Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 8 Sec. 3576

  • Common law: The legal system that originated in England and is now in use in the United States. It is based on judicial decisions rather than legislative action.
  • Fees: shall mean earnings due for official services, aside from salaries or per diem compensation. See
  • Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.

§ 3576. Immunity from liability

(a) No insurer nor any of its officers, employees, or agents shall have a cause of action against an authorized representative of the Commissioner or an examiner appointed by the Commissioner as a result of any statements made or work performed in good faith while carrying out the provisions of this subchapter.

(b) No cause of action shall arise, nor shall any liability be imposed against any person for the act of communicating or delivering information or data to the Commissioner or the Commissioner’s authorized representative or examiner pursuant to an examination made under this section, if such act of communication or delivery was performed in good faith.

(c) This section does not abrogate or modify in any way any common law or statutory privilege or immunity heretofore enjoyed by any person identified in subsection (a) or (b) of this section.

(d) A person identified in subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be entitled to an award of attorney’s fees and costs if he or she is the prevailing party in a civil cause of action for libel, slander, or any other relevant tort arising out of activities in carrying out the provisions of this subchapter and the party bringing the action was not substantially justified in doing so. For purposes of this section, a proceeding is “substantially justified” if it had a reasonable basis in law or fact at the time that it was initiated. (Added 1991, No. 249 (Adj. Sess.), § 8.)