646.13(2)(b)
(b) Exercise with respect to loss claims the powers that the liquidator has with respect to other claims under
ch. 645 or a substantially similar law in the state of domicile of the insolvent insurer.
646.13(2)(c)
(c) With respect to any action against an insurer which is in liquidation, exercise the powers of the liquidator under
s. 645.49 (1) or a substantially similar law in the state of domicile of the insolvent insurer.
646.13(2)(d)
(d) Have standing to appear in any liquidation proceedings in this state involving an insurer in liquidation, and have authority to appear or intervene before a court or agency of any other state having jurisdiction over an impaired or insolvent insurer, in accordance with the laws of that state, with respect to which the fund is or may become obligated or that has jurisdiction over any person or property against which the fund may have subrogation or other rights. Standing shall extend to all matters germane to the powers and duties of the fund, including proposals for reinsuring, modifying, or guaranteeing the policies or contracts of the impaired or insolvent insurer and the determination of the policies or contracts and contractual obligations.
646.13(2)(e)
(e) Pursue salvage and subrogation with respect to paid covered claim obligations and retain any amounts recovered.
646.13(2)(f)
(f) Appoint and direct legal counsel for the defense of covered claims under insurance policies.
646.13(2)(g)
(g) Sue and be sued, make contracts, and borrow money necessary to carry out its duties, including money with which to pay claims under
s. 646.31 or to continue coverage under
s. 646.35. The fund may offer as security for such loans its claims against the liquidator or its power to levy assessments under this chapter.
646.13(3)
(3) No duty or liability. The fund has no duty or liability with respect to any claim filed as follows:
646.13(3)(a)
(a) With the liquidator under
s. 645.61 after the original date for filing specified by the liquidator under
s. 645.47 (2), unless the liquidator determines that the claim is considered to have been timely filed under
s. 645.61 (2) and the claim participates fully in every distribution to the same extent as other timely filed claims in the same class.
646.13(3)(b)
(b) With a liquidator or court under the laws of any other state after the original date for filing specified by the liquidator or court, unless the liquidator or court determines that the claim is considered to have been timely filed under a law substantially similar to
s. 645.61 (2) and the claim participates fully in every distribution to the same extent as other timely filed claims in the same class.
646.13(3)(c)
(c) Except for claims under life insurance policies, annuities, or noncancelable or guaranteed renewable disability insurance policies, and except for claims determined to be excused late filings as provided in
pars. (a) and
(b), if the original date for filing is extended by the liquidator or court, with a liquidator or court after the earlier of the following:
646.13(3)(c)1.
1. Eighteen months after the order of liquidation is entered.
646.13(3)(c)2.
2. The extended date for filing specified by the liquidator or court.
646.13(4)
(4) When duty to defend terminates. Any obligation of the fund to defend an insured ceases upon the fund's payment, by settlement releasing the insured or on a judgment, of an amount equal to the lesser of the fund's covered claim obligation limit or the applicable policy limit, subject to any express policy terms regarding tender of limits.
646.15
646.15
Proceedings involving insurers. 646.15(1)(a)(a) If an insurer is in liquidation, the fund may apply to the circuit court for Dane County for, and the court may grant, restraining orders, temporary and permanent injunctions, and other orders considered necessary and proper to prevent any of the following:
646.15(1)(a)1.
1. Interference with the fund or with its administrative proceedings.
646.15(1)(a)2.
2. The institution or further prosecution of any action or proceeding involving the insurer or in which the fund is obligated to defend a party.
646.15(1)(a)3.
3. The obtaining of a preference, judgment, garnishment or lien against the insurer or its assets.
646.15(1)(a)4.
4. Any other threatened or contemplated action that might prejudice the rights of policyholders or the administration of the liquidation or fund proceedings.
646.15(1)(b)
(b) Upon granting an application under
par. (a), the court may retain jurisdiction of any further proceeding or relief, as the court considers necessary and proper, involving the insurer.
646.15(2)
(2) Exclusive proceedings. A court of this state does not have jurisdiction to entertain, hear or determine a proceeding or to grant relief if the proceeding or relief involves or is related to a nondomestic insurer which is in liquidation unless the court is so authorized under this chapter or
ch. 645.
