Fla. suspends new Allstate policies

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Jan. 16 (UPI) -- Allstate insurance was suspended from selling new auto policies in Florida Wednesday until it complies with a subpoena, Florida's insurance commissioner said.

Existing auto policyholders of the insurer -- based in Northbrook, Ill. -- won't be affected by the suspension, Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty said.

The suspension on writing new auto business will remain in effect until Allstate complies with the Office of Insurance Regulation's subpoenas for documents and information concerning the way the insurer sets rates, The Miami Herald reported. Allstate officials called the state's requests ''breathtakingly broad,'' saying it considers many of the areas trade secrets.

"In view of Allstate's ongoing, blatant disregard of our subpoenas, I have little choice," McCarty said. "Suspending their certificate of authority to write new business in our state should make my point."

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said he was surprised to learn that Allstate faced a daily fine for resisting a Missouri court order to produce documents.

Allstate, Crist said, "has been horrific in its corporate ethic. (It) has completely lost any trust or confidence."

The order applies to Allstate Insurance Co., Allstate Indemnity Co. and Allstate Property and Casualty Co., as well as new commercial auto insurance policies.

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