Dairyland and Direct Writer Elephant Auto to Provide Motorcycle & ATV Coverage

Elephant, a direct-to-consumer car insurance company, has partnered with Dairyland, a provider of specialty insurance, to offer coverage for motorcycles, ATVs and similar vehicles. The new partnership with Dairyland, which has been offering motorcycle insurance since 1966, will enable Elephant …

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Citizens Assesses Hurricane Response as 2016 Season Comes to a Close

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation expressed satisfaction with its response efforts to the first hurricanes to hit Florida in more than a decade as the end of the 2016 hurricane season officially ended Nov. 30. “Policies and procedures put in place …

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Lawsuit Alleges Inaction by Kansas State Officials Led to Another Rape

A female student contends in a court filing that Kansas State University’s failure to investigate the rape of another woman allowed the same alleged assailant to sexually assault her. The accusations were levied in court documents seeking to add the …

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Tennessee Fire Forces Thousands to Evacuate, Destroys Hundreds of Homes

With flames dripping from tree branches and the air filled with embers, thousands of people raced through a hellish landscape as they fled wildfires that killed three people and destroyed hundreds of homes and a resort in the Great Smoky …

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MJ Insurance Adds Miller in Indianapolis Office

Indianapolis-based MJ Insurance has hired Kylie Miller as a talent acquisition specialist on its Learning & Development team. Miller will partner with the hiring managers and business leaders to anticipate and meet MJ’s evolving workforce needs while delivering the best …

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Why Auto Insurance Claimants Hire Attorneys

In a recent online poll, almost half of respondents with auto injury claims hired attorneys to help settle those claims. But most who hired attorneys were not upset with how their claim was being handled, according to the insurance industry’s …

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Maximum Adds P&C Expert Murray to Florida Office

Maximum, an independent, Chicago-based excess and surplus lines wholesaler, has added Michelle Murray, who has a property and casualty background, to its office in Tampa, Fla. Murray is a Tampa native and will offer Maximum’s full range of P&C and …

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Washington Workers’ Comp Rates for 2017 to Increase Less Than 1%

The average premium for workers’ compensation coverage in Washington will go up less than 1 percent in 2017, according to the Department of Labor & Industries. LL&I announced today the rate will rise by an average of 0.7 percent next …

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California is Taking Global Warming Fight to Dairy Cows

California is taking its fight against global warming to the farm. The nation’s leading agricultural state is now targeting greenhouse gases produced by dairy cows and other livestock. Despite strong opposition from farmers, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation in September …

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Texas Reports First Case of Locally Transmitted Zika

Texas on Nov. 28 reported its first case of Zika virus that likely came from a mosquito bite within the state. Florida is the only other state in the U.S. with locally spread Zika. Health officials say that the woman …

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Oklahoma Companies Blame City for Groundwater Pollution

Two companies that operated a now closed aerospace plant argue that groundwater pollutants threatening to contaminate the city of Bethany’s municipal water supply are a result of the city’s 67-year-old clay sewer pipes, not the shuttered plant. A plume of …

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New Cincinnati Streetcar Involved in 10 Accidents, Records Show

Cincinnati’s new streetcar service has been involved in 10 traffic accidents and four safety “incidents” since on-street testing began earlier this year, records show. The streetcar known as the “Cincinnati Bell Connector” clipped both a cement truck and a Cincinnati …

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Court: Workers’ Comp Medical Exam not False Imprisonment in Michigan

A medical appointment that lasts hours might be an annoyance, but it’s not false imprisonment in Michigan. A federal appeals court last week ruled in favor of an insurance company in a dispute over an exam for a man seeking …

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Nebraska School Settles Sledding Accident Lawsuit for $500K

The mother of a girl injured in a 2014 sledding accident at a Nebraska school will get a $500,000 lump-sum payment as part of a settlement with the school district’s insurance company. The Omaha World Herald reports that Valarie Potter …

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Dixon Named Sr. Vice President in Hylant’s Michigan Office

Privately owned insurance brokerage firm, Hylant, has promoted veteran Hylant executive JPaul Dixon to senior vice president in its Ann Arbor, Michigan, office. Dixon has worked for Hylant for 25 years. He is an authority in operational insurance and risk …

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Investigators of Fatal Colombia Jet Crash to Examine Whether Plane Ran Out of Fuel

Air-safety experts probing the jet crash that killed 71 people including most of Brazil’s Chapecoense soccer squad will look at whether the plane ran out of fuel while operating a flight close to the limits of its range. The distance …

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Report: California Workers’ Comp Reforms Saving $1.3B Annually

A look back at the performance of a law reforming California’s worker’s compensation system that took effect in 2013 shows more than $1 billion in savings has been created. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau released a report on Senate …

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Deadly Tornadoes Rip Through Mississippi, Alabama

At least three people were killed and four children in a daycare center were injured as tornadoes tore through the U.S. south overnight and into Wednesday morning, forecasters said. Three people were killed in Rosalie in northeast Alabama where at …

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National Study of State Workers’ Comp Costs Finds Pennsylvania Improved

A national study conducted by The Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services shows Pennsylvania has improved its standing among states under Governor Tom Wolf’s administration in workers’ compensation insurance costs, Governor Wolf announced. The study ranks Pennsylvania 26th highest …

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Lovitt & Touché in Aroznoa Taps Spong and Muzzy

Lovitt & Touché in Arizona recently hired Will Spong as senior vice president of employee benefits. The firm also recently hired Scott Muzzy as sales executive. Spong will oversee business development, with a focus on self-funding and employee communication platforms. …

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New Mexico’s Auditor Wants Second Audit Of Insurance Taxes

New Mexico’s state auditor is calling for a new audit into whether health-insurance companies have been underpaying the premium taxes they owe. The Albuquerque Journal reported that State Auditor Tim Keller asked that a new independent accounting firm should be …

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PG&E in California Announces $85M Diablo Canyon Closure Deal

Pacific Gas & Electric has agreed to pay $85 million to neighboring cities and a school district affected by the closure of the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant, the California utility announced. The state’s largest utility reached a deal to …

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Access Holdco Buys Massachusetts Non-Standard Auto Business From IAT

Access Holdco Management, an Atlanta, Georgia, headquartered insurance managing general agency focused on the non-standard auto market, has purchased the Massachusetts non-standard auto insurance book of business of Occidental Fire & Casualty Company of North Carolina from Occidental’s parent, IAT …

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Lawsuit Alleges ‘Boys’ Club’ at Citigroup Unfair to Women

A former Citigroup Inc. financial adviser on Monday filed a lawsuit accusing the bank of running a “boys’ club” that favored men over women, treating her as a “glorified secretary,” and firing her in retaliation for whistleblowing activity. Erin Daly …

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Researchers Find Evidence of Brain Injury in Young NFL Players

In a small study of young or recently retired NFL players, researchers at Johns Hopkins report finding evidence of brain injury and repair that is visible on imaging from the players compared to a control group of men without a …

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How to Bring Coastal Community Stakeholders into Disaster Planning

Recognizing that coastal storms can cause surges, sea-level rise and cyclone winds that devastate communities, emergency management experts in a new study have detailed a method for involving local stakeholders in planning for such extreme events and thereby helping vulnerable …

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Sirius May Settle Music Copyright Suit Brought by The Turtles for $100M

Sirius XM Holdings Inc. may pay close to $100 million after settling a copyright lawsuit brought by founding members of the 1960s band The Turtles over the satellite radio company’s broadcast of songs made before 1972. Terms of the proposed …

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New York Accountant Admits Stealing $3M from Grain Shipper

A corporate accountant in New York admitted Monday to stealing at least $3.1 million from agribusiness giant Cargill, Inc., and causing $25 million in losses to the privately held company’s grain shipping operations at the Port of Albany. Diane Backis, …

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Top New York City Commuter Rails Slow to Progress on Technology

The nation’s three busiest commuter railroads – which together serve nearly 1 million riders in the New York City area each day – continue to lag behind their smaller West Coast counterparts in installing sophisticated train-control technology that’s seen as …

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NFL Players with CTE Sue to Force Teams to Pay Workers’ Compensation Benefits

A group of 38 former National Football League players have sued to force the NFL to pay them workers’ compensation benefits for the chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) they say they developed as a result of head injuries they suffered while …

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Uber Case in Europe’s High Court Could Affect Sharing Economy Firms

Uber defended its business model in Europe’s highest court on Tuesday, saying its service had made it easier for people to get around and cut pollution as it fights a case which could leave app-based startups facing tougher regulation. The …

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London Insurers List 4 Priorities for Brexit Negotiations

Four priorities for Brexit negotiations have been identified by companies operating in the London insurance market. The objectives outline arrangements that will help the City of London “maintain its position as the largest global center for commercial and specialty risk,” …

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EU Court to Decide Whether Uber Is an App or a Transport Company

Fifteen judges at the European Union’s top court are trying to decide, once and for all, whether Uber Technologies Inc. is an app or a transport company. The question has long vexed regulators and lawmakers across the region. Defeat for …

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RSA Appoints Germain as Group Chief Technology Officer

RSA announced it has appointed David Germain to the role of group chief technology officer. Based in London and reporting to Darren Price, group chief information officer, Germain will be responsible for implementing RSA’s information technology strategy to support change …

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Most Organizations Not Adequately Prepared for Cyber Attacks: Marsh Cyber Handbook

No company is fully secure from cyber breaches, no matter how sophisticated its cyber defense mechanisms, which is why every company should develop a cyber risk management strategy, according Marsh & McLennan’s “Cyber Risk Handbook 2016.” Research reveals that that …

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Storms Across Southeast to Help Fight Wildfires, But Risk Still Remains

Storms roaring across the South appeared to be taking aim at some of the largest wildfires burning across the region, which could finally help firefighters in their efforts to subdue the blazes, authorities said Monday. The storm system passed over …

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DUAL Commercial, Aspen Insurance Partner on Management Liability Program

DUAL Commercial, a subsidiary of the Hyperion Insurance Group Limited, has partnered with Aspen American Insurance Co., part of Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited, enabling DUAL to provide a broader management liability product offering for both private and not-for-profit entities. Aspen …

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Brentwood Services Administrators Hires Greene as Senior Claim Representative in Georgia

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. has hired Stephanie Greene as a senior claim representative in the DeKalb County office in Stone Mountain, Ga., according to Jeff Pettus, president and chief executive officer of BSA. As senior claim representative, Greene is responsible …

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Thanksgiving Weekend Auto Accidents Kill 2, Injure 67 in Mississippi

The Mississippi Highway Patrol says two people died on state and federal highways over the Thanksgiving weekend. Monday, the agency said it worked 171 crashes, which included 67 injuries. State Troopers wrote more than 5,000 citations and arrested 67 people …

