Petitioner: DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE
Respondent: RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR
Judges: CHARLES C. ADAMS
Agency: Department of Financial Services
Locations: Jacksonville, Florida
Filed: Sep. 25, 2002
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Friday, January 10, 2003.
Latest Update: Dec. 26, 2024
DA~ 3758 QPL
1 FILED
THE TREASURER OF THE STATE OF PLORDA BML GA
DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE _ sep 9 200
Tom GALLAGHER woppit
Co Treasurer and
insurance Co ner
Docketed by,
IN THE MATTER OF:
CASE NO. : 60711-02-AG
RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR
/
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
TO: RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR
4345 Fern Creek Drive
Jacksonville, Florida 32211-1126
LIFE BROKERAGE CORPORATION
2121 Corporate Square Blvd.
Suite 144
Jacksonville, Florida 32216-1990
You, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, are hereby notified that the Insurance
Commissioner of the State of Florida has caused to be made an investigation of your activities
while licensed as an insurance adjuster in this state, as a result of which it is alleged:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
1. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR,
are currently licensed in this state as life and variable annuity (2-14) agent; life, health and
variable annuity (2-15) agent; life (2-16), agent; life and health (2-18) agent; and health (2-40)
agent. Your license identification number is A261830.
2. Pursuant to Chapter 626, Florida Statutes, the Florida Department of Insurance
(hereinafter referred to as the “Department”) has jurisdiction over your license and appointments.
3. On or about July 11, 1985, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, pled guilty to
one count of mail fraud, a violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1341 and 1342, in
case # 84-163(S)-CR-J-12. United States of America vs. Russell W. Taylor, in the United States
District Court in and for the Middle District of Florida. The court found you, RUSSELL
WILLIAM TAYLOR, guilty and entered a judgment of guilt. This felony directly related to the
business of insurance. You, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, as an insurance agent licensed in
the state of Florida, were involved in a fraudulent scheme to obtain money from Massachusetts
Mutual Life Insurance Company who employed you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, at the
time.
4. On or about March 6, 1986, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, and the
Department entered into a Settlement Stipulation for Consent Order for the purpose of settling an
outstanding Administrative Complaint filed by the Department seeking to revoke your license as
a result of the above referenced conviction. Pursuant to the Stipulation, you, RUSSELL
WILLIAM TAYLOR, voluntarily surrendered your license and eligibility of licensure, which
had the same legal effect as a revocation. On or about March 24, 1986 the Department entered a
Consent Order, which approved and incorporated the Settlement Stipulation.
5. On or about September 30, 1993, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, filed an
application for licensure with the Department. On or about January 5, 1993 you, RUSSELL
WILLIAM TAYLOR; and the Department entered into a Settlement Stipulation for Consent
Order. Pursuant to the Stipulation, your application was approved and you were placed on
probation for two (2) years.
COUNTI
6. The above general allegations 1 through 5 are hereby realleged and fully
incorporated herein by reference.
7. On or about July 6, 1999, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, met with Marge
Lockhart of Jacksonville, Florida and took an application from her for long-term health care
coverage with Transamerica Life Companies. You, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, completed
the application and Ms. Lockhart signed and initialed it.
8. On or about July 6, 1999, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, drafted a letter
to Penn Treaty Life Insurance Company on behalf of Ms. Lockhart. The letter requested that
policy # N 618802 be cancelled. The letter bearing a signature purported to be Ms. Lockhart’s
was forwarded to Penn Treaty Life Insurance Company. On or about July 29, 1999, the policy
was cancelled.
9. On or about July 13, 1999, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, signed the
Agent Report section of the application. In that section, you RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR,
indicated that you reviewed Ms. Lockharts current health care insurance coverage and that the
application was not replacing another health insurance contract when in fact the applied for
policy was intended to replace an existing health insurance contract.
10. On or about July 13, 1999 the application, which included the Agent Report, was
forwarded to Transamérica Life Companies. The company denied the application.
11. On about July 6, 1999, when you took Ms. Lockhart’s application for long term
health care coverage, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, knew or should have known that
she has existing coverage. You, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, had a duty to advise Ms.
