Have legal questions on licensing, claims-handling, underwriting methods, record-keeping, advertising or insurance regulation? Lew Melahn provides free legal consultation, on a limited basis, to all MAIA members. Fifteen minutes is allowed per calendar quarter, per agency member.
Consultations are provided through an arrangement with Lewis E. Melahn, a practicing attorney in Jefferson City. He was in the insurance agency business for eight years, and served as Director of the Missouri Department of Insurance from 1989-1993.
The Parameters
Member agencies are entitled to one call, with a 15-minute consultation per calendar quarter per agency. There is no charge for this service. No attorney-client relationship is created between the law firm and the member agency through this call, but the conversation is confidential and privileged.
Legal assistance that requires more than the 15-minute limit will be limited by the law firm. The law firm will attempt to inform the caller at the time of the call whether the call will, or could, exceed the 15-minute limit, and whether the question should be referred for further legal considerations.
What are the service limitations?
Free legal consultations are restricted exclusively to insurance regulatory, compliance or agency operations questions. The service is not available for personal legal questions. Calls should not be made that require reference to specific insurance companies as the law firm would be required to do a full conflicts check before addressing the questions.
Examples of areas that could be addressed:
- Licensing
- Claims Procedures
- Business Structure and Perpetuation
- Commissions and Fees
- Producer Agreements
- Record Retention
- Advertising
- Liquidations