215 ILCS 155/21.1

(215 ILCS 155/21.1)

Sec. 21.1. Receiver and involuntary liquidation.

(a) The Secretary's proceedings under this Section shall be the exclusive remedy and the only proceedings commenced in any court for the dissolution of, the winding up of the affairs of, or the appointment of a receiver for a title insurance company.

(b) If the Secretary, with respect to a title insurance company, finds that (i) its capital is impaired or it is otherwise in an unsound condition, (ii) its business is being conducted in an unlawful, fraudulent, or unsafe manner, (iii) it is unable to continue operations, or (iv) its examination has been obstructed or impeded, the Secretary may give notice to the board of directors of the title insurance company of his or her finding or findings. If the Secretary's findings are not corrected to his or her satisfaction within 60 days after the company receives the notice, the Secretary shall take possession and control of the title insurance company, its assets, and assets held by it for any person for the purpose of examination, reorganization, or liquidation through receivership.

If, in addition to making a finding as provided in this subsection (b), the Secretary is of the opinion and finds that an emergency that may result in serious losses to any person exists, the Secretary may, in his or her discretion, without having given the notice provided for in this subsection, and whether or not proceedings under subsection (a) of this Section have been instituted or are then pending, take possession and control of the title insurance company and its assets for the purpose of examination, reorganization, or liquidation through receivership.

(c) The Secretary may take possession and control of a title insurance company, its assets, and assets held by it for any person by posting upon the premises of each office located in the State of Illinois at which it transacts its business as a title insurance company a notice reciting that the Secretary is assuming possession pursuant to this Act and the time when the possession shall be deemed to commence.

(d) Promptly after taking possession and control of a title insurance company the Secretary, represented by the Attorney General, shall file a copy of the notice posted upon the premises in the Circuit Court of either Cook County or Sangamon County, which cause shall be entered as a court action upon the dockets of the court under the name and style of "In the matter of the possession and control by the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation of (insert the name of the title insurance company)". If the Secretary determines (which determination may be made at the time of, or at any time subsequent to, taking possession and control of a title insurance company) that no practical possibility exists to reorganize the title insurance company after reasonable efforts have been made, the Secretary, represented by the Attorney General, shall also file a complaint, if it has not already been done, for the appointment of a receiver or other proceeding as is appropriate under the circumstances. The court where the cause is docketed shall be vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to hear and determine all issues and matters pertaining to or connected with the Secretary's possession and control of the title insurance company as provided in this Act, and any further issues and matters pertaining to or connected with the Secretary's possession and control as may be submitted to the court for its adjudication.

The Secretary, upon taking possession and control of a title insurance company, may, and if not previously done shall, immediately upon filing a complaint for dissolution make an examination of the affairs of the title insurance company or appoint a suitable person to make the examination as the Secretary's agent. The examination shall be conducted in accordance with and pursuant to the authority granted under Section 12 of this Act. The person conducting the examination shall have and may exercise on behalf of the Secretary all of the powers and authority granted to the Secretary under Section 12. A copy of the report shall be filed in any dissolution proceeding filed by the Secretary. The reasonable fees and necessary expenses of the examining person, as approved by the Secretary or as recommended by the Secretary and approved by the court if a dissolution proceeding has been filed, shall be borne by the subject title insurance company and shall have the same priority for payment as the reasonable and necessary expenses of the Secretary in conducting an examination. The person appointed to make the examination shall make a proper accounting, in the manner and scope as determined by the Secretary to be practical and advisable under the circumstances, on behalf of the title insurance company and no guardian ad litem need be appointed to review the accounting.

(e) The Secretary, upon taking possession and control of a title insurance company and its assets, shall be vested with the full powers of management and control including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) the power to continue or to discontinue the business;

(2) the power to stop or to limit the payment of its obligations;

(3) the power to collect and to use its assets and to give valid receipts and acquittances therefor;

(4) the power to transfer title and liquidate any bond or deposit made under Section 4 of this Act;

(5) the power to employ and to pay any necessary assistants;

(6) the power to execute any instrument in the name of the title insurance company;

(7) the power to commence, defend, and conduct in the title insurance company's name any action or proceeding in which it may be a party;

(8) the power, upon the order of the court, to sell and convey the title insurance company's assets, in whole or in part, and to sell or compound bad or doubtful debts upon such terms and conditions as may be fixed in that order;

(9) the power, upon the order of the court, to make and to carry out agreements with other title insurance companies, financial institutions, or with the United States or any agency of the United States for the payment or assumption of the title insurance company's liabilities, in whole or in part, and to transfer assets and to make guaranties, in whole or in part, in connection therewith;

(10) the power, upon the order of the court, to borrow money in the name of the title insurance company and to pledge its assets as security for the loan;

(11) the power to terminate his or her possession and control by restoring the title insurance company to its board of directors;

(12) the power to appoint a receiver which may be the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, another title insurance company, or another suitable person and to order liquidation of the title insurance company as provided in this Act; and

(13) the power, upon the order of the court and without the appointment of a receiver, to determine that the title insurance company has been closed for the purpose of liquidation without adequate provision being made for payment of its obligations, and thereupon the title insurance company shall be deemed to have been closed on account of inability to meet its obligations to its insureds or escrow depositors.

