§ 58-58-280.  Confidentiality.

(a) Information and evidence provided under G.S. 58-58-270 or G.S. 58-58-275 or obtained by the Commissioner in an investigation of suspected or actual fraudulent viatical settlement acts shall be privileged and confidential, is not a public record, and is not subject to discovery or subpoena in a civil or criminal action.

(b) Subsection (a) of this section does not prohibit release by the Commissioner of documents and evidence obtained in an investigation of suspected or actual fraudulent viatical settlement acts:

(1) In administrative or judicial proceedings to enforce laws administered by the Commissioner;

(2) To federal, state, or local law enforcement or regulatory agencies, to an organization established for the purpose of detecting and preventing fraudulent viatical settlement acts, or to the NAIC; or

(3) At the discretion of the Commissioner, to a person in the business of viatical settlements that is aggrieved by a fraudulent viatical settlement act.

(c) Release of documents and evidence under subsection (b) of this section does not abrogate or modify the privilege granted in subsection (a) of this section. (2001-436, s. 3.)