After a hearing, the Ohio Superintendent imposes the maximum administrative penalty on a licensee for a single violation of an insurance law. Under ORC 3905.14(E)(1), the penalty may be up to:

Why C is correct

ORC 3905.14(E)(1) authorizes the Superintendent, after notice and opportunity for hearing, to impose an administrative civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation on a licensee who violates the insurance laws. This administrative figure is distinct from the court penalties for unfair practices under ORC 3901.22(F)(1) — up to $3,500 per violation, capped at $35,000 in any six-month period — and the up-to $10,000 court penalty for violating a cease-and-desist order under ORC 3901.22(F)(2).

Why the other options are wrong

• A) $3,500 per violation is the court civil penalty for each unfair practice under ORC 3901.22(F)(1), not the Superintendent's administrative penalty under ORC 3905.14(E)(1).
• B) $10,000 is the court penalty for violating a cease-and-desist order under ORC 3901.22(F)(2), a different provision from the administrative penalty tested here.
• D) $35,000 is the aggregate cap on unfair-practice court penalties in any six-month period under ORC 3901.22(F)(1), not the per-violation administrative penalty.

Memory hook

Superintendent's own penalty: $25,000 a violation — keep it apart from the court figures.