Lockhart not to cancel her existing coverage until a new policy was issued. Not only did you not
advise Ms. Lockhart not to cancel her existing coverage, but also you assisted her in canceling
the coverage. As a result of your actions, Ms. Lockhart was left without long-term health care
coverage and was unable to obtain long-term coverage.
IT IS THEREFORE CHARGED that you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, have
violated or are accountable under one or more of the following provisions of the Florida
Insurance Code which constitute grounds for the suspension or revocation of your licenses as an
insurance agent in this state:
(a) Willful misrepresentation of any insurance policy or annuity contract or willful
deception with regard to any such policy or contract, done either in person or by any form of
dissemination of information or advertising. {Section 626.611(5), Florida Statutes]
(b) Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of
insurance. [Section 626.611(7), Florida Statutes]
(c) Demonstrated lack of reasonably adequate knowledge and technical competence
to engage in the transactions authorized by the license or appointment. [Section 626.611(8),
Florida Statutes]
(c) Fraudulent or dishonest practices in the conduct of business under the license or
appointment. [Section 626.611(9), Florida Statutes]
(d) Violation of any provision of this code or of any other law applicable to the
business of insuranée in the course of dealing under the license or appointment.
[Section 626.621(2), Florida Statutes]
(f) Violation of the provision against twisting, as defined in ss. 626.9541(1)(1).
[Section 626.621(5), Florida Statutes]
(g) In the conduct of business under the license or appointment, engaging in unfair
methods of competition or in unfair or deceptive acts or practices, as prohibited under part IX of
this chapter, or having otherwise shown himself or herself to be a source of injury or loss to the
public. [Section 626.621(6), Florida Statutes]
(h) If a life agent, violation of the code of ethics. [Section 626.621(9), Florida
Statutes]
@) 1. Knowingly making a false or fraudulent written or oral statement or
representation on, or relative to, an application or negotiation for an insurance policy for the
purpose of obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, agent, broker,
or individual. [Section 626.9541(1)(k)1, Florida Statutes]
(j) Knowingly making a material omission in the comparison of a life, health, or
Medicare supplement insurance replacement policy with the policy it replaces for the purpose of
obtaining a fee, commission, money, or other benefit from any insurer, agent, broker, or
individual. For the purposes of this subparagraph, a material omission includes the failure to
advise the insured of the existence and operation of a preexisting condition clause in the
replacement policy. [Section 626.954 1(1)(k)2, Florida Statutes]
(k) Twisting —Knowingly making any misleading representations or incomplete or
fraudulent comparisons or fraudulent material omissions of or with respect to any insurance
policies or insurers fof the purpose of inducing, or tending to induce, any person to lapse, forfeit,
surrender, terminate, retain, pledge, assign, borrow on, or convert any insurance policy or to take
out a policy of insurance in another insurer. [Section 626.9541(1)(1), Florida Statutes]
WHEREFORE, you, RUSSELL WILLIAM TAYLOR, are hereby notified that the
Treasurer and Insurance Commissioner intends to enter an Order suspending or revoking your
licenses and appointments as an insurance agent or to impose such penalties as may be provided
under the provisions of Sections 626.611, 626.621, 626.681, 626.691, and 626.9521, Florida
Statutes, and under the other referenced sections of the Florida Statutes as set out in this
Administrative Complaint. You are further notified that any order entered in this case revoking or
suspending any license or eligibility for licensure held by you shall also apply to all other licenses
and eligibility held by you under the Florida Insurance Code.
NOTICE OF RIGHTS
You have the right to request a proceeding to contest this action by the Department
pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57, Florida Statutes, and Rule 28-107, Florida
Administrative Code. The proceeding request must be in writing, signed by you, and must be
filed with the Department within twenty-one (21) days of your receipt of this notice. Completion
of the attached Election of Proceeding form and/or a petition for administrative hearing will
suffice as a written request. The request must be filed with the General Counsel as acting
Agency Clerk, at the Florida Department of Insurance, 612 Larson Building, 200 East Gaines
Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0333. The Department must receive your written response no
later than 5:00 p.m. on the twenty-first day after your receipt of this notice. Mailing the response
on the twenty-first day will not preserve your right to a hearing.
YOUR FAILURE TO RESPOND IN WRITING WITHIN
TWENTY-ONE (21) DAYS OF YOUR RECEIPT OF THIS
NOTICE WILL CONSTITUTE A WAIVER OF YOUR RIGHT TO
REQUEST A PROCEEDING ON THE MATTERS ALLEGED
HEREIN AND AN ORDER OF REVOCATION WILL BE
ENTERED AGAINST YOU.
