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Sham Insurers Shut Down and Ordered to Pay Fines
3/7/06, Carson City, NV – Nevada Insurance
Commissioner Alice A. Molasky-Arman ordered H.G Wilson Group,
Inc. dba Wilson Pacific Insurance Company (“Wilson Pacific”)
and H.G Wilson Group, Inc. dba Landmark American Insurance
Company (“Landmark American”) to pay administrative
fines of $85,000, collectively, for violations of unfair trades
practices and acting as unauthorized insurers in the state
of Nevada. In addition, Cameron Jennings, who was purported
to be the president of Wilson Pacific and vice president of
the “Western Zone” of Landmark American, was ordered
to pay an administrative fine of $35,000. Further action against
Cameron Jennings is being referred to the State of Nevada
Office of the Attorney General for possible criminal prosecution.
It is important to note that the unauthorized
H.G Wilson Group, Inc. dba Landmark American Insurance Company
is not the same company as the AM Best rated Landmark American
Insurance Company that is part of the RSUI Group, Inc. located
in Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta based RSUI company has never
offered professional liability coverage for real estate inspectors.
Molasky-Arman issued her order after holding
public hearings on August 30 – 31, 2005, and on January
20, 2006, at the offices of the Division of Insurance.
In an agreement reached just prior to the conclusion
of the hearings, California producers Donald N. Gail and Don
Gail Insurance were dismissed from the action after paying
an assessment totaling $11,000. The agreement also mandated
that neither Donald N. Gail nor Donald N. Gail dba Don Gail
Insurance may directly or indirectly apply for any type of
insurance license, registration, certificate of authority
or certificate of eligibility in Nevada for one year from
the date of the agreement.
Molasky-Arman stated, “Unlicensed insurers
cannot evade prosecution in Nevada by setting up the business
structure in Nevada, yet soliciting and selling an unauthorized
product in another state. These entities who seek to take
advantage of consumers must be stopped. I will not allow an
unlicensed entity to taint the reputation of this industry
by utilizing the laws of Nevada to set up a business entity
and use a Nevada location to defraud consumers in this state
or elsewhere.”
On September 18, 2004, Wilson Pacific, Cameron
Jennings, Donald N. Gail and Don Gail Insurance were ordered
to cease and desist any unauthorized insurance business in
Nevada. It was later discovered that policies once being issued
under the Wilson Pacific name were subsequently being issued
under the new name of Landmark American. The policies offered
by Wilson Pacific and Landmark American purported to cover
professional liability claims against real estate inspectors.
Although these unauthorized policies were purchased by businesses
in California, Wilson Pacific and Landmark American listed
their administrative office address and location in Las Vegas,
Nevada, and also provided a Las Vegas telephone number for
inquiries.
Consumers and businesses in Nevada, as well
as in other states, can check to see whether a company is
licensed in Nevada by logging on to www.nvinsurancealert.com
or by calling toll free (888) 467-4195. They can also contact
the Division if they have any questions about the insurance
company they are considering by calling (775) 687-4270 in
Carson City, (702) 486-4009 in Las Vegas or toll free anywhere
else in Nevada by dialing (888) 872-3234.
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