govinfo:USCOURTS-mdd-8_21-cv-01581-0

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF MARYLAND
WALTER BLACK, HI
Plaintiff,
V. Civil No. 8:21-01581-PJM
USAA GENERAL INDEMNITY
COMPANY, etaL,
Defendants.
OPINION
I. INTRODUCTION
This is a putative class action brought by Walter Black against United Services Automobile
Association ("USAA") and its subsidiaries: Garrison Property and Casualty Insurance Company
("Garrison"); USAA General Indemnity Company ("USAA GIC"); and USAA Casualty Insurance
Company ("USAA CIC").'
As of 1978 and since then, Black has had an automobile insurance policy with USAA
underwritten by USAA CIC. Between August 2013 and March 2014, USAA charged Black three
ten-dollar late charge fees for untimely payment of his monthly premiums.
As it turned out, however, USAA lacked authority to charge the late fees because it had
not, as required by State insurance administration regulations,^ received approval to do so from
the Maryland Insurance Administration ("MIA") and the Maryland Insurance Commissioner
("MIC"). Accordingly, following an investigation by the MIC in July 2020, USAA entered into a
' USAA, Garrison, USAA GIA, and USAA CIC are hereafter referred to collectively as "Defendants."
^ Maryland Insurance Article § 27-216(b)(3) "does not prohibit an authorized insurer from charging and
collecting, if approved by the Commissioner... reasonable fees for late payment of premiums by
policyholders."
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