Title 18 — Insurance Code

§ 5701. “Reciprocal” insurance defined. “Reciprocal” insurance is that resulting from an interchange among persons, known as subscribers, of reciprocal agreements of indemnity, the interchange being effectuated through an attorney-in-fact common to all such persons.18 Del. C. 195…

§ 5702. Scope of chapter; existing insurers. (a) All authorized reciprocal insurers shall be governed by those sections of this chapter not expressly made applicable to domestic reciprocals. (b) Existing authorized reciprocal insurers shall, after November 1, 1968, comply with th…

§ 5703. Insuring powers of reciprocals. (a) A reciprocal insurer may, upon qualifying therefor as provided for by this title, transact any kind or kinds of insurance defined by this title, other than life or title insurances. (b) Such an insurer may purchase reinsurance upon the …

§ 5704. Name; suits. A reciprocal insurer shall: (1) Have and use a business name. The name shall include the word “reciprocal” or “interinsurer” or “interinsurance” or “exchange” or “underwriters” or “underwriting” or “association.” (2) Sue and be sued in its own name.18 Del. C.…

§ 5705. Attorney; attorney, subscribers and reciprocal insurer a single entity. (a) “Attorney,” as used in this chapter, refers to the attorney-in-fact of a reciprocal insurer. The attorney may be an individual, firm or corporation. (b) The attorney of a foreign reciprocal insure…

§ 5706. Organization of reciprocal insurer. (a) Twenty-five or more persons domiciled in this State may organize a domestic reciprocal insurer and make application to the Commissioner for a certificate of authority to transact insurance. (b) (1) The proposed attorney shall fulfil…

§ 5707. Certificate of authority. (a) The certificate of authority of a reciprocal insurer shall be issued to its attorney in the name of the insurer. (b) The Commissioner may refuse, suspend or revoke the certificate of authority, in addition to other grounds therefor, for failu…

§ 5708. Power of attorney. (a) The rights and powers of the attorney of a reciprocal insurer shall be as provided in the power of attorney given it by the subscribers. (b) The power of attorney must set forth: (1) The powers of the attorney; (2) The general services to be perform…

§ 5709. Modifications. Modifications of the terms of the subscribers’ agreement or of the power of attorney of a domestic reciprocal insurer shall be made jointly by the attorney and the subscribers’ advisory committee. No such modification shall be effective retroactively nor as…

§ 5710. Attorney’s bond. (a) Concurrently with the filing of the declaration provided for in § 5706 of this title, the attorney of a domestic reciprocal insurer shall file with the Commissioner a bond in favor of this State for the benefit of all persons damaged as a result of br…

§ 5711. Deposit in lieu of bond. In lieu of the bond required under § 5710 of this title, the attorney may maintain on deposit, through the office of the Commissioner, a like amount in cash or in value of securities qualified under this title as insurers’ investments and subject …

§ 5712. Action on bond. Action on the attorney’s bond or to recover against any such deposit made in lieu thereof may be brought at any time by 1 or more subscribers suffering loss through a violation of its conditions or by a receiver or liquidator of the insurer. Amounts recove…

§ 5713. Service of process; judgment. (a) Legal process shall be served upon a domestic reciprocal insurer by serving the insurer’s attorney at the attorney’s principal offices or by serving the Commissioner as the insurer’s process agent under §§ 524 and 525 of this title. (b) A…

§ 5714. Contributions to insurer. The attorney or other parties may advance to a domestic reciprocal insurer upon reasonable terms such funds as it may require from time to time in its operations. Sums so advanced shall not be treated as a liability of the insurer and, except upo…

§ 5715. Financial condition; method of determining. In determining the financial condition of a reciprocal insurer, the Commissioner shall apply the following rules: (1) The Commissioner shall charge as liabilities the same reserves as are required of incorporated insurers issuin…

§ 5716. Subscribers. Individuals, partnerships and corporations of this State may make application, enter into agreement for and hold policies or contracts in or with and be a subscriber of any domestic, foreign or alien reciprocal insurer. Any corporation now or hereafter organi…

§ 5717. Subscribers’ advisory committee. (a) The advisory committee of a domestic reciprocal insurer exercising the subscribers’ rights shall be selected under such rules as the subscribers adopt. (b) Not less than 2/3 of such committee shall be subscribers other than the attorne…

§ 5718. Subscribers’ liability generally. (a) The liability of each subscriber, other than as to a nonassessable policy, for the obligations of the reciprocal insurer shall be an individual, several and proportionate liability, and not joint. (b) Except as to a nonassessable poli…

§ 5719. Subscribers’ liability on judgment. (a) No action shall lie against any subscriber upon any obligation claimed against the insurer until a final judgment has been obtained against the insurer and remains unsatisfied for 30 days. (b) Any such judgment shall be binding upon…

§ 5720. Assessments. (a) Assessments may from time to time be levied upon subscribers of a domestic reciprocal insurer liable therefor under the terms of their policies by the attorney upon approval in advance by the subscribers’ advisory committee and the Commissioner or by the …

§ 5721. Time limit for assessments. Every subscriber of a domestic reciprocal insurer having contingent liability shall be liable for and shall pay his or her share of any assessment, as computed and limited in accordance with this chapter, if: (1) While his or her policy is in f…

§ 5722. Aggregate or contingent liability. No 1 policy or subscriber as to such policy shall be assessed or charged with an aggregate or contingent liability as to obligations incurred by a domestic reciprocal insurer in any 1 calendar year in excess of the amount provided for in…

§ 5723. Nonassessable policies. (a) If a reciprocal insurer has a surplus of assets over all liabilities at least equal to the minimum capital stock and surplus required to be maintained by a domestic stock insurer authorized to transact like kinds of insurance, upon application …

§ 5724. Subscribers’ share in assets. Upon the liquidation of a domestic reciprocal insurer, its assets remaining after discharge of its indebtedness and policy obligations, the return of any contributions of the attorney or other persons to its surplus and the return of any unus…

§ 5725. Merger or conversion. (a) A domestic reciprocal insurer upon affirmative vote of not less than 2/3 of its subscribers who vote on such merger, pursuant to due notice and the approval of the Commissioner of the terms therefor, may merge with another reciprocal insurer or b…

§ 5726. Impaired reciprocals. (a) If the assets of a domestic reciprocal insurer are at any time insufficient to discharge its liabilities, other than any liability on account of funds contributed by the attorney or others, and to maintain the required surplus, its attorney shall…