Fla. Stat. 626.8697
Grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of adjusting firm license


(1)

The department shall deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to continue the license of any adjusting firm if it finds, as to any adjusting firm or as to any majority owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person who manages or controls the firm, that any of the following grounds exist:Lack by the firm of one or more of the qualifications for the license as specified in this code.Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining the license or in attempting to obtain the license.

(a)

Lack by the firm of one or more of the qualifications for the license as specified in this code.

(b)

Material misstatement, misrepresentation, or fraud in obtaining the license or in attempting to obtain the license.

(2)

The department may, in its discretion, deny, suspend, revoke, or refuse to continue the license of any adjusting firm if it finds that any of the following applicable grounds exist with respect to the firm or any owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person who is otherwise involved in the operation of the firm:Any cause for which issuance of the license could have been refused had it then existed and been known to the department.Violation of any provision of this code or of any other law applicable to the business of insurance.Violation of an order or rule of the department, office, or commission.An owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person who manages or controls the firm having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or of any state or under the laws of any other country, without regard to whether adjudication was made or withheld by the court.Failure to inform the department in writing within 30 days after a pleading by an owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person managing or controlling the firm of guilty or nolo contendere to, or being convicted or found guilty of, any felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or of any state, or under the laws of any other country, without regard to whether adjudication was made or withheld by the court.Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or abetting any person in the violation of or to violate a provision of the insurance code or any order or rule of the department, office, or commission.Knowingly employing any individual in a managerial capacity or in a capacity dealing with the public who is under an order of revocation or suspension issued by the department.Committing any of the following acts with such a frequency as to have made the operation of the adjusting firm hazardous to the insurance-buying public or other persons:
Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful or unreasonable withholding of moneys belonging to insurers or insureds or beneficiaries or claimants or to others and received in the conduct of business under the license.
Misrepresentation or deception with regard to the business of insurance, dissemination of information, or advertising.
Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of insurance adjusting arising out of activities related to insurance adjusting or the adjusting firm.
Failure to appoint a primary adjuster.

(a)

Any cause for which issuance of the license could have been refused had it then existed and been known to the department.

(b)

Violation of any provision of this code or of any other law applicable to the business of insurance.

(c)

Violation of an order or rule of the department, office, or commission.

(d)

An owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person who manages or controls the firm having been found guilty of or having pleaded guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or of any state or under the laws of any other country, without regard to whether adjudication was made or withheld by the court.

(e)

Failure to inform the department in writing within 30 days after a pleading by an owner, partner, manager, director, officer, or other person managing or controlling the firm of guilty or nolo contendere to, or being convicted or found guilty of, any felony or a crime punishable by imprisonment of 1 year or more under the laws of the United States or of any state, or under the laws of any other country, without regard to whether adjudication was made or withheld by the court.

(f)

Knowingly aiding, assisting, procuring, advising, or abetting any person in the violation of or to violate a provision of the insurance code or any order or rule of the department, office, or commission.

(g)

Knowingly employing any individual in a managerial capacity or in a capacity dealing with the public who is under an order of revocation or suspension issued by the department.

(h)

Committing any of the following acts with such a frequency as to have made the operation of the adjusting firm hazardous to the insurance-buying public or other persons:Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful or unreasonable withholding of moneys belonging to insurers or insureds or beneficiaries or claimants or to others and received in the conduct of business under the license.Misrepresentation or deception with regard to the business of insurance, dissemination of information, or advertising.Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of insurance adjusting arising out of activities related to insurance adjusting or the adjusting firm.
1. Misappropriation, conversion, or unlawful or unreasonable withholding of moneys belonging to insurers or insureds or beneficiaries or claimants or to others and received in the conduct of business under the license.
2. Misrepresentation or deception with regard to the business of insurance, dissemination of information, or advertising.
3. Demonstrated lack of fitness or trustworthiness to engage in the business of insurance adjusting arising out of activities related to insurance adjusting or the adjusting firm.

(i)

Failure to appoint a primary adjuster.

(3)

In lieu of discretionary refusal, suspension, or revocation of an adjusting firm’s license, the department may impose an administrative penalty of up to $1,000 for each violation or ground provided under this section, not to exceed an aggregate amount of $10,000 for all violations or grounds.

(4)

If any adjusting firm, having been licensed, thereafter has such license revoked or suspended, the firm shall terminate all adjusting activities while the license is revoked or suspended.

Source: Section 626.8697 — Grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of adjusting firm license, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0626.­8697 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

626.851
Short title
626.852
Scope of this part
626.853
Part supplements licensing law
626.854
“Public adjuster” defined
626.855
“Independent adjuster” defined
626.856
“Company employee adjuster” defined
626.859
“Catastrophe” or “emergency” adjuster defined
626.860
Attorneys at law
626.861
Insurer’s officers, insurer’s employees, reciprocal insurer’s representatives
626.862
Agents
626.863
Claims referrals to independent adjusters
626.864
Adjuster license types
626.865
Public adjuster’s qualifications, bond
626.866
All-lines adjuster qualifications
626.869
License, adjusters
626.870
Application for license
626.871
Reappointment after military service
626.874
Catastrophe or emergency adjusters
626.875
Office and records
626.876
Exclusive employment
626.877
Adjustments to comply with insurance contract and law
626.878
Rules
626.8548
“All-lines adjuster” defined
626.8561
“Public adjuster apprentice” defined
626.8582
“Nonresident public adjuster” defined
626.8584
“Nonresident all-lines adjuster” defined
626.8621
Adjustments by guaranty association employees
626.8651
Public adjuster apprentice appointment
626.8685
Portable electronics insurance claims
626.8695
Primary adjuster
626.8696
Application for adjusting firm license
626.8697
Grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of adjusting firm license
626.8698
Disciplinary guidelines for public adjusters and public adjuster apprentices
626.8732
Nonresident public adjuster’s qualifications, bond
626.8734
Nonresident all-lines adjuster license qualifications
626.8736
Nonresident independent or public adjusters
626.8737
Nonresident adjusters
626.8738
Penalty for violation
626.8795
Public adjusters
626.8796
Public adjuster contracts
626.8797
Proof of loss

Current through Fall 2025

§ 626.8697. Grounds for refusal, suspension, or revocation of adjusting firm license's source at flsenate​.gov