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Tennessee Bus Driver Likely to Plead Not Guilty in Fatal Crash

The driver in a Chattanooga, Tenn., school bus crash last week that killed six children will likely plead not guilty to related charges, according to his lawyer. Defense attorney Amanda Dunn said she anticipates 24-year-old Johnthony Walker will plead not …

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Kentucky Lawmaker to Lead National Conference of Insurance Legislators

A Kentucky lawmaker is the new president of the National Conference of Insurance Legislators. Rep. Steve Riggs of Louisville began his yearlong tenure this month during the group’s annual meeting. He has previously been the group’s vice president, secretary, treasurer …

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Increased Border Security in Texas Yields Bumper Crop of Traffic Tickets

A new border security approach promoted by the Texas Department of Public Safety has yielded at least one result: a bumper crop of traffic tickets. Traffic stops in Starr and Hidalgo counties on the Texas-Mexico border accounted for nearly 8 …

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Florida Appeals Judge’s Order Halting 14.5% Workers’ Comp Rate Increase

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is appealing a court order invalidating its approved 14.5 rate increase on Florida workers’ compensation rates that was set to take effect Dec. 1. OIR filed its Notice of Appeal on Nov. 28 …

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Texas Surplus Lines Stamping Office Adds DiLoreto

The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLSOT) has appointed Maegan DiLoreto as communications and training coordinator. DiLoreto previously worked as a copy editor and page designer for newspapers in both Alabama and Texas. She began as a copy editor …

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Central Indiana County’s Hacked Computer System Taking Weeks to Restore

Workers have spent weeks restoring a central Indiana county government’s computer system that was hacked by an unknown group demanding a ransom payment. Madison County officials decided to pay the undisclosed ransom following the Nov. 4 hacking that locked up …

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Emporia State University Wins Kansas ‘Don’t Text #Just Drive’ Contest

Emporia State University received the highest number of votes by percentage of students enrolled to win the initial “Don’t Text #Just Drive” fall contest, according to the Kansas Insurance Department. Seven Kansas universities participated in the campaign. In all, nearly …

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4,000 Businesses Earn $3M in Texas Mutual Early Qualifier Dividends

This week, Texas Mutual Insurance Co. paid more than $3 million in early qualifier dividends to approximately 4,000 newer policyholder owners across the state. This payout is the final component of Texas Mutual’s $240 million dividend distribution in 2016. The …

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Furtado Joins Western National Insurance as VP, Agency Sales

Western National Insurance Group has hired Eric Furtado as vice president of agency sales. He is based in the company’s Edina, Minn. office and is responsible for day-to-day sales activities, as well as management of the group’s Regional Agency Manager …

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Hub International Names Chapman Regional President of New US South Region

Hub International Limited (HUB), a global insurance brokerage, has named Michael S. Chapman, currently chief executive officer of Hub International Southeast, as president of Hub’s newly formed US South region, which will include states Virginia through Louisiana, and existing Hub’s …

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Asbestos Losses Continue to Haunt P/C Insurers: A.M. Best

Net ultimate asbestos losses for the U.S. property/casualty industry have risen once again. They’re now at $100 billion, and that’s $15 billion higher than the previous estimate, according to a new A.M. Best report. A number of factors appear to …

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California Bar Wants to Ban Sex Between Lawyers And Clients

The nation’s largest state bar association is overhauling ethics rules for attorneys for the first time in 30 years, and some lawyers are unhappy about a proposal that would open them up to discipline for having sex with clients. California …

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Holiday DUI Enforcement Push in Arizona Underway

Law enforcement officials plan to gather at Arizona’s Capitol to publicize the launch of their annual DUI enforcement and sober designated driver campaigns. State, local and federal officials are set to speak at Tuesday’s news conference. They’ll highlight the dangers …

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How to Get Teens to Take Dangers of Distracted Driving Seriously

A program to educate teens about distracted driving—including a tour of a hospital trauma center and testimony from a trauma survivor—can increase awareness of the dangers of texting, cell phone use, and other distractions while driving, reports a study in …

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Steel Beam Falls from New York City Crane, Killing 2 Workers

Authorities say a steel beam being hoisted at a New York City construction site fell after a cable apparently snapped, killing a crane operator and a co-worker. The beam was being lifted when it came loose Tuesday afternoon in the …

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Deadly 1919 Disaster in Massachussetts Explained in New Study

The Great Molasses Flood of 1919 – one of Boston’s most peculiar disasters – killed 21 people, injured 150 others and flattened buildings when a giant storage tank ruptured. Now Harvard University researchers think they know why the wave of …

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Study Finds Northeastern U.S. Could See Increased Hurricane Activity

The Northeastern coast of the U.S. could be struck by more frequent and powerful hurricanes in the future due to shifting weather patterns, according to new research presented in a study led by Durham University in the U.K. This is …

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Insurance Industry Sees Challenges with New York City Crawler Crane Requirements

The Department of Buildings of the City of New York’s (DOB) recent move to better regulate crawler crane operations in New York City has led to concern for some in the insurance industry that a stricter regulatory environment could make a …

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Supreme Court Rejects Stanford’s Appeal of Ponzi Scheme Conviction

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected Texas financier Robert Allen Stanford’s bid to overturn his conviction and 110-year prison sentence for running what prosecutors called a $7.2 billion Ponzi scheme that bilked investors in 113 countries. The justices left …

