ORDERS:
CONSENT ORDER AND ORDER OF DISMISSAL
1. On October 9, 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 Nationwide Mutual Fire
Insurance Company (the Company) requesting an approval of an overall increase of +11.9% in its homeowners insurance rates with
some territories having a proposed increase of up to 22.8%.
2. On October 17, 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 Ray N. Stevens under the Dock No. 00-ALJ-09-0573-CC. Prehearing statements were due November 6, 2000. A hearing on the matter has been set for December 18, 2000, at 9:30
a.m.
4. Meanwhile, the Consumer Advocate retained a consulting actuary and requested additional information from the Company
primarily consisting of more data for calculation of trends. Having considered the new information, the Consumer Advocate now
comes to the conclusion that the rates requested by the Company satisfy the statutory criteria that the rates may not be excessive,
inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. Even though the Consumer Advocate's actuary came with a rate indication lower than the
Company's indication of 35.9%, his calculation was still above the requested overall rate change of 11.9%.
5. Based upon the foregoing, the Consumer Advocate 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 matter.
NOW THEREFORE, the above referenced matter is dismissed.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
RAY N. STEVENS
Administrative Law Judge
November 9th, 2000
Columbia, South Carolina
WE CONSENT:
James C. Gray, Jr., Esquire T. Douglas
Concannon, Esquire
Nelson, Mullins, Riley & Scarborough Associate General Counsel
Attorney for the Petitioner South Carolina Department of Insurance
Post Office Box 11070 Post Office Box 100105
Columbia, SC 29211 Columbia, SC 29202-6160
Hana Pokorna-Williamson, Esquire
Staff Attorney
South Carolina Department of
Consumer Affairs
Post Office Box 5757
Columbia, SC 29250-5757 |
