(a) Any officer, manager, director, trustee, owner, employee, or agent of any insurer, and any other person with authority over or in charge of any segment of the insurer’s affairs, shall cooperate with the Commissioner in any proceeding under this Article or any investigation preliminary to the proceeding.  As used in this section, “person” includes any person who exercises direct or indirect control over activities of an insurer through any holding company or other affiliate of the insurer.  “Cooperate” includes replying promptly in writing to any inquiry from the Commissioner requesting such a reply and making available to the Commissioner any books, accounts, documents, or other records or information or property of or pertaining to the insurer and in his possession, custody, or control.

(b) No person shall obstruct or interfere with the Commissioner in the conduct of any delinquency proceeding or any investigation preliminary or incidental thereto.

(c) This section does not abridge otherwise existing legal rights, including the right to resist a petition for any delinquency proceeding or other order.

(d) Any person described in subsection (a) of this section who fails to cooperate with the Commissioner, or any person who obstructs or interferes with the Commissioner in the conduct of any delinquency proceeding or any investigation preliminary or incidental thereto, or any person who knowingly and willfully violates any order the Commissioner issued validly under this Article is subject to the civil penalty and restitution provisions of N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-2-70 and is subject further to the revocation or suspension of any licenses issued by the Commissioner. (1989, c. 452, s. 1.)