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Rep. Price, Obamacare Critic, Is Trump’s Choice to Lead Health Agency

President-elect Donald Trump said he’ll nominate U.S. Representative Tom Price, one of the main architects of legislation to repeal and replace Obamacare, to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, the first of multiple Cabinet announcements expected Tuesday. …

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At Trial, Anthem-Cigna Merger Called Harmful to Competition

Anthem Inc.’s proposed $48 billion merger with Cigna Corp. could give the insurer the power to raise prices for employers both in the 14 states where it does business, as well as across the country, according to a witness in …

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Cyber Risk Awareness Rises Among SMEs: Zurich Survey

One way to reduce cyber risks is to boost awareness of them. In that regard, Zurich Insurance Group says, there has been big progress in terms of getting the word out among small and medium-sized businesses. At the same time, …

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Hong Kong-Based Latitude Brokers Launches P&I Club Comparison Tool

Latitude Brokers, the Asia-based marine insurance specialist, has launched PILOT, an online protection & indemnity (P&I) club comparison tool. In time for the 2017 P&I renewal season, PILOT distills critical information for each club in the International Group (IG) “into an …

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AXIS Capital Buys Belgium-Based Specialty Aviation Re/Insurer Aviabel

Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced it has agreed to acquire general aviation insurance and reinsurance leader Aviabel, in a move that is designed to increase the company’s scale and relevance in the global aviation market. The “Aviabel” brand, including …

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Willis Re Appoints Kent as Global Deputy CEO

Willis Re, the reinsurance business of Willis Towers Watson, announced the promotion of James Kent – co-president of Willis Re and President of Willis Re North America – to the position of Global Deputy CEO, Willis Re, with immediate effect. …

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Insurtech to Become Part of Traditional Insurance Landscape: S&P

Insurtech has a complementary place in the traditional insurance world, despite remaining uncertainty in the industry about how it will function on a wide scale, Standard & Poor’s said in a new report. “We do not expect traditional insurance business …

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Plane with 81 People Crashes in Colombia; Brazilian Soccer Players on Board

An airplane carrying 81 people, including players from the Brazilian soccer team Chapecoense, crashed close to Colombia’s second-largest airport Monday. There may be survivors, the Jose Maria Cordova airport said on its Twitter account, without elaborating on how it obtained …

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Wells Fargo Banks on Arbitration to Settle Fake Account Claims

Wells Fargo & Co. is trying to keep dozens of customers suing over bogus accounts opened by its employees out of court, saying they agreed to resolve any disputes in arbitration when they began doing business with the bank. The …

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Allstate to Pay $1.4 Billion for SquareTrade, Seller of Insurance for Mobile Devices, Appliances

The Allstate Corp. agreed to acquire SquareTrade, a consumer electronics and appliance protection plan provider that distributes through many of America’s major retailers. Allstate said it will acquire the privately-held company for approximately $1.4 billion from a group of shareholders, …

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California Department of Insurance Action Against Zenefits Results $7M Penalty

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced the enforcement action taken against Zenefits for multiple license violations has resulted in a $7 million penalty. Zenefits was charged with allowing unlicensed employees to transact insurance and circumventing insurance agent education requirements. …

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South Dakota Limiting Release of Vehicle Crash Reports

South Dakota law enforcement authorities are no longer releasing vehicle crash information because doing so could violate a constitutional amendment approved by voters this month. The state’s Department of Public Safety suspended access to an online crash report database after …

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Proposed Iowa Public Employees Contract Gives State more Control over Insurance

A contract Iowa has proposed for its largest public employees union includes no wage increase and removes health insurance provisions, a sign that changes could be on the horizon for collective bargaining laws when the new Republican-majority Legislature returns next …

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Earthquakes with Magnitudes of 3.4 and 4.3 Recorded in North-Central Oklahoma

The U.S. Geological Survey on Sunday recorded a magnitude 3.4 earthquake in north-central Oklahoma just two days after a 4.3 magnitude temblor struck in the same area. The 3.4 magnitude quake was recorded at 8:34 a.m. on Nov. 27 seven …

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Survivor of Deadly Texas Train Wreck Sues BNSF Railway

The lone survivor of a head-on crash between two freight trains in the Texas Panhandle has filed a lawsuit seeking more than $1 million in damages. The Amarillo Globe-News reported that Derek Schilling filed the lawsuit last week in Tarrant …

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Nebraska County to Challenge Insurers Over Coverage for $28M Lawsuit

Nebraska’s Gage County will challenge its insurers’ decision not to cover it for a $28.1 million judgment awarded to six people who were wrongfully convicted of murder. KWBE reports that the county board approved hiring a law firm to fight …

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Gov. Edwards Rehires Louisiana Insurance Program CEO Ousted by Jindal

The office that oversees Louisiana’s health insurance program for state workers and retirees is getting a new leader — and he’s a familiar face for the agency. Tommy Teague will again work as chief executive officer of the Office of …

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Lawmaker in Montana Files Wrongful Discharge Lawsuit Against His Company

A Republican state lawmaker has filed a wrongful discharge lawsuit alleging his refusal to support certain bills during the 2015 Legislature got him fired from a sales job he’d held for more than 15 years. Rep. Randy Pinocci’s Nov. 14 …

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Study: Injection Wells, Agriculture Harming Bays in Maui

A team of University of Hawaii scientists has completed a study of nearshore ecosystems across Maui that shows the impact of discharged treated wastewater. The findings were published in the scientific journal PLOS ONE earlier this month. The scientists analyzed …

