Prudential v. Dept. of Ins.

626 So. 2d 994, 1993 WL 429297
CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida
DecidedOctober 25, 1993
Docket93-2893
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 626 So. 2d 994 (Prudential v. Dept. of Ins.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Prudential v. Dept. of Ins., 626 So. 2d 994, 1993 WL 429297 (Fla. Ct. App. 1993).

Opinion

626 So.2d 994 (1993)

PRUDENTIAL PROPERTY & CASUALTY INSURANCE CO. OF INDIANA, Petitioner,
v.
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, Respondent.

No. 93-2893.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

October 25, 1993.

*995 Mitchell B. Haigler and Daniel C. Brown of Katz, Kutter, Haigler, Alderman, Davis, Marks & Bryant, P.A., Tallahassee, for petitioner.

Dan Sumner and Dennis Silverman, Div. of Legal Services, Tallahassee, for respondent.

ZEHMER, Chief Judge.

This proceeding arises out of the casualty insurance moratorium mandated by the legislature in chapter 93-401, Laws of Florida. Prudential Property and Casualty Insurance Company of Indiana (PRUPAC) petitions this court for review of the Florida Department of Insurance's non-final agency action denying its request for exemption from the moratorium. We conclude that the actions of the respondent department failed to fully conform to the provisions of that section and, therefore, we grant in part the relief sought by petitioner.

I.

PRUPAC asserts that as a result of Hurricane Andrew in 1992 it experienced claims from policy holders approximating $1.3 billion. PRUPAC's capital and surplus was less than half that amount, and the company was rendered insolvent. Its parent company, Prudential Insurance Company of America, voluntarily infused $900 million of capital in order to maintain PRUPAC's solvency. PRUPAC's directors determined that its exposure to future risk in south Florida was too great in light of its available capital and surplus, and they commissioned two computer simulations to determine PRUPAC's maximum loss from another hurricane making landfall in Dade or Broward County in light of the data from Hurricane Andrew. Both simulations estimated probable maximum losses from a single hurricane event at approximately $1.5 billion if PRUPAC's current risks (i.e., policies in force) in Dade and Broward counties remained essentially unchanged. As a result, in January, 1993, PRUPAC notified the department of its intent to begin nonrenewal of policies in those areas commencing in February, 1993.

On May 19, 1993, the department adopted emergency rule ER-93-18 to regulate cancellations or non-renewal of casualty policies by home insurers. This rule prohibited an insurer from issuing notices of nonrenewal of personal lines of casualty insurance unless the insurer first demonstrated to the department that nonrenewals were necessary to avoid an unreasonable risk of insolvency. The matter also was presented to the legislature, and chapter 93-401, Laws of Florida, was enacted during the 1993 regular session and became law on June 8, 1993.[1] This *996 legislation provides for a moratorium effective May 19, 1993, under which no insurer shall cancel or nonrenew personal lines of property insurance in this state on the basis of risk of hurricane claims. An exception is created if the insurer can affirmatively demonstrate to the department that the proposed cancellations or nonrenewals are necessary to avoid an unreasonable risk of insolvency. Certain factors enumerated in the law are to be considered by the department in determining the risk. The legislation provides further that "in no event shall any insurer be required to risk more than its total surplus to any objectively defined probable maximum loss resulting from one Florida hurricane loss event." The department is directed to respond to an application for exemption under this subsection by issuing a final decision within 90 days after receipt of the application for exemption. Section 1(6) provides that the statute will stand repealed effective November 14, 1993.

On May 20, 1993, PRUPAC filed an application for exemption from the moratorium. A public hearing on this application was held by the department on June 3 and petitioner contends that it presented sworn evidence that PRUPAC was being required to risk more than its total capital and surplus to any objectively defined probable maximum loss resulting from one Florida hurricane event. It is also shown that PRUPAC brought an action in United States District Court raising federal constitutional challenges to the moratorium and seeking injunctive relief. PRUPAC contends that the department in that litigation has admitted the factual background described above.

By letter of August 10, 1993, the department denied PRUPAC's request for an exemption.[2] It found that the plan for nonrenewal *997 and cancellation of policies presented by PRUPAC would reduce the probable maximum loss from $1.5 billion to approximately $400 million. As PRUPAC's capital and surplus shown on its financial statements totaled approximately $700 million, and it has reinsurance of approximately $300 million, the department concluded that the proposed cancellations were not necessary to avoid an unreasonable risk of insolvency. PRUPAC was given the opportunity to resubmit a proposal in which the planned cancellations and nonrenewals are designed to reduce the exposure to that amount which, after calculating reinsurance, would reduce probable maximum loss to an amount not in excess of total surplus. The insurer was notified of its right to petition for a formal administrative proceeding if it disagreed with this decision. PRUPAC did request such a hearing and the matter was referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH). A hearing was set for the week of October 25 and the department has refused to agree to enter a final order sooner than required by Chapter 120. PRUPAC argues that any final order so entered will offer it no timely relief as its right to proceed with nonrenewals during the moratorium will be lost.

II.

PRUPAC applies to this court for alternative remedies. First, it seeks review of non-final administrative action in accordance with Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure 9.030(b)(1)(C) and 9.100, and section 120.68(1), Florida Statutes (1991). It argues that it is entitled to the exemption as a matter of law, and that the department is without discretion to deny its application because chapter 93-401 authorizes an exemption from the moratorium for an insurer whose risk of probable maximum loss from a single hurricane event exceeds its surplus. This latter fact is the only fact that must be demonstrated to obtain a waiver and, PRUPAC asserts, it has proven this fact beyond any dispute. PRUPAC argues that the department is not free to consider any other factors enumerated in the statute because once this controlling fact has been established the granting of a waiver or exemption is a ministerial act.

PRUPAC also complains of the department's failure to render a final decision within 90 days, urging that the department delayed notice of intended agency action until PRUPAC was deprived of all meaningful relief. PRUPAC argues that the department is wrongfully enforcing chapter 93-401 against PRUPAC because it is compelled to choose between renewal of all homeowners policies or exposing itself to fines and penalties for nonrenewals. PRUPAC also notes that, by law, 45 days notice must be given when the insurer intends to nonrenew, a fact that further delays any effective reduction of its risks.

Alternatively, PRUPAC petitions for a writ of mandamus to compel the agency to comply with the 90-day directive set forth in the statute, asserting that this is an available remedy under Department of Business Regulation v. Hyman, 417 So.2d 671 (Fla. 1982). *998

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Bluebook (online)
626 So. 2d 994, 1993 WL 429297, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/prudential-v-dept-of-ins-fladistctapp-1993.