The Illinois Department of Insurance (IDOI) announced today that it has fined an insurer $200,000 for repeated claim-handling violations.
According to a release from IDOI, Universal Casualty Company — an automobile insurer that does business in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri — was fined for "failing to adopt and maintain procedures for the prompt investigation and settlement of consumers' claims."
Trouble began for Universal Casualty in January 2008, when the IDOI ordered the company to create and maintain improved claim investigation and resolution procedures. When IDOI continued to receive complaints from consumers concerning Universal Casualty's failure to properly address or resolve property damage and liability claims, it initiated punitive measures and a new investigation on July 27, 2009.
The Department's order was imposed Aug. 11, 2009, and requires the company to pay a fine of $100,000 immediately. If upon reexamination IDOI finds that corrective measures taken by Universal Casualty are unsatisfactory, the remaining $100,000 must be paid as penalty. Additionally, IDOI's order requires the company to revisit and satisfactorily resolve several hundred previous consumer complaints. Universal Casualty said that it has already instituted corrective measures, including new management.
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