stephen-w-robertson-insurance-commissioner-of-the-state-of-indiana-on ( 2012 )

FOR PUBLICATION
ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLANT: ATTORNEYS FOR APPELLEE:
FILED
WADE D. FULFORD JAN M. CARROLL
Indiana Department of Insurance SEAN P. BURKE
Indianapolis, Indiana Barnes & Thornburg LLP Dec 19 2012, 9:18 am
Indianapolis, Indiana
GREGORY F. HAHN CLERK
BRYAN H. BABB TODD L. PADNOS of the supreme court,
court of appeals and
KEVIN M. QUINN DANIELLE T. KENNEDY
tax court
JOEL T. NAGLE Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton, LLP
Bose McKinney & Evans, LLP San Francisco, California
Indianapolis, Indiana
ATTORNEYS FOR AMICUS CURIAE:
KARL L. MULVANEY
MARGARET M. CHRISTENSEN
Bingham Greenebaum Doll LLP
Indianapolis, Indiana
IN THE
COURT OF APPEALS OF INDIANA
STEPHEN W. ROBERTSON, INSURANCE )
COMMISSIONER OF THE STATE OF )
INDIANA, in his official capacity only and )
not in his individual capacity, on behalf of the )
INDIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, )
)
Appellant-Respondent, )
) No. 49A02-1110-PL-971
vs. )
)
TICOR TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY OF )
FLORIDA, now known as Chicago Title )
Insurance Company, successor by merger )
)
Appellee-Petitioner. )
APPEAL FROM THE MARION SUPERIOR COURT
The Honorable David Dreyer, Judge
Cause No. 49D10-1010-PL-043363
December 19, 2012
OPINION – FOR PUBLICATION
MATHIAS, Judge
The Insurance Commissioner of the State of Indiana initiated administrative
proceedings against Ticor Title Insurance Company of Florida (“Ticor”) after an
investigation revealed that Ticor was charging potentially excessive and discriminatory
title insurance rates to its Indiana customers. A hearing was held and a hearing officer
for the Indiana Department of Insurance (“the IDOI”) determined that Ticor’s title
insurance rates were excessive and discriminatory. The hearing officer issued an order
directing Ticor to, in part, refund excessive premiums, establish an internal control
process to ensure that the appropriate premium is charged to Ticor’s customers, and pay
unpaid premium taxes. Ticor subsequently filed a Petition for Judicial Review of
Administrative Order in Marion Superior Court. After a hearing was held on the petition,
the trial court issued findings of fact and conclusions of law reversing the administrative
order. The IDOI appeals and raises the following issues:
I. Whether the trial court failed to appropriately defer to the IDOI’s interpretation
of the Rate Statute when the court accepted Ticor’s interpretation of that statute in
issuing its findings of fact and conclusions of law and,
II. Whether the trial court erred when it reversed the administrative order because
the administrative hearing officer’s findings of fact and conclusions of law are
supported by substantial evidence.
2
Concluding that the IDOI’s interpretation of the Rate Statute was reasonable and
that the administrative hearing officer’s findings of fact are supported by substantial
evidence, we reverse and remand for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
Facts and Procedural History
Ticor is licensed to write title insurance in Indiana. Ticor operates in Indiana
solely through twenty-six independent non-affiliated agencies. These independent
insurance agents have been appointed by Ticor pursuant to written agency agreements for
the purpose of preparing and issuing Ticor’s title insurance policies.
The Indiana Department of Insurance, which is authorized by statute to regulate
the practice of title insurance in Indiana, commenced a target market examination of
Ticor on April 25, 2008. The examination investigated Ticor’s title insurance
transactions for the 2007 calendar year. IDOI appointed Noble Consulting Services
(“Noble”) as the examiner.
After interviewing Ticor’s representatives and its appointed insurance agents and
reviewing Ticor’s agency contracts authorizing certain title insurance agents to sell its
products, premium remittance reports, financial statements and HUD-1 settlement
statements, Noble prepared a target market conduct examination report. The report was
submitted to the IDOI Commissioner on November 12, 2008. In the report, Noble
alleged that Ticor 1) lacked proper governance and oversight over its duly appointed
insurance agents, 2) the agents charged premium rates higher than Ticor’s contractual
rates, 3) Ticor’s internal controls did not ensure that the agents charged rates in
accordance with Ticor’s contractual rates, 4) Ticor did not audit its independent agents to
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determine the accuracy of the premium remittances, 5) Ticor’s internal control program
failed to identify premium remittance as a key risk area, 6) the internal control program
failed to verify the accuracy of the premium remittance, which creates a risk that Ticor
underpays premium tax, 7) Ticor failed to audit its independent agent’s compliance with
the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (“RESPA”), 8) the agents violated Indiana law
by charging inconsistent premium rates, and 9) Ticor’s internal controls should ensure
that its agents charge consistent premium rates.
