§2025.  Priority of claims

The priorities of distribution of general assets from the insurer's estate shall be as follows:

(1)  The commissioner's costs and expenses of administration and the claims handling expenses of the Insurance Guaranty Association, the Louisiana Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, and any similar organization in another state, as provided for in R.S. 22:2061(B) and 2093(D)(2).

(2)  Claims by policyholders, beneficiaries, and insureds arising from and within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the insurer; and liability claims against insureds which claims are within the coverage of and not in excess of the applicable limits of insurance policies and insurance contracts issued by the insurer; and claims of the Insurance Guaranty Association, the Louisiana Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association, and any similar organization in another state, as provided for in R.S. 22:2061(B), 2055(3), 2083, and 2093(D)(2).

(3)  Claims of the federal government other than those claims in Paragraph (2) of this Section.

(4)  Compensation actually owing to employees other than officers of an insurer, for services rendered within three months prior to the commencement of a proceeding against the insurer pursuant to this Chapter, but not exceeding two thousand five hundred dollars for such employee, shall be paid prior to the payment of any other debt or claim and in the discretion of the commissioner of insurance may be paid as soon as practicable after the proceeding has commenced; except, that the commissioner of insurance shall reserve such funds as will in his opinion be sufficient for the payment of all claims in Paragraphs (1), (2), and (3) of this Section.  This priority shall be in lieu of any other similar priority which may be authorized by law as to wages or compensation of such employees.

(5)  Claims under nonassessable policies for unearned premiums or other premium refunds and claims of general creditors, including claims of ceding and assuming companies in their capacity as such.

(6)  All other claims.

Acts 1958, No. 125.  Amended by Acts 1981, No. 412, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1210, §1, eff. June 29, 1995; Redesignated from R.S. 22:746 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009; Acts 2012, No. 271, §1.

NOTE:  Former R.S. 22:2025 redesignated as R.S. 22:270 by Acts 2008, No. 415, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2009.