Court Opinion

ID: 9669806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 03:09:33.353035+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:16:00.362972
License: Public Domain

Cavanagh, J.
(concurring). I concur in both the analysis and result of the majority opinion. I write separately to express opposition to the designation of insurance agents as mere order takers. A person must possess numerous statutory qualifications in order to become, and to fulfill, the role of a licensed insurance agent. MCL 500.1201; MSA 24.11201. Our Legislature requires that a person complete an insurance agent *13program of study that has been approved by the Insurance Commissioner; the person must pass a written examination; the Insurance Commissioner may conduct investigations and submit interrogatories to the applicant concerning the person’s qualifications to become an agent; the person must be an employee of, or authorized to represent, an authorized insurer; the person must possess a good business reputation and good moral character to act as an agent. MCL 500.1204; MSA 24.11204. Once licensed, an insurance agent must complete mandatory hours of continuing education as a condition of continued licensure. MCL 500.1204c; MSA 24.11204(3). Moreover, certain duties are imposed on agents regarding their relationships with both the insurer and the insured. MCL 500.1207; MSA 24.11207, MCL 500.1209; MSA 24.11209. The Insurance Commissioner may refuse to license, or he may suspend or revoke an agent’s license, for failure to comply with chapter 12 of the Insurance Code. MCL 500.1242; MSA 24.11242. Upon finding violations of the code, the commissioner may also require the agent to pay a fine, refund monies, pay restitution, or order the agent to cease and desist from the violation. MCL 500.1244; MSA 24.11244. Applicable to the instant case, our Legislature has imposed specific duties upon automobile insurance agents. MCL 500.2116; MSA 24.12116.
Interestingly, MCL 500.1202; MSA 24.11202 generally provides:
(1) that certain persons may act for an insurance agent as long as there is a written contract *14and the licensed agent has notified the commissioner of insurance of the contract.
(2) that clerical or administrative persons employed by an insurance agent may “take insurance applications or receive premiums.”
(3) that these clerical persons may bind coverage within the agent’s office.
These persons appear to be the “order takers” rather than the highly regulated insurance agents.
Given this extensive statutory scheme, it appears that our Legislature contemplated much more for the role of a licensed insurance agent than one who presents products and takes orders.
Brickley and Kelly, JJ., concurred with Cavanagh, J.