The New Jersey Appellate Division has ruled that the commissioner of the state Department of Banking and Insurance can pursue an administrative action against two out-of-state companies and their two New Jersey affiliates, rather than relying on the state attorney general to bring a lawsuit over alleged improper insurance-related practices in the state.

According to the appeals court’s opinion, Applied Underwriters is a Nebraska-based financial services company and parent company to the three other plaintiffs. Two of the insurers, Applied Risk Services and Continental Indemnity Co., are licensed New Jersey insurers and two, Applied Underwriters and Applied Underwriters Captive Risk Assurance Co., are not.