Chicago Title Insurance v. Office of the Insurance Commissioner

¶48 (dissenting) — In Washington State, the freedom of contract is one of our most highly prized liberties. Indeed, impairment of contracts is constitutionally prohibited in article I, section 23 of the Washington Constitution. The simple knowledge that legal contracts will be enforced by the rule of law in courts encourages entrepreneurs to innovate, increasing the quality of life for our citizens. The actions of the Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) and today’s majority opinion undermine this bedrock principle. Because the majority fails to respect a business relationship that…