No. 23-258

Delaware Department of Insurance v. United States

Lower Court: Third Circuit
Docketed: 2023-09-18
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1)
Tags: business-of-insurance civil-rights federal-law federal-preemption insurance-regulation mccarran-ferguson-act preemption state-authority statutory-interpretation summons-power
Key Terms:
Antitrust
Latest Conference: 2023-11-17
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the three statutory factors set forth in the first clause of § 1012(b) are the only proper factors to consider when determining whether a state insurance statute preempts a federal law of general application under the McCarran-Ferguson Act, or may a court first constrain the inquiry by assessing whether the 'conduct at issue' constitutes the 'business of insurance'

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTION PRESENTED The McCarran-Ferguson Act (15 U.S.C. § 1011, et seq.) was enacted to “restore the supremacy of the States in the realm of insurance regulation.” United States Dep’ of Treasury v. Fabe, 508 U.S. 491, 505 (1993). The first clause of § 1012(b) “grant[s] the States broad regulatory authority over the business of insurance.” Jd. Ten Circuit Courts of Appeals use a three factor test which mirrors the statute in determining preemption under § 1012(b). Here, the Third Circuit added an additional factor, misapplied from later in the statute’s second clause which relates only to antitrust cases. The Court thus erroneously held that a Delaware insurance statute intended to promote the free flow of information between insurers and their regulators did not preempt the IRS code authorizing a summons. The Court found that the “conduct at issue” did not constitute “the business of insurance.” The Court’s error requires the Insurance Commissioner to violate his own statute. The question presented in this case is: 1. When determining whether a_ state insurance statute preempts a federal law of general application under the McCarranFerguson Act, are the three statutory factors set forth in the first clause of § 1012(b) the only proper factors to consider, or may a court first constrain the inquiry by assessing whether the “conduct at issue” constitutes the “business of insurance?”

Docket Entries

2023-11-20
Petition DENIED.
2023-11-01
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 11/17/2023.
2023-10-31
Reply of petitioner Delaware Department of Insurance filed. (Distributed)
2023-10-18
Brief amicus curiae of National Association of Insurance Commissioners filed.
2023-10-18
Brief of respondent United States in opposition filed.
2023-09-14

Attorneys

Delaware Department of Insurance
James Joseph Black IIIBlack & Gerngross, PC, Petitioner
James Joseph Black IIIBlack & Gerngross, PC, Petitioner
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Michael Thomas RauppHusch Blackwell LLP, Amicus
Michael Thomas RauppHusch Blackwell LLP, Amicus
United States
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent