Tex. Ins. Code Section 443.051
Receivership Court’s Seizure Order


(a)

The commissioner may file in a district court of Travis County a petition with respect to an insurer domiciled in this state, an unauthorized insurer, or, pursuant to Section 443.401, a foreign insurer:

(1)

alleging that grounds exist that would justify a court order for a formal delinquency proceeding against the insurer under this chapter;

(2)

alleging that the interests of policyholders, creditors, or the public will be endangered by delay; and

(3)

setting forth the contents of a seizure order deemed to be necessary by the commissioner.

(b)

Upon a filing under Subsection (a), the receivership court may issue, ex parte and without notice or hearing, the requested seizure order directing the commissioner to take possession and control of all or a part of the property, books, accounts, documents, and other records of an insurer, and of the premises occupied by it for transaction of its business, and until further order of the receivership court, enjoining the insurer and its officers, managers, agents, and employees from disposition of its property and from the transaction of its business except with the written consent of the commissioner. Any person having possession or control of and refusing to deliver any of the books, records, or assets of a person against whom a seizure order has been issued commits an offense. An offense under this subsection is punishable in the manner described by Section 443.010(e).

(c)

A petition that prays for injunctive relief must be verified by the commissioner or the commissioner’s designee, but need not plead or prove irreparable harm or inadequate remedy at law. The commissioner shall provide only the notice as the receivership court may require.

(d)

The receivership court shall specify in the seizure order the duration of the seizure order, which shall be a period the receivership court deems necessary for the commissioner to ascertain the condition of the insurer. On motion of the commissioner or the insurer, or the court’s own motion, the receivership court may, from time to time, hold hearings as it deems desirable after notice as it deems appropriate, and may extend, shorten, or modify the terms of the seizure order. The receivership court shall vacate the seizure order if the commissioner fails to commence a formal delinquency proceeding under this chapter after having had a reasonable opportunity to do so. An order of the receivership court pursuant to a formal proceeding under this chapter vacates the seizure order.

(e)

Entry of a seizure order under this section does not constitute a breach or an anticipatory breach of any contract of the insurer.

(f)

An insurer subject to an ex parte seizure order under this section may petition the receivership court at any time after the issuance of a seizure order for a hearing and review of the seizure order. The receivership court shall hold the hearing and conduct the review not later than the 15th day after the date of the request. A hearing under this subsection may be held privately in chambers, and a hearing shall be held privately in chambers if the insurer proceeded against so requests.

(g)

If, at any time after the issuance of a seizure order, it appears to the receivership court that any person whose interest is or will be substantially affected by the seizure order did not appear at the hearing and has not been served, the receivership court may order that notice be given to the person. An order that notice be given does not stay the effect of any seizure order previously issued by the receivership court.

(h)

Whenever the commissioner makes any seizure as provided by Subsection (b), on the demand of the commissioner, the sheriff of any county and the police department of any municipality shall furnish the commissioner with the deputies, patrolmen, or officers as may be necessary to assist the commissioner in making and enforcing the seizure order.

(i)

In all proceedings and judicial reviews under this section, all records of the insurer, department files, court records and papers, and other documents, so far as they pertain to or are a part of the record of the proceedings, are confidential, and all papers filed with the clerk of the court shall be held by the clerk in a confidential file as permitted by law, except to the extent necessary to obtain compliance with any order entered in connection with the proceedings, unless and until:

(1)

the court, after hearing argument in chambers, orders otherwise;

(2)

the insurer requests that the matter be made public; or

(3)

the commissioner applies for an order under Section 443.057.
Added by Acts 2005, 79th Leg., Ch. 995 (H.B. 2157), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2005.
Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.051 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 730 (H.B. 2636), Sec. 3B.004(h), eff. September 1, 2007.
Redesignated from Insurance Code - Not Codified, Art/Sec 21A.051 by Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(a)(1), eff. September 1, 2007.
Amended by:
Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 921 (H.B. 3167), Sec. 9.004(h), eff. September 1, 2007.

Source: Section 443.051 — Receivership Court's Seizure Order, https://statutes.­capitol.­texas.­gov/Docs/IN/htm/IN.­443.­htm#443.­051 (accessed May 4, 2024).

443.001
Construction and Purpose
443.002
Conflicts of Law
443.003
Covered Persons
443.004
Definitions
443.005
Jurisdiction and Venue
443.006
Exemption from Fees
443.007
Notice, Hearing, and Appeal on Matters Submitted by Receiver for Receivership Court Approval
443.008
Injunctions and Orders
443.009
Statutes of Limitations
443.010
Cooperation of Officers, Owners, and Employees
443.011
Actions by and Against Receiver
443.012
Unrecorded Obligations and Defenses of Affiliates
443.013
Executory Contracts and Unexpired Leases
443.014
Immunity and Indemnification of Receiver and Assistants
443.015
Approval and Payment of Expenses
443.016
Financial Reporting
443.017
Records
443.051
Receivership Court’s Seizure Order
443.052
Commencement of Formal Delinquency Proceeding
443.053
Return of Summons and Summary Hearing
443.054
Proceedings for Expedited Trial: Continuances, Discovery, Evidence
443.055
Decision and Appeals
443.056
Confidentiality
443.057
Grounds for Conservation, Rehabilitation, or Liquidation
443.058
Entry of Order
443.059
Effect of Petition or Order on Contract or Lease
443.101
Rehabilitation Orders
443.102
Powers and Duties of Rehabilitator
443.103
Rehabilitation Plans
443.104
Termination of Rehabilitation
443.105
Coordination with Guaranty Associations
443.0135
Contracts for Special Deputies
443.151
Liquidation Orders
443.152
Continuance of Coverage
443.153
Sale or Dissolution of Insurer’s Corporate Entity
443.154
Powers of Liquidator
443.155
Notice to Creditors and Others
443.156
Duties of Agents
443.201
Turnover of Assets
443.202
Recovery from Affiliates
443.203
Unauthorized Post-petition Transfers
443.204
Voidable Preferences and Liens
443.205
Fraudulent Transfers and Obligations
443.206
Receiver as Lien Creditor
443.207
Liability of Transferee
443.208
Claims of Holders of Void or Voidable Rights
443.209
Setoffs
443.210
Assessments
443.211
Reinsurer’s Liability
443.212
Recovery of Premiums Owed
443.213
Administration of Deductible Agreements and Policyholder Collateral
443.251
Filing of Claims
443.252
Proof of Claim
443.253
Allowance of Claims
443.254
Claims Under Occurrence Policies, Surety Bonds, and Surety Undertakings
443.255
Allowance of Contingent and Unliquidated Claims
443.256
Special Provisions for Third-party Claims
443.257
Disputed Claims
443.258
Liquidator’s Recommendations to Receivership Court
443.259
Claims of Codebtors
443.260
Secured Creditors’ Claims
443.261
Qualified Financial Contracts
443.301
Priority of Distribution
443.302
Partial and Final Distributions of Assets
443.303
Early Access Payments
443.304
Unclaimed and Withheld Funds
443.351
Condition on Release from Delinquency Proceedings
443.352
Termination of Liquidation Proceedings
443.353
Reopening Receivership
443.354
Disposition of Records During and After Termination of Receivership
443.355
External Audit of the Receiver’s Books
443.401
Ancillary Conservation of Foreign Insurers
443.402
Domiciliary Receivers Appointed in Other States

Accessed:
May 4, 2024

§ 443.051’s source at texas​.gov