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Rains Create Landslide Threat In Western Washington

The National Weather Service in Seattle is warning that recent heavy rainfall has led to an increased threat of landslides throughout the western part of the state. The alert notes that the recent rainfall has put extra pressure on the …

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Uber Looking to Begin Service in Wyoming for First Time

The ridesharing service Uber is looking to begin service in Wyoming, one of the few states where it’s not yet doing business. Wyoming law will need to be changed before ridesharing services may operate in the state. State lawmakers say …

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Fear of Flooding on the Rise Along Virginia’s Coast

When floodwaters poured into Holly Furlong’s Virginia Beach home in October, she ripped out electrical cords and rushed her four children upstairs. They spent the next two days without power, building blanket forts while anxiously waiting for sewage-tainted waters to …

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Students Building Tiny Houses for West Virginia Flood Survivors

Vocational students from across West Virginia are building tiny houses to help some people struggling to recover from flooding this year. Students from 12 vocational schools are designing and building the houses, which will be presented to Gov. Earl Ray …

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Kentucky Judge Allows Bevin to Appoint Workers’ Comp Judges

A Kentucky judge has cleared the way for Republican Gov. Matt Bevin to appoint six administrative law judges to help ease a backlog of workers’ compensation cases. The ruling by Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd is a victory for …

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Complaints About Erratic Driving Before Tennessee Bus Wreck

Students and administrators raised concerns about a Tennessee school bus driver’s behavior behind the wheel in the weeks before a crash that killed six children. Police have charged driver Johnthony Walker with vehicular homicide after the Chattanooga crash. Federal authorities …

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Unions, Gig-Economy Firms Prepare for New York Benefits Battle

Faced with a barrage of lawsuits from workers demanding benefits and recognition as employees, some companies in the fast-growing ‘gig economy’ are looking to settle the issues through legislation. Joseph Morelle, the number two Democrat in the New York State …

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Crews Establish Control Line Around Virginia Wildfire

Authorities say crews have established a control line around a wildfire that’s burned thousands of acres in central Virginia’s George Washington and Thomas Jefferson national forests. The U.S. Forest Service said in a news release Saturday that while the fire …

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Union Strike at New York Chemical Plant Enters 4th Week

A strike by hundreds of union workers at an upstate New York chemical plant is now into its fourth week. Some 700 members of an IUE-CWA local walked off the job earlier this month at Momentive Performance Materials in the …

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Verisk Acquires Analytics Firm MarketStance

Analytics firm Verisk Analytics Inc. has acquired MarketStance, a provider of market intelligence data and analytics to the property/casualty insurance market. Following the completion of the transaction, MarketStance will become part of ISO, a division of Verisk, and Dr. Fritz …

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Wells Fargo Facing Suit by Employees Over Retirement Funds Management

Wells Fargo & Co. faces a new U.S. lawsuit claiming that it funneled more than $3 billion of employee retirement savings into expensive, underperforming proprietary mutual funds to enrich itself. The proposed class-action lawsuit, filed Nov. 22 in federal court …

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Smartphone Makers Reject Obama Call for Restrictions to Curb Distracted Driving

U.S. highway safety officials called on smartphone makers to add features that would keep motorists from using functions linked to a surge in deaths due to distracted driving, a proposal that drew immediate opposition from the electronics industry. The proposed …

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UK Financial Firms Look to Dublin as EU Base After Brexit Vote: Irish Minister

Some financial firms in Britain looking for a base in the European Union after Brexit are expected to start applying for licenses in Dublin by early next year, Ireland’s financial services minister said on Friday. The Irish capital, along with …

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Emerging Markets to Drive Insurance Sector Growth in 2017: Swiss Re

The global economy is expected to grow moderately over the next two years, supporting continued growth in insurance premium volumes, according to a Swiss Re report. Growth in global non-life premiums is forecast to fall slightly from 2.4 percent in …

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XL Catlin Appoints Branch as Chief Executive of Insurtech Team, Accelerate

XL Catlin announced the appointment of Vincent Branch as Chief Executive for Accelerate, its new expert team focused on innovation and insurtech. Accelerate is led by XL Catlin’s former chief underwriting officer for Insurance, Paul Brand. Branch joins XL Catlin …

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Allianz to Launch Subsidiary in China to Target Overseas Investments: Sources

German insurer Allianz is setting up a wholly-owned unit in Shanghai to launch hedge funds that invest abroad, three sources said, as some foreign managers prepare for China to ease curbs on overseas investments aimed at stemming capital outflows. The …

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Insurtech Startups Attract Growing List of Traditional Insurer Partners

Listening to Andrew Rear talk about insurers, you wouldn’t think he works for one that’s been around for 136 years. The 46-year-old head of Munich Re’s Digital Partners unit has said the industry is “one of the last bastions of …

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Hargreaves to Retire from Tokio Marine Kiln

Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) announced the retirement of Robin Hargreaves who will leave TMK at the end of the year after spending his entire career with the company. Hargreaves joined in 1980 and upon completing his graduate training began writing …

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Too Often, Small Businesses Learn Insurance Lessons After Disaster Strikes

A fire at the gun shop next door never reached Kathy Laurienti’s sausage and specialty food store, but the water and smoke damage was enough to shut her business down. Because Laurienti didn’t have enough insurance, it’s still closed — …

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QBE, SUA Agency to Offer Professional Liability Coverage to Mortgage Specialists

