BG Balmer & Co. v. COM. OF PA., INS. COMM.
This text of 538 A.2d 968 (BG Balmer & Co. v. COM. OF PA., INS. COMM.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.
Opinion
Opinion by
B. G. Balmer & Company, Inc. (Balmer), appeals a Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioners 1 (Commissioner) adjudication suspending its insurance business license for fifteen days, ordering it to cease and desist from unfair practices, and directing restitution pursuant to the Pennsylvania Unfair Insurance Practices Act (UIPA). 2 We affirm. 3
The Insurance Department initiated an action against Balmer by filing an order to show cause, 4 alleg *241 ing that Balmer violated Section 4 and 5(a)(l)(i) 5 of the UIPA by charging a hidden fee to a corporate client, The Saunders House. The Commissioner denied Balmers subsequent motion for summary judgment which alleged that the Departments action was time-barred under Section 5524(5) of the Judicial Code. 6 After a hearing, the Commissioner found that Balmer had charged Saunders House for risk management services which were neither contracted for nor received. The Commissioner concluded that the fee was listed as a premium in an effort to deceive Saunders House and imposed the aforementioned sanctions.
Balmer initially argues that the Insurance Departments enforcement proceeding is time-barred under Section 5524(5) of the Judicial Code. We disagree.
Section 5524(5) of the Judicial Code provides a two-year limitation for an action upon a statute for a civil penalty or forfeiture. Section 11 of the UIPA 7 authorizes only courts to impose civil penalties. Because the Commissioner was acting under his limited power to impose administrative penalties pursuant to Section 9 of the *242 UIPA, 8 we hold that Balmer s reliance on Section 5524(5) of the Judicial Code is misplaced. 9
Balmer next argues that there is no substantial evidence to support the Commissioners findings that management services were never contracted for nor provided and that the fee was deliberately concealed.
The record reveals that conflicting evidence was presented to the Commissioner as to whether Saunders House was aware of the management fee. A Balmer representative testified that a valid oral contract existed, 10 while the comptroller stated that he could not recall such a conversation taking place. 11 Additionally, the record reflects that Balmer originally billed Saunders House for a premium 12 and merely renamed the charge an administrative fee after the comptrollers inquiry. 13
*243 The Commissioners findings represent credibility determinations which, as a matter of administrative law, we cannot review on appeal. Yuhas v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (City of Pittsburgh), 82 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 390, 393, 476 A.2d 1377, 1379 (1984).
Finally, Balmer contends that the Commissioners order suspending Balmers license for fifteen days and directing restitution is an abuse of discretion. Department of Environmental Resources v. Mill Service, Inc., 21 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 642, 347 A.2d 503 (1975).
The Commissioner is empowered to suspend the license of a violator under Section 9 of the UIPA. Having found substantive support for the violation, we hold that a fifteen-day suspension is reasonable in light of the Commissioners conclusion that- Balmers practices were “unfair and deceptive.” 14
In support of the restitution order, the Commissioner argues that although not expressly granted, restitutionary power is implied in the UIPA.
Section 8(e) 15 of the UIPA instructs the Commissioner to state “what remedial action, if any, is required of the person charged.” (Emphasis added.) Additionally, the UIPA provides the Commissioner with equitable remedies. Section 9 authorizes the Commissioner to issue a cease and desist order while Section 10 of the UIPA 16 permits the Commissioner to seek an injunction if a cease and desist order is not complied with.
In Fahringer, McCarty & Grey, Inc. v. Workmen's Compensation Appeal Board (Green), 107 Pa. Commonwealth Ct. 597, 529 A.2d 56 (1987), we interpreted *244 Section 413 of The Pennsylvania Workmens Compensation Act (Act) 17 as conferring remedial restitutionary powers upon the Board. While certain remedial powers were specifically granted in Section 413, the authority to order restitution was not mentioned.
Likewise, we believe that the Commissioner is not precluded from employing certain equitable principles in fashioning a remedy where, as here, Balmers charging Saunders House a fee for services not provided resulted in unjust enrichment. In this case, because a violation of the UIPA resulted in unjust enrichment, restitution was an appropriate remedy within the Commissioners power. 18
Therefore, in light of the applicable statutory provisions, the Commissioners order of restitution is not an abuse of discretion under the circumstances. We affirm the order of the Commissioner.
Order
The order of the Insurance Commissioner, No. P861-17 dated February 6, 1987, is affirmed.
The Insurance Commissioner at the time was George F. Grade.
Act of July 22, 1974, P.L. 589, as amended, 40 P.S. §§1171.1—1171.15.
In affirming, we note that our scope of review is limited to a determination of whether constitutional rights were violated, an error of law was committed, or findings of feet are not supported by substantial evidence. McDonnell v.
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538 A.2d 968, 114 Pa. Commw. 239, 1988 Pa. Commw. LEXIS 244, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bg-balmer-co-v-com-of-pa-ins-comm-pacommwct-1988.