Section 3904.20. Review of order or report of superintendent by court of common pleas

(A) Any person subject to an order of the superintendent of insurance under section 3904.19 of the Revised Code, or any person whose rights under sections 3904.01 to 3904.22 of the Revised Code were allegedly violated, may obtain a review of any order or report of the superintendent by filing in the appropriate common pleas court, within thirty days from the date of the service of such order or report, a written petition requesting that the order or report of the superintendent be set aside. A copy of the petition shall be simultaneously served upon the superintendent, who shall forthwith certify and file in such court a transcript of the entire record of the proceeding giving rise to the order or report that is the subject of the petition. Upon filing of the petition and transcript, the court shall have jurisdiction to make and enter a decree modifying, affirming, or reversing any order or report of the superintendent, in whole or in part. The findings of the superintendent as to the facts supporting any order or report, if supported by clear and convincing evidence, are conclusive.

(B) To the extent an order or report of the superintendent is affirmed, the court shall issue its own order commanding obedience to the terms of the order or report of the superintendent. If any party affected by an order or report of the superintendent applies to the court for leave to produce additional evidence and shows to the satisfaction of the court that such additional evidence is material and that there are reasonable grounds for the failure to produce such evidence in prior proceedings, the court may order such additional evidence to be taken before the superintendent in such manner and upon such terms and conditions as the court may consider proper. The superintendent may modify his findings of fact or make new findings by reason of the additional evidence so taken and shall file such modified or new findings along with any recommendation, if any, for the modification or revocation of a previous order or report. If supported by clear and convincing evidence, the modified or new findings are conclusive as to the matters contained therein.

(C) An order or report issued by the superintendent under section 3904.18 or 3904.19 of the Revised Code shall become final upon one of the following:

(1) Upon the expiration of the time allowed for the filing of a petition for review, if no such petition has been filed. However, the superintendent may modify or set aside an order or report to the extent provided in division (C) of section 3904.18 of the Revised Code.

(2) Upon a final decision of the common pleas court, if the court directs that the order or report of the superintendent be affirmed or the petition for review dismissed.

(D) No order or report of the superintendent under sections 3904.01 to 3904.22 of the Revised Code, or order of a court to enforce the same, shall in any way relieve or absolve any person affected by such order or report from any liability under any law of this state.

Effective Date: 06-29-1995