646.16
646.16
Payment of deposits made for benefit of creditors. 646.16(1)(1) The commissioner shall promptly pay to the fund any deposit held in this state that was paid, as required by law or the commissioner, by the insolvent insurer for the benefit of creditors, including policyholders, and not turned over to the domiciliary liquidator upon the entry of a final order of liquidation of an insurer domiciled in this state or in a reciprocal state, as defined in
s. 645.03 (1) (i). Of the amount paid to the fund under this subsection, the fund may retain the percentage determined by dividing the aggregate amount of policyholders' claims that are related to the insolvency and for which the fund has provided benefits under this chapter by the aggregate amount of all policyholders' claims in this state that are related to the insolvency. The fund shall remit the balance to the domiciliary liquidator.
646.16(2)
(2) Any amount retained by the fund under
sub. (1) shall be treated as a distribution of estate assets under
s. 645.72 or a similar provision of the state of domicile of the insolvent insurer. Deposits subject to this section shall not be treated as deposits as security, escrow, or other security under
s. 645.03 (1) (j).
646.16 History
History: 2003 a. 261.
646.21
646.21
Custody and investment of assets. 646.21(1)
(1)
Custody. Except as provided in
sub. (2), the board controls the assets of the fund. The board shall select regulated financial institutions in this state which receive deposits in which to establish and maintain accounts for assets needed on a current basis. If practicable, the accounts shall earn interest.
646.21(2)
(2) Investment of assets. The board may request that assets of the fund not needed currently be invested by the investment board under
s. 25.17. If so requested, the investment board shall invest those assets in investments with maturities and liquidity appropriate to the probable needs of the fund for money to perform its duties. All income attributable to the investments shall be credited to the fund, and both income and principal shall be transferred to the fund on request of the board. Assets held by the fund shall be invested in a similar manner.
CLAIMS PROCEDURES
646.31
646.31
Eligible claims. 646.31(1)(1)
Conditions of eligibility. A claim is not eligible for payment from the fund unless it is an unpaid claim for a loss insured under the policy or annuity and all of the following conditions are met:
646.31(1)(a)
(a)
Issued by authorized insurer. The claim arises out of an insurance policy or annuity issued by an insurer which was authorized to do business in this state either at the time the policy or annuity was issued or when the insured event occurred, and against which an order of liquidation, which is not stayed, has been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction in the insurer's domiciliary state.
646.31(1)(b)
(b)
Assessability of insurer. The claim arises out of business not exempt from assessment under
s. 646.01 (1).
646.31(1)(c)
(c)
Contact with state. The claim is a member of one of the classes of claims under
sub. (2).
646.31(1)(cm)
(cm)
Termination of coverage. Except for claims under life insurance policies, annuities or noncancelable or guaranteed renewable disability insurance policies, the claim arises within 30 days after the order of liquidation is entered or before any of the following occur:
646.31(1)(cm)1.
1. The policy expires, if the expiration date is less than 30 days after the order of liquidation is entered.
646.31(1)(cm)2.
2. The insured replaces or cancels the policy, if either action is taken within 30 days after the order of liquidation is entered.
646.31(1)(d)
(d)
Exceptions. The claim is not any of the following:
646.31(1)(d)9.
9. Made for health care costs, as defined in
s. 609.01 (1j), for which an enrollee, as defined in
s. 609.01 (1d), or policyholder of a health maintenance organization is not liable for any reason.
646.31(1)(d)10.
10. Based on an obligation that does not arise under the express written terms of the policy or contract, including any of the following:
646.31(1)(d)10.c.
c. An extra-contractual claim, including a claim for punitive or exemplary damages.
646.31(1)(d)11.
11. In the case of a life or disability insurance policy or an annuity contract, based on side letters, riders, or other documents that do not meet or comply with applicable policy form filing or approval requirements.
646.31(2)
(2) Classes of claims to be paid. No claim may be paid under this chapter unless the claim is in one of the following classes:
646.31(2)(a)1.1. The claim of a policyholder, including a ceding assessable domestic insurer that is organized under
ch. 612 and a domestic insurer that is a bona fide policyholder of the insurer in liquidation, who is a resident of this state under
sub. (13).
646.31(2)(a)2.
2. Except for a claim of a beneficiary, assignee, or payee under a life or disability insurance policy or annuity contract, the claim of an insured, including a certificate holder, under a policy or annuity contract who is a resident of this state under
sub. (13).
