New Jersey Statutes 17:29B-17. Prohibited insurance practices relative to victims of domestic violence
Terms Used In New Jersey Statutes 17:29B-17
- Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
- Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
- person: includes corporations, companies, associations, societies, firms, partnerships and joint stock companies as well as individuals, unless restricted by the context to an individual as distinguished from a corporate entity or specifically restricted to one or some of the above enumerated synonyms and, when used to designate the owner of property which may be the subject of an offense, includes this State, the United States, any other State of the United States as defined infra and any foreign country or government lawfully owning or possessing property within this State. See New Jersey Statutes 1:1-2
a. denying, refusing to issue or renew, canceling or otherwise terminating an insurance policy;
b. (1) restricting, excluding or limiting benefits under an insurance policy, (2) denying a covered claim incurred by an insured as a result of domestic violence, or (3) failing to pay claims arising out of abuse to an innocent claimant to the extent of that claimant’s legal interest in the covered property if the loss is caused by the intentional act of an insured, or using other exclusions or limitations on coverage which the Commissioner of Banking and Insurance has determined unreasonably restrict the ability of a victim of domestic violence to be indemnified for the loss; or
c. adding a premium differential to any insurance policy.
The provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection b. of this section shall not require payment in excess of the loss or policy limits. The provisions of paragraph (3) of subsection b. of this section shall not require payment in the event that the claimant conspires with the insured to commit insurance fraud. Nothing in paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection b. of this section shall be construed to prohibit an insurer from applying reasonable standards of proof to claims under this section.
Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to require an insurer to issue or renew an insurance policy or contract, or provide benefits or coverage for claims, solely on the basis that an insured or prospective insured: is or may be a victim of domestic violence; employs a person who is or may be a victim of domestic violence; or is a domestic violence shelter or is employed by a domestic violence shelter.
L.2003,c.41,s.2.