ALJDEC decisions subject to certification as final

07A-127-INS · Department of Insurance · 2007-09-21

IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS

HEARING: September 6, 20007 APPEARANCES: Assistant Attorney General Lynette Evans for the Arizona Department of Insurance; Sherri Ann Middaugh did not appear at the hearing. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: Lewis D. Kowal _____________________________________________________________________ FINDINGS OF FACT 1. At all times material to this matter, Sherri Ann Middaugh (“Respondent”) was and currently is licensed by the Arizona Department of Insurance (“Department”) as an accident/ health and life producer. 2. On June 12, 2006, the Department issued Respondent an accident/health and life producer license, license number 866990 (“License”), which expires on June 30, 2010. 3. On August 21, 2006, the Department issued a letter to Respondent that was mailed to her address of record, informing her that her fingerprint card could not be processed and was returned by the Federal Bureau of Investigation) as illegible. In that letter, the Department requested that Respondent submit a replacement set of fingerprints and enclosed a blank replacement fingerprint form. The Department provided a deadline of September 26, 2006 for the return of the completed replacement fingerprint form. 4. Because the Department did not receive the requested replacement fingerprint form from Respondent as requested, the Department sent another letter to Respondent on December 6, 2006, certified mail, return receipt requested, giving Respondent a deadline of fifteen days from the date of the letter to file a replacement fingerprint form with the Department. 5. The Department submitted as exhibits a copy of a receipt card and envelope containing the December 6, 2006 letter that showed that the letter was returned to the Department as unclaimed. See Exhibit 5. 6. Steven Fromholtz (“Mr. Fromholtz”), Producer Licensing Administrator for the Department, testified that, to date, the Department has not received any communication from Respondent in response to the above- mentioned letters and the Department has not received a replacement fingerprint form from Respondent. 7. Mr. Fromhotz testified that the Department has not received any change of address notification from Respondent and that the above-mentioned letters were sent to the mailing address of record the Department had for Respondent. 8. Mr. Fromholtz testified that when an application for a producer’s license is received is processed, the fingerprint card is reviewed to make sure there are no blank spaces. The card is then forwarded to the Arizona Department of Public Safety for processing, which includes processing by the Federal Bureau of Investigation fro criminal history background check to be conducted. 9. Respondent did not present any evidence to refute or rebut the evidence that the Department presented. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW 1. This matter is a disciplinary proceeding wherein the Department must prove by a preponderance of the evidence that Respondent violated the State’s Insurance Laws. See A.AC. R2-19-119. 2. During the application process, the Director of the Department required Respondent to submit a full set of fingerprints and Respondent’s illegible fingerprint submission did not satisfy that requirement. See A.R.S. § 20-285(F)(2). 3. Respondent’s conduct, as set forth above, constitutes a violation of A.R.S. § 20-295(A)(1), by having failed to provide complete information in the license application. 4. Respondent’s conduct, as set forth above, constitutes the violation of any provision of A.R.S., Title 20, within the meaning of A.R.S. § 20- 295(A)(2). 5. Grounds exist for the Director of the Department to suspend, revoke, or refuse to renew the License pursuant to A.R.S. §§ 20-295(A). ORDER Based upon the above, the License shall be revoked on the effective date of the Order entered in this matter. Done this day, September 21, 2007.

______________________________________ Lewis D. Kowal Administrative Law Judge

Original transmitted by mail this ____ day of ____________, 2007, to:

Department of Insurance Christina Urias, Director 2910 North 44th Street, Ste. 210 Phoenix, AZ 85018

By ___________________________

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Office of Administrative Hearings 1400 West Washington, Suite 101 Phoenix, Arizona 85007 (602) 542-9826