As used in sections 3951.01 to 3951.09, inclusive, of the Revised Code:

(A) "Lending institution" means a lending institution, as defined in division (L) of section 175.01 of the Revised Code, that is not organized for the purpose of qualifying to do business as a public insurance adjuster in this state, as determined by the superintendent, and that has been engaged in business as a bona fide lending institution for at least five years, and any member of an affiliated group, as defined by division (B)(3)(e) of section 5739.01 of the Revised Code, associated with a lending institution, which member has been a member of the affiliated group for at least five years and which member is not organized or affiliated with the lending institution for the purpose of qualifying to do business as a public insurance adjuster in this state, as determined by the superintendent.

(B) "Public insurance adjuster" means any person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation who, for compensation, acts on behalf of or aids in any manner, an insurer or insured or another in negotiating for, or effecting the settlement of a claim or claims for loss or damage under any policy of insurance covering real or personal property, and any person, firm, association, partnership, or corporation who advertises, solicits business, or holds itself out to the public as an adjuster of such insurance claims, and any person who for compensation investigates, settles, adjusts, advises, or assists an insurer or insured with reference to claims for such losses, on behalf of any such public insurance adjuster.

(C) "Public insurance adjuster agent" means any person who is a bona fide employee of a public insurance adjuster and who aids in the adjustment, investigation, and in securing of any contract for the adjustment of a loss.

(D) "Superintendent" means the superintendent of insurance acting as director of the department of insurance.

(E) Nothing contained in Chapter 3951. of the Revised Code shall apply to the following:

(1) An attorney at law admitted to practice in this state who adjusts insurance losses in the course of the practice of the attorney's profession and who does not hold the attorney out by sign, advertisement, or otherwise as offering such services to the general public;

(2) An officer, agent, or regular salaried employee of an insurer, or underwriter, or any attorney in fact of any reciprocal insurer of Lloyd's underwriter licensed to do business in this state who adjusts losses arising under the employer's or principal's own policies; or an underwriter by whom a policy of insurance against loss or damage or other causes has been written upon property within this state, in adjusting loss or damage under such policy, nor to an agent or broker acting as adjuster for the agent's or broker's own company;

(3) An adjustment bureau or association owned and maintained by insurers to adjust or investigate losses of such insurers, or any regularly salaried employee thereof who devotes substantially all of the employee's time to the business of such bureau or association;

(4) Any licensed agent or employee or officer of such agent or agency of an authorized insurer who adjusts losses for such insurer solely under policies issued through such agency;

(5) Any independent adjuster representing an insurer.

Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9, HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.

Effective Date: 01-10-1961; 04-27-2005