(f) Upon taking possession, the Secretary shall make an examination of the condition of the title insurance company, an inventory of the assets and, unless the time shall be extended by order of the court or unless the Secretary shall have otherwise settled the affairs of the title insurance company pursuant to the provisions of this Act, within 90 days after the time of taking possession and control of the title insurance company, the Secretary shall either terminate his or her possession and control by restoring the title insurance company to its board of directors or appoint a receiver, which may be the Secretary of the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, another title insurance company, or another suitable person and order the liquidation of the title insurance company as provided in this Act. All necessary and reasonable expenses of the Secretary's possession and control shall be a priority claim and shall be borne by the title insurance company and may be paid by the Secretary from the title insurance company's own assets as distinguished from assets held for any other person.

(g) If the Secretary takes possession and control of a title insurance company and its assets, any period of limitation fixed by a statute or agreement that would otherwise expire on a claim or right of action of the title insurance company, on its own behalf or on behalf of its insureds or escrow depositors, or upon which an appeal must be taken or a pleading or other document filed by the title insurance company in any pending action or proceeding, shall be tolled until 6 months after the commencement of the possession, and no judgment, lien, levy, attachment, or other similar legal process may be enforced upon or satisfied, in whole or in part, from any asset of the title insurance company or from any asset of an insured or escrow depositor while it is in the possession of the Secretary.

(h) If the Secretary appoints a receiver to take possession and control of the assets of insureds or escrow depositors for the purpose of holding those assets as fiduciary for the benefit of the insureds or escrow depositors pending the winding up of the affairs of the title insurance company being liquidated and the appointment of a successor escrowee for those assets, any period of limitation fixed by statute, rule of court, or agreement that would otherwise expire on a claim or right of action in favor of or against the insureds or escrow depositors of those assets or upon which an appeal must be taken or a pleading or other document filed by a title insurance company on behalf of an insured or escrow depositor in any pending action or proceeding shall be tolled for a period of 6 months after the appointment of a receiver, and no judgment, lien, levy, attachment, or other similar legal process shall be enforced upon or satisfied, in whole or in part, from any asset of the insured or escrow depositor while it is in the possession of the receiver.

(i) If the Secretary determines at any time that no reasonable possibility exists for the title insurance company to be operated by its board of directors in accordance with the provisions of this Act after reasonable efforts have been made and that it should be liquidated through receivership, he or she shall appoint a receiver. The Secretary may require of the receiver such bond and security as the Secretary deems proper. The Secretary, represented by the Attorney General, shall file a complaint for the dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the title insurance company in a court of the county in which the principal office of the title insurance company is located and shall cause notice to be given in a newspaper of general circulation once each week for 4 consecutive weeks so that persons who may have claims against the title insurance company may present them to the receiver and make legal proof thereof and notifying those persons and all to whom it may concern of the filing of a complaint for the dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the title insurance company and stating the name and location of the court. All persons who may have claims against the assets of the title insurance company, as distinguished from the assets of insureds and escrow depositors held by the title insurance company, and the receiver to whom those persons have presented their claims may present the claims to the clerk of the court, and the allowance or disallowance of the claims by the court in connection with the proceedings shall be deemed an adjudication in a court of competent jurisdiction. Within a reasonable time after completion of publication, the receiver shall file with the court a correct list of all creditors of the title insurance company as shown by its books, who have not presented their claims and the amount of their respective claims after allowing adjusted credit, deductions, and set-offs as shown by the books of the title insurance company. The claims so filed shall be deemed proven unless objections are filed thereto by a party or parties interested therein within the time fixed by the court.

(j) The receiver for a title insurance company has the power and authority and is charged with the duties and responsibilities as follows:

(1) To take possession of and, for the purpose of the receivership, title to the books, records, and assets of every description of the title insurance company.

(2) To proceed to collect all debts, dues, and claims belonging to the title insurance company.

(3) To sell and compound all bad and doubtful debts on such terms as the court shall direct.

(4) To sell the real and personal property of the title insurance company, as distinguished from the real and personal property of the insureds or escrow depositors, on such terms as the court shall direct.

(5) To file with the Secretary a copy of each report that he or she makes to the court, together with such other reports and records as the Secretary may require.

(6) To sue and defend in his or her own name and with respect to the affairs, assets, claims, debts, and choses in action of the title insurance company.

(7) To surrender to the insureds and escrow depositors of the title insurance company, when requested in writing directed to the receiver by them, the escrowed funds (on a pro rata basis), and escrowed documents in the receiver's possession upon satisfactory proof of ownership and determination by the receiver of available escrow funds.

(8) To redeem or take down collateral hypothecated by the title insurance company to secure its notes and other evidence of indebtedness whenever the court deems it to be in the best interest of the creditors of the title insurance company and directs the receiver so to do.