646.31(2)(b)
(b)
Certain nonresidents. The claim is made under a life or disability insurance policy or annuity contract subject to this section and issued by a domestic insurer and the claimant is a resident of another state that provides coverage similar to the coverage provided under this chapter but does not provide coverage for the claimant because the insurer was not licensed in that state at the time specified as a requirement for coverage under that state's guaranty association law.
646.31(2)(c)
(c)
Owners of property interests. The first-party claim of a person having an insurable interest in or related to property with a permanent location in this state at the time of the insured event.
646.31(2)(d)
(d)
Third-party claimants. A claim under a liability or workers' compensation insurance policy, if either the insured or the 3rd-party claimant was a resident of this state at the time of the insured event.
646.31(2)(e)
(e)
Assignees. The claim of a direct or indirect resident assignee, other than an insurer, of a person who except for the assignment could have claimed under
par. (a),
(b),
(c) or
(d).
646.31(2)(f)
(f)
Beneficiaries, assignees, and payees; life or disability policy or annuity contract. Except for a claim of a nonresident certificate holder under a group policy or contract, a claim made under a life or disability insurance policy or annuity contract by a resident or nonresident beneficiary, assignee or payee of a person who fulfills all of the following criteria:
646.31(2)(f)1.
1. The person is a policyholder of, or a certificate holder under, the life or disability insurance policy or annuity contract.
646.31(2)(f)2.
2. The person is a resident of this state or could have made a claim under
par. (b).
646.31(2)(g)1.1. Notwithstanding
par. (f), the claim of a payee, or of a beneficiary of a deceased payee, under a structured settlement annuity if the payee, or deceased payee's beneficiary, is a resident of this state, regardless of where the policyholder of the structured settlement annuity resides.
646.31(2)(g)2.
2. Notwithstanding
pars. (b) and
(f), the claim of a payee, or of a beneficiary of a deceased payee, under a structured settlement annuity if the payee, or deceased payee's beneficiary, is not a resident of this state, if neither the payee, or deceased payee's beneficiary, nor the policyholder of the structured settlement annuity is eligible for coverage by an organization that is comparable to the fund in the state of which the payee, or deceased payee's beneficiary, or the policyholder is a resident, and if either of the following applies:
646.31(2)(g)2.b.
b. The policyholder is not a resident of this state, but the insurer that issued the structured settlement annuity is domiciled in this state, and the state in which the policyholder resides has an organization that is comparable to the fund.
646.31(4)(a)(a) Except in regard to worker's compensation insurance and except as provided in
par. (b), the obligation of the fund on a single risk, loss or life may not exceed $300,000.
646.31(4)(b)
(b) The fund is not obligated to pay a claimant an amount in excess of the loss obligation of the insurer in liquidation under the policy or coverage from which the claim arises.
646.31(6)
(6) Collection from collateral sources. 646.31(6)(a)(a) The portion of an otherwise eligible loss claim for which indemnification is provided by other benefits or advantages, which may not be included in the classes of claims specified in
s. 645.68 (intro.), may not be claimed from the fund under this chapter or from the insured or policyholder. The claimant must exhaust such collateral sources before pursuing payment from the fund. This paragraph does not apply to the claim of an insured or payee under a structured settlement annuity.
646.31(6)(b)
(b) The fund may waive the application of
par. (a) to claims under contracts subject to
s. 646.35 (3), to the extent that the fund determines that application of
par. (a) would be impracticable.
646.31(6)(c)
(c) Any person having an eligible claim which also constitutes a claim or legal right of recovery under any governmental insurance or guaranty program shall first exhaust all rights under that program, and any amount payable on an eligible claim under this chapter shall be reduced by the amount of recovery under that program.
646.31(7)
(7) Setoffs and counterclaims. Section 645.56 applies to the settlement of loss claims. The fund shall give the liquidator a reasonable opportunity to inform the fund of possible setoffs and counterclaims before paying loss claims.
646.31(8)
(8) Notice to claimants. The fund shall provide notice under
s. 645.47 (2) to those potential loss claimants to whom the fund is liable under the section, if the liquidator has not done so.
646.31(9)
(9) Collection from other funds. A claim recoverable from more than one security fund shall be paid in the following order:
646.31(9)(a)
(a) By any security fund with an obligation to pay all loss claims of the insurer.
646.31(9)(b)
(b) If it is a first party claim for damage to property with a permanent location, by the fund of the location of the property.
646.31(9)(c)
(c) If it is a workers' compensation claim, by the fund of the residence of the claimant.
