Posted On: January 30, 2006, 2:53 pm CST

Posted By: Bill Kirven

I've had the pleasure of working with George Dale as member of the NAIC,on panels speaking to groups, and visiting his office as a consultant.

He is in every repsect a man of integrity who is dedicated to being an even-handed Commissioner who works hard to keep a fair and equitable balance between the often competing interests of consumers and insurers. He recognizes the tremendous losses and needs of MS citizens, but knows that it is not feasible to violate the contracts and coverages for which premiums were collected by requiring companies to cover losses for which no coverage was purchased or paid for by consumers.

This is precisely what Dickie Scruggs wants the courts to do, but he ignores the adverse consequences his action will have on the marketplace. If you drive competitiors from the marketplace, you will be left with just a few carriers who, without competition, will raise rates to the point of excluding many people from being able to buy any coverage.

Commissioner Dale takes the long view and knows that you cannot violate contracts without sacrificing competition in the long run. I think Mississippians have become too inured with their courts' outrageous judgments and think they are above the law and will not suffer any consequneces for these actions. Commissioner Dale knows this is not true from his experience and knows that the loss of market competition will have more severe long-term negative impacts than will Katrina. One need only look to FL to see that when the state tries to step in when the market dries up rates go up rapidly (but not enough to pay the claims) and the service declines. Being Commissioner is a difficult job, and George Dale has done it well, Scruggs self-serving and belated complaints notwithstanding.