Noble’s report concentrated on the business practices of three agencies operating
under limited agency agreements with Ticor: HomeQuest Title, LLC, Title Source, Inc.,
and Data Search, Inc. Noble concentrated on these agencies because they account for
nearly 70% of the title insurance premiums written for Ticor in Indiana in 2007. The
agency agreement between Ticor and all insurance agencies specify that agents should
charge and collect premiums in accordance with Ticor’s rate book. The rates in the rate
book apply only to insurance premium rates and do not include other settlement services.
Noble concluded that the three agencies charged premium rates that were higher
than those listed in the rate book. Specifically, 401 of 504 closings performed by
HomeQuest resulted in premiums higher than the Ticor rate book, 719 of Title Source’s
1009 closings resulted in premiums exceeding the Ticor rate, and 307 of 590 closings
performed by Data Search resulted in excessive premiums. Noble concluded that in the
aggregate, the three agencies charged $116,000 more in title insurance premiums than
they were authorized to charge under Ticor’s rate book. Noble also concluded that the
three agencies were allowed to utilize separate rate books to calculate title insurance
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premiums; therefore, Indiana consumers purchasing the same amount of title insurance
from Ticor agents paid different premium rates. Noble also concluded that the agents
routinely violated RESPA by failing to itemize the settlement charges on the HUD
statements.
In concluding its report, Noble recommended that Ticor implement internal
controls and perform periodic audits to insure the accuracy of the premiums charged to
consumers. Noble also recommended that Ticor audit its Indiana agents for compliance
with RESPA. Finally, Noble urged Ticor to ensure that the agents charge consumers the
contractual premium rate on a consistent basis.
On July 22, 2009, Ticor submitted to the IDOI its written objection to Noble’s
report. Shortly thereafter, the Commissioner of the IDOI issued an Order Regarding the
Market Conduct Examination Report and Rebuttal wherein the Commissioner
“concluded that [Ticor] has potentially violated several provisions of the Indiana Code:
(i) violations of Indiana Code §§ 27-4-1 et seq. related to excessive and unfairly
discriminatory insurance premium rates charged to consumers and (ii) the failure to
properly account for and pay premium tax in accordance with Ind. Code § 27-1-18-2.”
Appellant’s App. pp. 135-36. A two-day evidentiary hearing was then held over the
violations described in Noble’s report.
On September 3, 2010, the hearing officer issued an Administrative Order, in
which the officer concluded that for the purposes of ensuring RESPA compliance and
performing title searches, the investigated agencies were not agents of Ticor. But the
hearing officer found that Ticor and its independent agents do have an agency
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relationship for the purpose of charging premium rates, collecting premiums and the
payment of premium taxes. The officer further concluded that Ticor allowed its agents to
charge premiums in excess of its rate schedule and charge different premium rates to
consumers that are of the same class and involve the same risk. The hearing officer also
found that Ticor “does not have an adequate internal control environment” and was
therefore complicit in HomeQuest’s “failure to charge consistent premiums to Indiana
consumers in the same class for equivalent policies.” Id. at 100-01. Finally, the officer
concluded that Ticor failed to pay premium tax on scheduled premiums and failed to
identify premiums collected by its agents.
As a result of its findings, the hearing officer ordered Ticor to refund all proceeds
from title insurance policies issued in 2007, “which charged premium amounts exceeding
the rate in [Ticor’s] rate book to the individual Indiana consumer that was overcharged.”
Id. at 101-02. In addition, Ticor was ordered to require its agents to charge its scheduled
rate for title insurance premiums for property located in Indiana. Ticor was also fined
$50,000 for its “failure to exert proper internal controls and auditing devices to insure
that its contracted independent producer, HomeQuest did not charge inconsistent and
excessive premium rates[.]” Id. at 103. Finally, Ticor was ordered to pay 1.3% of
$116,000, the unreported premium taxes, with interest and a $10,000 penalty.
On October 4, 2010, Ticor filed its Verified Petition for Judicial Review of the
Administrative Order, and requested a stay against the enforcement of that order. The
trial court stayed enforcement of the administrative order and held argument on Ticor’s
petition on July 21, 2011.
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On September 30, 2011, the trial court issued its findings of fact and conclusions
of law vacating the IDOI’s administrative order and remanding for further proceedings.