If you request a proceeding, you must provide information that complies with the
requirements of Rule 28-107.004, Florida Administrative Code. As noted above, completion of
the attached Election of Proceeding form conforms to these requirements. Specifically, your
response must contain:
(a) The name and address of the party making the request, for purpose of service;
(b) A statement that the party is requesting a hearing involving disputed issues of
material fact, or a hearing not involving disputed issues of material fact; and
(c) A reference to the notice, order to show cause, administrative complaint, or other
communication that the party has received form the agency.
If a hearing of any type is requested, you have the right to be represented by counsel or
other qualified representative at your expense, to present evidence and argument, to call and
cross-examine witnesses, and to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of
documents by subpoena.
If a proceeding is requested and there is no dispute of material fact, the provisions of
section 120.57(2), Florida Statutes, apply. In this regard, you may submit oral or written
evidence in opposition to the action taken by the Department or a written statement challenging
the grounds upon which the Department has relied. While a hearing is normally not required in
the absence of a dispute of fact, if you feel that a hearing is necessary, one will be conducted in
Tallahassee, Florida, or by telephonic conference call upon your request.
However, if you dispute material facts which are the basis for the Department’s action,
you must request an adversarial proceeding pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), Florida
Statutes. These proceedings are held before a State administrative law judge of the Division of
Administrative Hearings. Unless the majority of witnesses are located elsewhere, the
Department will request that the hearing be conducted in Tallahassee, Florida.
Failure to follow the procedure outlined with regard to your response to this notice may
result in the request being denied. All prior oral communication or correspondence in this matter
shall be considered freeform agency action, and no such oral communication or correspondence
shall operate as a valid request for an administrative proceeding. Any request for an
administrative proceeding received prior to the date of this notice shall be deemed abandoned
unless timely renewed in compliance with the guidelines as set out above.
Mediation of this matter pursuant to section 120.573, Florida Statutes, is not available.
No Department attorney will discuss this matter with you until the response has been received by
day of & Lal le) , 2002.
KENNEY SHIPLEY
Deputy Insurance Commissioner
the Department of Insurance.
t
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing ADMINISTRATIVE
COMPLAINT and ELECTION OF RIGHTS has been furnished to RUSSELL WILLIAM
TAYLOR, 4345 Fern Creek Drive, Jacksonville, Florida 32211-11262121, and Corporate
Square Blvd., Suite 144, Jacksonville, Florida 32216-1990; by Certified Mail this Gu day of
VAinitpon
Ye ALE : =
Florida Department of Insurance
Division of Legal Services
612 Larson Building
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-033
(850) 413-4188
Fla. Bar No. 318530
Docket for Case No: 02-003758PL
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jan. 10, 2003 |
Order Closing File issued. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jan. 09, 2003 |
Motion to Close File and Relinquish Jurisdiction (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Dec. 17, 2002 |
Letter to G. Passaro from R. Santurri stating settlement offer will remain open until December 19, 2002 (filed via facsimile).
|
Oct. 28, 2002 |
Letter to R. Santurri from G. Passaro enclosing excepts of the underwriting manual of TransAmerica Insurance as it relates to dizziness and depression filed.
|
Oct. 09, 2002 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions issued.
|
Oct. 09, 2002 |
Notice of Hearing issued (hearing set for January 13, 2003; 10:00 a.m.; Jacksonville, FL).
|
Oct. 03, 2002 |
Notice of Service of Plantation General Hospital`s First Set of Interrogatories to Agency for Health Care Administration filed.
|
Oct. 03, 2002 |
Letter to G. Passaro from R. Santurri enclosing documents that were requested in letter (filed via facsimile).
|
Oct. 03, 2002 |
Joint Response to Initial Order (filed by Petitioner via facsimile).
|
Sep. 26, 2002 |
Initial Order issued.
|
Sep. 25, 2002 |
Answer of Russell William Taylor filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2002 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by G. Passaro).
|
Sep. 25, 2002 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2002 |
Election of Proceeding filed.
|
Sep. 25, 2002 |
Agency referral filed.
|