QBE North America has formed a program underwriting agreement with Stateside Underwriting Agency (SUA) to offer its clients who are title agents, abstractors and escrow agents professional liability insurance for primary and excess coverage. Mortgage company professional liability and mortgage …

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Judge Halts Florida’s 14.5% Workers’ Compensation Hike Due on Dec. 1

A Florida circuit judge has blocked a 14.5 percent workers’ compensation rate increase due to go into effect Dec. 1 after finding that the insurers’ rating organization and state officials did not comply with the state’s Sunshine Laws and open …

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Worked to Death? Employees with Little Control Over Their Work Die Younger

Previous academic research has found that having greater control over their job can help people manage work-related stress. But it’s never suggested that it was a matter of life and death — until now. New research from the Indiana University …

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Louisiana Contractor Fined $150K for Federal Safety Violations

A construction contractor in Louisiana has been cited and fined over what federal safety officials say are hazardous workplace conditions. Don M. Barron Contractor Inc. in Baton Rouge was issued citations on Nov. 22 after a U .S. Department of …

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Missouri Dealer to Settle Gun-Shop Liability Case

A pawn shop that sold a gun to a mentally ill Missouri woman who used it to fatally shoot her father will settle in a wrongful death case, according to the attorney for the woman’s mother. Washington, D.C.-based Brady Center …

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2 New Earthquakes Recorded near Oklahoma Oil Hub

Two earthquakes recorded within one minute of each other have shaken an area in north-central Oklahoma near the site near of a key oil hub. The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquakes occurred Nov. 22 in Cushing in Payne County, …

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Statewide Burn Ban Lifted in Louisiana

A statewide outdoor burn ban that was ordered in Louisiana on Nov. 5 has been lifted. State Fire Marshal Butch Browning said in a news release that the ban was lifted at 4 p.m. on Nov. 21. Outdoor burning remains …

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Michigan to Appeal Flint Home Water Delivery Order

The state of Michigan says it will ask an appeals court to stop an order that calls for home delivery of water in Flint. The state briefly disclosed its next step on Nov. 21, less than two weeks after a …

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Ohio Police Officers Raid Wrong House, Couple Sues

An Ohio couple has sued police after officers raided their home only to say later that they had the wrong suspect. The lawsuit says officers from the Orwell police department along with county sheriff deputies illegally raided the home two …

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In 3 First Weeks, 28K Minnesotans Sign Up for Insurance

More than 28,000 residents have signed up for health coverage through Minnesota’s health insurance exchange. MNsure got off to a rocky start this year with a widespread state government website outage and long wait times that state officials say may …

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Oklahoma Commissioner to Ride-Along with Troopers to Stress Highway Safety

The Oklahoma Insurance Department announced that Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak will ride-along with Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) troopers to raise awareness of highway safety laws. Commissioner Doak wants to make sure drivers are moving over for emergency vehicles, maintaining …

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Hurricane Cleanup Costs Rise in County Along Georgia’s Coast

Cleanup costs keep rising in Chatham County, along Georgia’s coast, in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. The latest estimate of the funds needed to recover from damage in unincorporated parts of the county is now more than $22.2 million, The …

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Small Alaskan Quake Shakes Anchorage, Kenai Peninsula

A light earthquake was felt throughout the Kenai Peninsula and in the Anchorage area, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The Alaska Earthquake Center says the magnitude 4.0 quake was centered about 30 miles southwest of Anchorage. It hit …

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Nevada Expected to See Jobs, Population Growth

Jobs are growing in Nevada, and more people are coming to fill them, according to the state demographer. State demographer Jeff Hardcastle said Nevada’s recovery was slow compared with the rest of the country, The Nevada Appeal reported. “Nevada has …

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BNSF in Washington to Examine Covering Coal Trains Under Agreement

BNSF Railway will study the use of physical covers for coal and petroleum coke trains as part of a tentative agreement reached this week with environmental groups that sued alleging that coal spilled from trains pollutes waterways in Washington state. …

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Oregon Mill Worker Sues Company for Hostile Work Environment

A millwright with Roseburg Forest Products in Oregon has accused his employer of creating a hostile work environment after he complained about facing anti-gay slurs and other harassment form co-workers. The Register-Guard reported that Travis Robinette last week filed a …

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Aviva to Reopen Property Fund It Suspended After Brexit Vote Turmoil

Aviva Investors, the fund arm of insurer Aviva, plans to reopen the UK property fund it was forced to suspend during the market turmoil which followed Britain’s vote to leave the European Union in June. British funds worth around 18 …

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7 Injured in Fire that Damaged 3 Homes in New Jersey

Seven people have been injured, four critically, in a fire that swept through three homes in Woodbury, N.J. One of the homes collapsed after the fire that started around 3:30 a.m. Monday in a home on Mehorter Boulevard and spread …

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Wall Street Brokers Claim Fiduciary Rule Is Violation of Their Free Speech Rights

A group of lawyers representing insurance and securities brokerages have made a curious argument for why a federal court should kill a rule aimed at protecting retirement savers: It restricts Wall Street’s First Amendment rights. In front of a packed …

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Security Measures to be Reviewed After Panic at New York’s JFK Airport

Poor communication among police, private security and other personnel contributed to a mass panic that erupted at a New York City airport when loud cheers for Usain Bolt somehow led to a false report of gunshots, according to a review …

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IIHS Study Finds Rearview Cameras Can Reduce Backing Crashes