In doing so, the trial court found in pertinent part:
30. Non-Affiliated Operations, however, are fundamentally different. Title
insurers or their affiliated groups do not own or operate Non-Affiliated
Operations. Rather, Non-Affiliated Operations are independent operations
that are appointed by the title insurer, pursuant to limited authority agency
agreements, for the sole purpose of issuing title insurance commitments,
policies and endorsements.
31. Thus, the title professionals of Non-Affiliated Operations act in a
manifold capacity: (i) they act on behalf of the title insurer when issuing the
title insurer’s commitments, policies and endorsements, and (ii) they act on
behalf of themselves or other parties, such as lenders, when providing other
goods and services, such as Settlement Services, to their own customers.
32. Consequently, the title professionals of Non-Affiliated Operations (i)
are compensated by title insurers through commissions for the issuance of
the title insurer’s commitments, policies and endorsements. and (ii) charge
the consumer independently (“Settlement Charges”) for their Settlement
Services.
***
35. The independent title professionals of these twenty-six Non-Affiliated
Operations are not employees of Ticor. Rather, they are independent
persons and entities who have been appointed by Ticor pursuant to written
agency agreements for the limited purpose[] of preparing and issuing
Ticor’s title insurance policies.
36. The written agency agreement by which Ticor contracted with
HomeQuest (“the Agency Contract”) was the only agency agreement
submitted into evidence at the Administrative Hearing.
37. The Agency Contract limits the authority of the independent, Non-
Affiliated Operation to act on behalf of Ticor solely for the purpose of
issuing Ticor’s title insurance commitments, policies and endorsements.
38. Indeed, the Agency Contract provides, in relevant part, as follows:
1. Appointment of an Agent. Principal appoints Agent as a Policy
Issuing Agent of Principal for the purpose of issuing title insurance
commitments, policies and endorsements in the Counties and
State(s) set forth in Terms of Policy Issuing Agency Contract.
Agent may validate, countersign, issue and deliver commitments,
policies and endorsements of Principal on forms supplied by
Principal in the matter provided by this agreement and the rules,
regulations and instructions of the Principal as shall from time to
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time be furnished to Agent. Principal and Agent agree that business
under this Contract shall be conducted in accordance with the laws
and regulations of the state(s) set forth in Terms of Policy Issuing
Agency Contract and the United States of America.
The Agency Contract does not specify that Ticor’s independent, Non-
Affiliated Operations are authorized to offer any goods or services on
behalf of Ticor other than Ticor’s title insurance commitments, policies and
endorsements, nor any Settlement charges on behalf of Ticor.
39. Consequently, in addition to selling Ticor’s title insurance
commitments, policies and endorsements, Ticor’s independent, Non-
Affiliated Operations provide Settlement Services, on their own behalf, to
their own customers.
40. Ticor does not control how its independent, Non-Affiliated Operations
perform Settlement Services requested by the Non-Affiliated Operation’s
customers, nor does Ticor receive any portion of the fees paid by
consumers to Non-Affiliated Operations for such Settlement Services.
Rather, the Non-Affiliated Operations customarily abide by closing
instructions provided by the mortgage lender when performing these
Settlement Services.
41. Further, Ticor’s Non-Affiliated Operations are not prohibited by Ticor
from contracting with any other title insurer. Indeed, the Agency Contract
specifically contemplates that the Non-Affiliated Operation may contract
with other title insurers to sell their products.
***
51. The Agency Contract specifies that the premiums that HomeQuest may
charge its customer for a Ticor title insurance commitment, policy or
endorsement must comply with Ticor’s rate book (the “Rate Book”).
52. The rates set forth in the Rate Book pertain only to insurance premium
rates and do not include other services, i.e., they are only reflective of the
“risk rates” and do not include Settlement Services performed by the Non-
Affiliated Operation. The Rate Book does not govern HomeQuest’s
independent charges for Settlement Services and states in relevant part:
The rates quoted in this rate book are for title insurance risk
premium only and do not include charges for title searches or
examinations, abstracts, attorneys fees, escrow or closing services,
inspections, or other services provided by attorneys, lenders,
surveyors, abstractors, or other venders of real estate services.
53. Independent title professionals commonly charge their own customers
for a variety of Settlement Services associated with the independent title
professionals’ provision of escrow and closing services – which are
purchased from the independent title professionals separate from the
premium for the title insurance policy itself.
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54. Settlement Services and expenses are paid to and retained by the
independent title professional.
***
58. The HUD-1 closing statement records prepared by Data Search and
Title Source separated the total charge into premium and Settlement
Charges. However, the HUD-1 closing statement records prepared by
HomeQuest show it charged its customers a “bundled” rate, in that
HomeQuest (i) charged a single amount comprised of a premium charge for
the title insurance policy and a charge for Settlement Services, and (ii)
failed to distinguish among these two charges when completing line 1108
of the HUD-1 settlement statement. Accordingly, Noble sought to
determine the portion of the total bundled charge attributed to insurance
premiums.
59. In order to make this premium determination, Noble considered two
testing methodologies set forth in a document prepared by Noble titled the
“Noble Consulting Meeting with HomeQuest, July 16, 2008” (hereafter, the
“Noble Testing Memo”).
60. Under the first methodology in the Noble Testing Memo, labeled View
1, Noble subtracted from the amount shown on line 1108 the amount that it
believed HomeQuest charged for the non-insurance portion of the bundled
charge and then treated the balance as the title insurance premium.
61. Under the second methodology in the Noble Testing Memo, labeled
View 2, Noble subtracted from the amount shown on line 1108 the amount
set forth in the Rate Book as premium and then treated the balance as the
non-title insurance charges.
62. The View 1 methodology calculated insurance premiums that differ
from Ticor’s actual premiums. In contrast, the View 2 methodology
calculated the correct insurance premium.
63. Noble used View 1 for its testing methodology.
64. By using View 1 as the methodology to determine the premiums
charged by HomeQuest, Noble was unable to determine the actual title
insurance premium, or compare it to Ticor’s Rate Book.
***
69. If Noble had instead utilized the View 2 methodology, it would have
found that the independent, Non-Affiliated Operations had charged the
correct insurance premium under Ticor’s Rate Book, plus a widely variable
charge for Settlement Services.
***
76. . . . [T]here is no evidence in the Record of the costs incurred by Ticor
and its independent title professionals for selling, preparing, issuing and
servicing Ticor’s title insurance commitments, policies and endorsements.
Similarly, there is no evidence in the Record as to whether the premium
revenue collected by or on behalf of Ticor was sufficient to cover Ticor’s
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costs, let alone provide Ticor with a profit, or for that matter, whether any
such profit was fair and reasonable.
***
80. . . . [T]here is no evidence in the Record as to the costs incurred by
Ticor and its independent title professionals for selling, preparing, issuing
and servicing Ticor’s title insurance commitments, policies and
endorsements. Similarly, there is no evidence in the Record as to whether
the premium differential was based upon a differential in costs for issuing
the policy with the higher premium.
***
82. . . . Noble offered no evidence other than its conclusion that the alleged
premiums were excessive and unfairly discriminatory.
Appellant’s App. pp. 12-22 (record citations omitted).
The trial court then examined the Title Insurance Rate Statute codified at Indiana
Code section 27-4-1-4, which prohibits excessive or inadequate charges for policy
premiums and unfair discrimination between persons of the same class involving
equivalent hazards. The trial court determined the terms used in the Rate Statute are
technical terms of art and reached the following conclusions:
29. This Court concludes that the Statutory Rate Standard is primarily a
cost-based standard, requiring an analysis of an insurer’s costs as the
central determination regarding whether the premium or rate charged for
the insurer’s product is excessive or unfairly discriminatory.
30. “Excessive” under the Rate Statute should mean, at least in part, that the
premium charged by an insurer is not an actuarially sound estimate of the
expected value of all future costs associated with an individual risk transfer.
31. Thus, whether a premium or rate is excessive cannot be conclusively
determined without at least identifying and examining the costs associated
with the sale, preparation, issuance and service of the title insurance
commitment, policy or endorsement issued to the customer.
32. “Unfairly discriminatory” under the Rate Statute should mean, at least
in part, that there exists rate differences that are inconsistent with
differences in the underlying costs.
33. Thus, whether a rate charged by one independent Non-Affiliated
Operation is unfairly discriminatory cannot be determined simply by
comparing it to another rate charged by a second independent, Non-
Affiliated Operation for a similar amount of title insurance coverage; rather,
10
the costs incurred by the two agents in providing the coverage must be
examined. Similarly, whether a rate charged by a single independent, Non-
Affiliated Operation is unfairly discriminatory cannot be determined simply
by comparing the rates the independent, Non-Affiliated Operation charges
its customers for similar levels of coverage.
34. Therefore, even if there exist material differences among the rates in the
Rate Book utilized by HomeQuest and in the rate schedules utilized by
Data Search and Title Search, it simply cannot be determined whether any
of these rates is unfairly discriminatory without an analysis of the agents’
underlying costs in issuing such title insurance products. Further, the
differences amoung the rates charged by the three Non-Affiliated
Operations and the materiality of such differences were never examined at
the Administrative Hearing or shown as any basis of the administrative
order.
36. This Court concludes that, by applying an arbitrary ratemaking
standard, the Department’s Hearing Officer erred as a matter of law when it
found that Ticor charged premiums or rates that are excessive.
37. This Court further concludes that, by applying an arbitrary ratemaking
standard, the Department’s Hearing Officer erred as a matter of law when it
found that Ticor charged premiums or rates that are unfairly discriminatory.
Id. at 30-31.
The trial court also concluded that the Hearing Officer properly found that Ticor
was not responsible for the independent title professionals’ compliance with RESPA, but
that the Hearing Officer erred when it concluded that Ticor failed to properly monitor its
Non-Affiliated Operations’ compliance with RESPA. The court also concluded that the
Hearing Officer erred when it included settlement charges in its calculation of Ticor’s
premium tax obligation, and therefore IDOI erred when it ordered Ticor to pay an
additional $2,015.37 in premium taxes and interest.
The trial court therefore entered judgment in favor of Ticor and set the
administrative order aside. The court ordered the IDOI to refund Ticor’s premium tax
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and interest payment and remanded the case for further proceedings consistent with its
judgment. The IDOI now appeals.
Standard of Review
The General Assembly has granted courts the power to review the action of state
government agencies taken pursuant to the Administrative Orders and Procedures Act
“(AOPA)”, but the power of judicial review is limited. LTV Steel Co. v. Griffin, 730
N.E.2d 1251, 1257 (Ind. 2000). A court may only set aside agency action that is: (1)
arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law; (2)
contrary to constitutional right, power, privilege, or immunity; (3) in excess of statutory
jurisdiction, authority, or limitations, or short of statutory right; (4) without observance of
procedure required by law; or (5) unsupported by substantial evidence. Ind. Code § 4-
21.5-5-14(d).
The burden of demonstrating the invalidity of an agency action is on the party
asserting its invalidity. I.C. § 4–21.5–5–14(a). An agency acts arbitrarily or capriciously
if its action constitutes a willful or unreasonable action without consideration and in
disregard of the facts and circumstances of the case or without some basis that would lead
a reasonable person to such action. Ind. State Bd. of Educ. v. Brownsburg Comm. Sch.
Corp., 865 N.E.2d 660, 665 (Ind. Ct. App. 2007). Trial and appellate courts that review
administrative determinations are prohibited from reweighing the evidence or judging the
credibility of witnesses and must accept the facts as found by the administrative body. Id.at 665–66. Our court affords deference to the administrative agency’s findings of fact,
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but no such deference is accorded to the agency’s conclusions of law. LTV Steel, 730
N.E.2d at 1257.
Discussion and Decision
The Commissioner of the IDOI has been granted broad powers by the General
Assembly. Pertinent to the issues presented in this appeal, the Commissioner is
empowered to investigate insurance companies, issue orders detailing any irregularities
revealed by the investigation, and order curative action as he deems necessary. See I.C.
ch. 27-1-3.1. Specifically, “[u]pon determining that an examination should be conducted,
the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee shall issue an examination warrant
appointing one (1) or more examiners to perform the examination and instructing them as
to the scope of the examination.” I.C. § 27-1-3.1-9. The commissioner, or the
commissioner’s examiner, is then required to prepare a report and provide the subject
insurance company with an opportunity to respond. I.C. § 27-1-3.1-10. After reviewing
the examination report and any rebuttal by the subject insurance company, the
commissioner may adopt the report, reject the report for the purpose of reopening the
examination, or set the matter for an investigatory hearing. I.C. § 27-1-3.1-11. “If the
examination report reveals that the company is operating in violation of any law,
regulation, or prior order of the commissioner, the commissioner may order the company
to take any action the commissioner considers necessary and appropriate to cure that
violation.” Id.
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I. Interpreting Indiana Code section 27-4-1-4(a)(7)(C)(i) (“the Rate Statute”)
The administrative hearing officer for IDOI and the trial court applied differing
interpretations of the Rate Statute in this case.
An interpretation of a statute by an administrative agency charged with the
duty of enforcing the statute is entitled to great weight, unless this
interpretation would be inconsistent with the statute itself. . . . Deference to
an agency’s interpretation of a statute becomes a consideration when a
statute is ambiguous and susceptible of more than one reasonable
interpretation. When a court is faced with two reasonable interpretations of
a statute, one of which is supplied by an administrative agency charged
with enforcing the statute, the court should defer to the agency. If a court
determines that an agency’s interpretation is reasonable, it should terminate
its analysis and not address the reasonableness of the other party’s proposed
interpretation. Terminating the analysis recognizes the general policies of
acknowledging the expertise of agencies empowered to interpret and
enforce statutes and increasing public reliance on agency interpretations.
