ORDERS:
CONSENT ORDER OF DISMISSAL
1. On January 31, 2000, Philip S. Porter, Consumer Advocate for the State of South Carolina (The Consumer Advocate)
requested the South Carolina Department of Insurance (the Department) to initiate a public hearing on the filing of National
Casualty Company (the Company) requesting an approval of an overall increase of +9.9% in its mobile homeowners
insurance rate.
2. On February 7, 2000, the Department filed with the Administrative Law Judge Division an Agency Transmittal Form
requesting a public hearing.
3. The Administrative Law Judge Division assigned this matter to the Honorable Carolyn C. Matthews under Docket No.
00-ALJ-09-0055-CC. The Order for Prehearing Statements was issued April 10, 2000.
4. Meanwhile, the Consumer Advocate requested additional information from the Company. Specifically, the Consumer
Advocate was concerned with the proper reflection of trend movements in the filing and with the methodology of inclusion
of investment income. Additionally, the Consumer Advocate requested the Company to include a conspicuous notice of
the change in hurricane or wind/hail deductibles.
In response to the Consumer Advocate's concerns, the Company revised Exhibit 1 abd Exhibit 5, page 1. As a result of
these amendments, the overall rate effect is revised from +9.9% to +8.0%. The amended exhibits are attached to this Order
as Attachment 1. Further, the Company prepared a notice of the change in hurricane or wind/hail deductibles which is
sufficiently conspicuous to alert consumers of the potential increase in out-of-pocket expenses in case of loss due to serious
windstorms. The notice is attached to this Order as Attachment 2.
5. Based on these amendments and revisions to the filing, the Consumer Advocate believes that the amended filing will
result in rates that are not excessive, inadequate or unfairly discriminatory, and now withdraws his original request for a
hearing in this matter.
6. There are no unresolved issues remaining; therefore, all parties agree to the dismissal of this action.
NOW, THEREFORE, the above matter is dismissed.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
______________________________________
CAROLYN C. MATTHEWS
Administrative Law Judge
May 4, 2000
Columbia, South Carolina
WE CONSENT:
_____________________________
LOUIS G. MUELLER
National Casualty Company
____________________________
T. Douglas Concannon, Esquire
S.C. Department of Insurance
____________________________
Hana Pokorna-Williamson, Esquire
S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs |
