The CFO serves a cease-and-desist order on a Florida insurance agent, and the agent continues the prohibited practice anyway. Under Fla. Stat. 626.9601, what is the maximum penalty for violating the order?

Why C is correct

Under Fla. Stat. 626.9601, violating a final cease-and-desist order is itself a punishable offense: the DFS may impose an administrative penalty of up to $50,000 and may also suspend or revoke the agent's license. Continuing the conduct after the CFO has acted converts a sales-practice problem into a licensing emergency, so the agent must stop immediately upon the order's entry.

Why the other options are wrong

• A) $12,500 is the current per-violation unfair-trade-practice ceiling for a nonwillful act, not the penalty for defying a cease-and-desist order.
• B) $100,000 is the willful per-violation unfair-trade-practice ceiling; disobeying the order carries its own $50,000 maximum plus suspension or revocation.
• D) The statute provides a real fine of up to $50,000 plus suspension or revocation; a $25,000 fine with a warning letter understates the sanction.

Memory hook

Defy the order: $50K plus your license.