However, an agency’s incorrect interpretation of a statute is entitled to no
weight. If an agency misconstrues a statute, there is no reasonable basis for
the agency’s ultimate action and the trial court is required to reverse the
agency's action as being arbitrary and capricious.
Dev. Servs. Alts., Inc. v. Ind. Family & Social Servs. Admin., 915 N.E.2d 169, 181 (Ind.
Ct. App. 2009), trans. denied (quoting Pierce v. State Dep’t of Correction, 885 N.E.2d 77,
89 (Ind. Ct. App. 2008)) (citations and quotation marks omitted).
The Rate Statute provides in pertinent part:
The following are hereby defined as unfair methods of competition and
unfair and deceptive acts and practices in the business of insurance: . . .
Making or permitting any of the following: . . . Excessive or inadequate
charges for premiums, policy fees, assessments, or rates, or making or
permitting any unfair discrimination between persons of the same class
involving essentially the same hazards, in the amount of premiums, policy
fees, assessments, or rates charged or made for . . . policies or contracts of
reinsurance or joint reinsurance, or abstract and title insurance[.]
I.C. § 27-4-1-4(a)(7)(C)(i).
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The IDOI argues that the Rate Statute is unambiguous and the “focal point of the
[statute] is on the premium the insurer charges the insured.” Appellant’s Br. at 37.
Under the IDOI’s interpretation, the Rate Statute simply prohibits unfair discrimination
between persons of the same class involving essentially the same hazards. In other words,
insurers should be charging comparable insurance premiums to insureds purchasing the
same amount of title insurance.
Ticor’s operating procedures support the IDOI’s interpretation of the Rate Statute.
Ticor provided its independent insurance agents with Ticor’s Rate Book. The contractual
agreements between Ticor and its agents provided that the agents were required to quote,
charge, and collect premium rates in accordance with Ticor’s Rate Book. The title
insurance premium rates listed in the Rate Book did not include rates for other settlement
services.
IDOI’s investigation revealed that Ticor’s agents charged rates that exceeded the
rates listed in Ticor’s Rate Book. Ticor acknowledged that its agents should have been
charging its Indiana customers the same premium rates for the same amount of title
insurance coverage. Appellant’s App. pp. 572-73. Ticor’s own policy is therefore
consistent with the IDOI’s interpretation of the Rate Statute.
We further observe that IDOI’s interpretation of the Rate Statute is consistent with
the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’s (“NAIC”) standards, procedures,
and criteria for conducting market conduct examinations of title insurance companies and
agents. In states, such as Indiana, where premium rates are not required to be filed with
an applicable regulatory agency, the NAIC recommends that
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it is prudent to determine if rates are being applied consistently and in
accordance with the title insurance company’s own rating methods. In
general, rates should not be unfairly discriminatory. Wide-scale application
of incorrect rates by a title insurance company may raise financial solvency
questions or be indicative of inadequate management oversight. Deviation
from established rating plans may also indicate that a title insurance
company is engaged in unfair competitive practices. Inconsistent
application of rates, individual risk premium modifications, modification
factors and deviations can result in unfair discrimination.
NAIC Market Regulation Handbook, Ch. 18, p. 346 (2011). Our General Assembly has
explicitly directed that when the IDOI conducts examinations, the commissioner shall
“consider such matters as the results of financial statement analyses and ratios, changes in
management or ownership, actuarial opinions, reports of independent certified public
accountants, and other criteria as set forth in the NAIC examiner’s handbook.” Ind. Code
§ 27-1-3.1-8.
For all of these reasons, we conclude that IDOI’s interpretation is reasonable, and
consequently, we terminate our analysis and do not address the reasonableness of Ticor’s
proposed interpretation. See Dev. Servs. Alts., Inc., 915 N.E.2d at 181.
II. Ticor’s Actual and/or Apparent Authority over its Agents
We now turn our attention to the issue of whether Ticor had sufficient control over
its agents to support a finding of actual or apparent authority. The administrative hearing
officer concluded that “[f]or the purposes of charging premium rates, collecting
premiums, and payment of premium taxes,” Ticor had both actual and apparent authority
over its title insurance agents.1 Appellant’s App. pp. 97-98.
1
However, the administrative hearing officer also concluded that “for the purposes of ensuring RESPA
compliance and performing title searches, examinations, and other settlements services,” the title
insurance agents were not agents of Ticor. Appellant’s App. p. 97.
16
“‘Agency is a relationship resulting from the manifestation of consent by one party
to another that the latter will act as an agent for the former.’” Meridian Sec. Ins. Co. v.
Hoffman Adjustment Co., 933 N.E.2d 7, 12 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010) (quoting Smith v.
