ALJDEC - Licensing
26A-011-INS · Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions - Insurance · 2026-03-25
IN THE OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS
In the Matter of:
MORY REZAI
(National Producer Number 6621249),
Petitioner.
No. 26A-011-INS
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE DECISION
HEARING: March 11, 2026
APPEARANCES: Assistant Attorney General Raya Gardner represented the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Aqueelah Currie appeared as a witness for the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions. Petitioner Mory Rezai did not appear.
ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE: Sondra J. Vanella
EXHIBITS ADMITTED INTO EVIDENCE: None
FINDINGS OF FACT
On February 3, 2026, the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (“Department”) issued a Notice of Hearing setting the above-captioned matter for hearing on March 11, 2026, at 1:00 p.m., before the Office of Administrative Hearings. According to the Notice of Hearing, the purpose of the hearing was “to determine whether there are grounds to affirm the withdrawal of Petitioner’s application for an Arizona non-resident insurance producer license.”
On February 3, 2026, the Tribunal issued to the parties an Order Setting Hearing Via Google Meet. That Order reiterated the date and time set for hearing and provided the Google Meet information in order to participate in the hearing either by video or by phone. The Order was sent to Petitioner Mory Rezai’s email address of record with the Department.
On the date and time set for hearing, Assistant Attorney General Raya Gardner represented the Department. Aqueelah Currie appeared as a witness for the Department. Petitioner did not appear. The Tribunal provided a ten minute grace period for Petitioner to appear, however, Petitioner continued in his non-appearance, failed to provide any cause for the absence or delay, and did not request a continuance of the hearing.
Ms. Gardner made a motion to dismiss due to the fact that this matter was set for hearing based upon Petitioner’s appeal and Petitioner failed to appear.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
Petitioner bears the burden of persuasion.
The standard of proof on all issues in this matter is that of a preponderance of the evidence.
A preponderance of the evidence is:
The greater weight of the evidence, not necessarily established by the greater number of witnesses testifying to a fact but by evidence that has the most convincing force; superior evidentiary weight that, though not sufficient to free the mind wholly from all reasonable doubt, is still sufficient to incline a fair and impartial mind to one side of the issue rather than the other.
By failing to appear, Petitioner failed to sustain his burden of establishing by a preponderance of the evidence that the Department’s withdrawal of Petitioner’s application for an Arizona non-resident insurance producer license was improper or contrary to law. Consequently, Petitioner’s appeal should be dismissed.
ORDER
IT IS ORDERED that Petitioner Mory Rezai’s appeal is dismissed.
Pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1092.08(I), the licensee may accept the Administrative Law Judge Decision by advising the Office of Administrative Hearings in writing not more than ten (10) days after receiving the decision. If the licensee accepts the Administrative Law Judge Decision, the decision shall be certified as the final decision by the Office of Administrative Hearings.
In the event of certification of the Administrative Law Judge Decision by the Director of the Office of Administrative Hearings, the effective date of the Order will be forty (40) days from the date of that certification.
Done this day, March 25, 2026.
/s/ Sondra J. Vanella
Administrative Law Judge
Transmitted by either mail, e-mail, or facsimile to:
Charles Bassett, Interim Director
Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions - Insurance
Raya Gardner
Office of the Attorney General
[email redacted]
[email redacted]
Mory Rezai
[email redacted]
By: OAH Staff