Changes

==Insurance commissioner==

==Insurance commissioner==

While serving in the Louisiana House, a part-time position, Donelon maintained his private law practice. In the legislature, he was chairman of the Committee on Insurance and Co-Chairman of the Republican legislative delegation. He was sworn in as insurance commissioner on February 15, 2006.

While serving in the Louisiana House, a part-time position, Donelon maintained his private law practice. In the legislature, he was chairman of the Committee on Insurance and Co-Chairman of the Republican legislative delegation. He was sworn in as insurance commissioner on February 15, 2006.

On June 5, 2006, Commissioner Donelon issued Advisory Letter 06-04 to the approximately one hundred companies with homeowners insurance policies in Louisiana. The letter requests their cooperation in extending from one to two years the prescriptive period for policyholders with [[Hurricane Katrina]] and/or Hurricane Rita claims to file no later than August 1, 2006. In most cases, a Louisiana policyholder's right to file suit on a homeowners insurance claim is limited to twelve months. Donelon said that "given the unprecedented number of claims following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, one year is simply not going to be enough time for many policyholders and insurance companies to work out a settlement favorable to both parties."

 

On June 5, 2006, Commissioner Donelon issued Advisory Letter 06-04 to the approximately one hundred companies with homeowners insurance policies in Louisiana. The letter requests their cooperation in extending from one to two years the prescriptive period for policyholders with [[Hurricane Katrina]] and/or Hurricane Rita claims to file no later than August 1, 2006. In most cases, a Louisiana policyholder's right to file suit on a homeowners insurance claim is limited to twelve months. Donelon said that "given the unprecedented number of claims following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, one year is simply not going to be enough time for many policyholders and insurance companies to work out a settlement favorable to both parties."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yourlawyer.com/articles/title/la-commissioner-seeks-to-extend-time-to-sue-over-katrinarita-claims|title=Louisiana Commissioner Seeks to Extend Time to Sue over Katrina/Rita Claims|date=June 6, 2006|publisher=Yourlawyer.com|accessdate=September 8, 2015}}</ref>

Wooley said that he had planned to resign prior to the hurricanes, "[but] when Katrina hit, we decided we had to try to get through at least the crisis part of it". Wooley said that he had accomplished most of his goals as commissioner prior to the hurricanes, the most important of which was restoring the public image of the Department of Insurance.

Wooley said that he had planned to resign prior to the hurricanes, "[but] when Katrina hit, we decided we had to try to get through at least the crisis part of it". Wooley said that he had accomplished most of his goals as commissioner prior to the hurricanes, the most important of which was restoring the public image of the Department of Insurance.

Wooley joined the department in 1999 as the chief deputy for then Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]]. In the fall of 2000, Brown, a Democrat, was convicted of lying to an FBI agent, and Wooley moved up to the commissioner's position. Wooley was the first commissioner to leave office without a streak of scandal. His predecessors went to prison. Brown served a six-month sentence in the facility in Oakdale in Allen Parish. Democrat Douglas D. "Doug" Green of Baton Rouge received twenty-five years for his part in the Champion Insurance scandal of the late 1980s but served eleven years. Sherman Albert Bernard, Sr., who is also remembered for having opposed the Democratic re-nomination of Senator Russell Long in 1974, served time for extorting bribes from insurance companies doing business with the state.

Wooley joined the department in 1999 as the chief deputy for then Insurance Commissioner [[James H. "Jim" Brown]]. In the fall of 2000, Brown, a Democrat, was convicted of lying to an FBI agent, and Wooley moved up to the commissioner's position. Wooley was the first commissioner to leave office without a streak of scandal. His predecessors went to prison. Brown served a six-month sentence in the facility in Oakdale in Allen Parish. Democrat Douglas D. "Doug" Green of Baton Rouge received twenty-five years for his part in the Champion Insurance scandal of the late 1980s but served eleven years. Sherman Albert Bernard, Sr., who is also remembered for having opposed the Democratic re-nomination of Senator Russell Long in 1974, served time for extorting bribes from insurance companies doing business with the state.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://capitolwatch.reallouisiana.com/html/CCC8AA07-9EDC-451E-93CC-BFC5D59A5CFC.shtml|title=Jim Bradshaw, "Louisiana's seen several jailed state officials", October 2002|publisher=Capitolwatch.reallouisiana.com|accessdate=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

Commissioner Donelon clashed with former Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot, one of Donelon's former legislative colleagues who had also obtained Tulane scholarships for a family member. As part of an investigation, Theriot demanded department records from Donelon regarding the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Theriot's probe led to the indictment of the corporation's former president, Terry Lisotta. Ultimately, Theriot had to obtain a court order to inspect the records, which Donelon originally said were off limits.

Commissioner Donelon clashed with former Legislative Auditor Steve Theriot, one of Donelon's former legislative colleagues who had also obtained Tulane scholarships for a family member. As part of an investigation, Theriot demanded department records from Donelon regarding the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Theriot's probe led to the indictment of the corporation's former president, Terry Lisotta. Ultimately, Theriot had to obtain a court order to inspect the records, which Donelon originally said were off limits.