Opinion ID: 1342549
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Insurance Statutes

Text: The parties are in agreement with regard to identifying the relevant insurance statutes. Only when questions arise concerning the interrelation of these insurance statutes with the Act's establishment of a cause of action for excessive insurance-related charges do the parties assume diametrically opposed positions. The insurance statutes require that rates charged for casualty insurance, [19] which is the type of insurance at issue, may not be excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory. W.Va.Code § 33-20-3(b) (2006). Once a particular insurance rate has been approved by the Commissioner, a presumption arises that such rates are in full compliance with the requirements of this chapter [chapter 33]. W.Va.Code § 33-6-30(c) (2002) (Repl.Vol.2006). [20] Notwithstanding previous approval, however, the Commissioner has the continuing authority to disprove an insurance rate for noncompliance with the requirements of chapter thirty-three, article twenty. See W.Va.Code § 33-20-5(c) (1967) (Repl. Vol.2006). Besides the right to reexamine approved insurance rates that is statutorily extended to the Commissioner, an aggrieved person or organization has the right to demand a hearing for the purpose of challenging any insurance filing as being noncompliant with the statutory requirements that govern insurance rate setting. See W.Va. Code § 33-20-5(d). [21]