TREASURER, a, 585 So. 2d 1009 (Fla. Dist. Ct. App. 1991)

. . . Section 624.4211 is found in Part III of the initial chapter of the Florida Insurance Code, entitled . . . to section 626.9521 to section 627.381, thence back to section 624.-4211, we have found that section 624.4211 . . . More importantly, however, we conclude that the penalties in section 624.4211 are not applicable to insurance . . . We agree with Dyer’s argument that the exceptionally large fines authorized in section 624.4211, when . . . no ostensible need for a reference to section 626.9521, thence to section 627.381, thence to section 624.4211 . . .

B. KEEHN, K. v. CAROLINA CASUALTY INSURANCE CO., 758 F.2d 1522 (11th Cir. 1985)

. . . or organization has violated any provision of this part, impose an administrative fine pursuant to s.624.4211 . . .