Rearview cameras are expected to prevent nearly one-in-six police-reported backing crashes, an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) study has found. The IIHS is an Arlington, Virginia, headquartered independent, nonprofit research and communications organization dedicated to reducing highway crash deaths, …

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Judge Blocks Obama’s Overtime Pay Raise for White Collar Workers

An Obama administration policy that would have given more white-collar workers overtime starting Dec. 1 was blocked nationwide by a federal judge in Texas. The decision Tuesday is a victory for 21 states and dozens of business groups that sued, …

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On Eve of Trump Repeal Effort, Obamacare Campaigns for ‘Young Invincibles’

Two months before President-elect Donald Trump begins his attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act, the Obama administration and its allies are making an aggressive final push to sign-up some of the program’s most reluctant customers — young people. Healthy …

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Sompo Canopius Makes Management Changes as Group CEO Davies Steps Down

Sompo Canopius AG announced that Stuart Davies is stepping down from his role as group CEO and all other related responsibilities, effective immediately. Davies joined Sompo Canopius in 2015 with a mandate to lead the group through a period of …

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XL Catlin Enhances D&O Offering in France

XL Catlin has enhanced its directors & officers insurance offering in France with the launch of three coverages catering respectively to mid-sized companies, publicly listed companies and financial institutions. These solutions protect business leaders – whether they act as CEO, …

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Insurtech Startup Trov Launches in UK, Offering On-Demand Coverage

The on-demand economy, which uses smartphone technology to immediately fill consumer needs, has changed the way people order food, a car, or a place to stay. Now, technology startups are targeting the next business frontier – insurance – offering coverage …

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U.S. Senator Wants Federal Investigation Into Florida’s Use of Driver Records

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wants a federal investigation of how Florida uses the personal information of its 15 million licensed drivers. The Florida Democrat wrote U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Friday asking her to probe whether the state is …

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Atlanta Judge Awards $36M in Damages in Bobbi Kristina Death Case

A judge in Atlanta ordered Bobbi Kristina Brown’s partner, Nick Gordon, to pay $36 million in a wrongful death case, her estate’s lawyers said Nov 17. Brown, the daughter of singers Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown, was found face-down and …

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Great American, Hub International to Offer Program for Elevator Contractors

Great American Insurance Group’s Alternative Markets Division has entered into an agreement with JM Associates/Burnham + Company, a division of HUB International Northeast, to be the insurance carrier for The National Elevator Insurance Program. The program offers specialized insurance coverage …

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Unlicensed Miami Agent Faces 72 Felony Counts for Stealing Escrow Payments

A Miami man has been arrested for alleged unlicensed insurance activity that resulted in the theft of at least $48,507 in escrow payments from 10 South Florida homeowners. The Florida Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Division of Investigative and Forensic …

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Create Your Own Emergency Roadside Kit

Better safe than sorry, right? Be prepared for possible problems when you’re on the road with an emergency kit. You’ll have peace of mind feeling safe and you could save yourself some unexpected loss of time. These days there are o...

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Dozens of Obama Administration Financial Rules that Republicans May Kill

In recent days Republican Congressional leaders have taken several opportunities to warn Obama Administration regulators not to finish any more rulemakings, but some agency heads, such as U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Mary Jo White, say they are proceeding …

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Rockhill’s New E&S Property Unit Focused on Coastal Risks

Columbus, Ohio-based Rockhill Insurance Group, a member of the State Auto Insurance Group has launched an excess and surplus (E&S) property unit. Led by industry veteran Tracy Upton the unit is a catastrophe wind and all other peril (AOP) facility …

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Acrisure, Genstar Complete $2.9B Management-Led Buyout

Acrisure LLC, a national insurance brokerage based in Grand Rapids, Mich., and private equity firm Genstar Capital announced the completion of a previously announced management-led buyout of the company. The $2.9 billion transaction was led by Greg Williams, Acrisure’s chief …

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Stewart Named VP at Lockton Dunning Benefits

Dallas-based Lockton Dunning Benefits (LDB) has named David Stewart a vice president. Stewart joined the Lockton Dunning Benefits team as a senior client advisor in 2014. With more than eight years of experience, Stewart specializes in designing health plans that …

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Dollar General Again Charged with Safety Violations in Ohio

Federal safety inspectors say they have once again found one of the nation’s largest discount retailers putting workers and customers alike in danger by allowing emergency exit routes to be blocked. U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration says …

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Rejecting Science, Texas Still Denies Fracking Link to Quakes

A white Chevy Suburban with “Railroad Commission of Texas” emblazoned on its side rolled north on Interstate 35. Behind the wheel sat Milton Rister, the commission’s director. Trim and balding, Rister was a veteran political operator who had held influential …

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In Anthem-Cigna Merger Trial, Fortune 500 Said Not at Risk

Anthem Inc. and the U.S. Justice Department dug in their heels on Monday in court over whether the lower prices the health insurer expects to negotiate after buying smaller rival Cigna Corp. are an efficiency that benefits customers or an …

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Navajo Nation, Urban Outfitters Settle Suit over Trademark Infringement

The Navajo Nation and Urban Outfitters Inc. have reached a settlement in the tribe’s 2012 trademark infringement lawsuit against the clothing retailer. The Farmington Daily Times reported that terms of the settlement signed Monday by a federal judge are confidential. …

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Carl’s Jr. Files Trademark Suit against Utah’s Apollo Burger

Carl’s Jr. is suing Utah-based chain Apollo Burger, accusing the restaurants of knowingly copying its trademarked Western Bacon Cheeseburger. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court in Salt Lake City claims Apollo Burger was selling a cheeseburger with the same …

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Insurance Institute Finds Safety of Child Booster Seats Improved

Companies that make child booster seats for vehicles are getting better at designing them to protect kids, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said Thursday. Of the 53 new booster seats IIHS tested, 48 received the nonprofit’s highest rating. Two …

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Facebook Drone ‘Structural Failure’ Under Investigation

A U.S. safety agency is investigating an accident involving a massive experimental drone Facebook Inc. is developing to bring the internet to remote areas of the world. No one was hurt in the incident, which came during the unmanned aircraft’s first …

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How Much Attention Do Drivers Need to Pay?