(k) Whenever the receiver finds it necessary in his or her opinion to use and employ money of the title insurance company in order to protect fully and benefit the title insurance company by the purchase or redemption of property, real or personal, in which the title insurance company may have any rights by reason of any bond, mortgage, assignment, or other claim thereto, the receiver may certify the facts together with the receiver's opinions as to the value of the property involved and the value of the equity the title insurance company may have in the property to the court, together with a request for the right and authority to use and employ so much of the money of the title insurance company as may be necessary to purchase the property, or to redeem the property from a sale if there was a sale, and if the request is granted, the receiver may use so much of the money of the title insurance company as the court may have authorized to purchase the property at the sale.

The receiver shall deposit daily all moneys collected by him or her in any State or national bank approved by the court. The deposits shall be made in the name of the Secretary, in trust for the receiver, and be subject to withdrawal upon the receiver's order or upon the order of those persons the Secretary may designate. The moneys may be deposited without interest, unless otherwise agreed. The receiver shall do the things and take the steps from time to time under the direction and approval of the court that may reasonably appear to be necessary to conserve the title insurance company's assets and secure the best interests of the creditors, insureds, and escrow depositors of the title insurance company. The receiver shall record any judgment of dissolution entered in a dissolution proceeding and thereupon turn over to the Secretary a certified copy of the judgment.

The receiver may cause all assets of the insureds and escrow depositors of the title insurance company to be registered in the name of the receiver or in the name of the receiver's nominee.

For its services in administering the escrows held by the title insurance company during the period of winding up the affairs of the title insurance company, the receiver is entitled to be reimbursed for all costs and expenses incurred by the receiver and shall also be entitled to receive out of the assets of the individual escrows being administered by the receiver during the period of winding up the affairs of the title insurance company and prior to the appointment of a successor escrowee the usual and customary fees charged by an escrowee for escrows or reasonable fees approved by the court.

The receiver, during its administration of the escrows of the title insurance company during the winding up of the affairs of the title insurance company, shall have all of the powers that are vested in trustees under the terms and provisions of the Illinois Trust Code.

Upon the appointment of a successor escrowee, the receiver shall deliver to the successor escrowee all of the assets belonging to each individual escrow to which the successor escrowee succeeds, and the receiver shall thereupon be relieved of any further duties or obligations with respect thereto.

(l) The receiver shall, upon approval by the court, pay all claims against the assets of the title insurance company allowed by the court pursuant to subsection (i) of this Section, as well as claims against the assets of insureds and escrow depositors of the title insurance company in accordance with the following priority:

(1) All necessary and reasonable expenses of the Secretary's possession and control and of its receivership shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(2) All usual and customary fees charged for services in administering escrows shall be paid from the assets of the individual escrows being administered. If the assets of the individual escrows being administered are insufficient, the fees shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(3) Secured claims, including claims for taxes and debts due the federal or any state or local government, that are secured by liens perfected prior to the date of filing of the complaint for dissolution, shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(4) Claims by policyholders, beneficiaries, insureds, and escrow depositors of the title insurance company shall be paid from the assets of the insureds and escrow depositors. If there are insufficient assets of the insureds and escrow depositors, claims shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(5) Any other claims due the federal government shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(6) Claims for wages or salaries, excluding vacation, severance, and sick leave pay earned by employees for services rendered within 90 days prior to the date of filing of the complaint for dissolution, shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(7) All other claims of general creditors not falling within any priority under this subsection (l) including claims for taxes and debts due any state or local government which are not secured claims and claims for attorney's fees incurred by the title insurance company in contesting the dissolution shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

(8) Proprietary claims asserted by an owner, member, or stockholder of the title insurance company in receivership shall be paid from the assets of the title insurance company.

The receiver shall pay all claims of equal priority according to the schedule set out in this subsection, and shall not pay claims of lower priority until all higher priority claims are satisfied. If insufficient assets are available to meet all claims of equal priority, those assets shall be distributed pro rata among those claims. All unclaimed assets of the title insurance company shall be deposited with the receiver to be paid out by him or her when such claims are submitted and allowed by the court.

(m) At the termination of the receiver's administration, the receiver shall petition the court for the entry of a judgment of dissolution. After a hearing upon the notice as the court may prescribe, the court may enter a judgment of dissolution whereupon the title insurance company's corporate existence shall be terminated and the receivership concluded.

(n) The receiver shall serve at the pleasure of the Secretary and upon the death, inability to act, resignation, or removal by the Secretary of a receiver, the Secretary may appoint a successor, and upon the appointment, all rights and duties of the predecessor shall at once devolve upon the appointee.

(o) Whenever the Secretary shall have taken possession and control of a title insurance company or a title insurance agent and its assets for the purpose of examination, reorganization, or liquidation through receivership, or whenever the Secretary shall have appointed a receiver for a title insurance company or title insurance agent and filed a complaint for the dissolution or winding up of its affairs, and the title insurance company or title insurance agent denies the grounds for such actions, it may at any time within 10 days apply to the Circuit Court of Cook or Sangamon County to enjoin further proceedings in the premises; and the Court shall cite the Secretary to show cause why further proceedings should not be enjoined, and if the Court shall find that grounds do not exist, the Court shall make an order enjoining the Secretary or any receiver acting under his direction from all further proceedings on account of the alleged grounds.

(Source: P.A. 101-48, eff. 1-1-20.)