(a) Whenever the commissioner shall have reason to believe that any person engaged in the business of insurance is engaging in this State in any method of competition or in any act or practice in the conduct of such business which is not defined in section four, and that such method of competition is unfair or that such act or practice is unfair or deceptive and that a proceeding by him in respect thereto would be to the interest of the public, he may issue and serve upon such person a statement of the charges in that respect and a notice of a hearing thereon to be held at a time and place fixed in the notice, which shall not be less than ten days after the date of the service thereof. Each such hearing shall be conducted in the same manner as the hearings provided for in section six. The commissioner shall, after such hearing, make a determination in writing in which he shall state his findings as to the facts, and he shall serve a copy thereof upon such person.

(b) If such determination charges a violation of this act and if such method of competition, act or practice has not been discontinued, the commissioner may, through the Attorney-General of this State, at any time after ten days after the service of such determination institute an action in the Superior Court to enjoin and restrain such person from engaging in such method, act or practice. The court may proceed in the action in a summary manner or otherwise and may make an adjudication on the record and evidence before the commissioner and such additional evidence before the court or which it directs to be taken before the commissioner, as the court may deem proper. The court may enjoin any method of competition or act or practice which it finds to be unfair or deceptive.

L.1947, c. 379, p. 1209, s. 9. Amended by L.1953, c. 17, p. 255, s. 125.