Cost Certainty for PA Insurance Department administrative hearing services

Under Pennsylvania law, insureds who have their automobile or homeowners insurance policies cancelled or non-renewed have the right to request that the termination be reviewed by the Insurance Department staff. If the staff renders an adverse determination, the insured has the right to request an administrative hearing in either Harrisburg, Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Many insurance companies, especially those located outside Pennsylvania, need a reasonable alternative to sending their own attorneys to these hearings.

In recent years, Saul Ewing's insurance attorneys have handled dozens of such hearings and have found the process of representing insurers at such hearings to be relatively predictable in terms of cost and time involved. We are pleased to offer two fixed-fee arrangements for our insurance company clients in connection with hearings in Harrisburg and Philadelphia.

Administrative hearing option #1
For a fixed fee, Saul Ewing can:

• Review an insurance company's records and documents supporting their cancellation or nonrenewal of a personal automobile or homeowner's policy;
• Advise the client on the appropriate litigation strategy;
• Prepare a company witness for the hearing;
• Represent the company at the formal hearing; and,
• Review and offer comments on a company drafted post-hearing letter brief

Administrative hearing option #2
For an additional fixed fee, Saul Ewing can perform all of the tasks listed above, as well as draft the post-hearing letter brief.

Both fixed-fee arrangements are subject to an initial no-cost evaluation of the file for suitability for this program, in addition to clearing any conflicts and issuance of a formal engagement letter.

For more information or to set up a time to discuss your administrative hearing needs, please contact Joel C. Hopkins or Mike Consedine, both members of the Firm's Insurance Practice Group. Joel can be reached at 717.257.7525 or jhopkins@saul.com. Mike can be reached at 717.257.7502 or mconsedine@saul.com.