1999 Minnesota Statutes

     72B.02 Definitions. 

    Subdivision 1.    Scope.  For the purposes of sections 
 72B.01 to 72B.14 the terms defined in this section have the 
 meanings ascribed to them unless the context otherwise requires. 

    Subd. 2.    Person.  "Person" means a natural person.  

    Subd. 3.    Commissioner.  "Commissioner" means the 
 commissioner of commerce or any other person properly acting for 
 the commissioner.  

    Subd. 4.    Adjuster.  "Adjuster" means a person who on 
 behalf of an insurer or an insured, for compensation as an 
 independent contractor or as an employee of such independent 
 contractor, or as an employee of an insurer, or for a fee or 
 commission, investigates and evaluates claims arising under 
 insurance contracts and negotiates the settlement of such claims.

    Subd. 5.    Independent adjuster.  "Independent 
 adjuster" means any person who for another for money, commission 
 or any other thing of value acts as an adjuster on behalf of 
 more than one insurer, or who holds out to do so.  

    Subd. 6.    Public adjuster.  "Public adjuster" means an 
 adjuster who hires out for employment by members of the public 
 for a fee, commission or any other thing of value, and who, when 
 so employed, acts solely to represent the interests of an 
 insured named in an insurance policy.  

    Subd. 7.    Staff adjuster.  "Staff adjuster" means an 
 adjuster who is a salaried employee of an insurance company and 
 who is engaged in adjusting insured losses solely for that 
 company or other companies under common control or ownership.  

    Subd. 8.    Public adjuster solicitor.  "Public adjuster 
 solicitor" means any person who for money, commission or any 
 other thing of value solicits in any manner or aids in securing 
 for a public adjuster any contract or agreement for the 
 adjustment of a loss.  

    Subd. 9.    Appraiser.  "Appraiser" means any person 
 engaged independently, for hire by the public or on the staff of 
 an insurer, in the process of evaluating motor vehicle physical 
 damage, who does not endeavor to determine liability or 
 negotiate the settlement of claims arising under automobile 
 insurance contracts.  

    Subd. 10. Repealed, 1979 c 141 s 9 

    Subd. 11.    Catastrophe or emergency situation.  
 "Catastrophe or emergency situation" means the occurrence of 
 insured losses of such a number or severity that the ordinary 
 staff adjuster personnel complement of the insurer and the 
 available independent adjusters could not adjust all of the 
 losses resulting from a common cause or related causes in a 
 reasonable time.  

    Subd. 12.    Single loss.  "Single loss" means a loss to 
 a single insured, and does not necessarily include all losses 
 resulting from a common cause.  

    Subd. 13.    Appraiser identification.  "Appraiser 
 identification" means a writing including the appraiser's name, 
 place of business, business telephone number, and the name of 
 the insurer or other business entity employing the appraiser, if 
 any.  

    Subd. 14.    Crop hail adjuster.  "Crop hail adjuster" 
 means a person who for money, commission, or other thing of 
 value acts as an adjuster in regard to insurance policies 
 against crop damage by hail. 

    HIST: 1971 c 704 s 2; 1980 c 456 s 1; 1983 c 289 s 114 subd 1; 
 1984 c 655 art 1 s 92; 1986 c 444; 1992 c 564 art 1 s 48