Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 7515 – Injunctions; civil remedies; cease and desist
(a) In addition to the penalties and other enforcement provisions of this Act, if any person violates this Act or any regulation implementing this Act, the Commissioner, through the Attorney General, may seek an injunction in a court of competent jurisdiction and may apply for temporary and permanent orders that the Commissioner determines are necessary to restrain the person from committing the violation.
Attorney's Note
Under the Delaware Code, punishments for crimes depend on the classification. In the case of this section:| Class | Prison | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Class B felony | between 2 and 25 years | |
| Class D felony | up to 8 years | |
| Class F felony | up to 3 years | |
| Class G felony | up to 2 years | |
| Class A misdemeanor | up to 1 year | up to $2,300 |
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 7515
- Commissioner: means the Insurance Commissioner of this State. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 7502
- Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- Fraudulent viatical settlement act: includes :
- Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Person: means a legal entity, including an individual, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust, corporation, or other legal entity. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 7502
- Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
- Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
- Statute of limitations: A law that sets the time within which parties must take action to enforce their rights.
- Viator: means the owner of a life insurance policy or a certificate holder under a group policy who resides in this State and enters or seeks to enter into a viatical settlement contract. See Delaware Code Title 18 Sec. 7502
(b) Any person damaged by the acts of a person in violation of this Act may bring a civil action against the person committing the violation in a court of competent jurisdiction.
(c) The Commissioner may issue, in accordance with § 312 of this title, a cease and desist order upon a person that violates any provision of this Act, any regulation or order adopted by the Commissioner, or any written agreement entered into with the Commissioner.
(d) When the Commissioner finds that an activity in violation of this Act presents an immediate danger to the public that requires an immediate final order, the Commissioner may issue an emergency cease and desist order reciting with particularity the facts underlying the findings. The emergency cease and desist order is effective immediately upon service of a copy of the order on the respondent and remains effective for 90 days. If the Commissioner begins nonemergency cease and desist proceedings, the emergency cease and desist order remains effective during the pendency of such proceedings, absent an order by a court of competent jurisdiction to the contrary.
(e) In addition to the penalties and other enforcement provisions of this Act, any person who violates this Act is subject to civil penalties of up to $50,000 per violation. Civil penalties may only be imposed pursuant to an order of the Commissioner issued in accordance with § 312 of this title and § 10128 of Title 29. The Commissioner’s order may require a person found to be in violation of this Act to make restitution to persons aggrieved by violations of this Act.
(f) If the Commissioner has reason to believe that any person has committed a fraudulent viatical settlement act, or any other law applicable to viatical settlements for which criminal prosecution is provided, the Commissioner shall give the information relative thereto to the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall promptly review any information provided and may take any legal action deemed necessary or appropriate under the circumstances.
(g) (1) Except where a victim is 62 years of age or older, or an “adult who is impaired” as defined in § 3902 of Title 31, or a “person with a disability” as defined in § 3901(a)(2) of Title 12, a fraudulent viatical settlement act is a class A misdemeanor unless (i) the value of property, services, or other benefit wrongfully obtained or attempted to obtain, or (ii) the aggregate economic loss suffered by any person as a result of the violation, whichever is greater, is $1,500 or more, in which case it is a class G felony.
(2) Where a victim is 62 years of age or older, or an “adult who is impaired” as defined in § 3902 of Title 31, or a “person with a disability” as defined in § 3901(a)(2) of Title 12, a fraudulent viatical settlement act is a class G felony unless (i) the value of property, services, or other benefit wrongfully obtained or attempted to be obtained, or (ii) the aggregate economic loss suffered by any person as a result of the violation, whichever is greater, is $1,500 or more, in which case it is a class F felony.
(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this section:
a. Where (i) the value of property, services, or other benefit wrongfully obtained or attempted to be obtained, or (ii) the aggregate economic loss suffered by any person as a result of the violation, whichever is greater, is more than $50,000 but less than $100,000, a fraudulent viatical settlement act is a class D felony.
b. Where (i) the value of property, services, or other benefit wrongfully obtained or attempted to obtain, or (ii) the aggregate economic loss suffered by any person as a result of the violation, whichever is greater, is $100,000 or more, a fraudulent viatical settlement act is a class B felony.
(h) A person convicted of a fraudulent viatical settlement act must pay restitution to persons aggrieved by the violation of this Act. Restitution must be ordered in addition to a fine or imprisonment, but not in lieu of a fine or imprisonment.
(i) Except for a fraudulent viatical settlement act committed by a viator, the enforcement provisions and penalties of this section may not apply to a viator.
(j) In any prosecution under subsections (f) and (g) of this section, the value of the viatical settlement contracts within any 6-month period may be aggregated and the defendant charged accordingly in applying the provisions of this section but when 2 or more offenses are committed by the same person in 2 or more counties, the accused may be prosecuted in any county in which 1 of the offenses was committed for all of the offenses aggregated under this section. The applicable statute of limitations may not begin to run until the insurance company or law-enforcement agency is aware of the fraud, but in no event may the prosecution be commenced later than 7 years after the act has occurred.