Insurance Federation of Minnesota v. Hatch

370 N.W.2d 636, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4339
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedJuly 2, 1985
DocketNo. C5-85-594
StatusPublished

This text of 370 N.W.2d 636 (Insurance Federation of Minnesota v. Hatch) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Insurance Federation of Minnesota v. Hatch, 370 N.W.2d 636, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4339 (Mich. Ct. App. 1985).

Opinion

OPINION

POPOVICH, Chief Judge.

The Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce appeals an order temporarily enjoining him from issuing certificates of coverage under the liquor liability assigned risk plan established by the department.

The Commissioner contends the issuance of the injunction was improper because the respondent insurance companies are unlikely to prevail on the merits of their claim. Both parties seek review of the denial of their motions for summary judgment. We affirm in part, reverse in part and remand.

FACTS

In 1982, the legislature amended the Intoxicating Liquor Act to require most retail sellers of intoxicating liquor or non-intoxicating malt liquor to give proof of financial responsibility as of March 1, 1988. See 1982 Minn.Laws ch. 528, § 2 (codified at Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 21 (1982)). The Commissioner was authorized to establish an assigned risk pool using the rulemaking procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act. Id. In 1983, the legislature established certain provisions of an assigned risk plan and directed the Commissioner to adopt implementation rules as necessary. See 1983 Minn.Laws ch. 320, § 2 (codified at Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 23 (1984)). The reference to rulemaking in Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 21 was deleted and replaced with “The commissioner of insurance shall, if necessary, establish an assigned risk plan pursuant to subdivision 23.” Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 21 (1984).

On December 21, 1984, a large writer of liquor liability insurance cancelled 500 liquor liability insurance policies it had written in Minnesota. The Federal Reserve Board prohibited another large provider from selling insurance in this country as of January 1, 1985. A third company quit writing liability insurance at approximately the same time.

On January 7, 1985, the Commissioner published a notice in the State Register soliciting information to be used in preparing to promulgate new rules governing liquor liability insurance and the establishment and operation of an assigned risk plan.

On January 11, 1985, the Commissioner issued an order scheduling a February 4, 1985 hearing to determine: (1) whether existing rates for liquor liability insurance in this state were appropriate; (2) whether liquor liability insurance was available within the state; and (3) whether there was a need for a liquor liability assigned risk plan. The order was mailed to insurance companies and other interested persons. Notice of the hearing was also published in the State Register.

On February 11, 1985, the Commissioner issued an order outlining the need for an assigned risk plan, establishing an assigned risk plan, setting interim rates and providing for an administrator. The order also required insurance carriers doing business in this state to file policy forms, rates and other information regarding liquor liability insurance.

[638]*638The insurance companies initiated an action to enjoin the Commission from enforcing all but two paragraphs of the February 11 order. They sought summary judgment and, in the alternative, a temporary injunction enjoining the Commissioner from implementing the February 11 order.

The trial court concluded (1) the Commissioner’s orders are rules as defined by Minn.Stat. § 14.02, subd. 4, (2) the Commissioner did not comply with the Administrative Procedures Act, Minn.Stat. §§ 14.-01-.69, and (3) neither Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 21 nor subd. 23 exempt the Commissioner from the rulemaking requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act. The trial court denied the motions for summary judgment and temporarily enjoined the Commissioner from issuing further certificates of coverage under the liquor liability assigned risk plan unless the plan were adopted in a rulemaking procedure.

The Commissioner appealed the trial court’s order. The insurance companies seek review of the trial court’s order to the extent it denied their motion for summary judgment.

ISSUES

1. Is the denial of a motion for summary judgment appealable?

2. Did the trial court clearly abuse its discretion by granting a temporary injunction?

ANALYSIS

1. The denial of a motion for summary judgment is not appealable unless the trial court certifies an issue as important and doubtful. Seger v. DeGardner, 355 N.W.2d 465, 466 (Minn.Ct.App.1984); Minn. R.Civ.App.P. 103.03(h). The trial court did not certify any issues. The denial of the motion is interlocutory and not appealable.

2. “The trial court’s ruling on a motion for a temporary injunction is largely an exercise of judicial discretion.” OT Industries, Inc. v. OT-Tehdas Oy Santasalo-Sohlberg Ab, 346 N.W.2d 162, 165 (Minn.Ct.App.1984). This court will consider only whether the trial court clearly abused its discretion by granting the motion for a temporary injunction. Id.

3.The trial court considered the factors in Dahlberg Brothers, Inc. v. Ford Motor Company, 272 Minn. 264, 137 N.W.2d 314 (1965) in determining whether a temporary injunction should issue. The parties’ primary dispute is the insurance companies’ likelihood of success on the merits. The Commissioner argues the companies will not prevail because he is not obligated by statute to promulgate rules in order to establish an assigned risk plan. He contends the trial court erred by assuming that the determination an assigned risk plan is needed must be made pursuant to the rulemaking procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act.

The determination that a plan is needed lies with the Commissioner. Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 21 (1984) provides:

The commissioner of commerce shall, if necessary, establish an assigned risk plan pursuant to subdivision 23.

Id. Subdivision 23 outlines the elements of an assigned risk plan and further provides:

The commissioner of commerce shall adopt rules, including emergency rules, as may be necessary to implement this subdivision. The rules may include:
(a) appeal procedures from actions of the assigned risk plan;
(b) formation of an advisory committee composed of insurers, vendors of risk management services and licensees, to advise the commissioner of commerce regarding the operation of the plan; and
(c) applicable rating plans and rating standards.

Minn.Stat. § 340.11, subd. 23(8) (1984).

Subdivision 21 directs the Commissioner to establish, if necessary, an assigned risk plan pursuant to subdivision 23. Subdivision 23(8) directs the Commissioner to adopt rules only as may be necessary to implement the plan. Thus, the Commissioner was within his authority when he determined the need for the assigned risk plan without initiating a rule-[639]*639making procedure. The Commissioner published a notice in the State Register and notified providers and other interested persons. The notice indicated the need for an assigned risk plan would be considered at the February 4 hearing.

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Related

Manufactured Housing Institute v. Pettersen
347 N.W.2d 238 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1984)
Seger v. DeGardner
355 N.W.2d 465 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1984)
Dahlberg Brothers, Inc. v. Ford Motor Company
137 N.W.2d 314 (Supreme Court of Minnesota, 1965)
In Re the Implementation of Utility Energy Conservation Improvement Programs
368 N.W.2d 308 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1985)
OT Industries, Inc. v. OT-tehdas Oy Santasalo-Sohlberg AB
346 N.W.2d 162 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 1984)

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Bluebook (online)
370 N.W.2d 636, 1985 Minn. App. LEXIS 4339, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/insurance-federation-of-minnesota-v-hatch-minnctapp-1985.