1. Department investigators shall have the power to serve subpoenas issued for the examination, investigation, and trial of all offenses determined by their investigations.

2. It is unlawful for any person to interfere, either by abetting or assisting such resistance or otherwise interfering, with department investigators in the duties imposed upon them by law or department rule.

Terms Used In Missouri Laws 375.994

  • Department: the department of commerce and insurance. See Missouri Laws 375.001
  • Director: the director of the department of commerce and insurance. See Missouri Laws 375.001
  • person: may extend and be applied to bodies politic and corporate, and to partnerships and other unincorporated associations. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Missouri Laws 1.020
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.

3. Any moneys, or other property which is awarded to the department as costs of investigation, or as a fine, shall be credited to the insurance dedicated fund created by section 374.150.

4. If the director determines that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of section 375.991 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of section 375.991 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may issue such administrative orders as authorized under section 374.046. A violation of any of these sections is a level two violation under section 374.049. The director may also suspend or revoke the license or certificate of authority of such person for any willful violation.

5. If the director believes that a person has engaged, is engaging in, or has taken a substantial step toward engaging in an act, practice or course of business constituting a violation of section 375.991 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, or that a person has materially aided or is materially aiding an act, practice, omission, or course of business constituting a violation of section 375.991 or a rule adopted or order issued pursuant thereto, the director may maintain a civil action for relief authorized under section 374.048. A violation of any of these sections is a level two violation under section 374.049.

6. Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting the department of commerce and insurance from regulating unfair or fraudulent trade practices as provided for in sections 375.930 to 375.948.

7. If the director determines that a person regulated under this chapter has conducted its business fraudulently with respect to sections 375.991 to 375.994, or has as a matter of business practice abused its rights under said sections, such conduct shall constitute either an unfair trade practice under the provisions of sections 375.930 to 375.948 or an unfair claims settlement practice under the provisions of sections 375.1000 to 375.1018.