Section 47. No person shall cause or permit to be made, issued or circulated in any form—
(a) Any misrepresentation or false or misleading statement concerning the terms, benefits or advantages of any fraternal insurance contract now issued or to be issued in the commonwealth, or the financial condition of any society;
(b) Any false or misleading estimate or statement concerning the dividends or shares of surplus paid or to be paid by any society on any insurance contract; or
(c) Any incomplete comparison of an insurance contract of one society with an insurance contract of another society or insurer for the purpose of inducing the lapse, forfeiture or surrender of any insurance contract. A comparison of insurance contracts is incomplete if it does not compare in detail—
(1) The gross rates, and the gross rates less any dividend or other reduction allowed at the date of the comparison; and
(2) Any increase in cash values, and all the benefits provided by each contract for the possible duration thereof as determined by the life expectancy of the insured; or if it omits from consideration—
(3) Any benefit or value provided in the contract;
(4) Any differences as to amount or period of rates; or
(5) Any differences in limitations or conditions or provisions which directly or indirectly affect the benefits.
In any determination of the incompleteness or misleading character of any comparison or statement, it shall be presumed that the insured had no knowledge of any of the contents of the contract involved.
Any person who violates any provision of this section or knowingly receives any compensation or commission by or in consequence of such violation, shall be punished by a fine not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not less than thirty days nor more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and shall, in addition, be liable in the amount of three times the sum received by such violator as compensation or commission, which may be sued for and recovered by any person or society aggrieved for his or its own use and benefit in an action of tort.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Chapter 176 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 1a - Applicability of Chapter 176v to Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 1b - Applicability of Chapter 176w to Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 3 - Representative Form of Government
Section 4 - Articles of Incorporation; Preliminary Certificate; Certificate; Powers
Section 7 - Consolidation or Merger
Section 8 - Conversion to Mutual Life Insurance Company
Section 9 - Admission to Membership
Section 10 - Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
Section 11 - Fraudulent Alteration, etc., of Records
Section 13 - Disbursements; Vouchers
Section 14 - Creation and Operation of Charitable, Benevolent or Educational Institutions
Section 15 - Benefits Other Than Insurance Benefits
Section 16 - Liability of Officers and Members; Indemnification
Section 19 - Deferred Payments or Instalments
Section 20 - Paid-Up Nonforfeiture Benefits, Cash Surrender Values, and Other Options
Section 22 - Attachment or Other Process
Section 22a - Burial Benefits; Restrictions; Payment
Section 24 - Filing Copies of Forms With Commissioner; Standard Provisions of Certificates
Section 25 - Surplus of Assets; Waiver of Contributions
Section 29 - Termination and Renewal of Licenses; Fees; License as Evidence
Section 30 - Licensing of Foreign or Alien Societies
Section 31 - Action by Beneficiary
Section 32 - Foreign Societies; Deposits
Section 33 - Injunction Against Transaction of Business; Grounds; Procedure
Section 34 - Foreign or Alien Societies; Suspension or Denial of License
Section 35 - Agents of Societies; Licensing
Section 36 - Commissioner as Attorney for Service of Process
Section 37 - Injunction; Attorney General
Section 38 - Review of Commissioner's Decisions and Findings
Section 39 - Assets; Special Funds; Expenses
Section 40 - Investment of Funds
Section 41 - Reports; Annual Statements
Section 42 - Valuation of Bonds or Other Evidences of Debt
Section 43 - Additional, Increased or Extra Rates of Contributions
Section 45 - Foreign or Alien Societies; Examination; Confidentiality and Privilege
Section 46 - Financial Statement, Report or Finding; Service Upon Society
Section 47 - Misrepresentations, Etc. Concerning Society or Contract
Section 48 - Unfair Discrimination; Inducements Not Specified in Certificate or Contract
Section 51 - Application of Chapter
Section 53 - Jurisdiction to Restrain Violations, Etc.
Section 55 - Solicitation of Membership in Society Not Authorized to Transact Business, Etc.