Brown, 778 N.E.2d 490, 495 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002)), trans. denied. To establish an actual
agency relationship, three elements must be shown: (1) manifestation of consent by the
principal, (2) acceptance of authority by the agent, and (3) control exerted by the
principal over the agent. Douglas v. Monroe, 743 N.E.2d 1181, 1186 (Ind. Ct. App.
2001). Whether an agency relationship exists is generally a question of fact. Id. at 1187.
We also observe that, in general, an insurance agent or broker who undertakes to
procure insurance for another is an agent of the proposed insured. Anderson Mattress Co.
v. First State Ins. Co., 617 N.E.2d 932, 939 (Ind. Ct. App. 1993), trans. denied. However,
“an insurance broker becomes the agent of the insurer when an insurance policy is issued.”
Malone v. Basey, 770 N.E.2d 846, 851 (Ind. Ct. App. 2002). “‘In Indiana when a broker
makes [an] application for insurance and the insurance policy is issued, the broker is the
agent of the insurer and can bind it within the scope of his authority.’” Id. (quoting Aetna
Ins. Co. of the Midwest v. Rodriguez, 517 N.E.2d 386, 388 (Ind. 1988)).
Ticor and the IDOI agree that Ticor and its title agents contractually agreed that
the agents were authorized to sell Ticor’s title insurance products and perform specific
functions related to selling Ticor’s insurance policies. For example, title insurance agent
HomeQuest was appointed to issue Ticor’s title insurance commitments, policies and
endorsements, and was therefore authorized to “validate, countersign, issue and deliver
commitments, policies and endorsements” as provided for in their agreement. The title
17
insurance agents were also required to charge the premiums listed in Ticor’s Rate Book.
Appellant’s App. pp. 1103-04. The parties agree that for the purpose of selling and
issuing Ticor’s title insurance policies, Ticor had actual authority over its agents by virtue
of the parties’ written contract.
However, there is no language in the agreement between Ticor and its agents or
any other evidence in the record that would lead us to conclude that Ticor had actual or
apparent authority over its title agents with regard to other closing and escrow services
the independent agents performed for their clients. See e.g. Fidelity Nat. Title Ins. Co. v.
Mussman, 930 N.E.2d 1160 (Ind. Ct. App. 2010).
III. Sufficient Evidence of Excessive Premium Rates
Finally, we consider whether the trial court exceeded its authority when it
concluded that Noble Consulting’s testing method for determining HomeQuest’s
premium rates was flawed. Arguing that the trial court inappropriately reweighed the
evidence and the credibility of the witnesses, the IDOI contends the determination of the
administrative law judge that Ticor charged excessive and unfairly discriminatory
premium rates is supported by the evidence.
Importantly to the case before us, Ticor’s Vice President testified that Indiana
consumers should have been charged the same premium rate for the same amount of title
insurance coverage. Appellant’s App. pp. 572-73. Moreover, as the principal, Ticor had
a duty to ensure that its agents were charging and collecting the correct premium rate for
its title insurance products.
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In its investigation of Ticor, Noble concluded that Ticor “would accept whatever
amount was reported or remitted by the agent as the actual premium. So that’s how they
determined actual premium as what was remitted, not what was charged.” Appellant’s
App. p. 445. Ticor had auditing controls in place that would reject premiums if the
premium differed from its rate schedule, but premiums remitted by Indiana consumers
were not analyzed under that control system. In other words, Ticor failed to determine
whether the contract premiums paid by Indiana consumers were the same premium
amounts remitted to Ticor by its agents. Id.Noble determined that Title Source and Date Search overcharged its customers a
net amount of $6957.55 spread over 1009 title transactions, and a net amount of $6497.70
spread over 590 transactions, respectively. Noble did not consider those overcharges to
be material amounts.2 Id. at 469. And the total premium charged to the consumer was
remitted to Ticor. Id. at 446.
However, HomeQuest significantly overcharged its customers, and the agent told
Noble that title insurance rates were discretionary and subject to change as market
conditions change. Id. at 842. The parties agree that HomeQuest remitted the correct
premium amount to Ticor using Ticor’s rate schedule.3 Id. at 775. But the premium
amount HomeQuest charged to the consumer often exceeded the premium that should
have been charged according to the rate schedule. As HomeQuest’s principal, Ticor was
2
Title Source’s and Data Search’s errors primarily resulted from their use of outdated title insurance
premium rate schedules. Appellant’s App. p. 857.
3
Ticor’s agreement with its agents provided that the agent would retain a portion of the premium as the
agent’s commission and remit the remainder to Ticor. Appellant’s App. p. 638.
