645.48 HistoryHistory: 1975 c. 371, 421; 1979 c. 102.
645.49645.49Actions by and against liquidator.
645.49(1)(1)Termination of actions against insurer by order appointing liquidator. Upon issuance of any order appointing the commissioner liquidator of a domestic insurer or of an alien insurer domiciled in this state, all actions and all proceedings against the insurer whether in this state or elsewhere shall be abated and the liquidator shall not intervene in them, except as provided in this subsection. Whenever in the liquidator’s judgment an action in this state has proceeded to a point where fairness or convenience would be served by its continuation to judgment, the liquidator may apply to the court for leave to defend or to be substituted for the insurer, and if the court grants the application, the action shall not be abated. Whenever in the liquidator’s judgment, protection of the estate of the insurer necessitates intervention in an action against the insurer that is pending outside this state, with approval of the court the liquidator may intervene in the action. The liquidator may defend at the expense of the estate of the insurer any action in which he or she intervenes under this section at the expense of the estate of the insurer.
645.49(2)(2)Statutes of limitations on claims by insurer. The liquidator may, within 2 years subsequent to the entry of an order for liquidation or within such further time as applicable law permits, institute an action or proceeding on behalf of the estate of the insurer upon any cause of action against which the period of limitation fixed by applicable law has not expired at the time of the filing of the petition upon which such order is entered. Where, by any agreement, a period of limitation is fixed for instituting a suit or proceeding upon any claim or for filing any claim, proof of claim, proof of loss, demand, notice or the like, or where in any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, a period of limitation is fixed, either in the proceeding or by applicable law, for taking any action, filing any claim or pleading or doing any act, and where in any such case the period had not expired at the date of the filing of the petition, the liquidator may, for the benefit of the estate, take any such action or do any such act, required of or permitted to the insurer, within a period of 60 days subsequent to the entry of an order for liquidation, or within such further period as is permitted by the agreement, or in the proceeding or by applicable law, or within such further period as is shown to the satisfaction of the court not to be unfairly prejudicial to the other party.
645.49(3)(3)Statutes of limitations on claims against insurer. The time between the filing of a petition for liquidation against an insurer and the denial of the petition shall not be considered to be a part of the time within which any action may be commenced against the insurer. Any action against the insurer that might have been commenced when the petition was filed may be commenced for at least 60 days after the petition is denied.
645.49 HistoryHistory: 1979 c. 102.
645.51645.51Collection and list of assets.
645.51(1)(1)List of assets required. As soon as practicable after the liquidation order, the liquidator shall prepare in duplicate a list of the insurer’s assets. The list shall be amended or supplemented as the court requires. One copy shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over the liquidation proceedings and one copy shall be retained for the liquidator’s files. All amendments and supplements shall be similarly filed.
645.51(2)(2)Liquidation of assets. The liquidator shall reduce the assets to a degree of liquidity that is consistent with the effective execution of the liquidation as rapidly and economically as he or she can.
645.51 HistoryHistory: 1979 c. 102 s. 236 (5).
645.52645.52Fraudulent transfers prior to petition.
645.52(1)(1)Definition and effect. Every transfer made or suffered and every obligation incurred by an insurer within one year prior to the filing of a successful petition for rehabilitation or liquidation under this chapter is fraudulent as to then existing and future creditors if made or incurred without fair consideration, or with actual intent to hinder, delay or defraud either existing or future creditors. A transfer made or an obligation incurred by an insurer ordered to be rehabilitated or liquidated under this chapter, which is fraudulent under this section, may be avoided by the receiver, except as to a person who in good faith is a purchaser, lienor or obligee for a present fair equivalent value; and except that any purchaser, lienor or obligee, who in good faith has given a consideration less than fair for such transfer, lien or obligation, may retain the property, lien or obligation as security for repayment. The court may, on due notice, order any such transfer or obligation to be preserved for the benefit of the estate, and in that event the receiver shall succeed to and may enforce the rights of the purchaser, lienor or obligee.
645.52(2)(2)Perfection of transfers.
645.52(2)(a)(a) Personal property. A transfer of property other than real property shall be deemed to be made or suffered when it becomes so far perfected that no subsequent lien obtainable by legal or equitable proceedings on a simple contract could become superior to the rights of the transferee under s. 645.54 (3).
645.52(2)(b)(b) Real property. A transfer of real property shall be deemed to be made or suffered when it becomes so far perfected that no subsequent bona fide purchaser from the insurer could obtain rights superior to the rights of the transferee.
645.52(2)(c)(c) Equitable liens. A transfer which creates an equitable lien shall not be deemed to be perfected if there are available means by which a legal lien could be created.
645.52(2)(d)(d) Transfer not perfected prior to petition. Any transfer not perfected prior to the filing of a petition for liquidation shall be deemed to be made immediately before the filing of the successful petition.
645.52(2)(e)(e) Actual creditors unnecessary. This subsection applies whether or not there are or were creditors who might have obtained any liens or persons who might have become bona fide purchasers.
645.52(3)(3)Fraudulent reinsurance transactions. Any transaction of the insurer with a reinsurer shall be deemed fraudulent and may be avoided by the receiver under sub. (1) if:
645.52(3)(a)(a) The transaction consists of the termination, adjustment or settlement of a reinsurance contract in which the reinsurer is released from any part of its duty to pay the originally specified share of losses that had occurred prior to the time of the transaction, unless the reinsurer gives a present fair equivalent value for the release; and
645.52(3)(b)(b) Any part of the transaction took place within one year prior to the date of filing of the petition through which the receivership was commenced.
645.53645.53Fraudulent transfers after petition.
645.53(1)(1)Effect of petition: real property. After a petition for rehabilitation or liquidation, a transfer of any of the real property of the insurer made to a person acting in good faith shall be valid against the receiver if made for a present fair equivalent value or, if not made for a present fair equivalent value, then to the extent of the present consideration actually paid therefor, for which amount the transferee shall have a lien on the property so transferred. The recording of a copy of the petition for or order of rehabilitation or liquidation with the register of deeds in the county where any real property in question is located is constructive notice of the commencement of a proceeding in rehabilitation or liquidation. The exercise by a court of the United States or any state of jurisdiction to authorize or effect a judicial sale of real property of the insurer within any county in any state shall not be impaired by the pendency of such a proceeding unless the copy is recorded in the county prior to the consummation of the judicial sale.
645.53(2)(2)Effect of petition: personal property. After a petition for rehabilitation or liquidation and before either the receiver takes possession of the property of the insurer or an order of rehabilitation or liquidation is granted:
645.53(2)(a)(a) A transfer of any of the property of the insurer, other than real property, made to a person acting in good faith shall be valid against the receiver if made for a present fair equivalent value or, if not made for a present fair equivalent value, then to the extent of the present consideration actually paid therefor, for which amount the transferee shall have a lien on the property so transferred.
645.53(2)(b)(b) A person indebted to the insurer or holding property of the insurer may, if acting in good faith, pay the indebtedness or deliver the property or any part thereof to the insurer or upon his or her order, with the same effect as if the petition were not pending.
645.53(2)(c)(c) A person having actual knowledge of the pending rehabilitation or liquidation shall be deemed not to act in good faith unless he or she has reasonable cause to believe that the petition is not well founded.
645.53(2)(d)(d) A person asserting the validity of a transfer under this section shall have the burden of proof. Except as elsewhere provided in this section, no transfer by or in behalf of the insurer after the date of the petition for liquidation by any person other than the liquidator shall be valid against the liquidator.
645.53(3)(3)Negotiability. Nothing in this chapter shall impair the negotiability of currency or negotiable instruments.