(a) Whenever the Commissioner has reasonable cause to believe, and determines, after a hearing, held as prescribed in subsection (c) of this section, that any insurer has committed or engaged in any act, practice or transaction that would subject it to formal delinquency proceedings under this chapter, the Commissioner may make and serve upon the insurer and any other persons involved such orders, including an order suspending the business of an insurer, as are reasonably necessary to correct, eliminate or remedy such conduct, condition or ground.

(b) If the conditions of subsection (a) of this section, other than notice and hearing, are satisfied and if the Commissioner has reasonable grounds to believe that irreparable harm to the property or business of the insurer or to the interests of its policy or certificate holders, creditors or the public may occur unless the Commissioner issues with immediate effect the orders described in subsection (a) of this section, the Commissioner may make and serve such orders without notice and before hearing, simultaneously serving upon the insurer notice of hearing under subsection (c) of this section.

(c) The notice of hearing under subsection (a) or (b) of this section and the summary order issued under subsection (a) or (b) of this section shall be served pursuant to the applicable rules of civil or administrative procedure. The notice of hearing under subsection (a) of this section shall state the time and place of hearing and the conduct, condition or ground upon which the Commissioner would base the order; the notice of hearing under subsection (b) of this section shall state the time and place of hearing. Unless mutually agreed between the Commissioner and the insurer, the hearing shall occur not more than 15 days after notice is served. The Commissioner shall not publicize such hearings and shall hold all hearings in summary proceedings privately unless the insurer requests a public hearing, in which case the hearing shall be public.

(d) Any suspension order made by the Commissioner under subsection (a) of this section shall prohibit issuance of policies, transfers of property and payments of moneys without prior written approval of the Commissioner. Notice of such suspension shall be given, by first class mail within 15 days thereof, by the suspended organization to those who were creditors, policyholders, members and certificate holders at the date of suspension. Notice of such suspension shall be given, within 15 days thereof, by the Commissioner to creditors, policyholders, members and certificate holders by advertising the same by 1 publication in a newspaper of general circulation in the county where the suspended organization has its principal office. From the date of such suspension on the ground that the insurer is insolvent or is in such condition that its further transaction of business will be hazardous financially to its policyholders, creditors or the public, no action at law or equity shall be commenced or prosecuted, nor shall any judgment be entered against nor shall any execution or attachment be issued or prosecuted against the suspended insurer, or against its property, in any court in the State; provided, that if such suspension order is vacated by the Chancery Court for the reason that the suspended insurer is no longer insolvent or in such condition that its further transaction of business will be hazardous to its policyholders or to its creditors or to the public, these restraints upon legal process regarding the insurer shall thereafter cease to be operative.

(e) If the Commissioner issues a summary order before a hearing under this section, the insurer may at any time waive the Commissioner’s hearing and apply for immediate judicial relief by means of any remedy afforded by law without first exhausting administrative remedies.

(f) If any person has violated any order issued under this section which as to that person was then still in effect, he or she shall be liable to pay a civil penalty imposed by the Chancery Court not to exceed $10,000.

(g) The Commissioner may apply to the Chancery Court for such restraining orders, preliminary and permanent injunctions and other orders as may be deemed necessary and proper to enforce a summary order.

64 Del. Laws, c. 420, § 2; 70 Del. Laws, c. 186, § 1.