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responsible for failing to determine that its agent was charging excessive rates to its
customers.
On its customers’ HUD statements, HomeQuest bundled its insurance premium
rates with the title search fee and the title examination fee. Home Quest dictated the
amount charged for the title search and title examination fees, and retained the entirety of
those fees. Ticor’s own expert, actuarial consultant Michael Miller, opined that
HomeQuest did not charge premiums in excess of Ticor’s rate schedule; rather, what
appears to be an excessive premium charge was actually an amount charged for the
agent’s title search and examination fees. The administrative hearing officer considered
and ostensibly rejected expert Miller’s conclusion in this regard.4 See e.g. id at 776.
Randy Lamberjack, Noble’s founder and examiner-in-charge of the investigation,
testified that HomeQuest’s title insurance agent, Rhonda Manworren, was questioned
about the bundled fees. Id. at 433. Using the information provided by Manworren,
Noble calculated the title insurance premium charged to the consumer to the best of its
ability. Manworren remitted the correct premium amount to Ticor, but retained the
remaining portion of the overcharged premium. Id. at 434.
Noble also discovered that consumers closing on similar loan amounts were
charged completely different premiums. In total, HomeQuest overcharged its title
insurance customers a net amount of approximately $86,000 in 2007.5 Id. at 446.
4
In his testimony and analysis, Miller considered the term “excess” or “excessive” as an actuarial term of
art, and his interpretation of that term and his testimony were consistent with the trial court’s erroneous
interpretation of the Rate Statute.
5
HomeQuest overcharged its customers a gross amount of $95,783, but Noble reduced that amount
because certain consumers were undercharged. Appellant’s App. p. 447.
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Manworren admitted that she charged the consumer whatever she felt the market would
bear. Id. at 462. HomeQuest failed to charge the correct premium according to Ticor’s
Rate Schedule on approximately eighty percent of its closings. Id. at 446. Because
Manworren incorrectly bundled premiums and fees on line 1108 on the HUD form,
Lamberjack testified that its calculation of the overcharge amount could possibly include
amounts HomeQuest charged for other fees, but also stated:
We tried to give credit for the additional fees, if there was not additional
fees above to compare. But because there’s no pattern, we’re comfortable
that that was just over-reported on line 1108 as premium.
Id. at 447; see also Appellant’s App. p. 463 (explaining Noble’s attempt to calculate the
premium charged by HomeQuest and noting that in many instances Noble was able to
determine what HomeQuest charged its customers for certain fees). Noble’s ultimate
conclusion was that to obtain more money from its customers, HomeQuest would
increase the amount of the title insurance premium owed. Id. at 464.
Moreover, Noble’s report and Lamberjack’s accompanying testimony support the
administrative hearing officer’s finding that
A. On title insurance policies covering $0-$49,999 in liability, Home
Quest’s average rate per $1000 ranged from $2.50 to $17.48.
B. On title insurance policies covering $50,000-$99,999 in liability,
HomeQuest’s average rate per $1000 ranged from $1.54 to $10.38.
C. On title insurance policies covering $100,000 to $500,000 in liability,
HomeQuest’s average rate per [$]1000 ranged from $1.07 to $17.48.
Appellant’s App. p. 84 (record citations omitted). The record is replete with evidence
establishing that Ticor had no procedures in place to ensure that its agents were quoting,
charging, and collecting title insurance premiums as set forth in Ticor’s rate book. The
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record is also clear that the agreement between Ticor and its agents stipulated that the
agent would collect the premium rates established by Ticor. Id. at 91.
We therefore conclude that substantial evidence supports the administrative
hearing officer’s conclusions that 1) Ticor violated the Rate Statute, Indiana Code section
27-4-1-4(a)(7)(C)(i), prohibiting excessive rates and unfair discrimination when it
permitted its agents “to charge Indiana consumers more than the company’s rate schedule,
resulting in excessive fees without the Indiana consumers’ knowledge or consent[;]” and
2) that Ticor violated the Rate Statute by allowing its agents “to charge different premium
rates to Indiana consumers that are of the same class and involve the same risk.” Id. at
100.
Conclusion
We conclude that the trial court exceeded its authority when it reweighed the
evidence presented to the administrative hearing officer. Because there is substantial
evidence to support the administrative hearing officer’s findings that Ticor allowed its
agents to charge excessive and discriminatory rates to its Indiana customers, we reverse
the trial court’s decision to set aside the Indiana Commissioner of Insurance’s September
3, 2010 order, and we reinstate the administrative order.
Reversed and remanded for proceedings consistent with this opinion.
VAIDIK, J., and BARNES, J., concur.
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