In This Issue:

- AUTO REPAIR TRADE ASSOCIATION REQUESTS THAT DOJ INVESTIGATE THE USE OF MOST FAVORED NATION CLAUSES BY AUTO INSURERS:

Over the last several years, the use of most favored nation clauses by health insurers has been the focus of significant antitrust scrutiny, with legislation being enacted in several states that prohibits the use of such clauses in provider contracts and the DOJ Antitrust Division taking action against the use of such clauses as well. Now, it appears that the use of such clauses in other insurance contracts may be beginning to attract attention as well...

- TENNESSEE WILL NOT RUN HEALTHCARE EXCHANGE:

Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam recently announced that Tennessee will not set up a state-run insurance exchange under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Instead, he will allow the federal government to set up and run a health insurance exchange for the state of Tennessee. Governors in all 50 states were required to announce by December 14, 2012 their intent as to whether they plan to set up a state-run exchange; allow the federal government to run the exchange; or enter into an agreement with the federal government to operate a “partnership” exchange...

- NEW OFFICES:

The Insurance Division of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has moved to the 6th and 7th floors of the Davy Crockett Tower building. The mailing address will remain the same: 500 James Robertson Parkway, Nashville, Tennessee 37243.

- CASE LAW SUMMARIES

..In a Matter of First Impression, the Tennessee Supreme Court Holds That Damages for Loss of Consumer Credit Are Recoverable Under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act

In Discover Bank v. Morgan, 363 S.W.3d 479 (Tenn. 2012), the Supreme Court held that under Tenn. Code Ann. § 47-18-109(a) of the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (“TCPA”), actual damages are recoverable for the loss of available consumer credit due to the actions of a defendant if such damages can be proven with particularity...

..The Supreme Court of Tennessee Decides the Fretful Question of Who Shall Bear the Burden of an Insurance Producer’s Mistake:

In Allstate Insurance Co. v. Tarrant, 363 S.W.3d 508 (Tenn. 2012), the Supreme Court of Tennessee held that a change made to an insured’s policy of insurance by his insurance agent was not subject to ratification by the insured because the insurance agent was not acting in the insured’s stead or for his benefit when it made the change and that the insurance company was estopped from denying coverage...