As Americans pile into their cars for Thanksgiving travel, they may wish to pay attention to some new thinking into how much, or how little, attention they should be paying to the road. Transportation safety engineers may want to pay …

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Munich Re Partners with InsurTech Start-Up Wrisk

Insurtech company Wrisk Ltd., which was founded earlier this year, has entered into an agreement with Munich Re’s Digital Partners business unit. Under the agreement, Munich Re companies become the exclusive carrier for Wrisk’s business underwritten in UK, Europe and …

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Fitch Sees Insurers Gaining from Trump Deregulation

Broad financial industry deregulation under the Trump administration would ease regulatory burdens for large U.S. insurance companies while macroeconomic trends resulting from shifting global and economic policies could have a significant impact on profitability, premium growth and investment performance, according …

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AIG May Move Europe Base from London to Another EU Country on Brexit

U.S. insurer AIG may move its European headquarters from London to another European Union country because of Britain’s vote to leave the EU, the head of the AIG’s European and UK operations said at an industry conference on Tuesday. AIG …

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Special Report: A Tale of Superbugs’ Deadly Costs

With good reason, Dan Greulich’s doctors called him “the miracle man.” In the span of a decade, the insurance company executive engaged not once, but twice, in a race with death as he awaited replacements for failing organs. And twice, …

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Suit Against New Jersey School Over Sex Charges Can Proceed

A lawsuit against William Paterson University over its handling of sex assault charges against five male students will be allowed to proceed. The five were charged in 2014 but a Passaic County grand jury declined to indict them. Two of …

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After New Jersey Train Crash, Transit Regulators Targeting Sleep Apnea

Federal regulators want railroads across the country to test train operators for a sleep disorder. The safety advisory being issued this week by the Federal Railroad Administration comes after the engineer in September’s deadly New Jersey commuter train crash was …

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New Jersey’s Selective Insurance Company of America Appoints New Officers

Selective Insurance Company of America, the Branchville, N.J., headquartered subsidiary of Selective Insurance Group Inc., has made five new officer appointments. The company has appointed Rohan Pai to senior vice president of investor relations and treasury. He joined Selective in …

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Major Canada Earthquake Could Lead to Widespread Insurer Insolvencies: Report

A massive earthquake off the coast of British Columbia has the potential to cause widespread failure among insurance companies and trigger a domino effect across the financial sector, according to a Conference Board of Canada report. “As the earthquake in New Zealand earlier this month reminds …

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Q&A: Deloitte Insurance Expert Discusses Hurricane Season and Flood Insurance

Although Atlantic hurricane season ends in November, cleanup from any damage seen on the East Coast could last beyond the end of the season. Some coastal areas, such as Virginia Beach, were impacted this season, particularly by flooding. Flooding is …

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Hackers Remotely Steal ATM Cash in Latest Twist on Cyber Bank Heists

Cyber criminals have remotely attacked cash machines in more than a dozen countries across Europe this year, using malicious software that forces machines to spit out cash, according to Russian cyber security firm Group IB. Diebold Nixdorf and NCR Corp, …

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7.4 Earthquake off Coast of Fukushima Jolts Japan; Tsunami Alert Lifted

Japan lifted all tsunami alerts after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Fukushima, home to the nuclear power plant crippled in the March 2011 triple disaster. The temblor, an aftershock of the magnitude 9 quake five years ago, …

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Hiscox Promotes Bowen to CUO for European Operations

Specialist global insurer Hiscox has announced the promotion of Justin Bowen to chief underwriting officer for its European operations. Bowen has worked at Hiscox since 2000 and held a number of different roles within its UK business. Having joined to …

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Who Pays When Driverless Cars Crash? UK Insurers Call for Int’l Standards

Cars of the future will need to collect a basic set of core data to prevent drivers being unfairly blamed if technology goes wrong, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The ABI supports the formation of an standard …

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Philadelphia Enhances Fine Arts Coverage for Museums, Cultural Institutions

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) has created new insurance coverage museums and cultural institutions through a partnership with its sister company, Tokio Marine America (TMA). The partnership gives PHLY increased capacity up to $100 million per location for fine arts collections. …

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Consumer Bureau Wants Full Court Review of Sole Directorship

The U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau late on Friday asked the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to review an October decision that its structure is unconstitutional. The review will involve all the court’s judges, a …

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Palomar Specialty, Cabrillo Coastal Launch Homeowners Program in Mississippi

Palomar Specialty Insurance Company has partnered with Cabrillo Coastal General Insurance Agency, LLC to offer coastal homeowners insurance in Mississippi. Palomar Specialty is currently offering homeowners coverage through Cabrillo-appointed agents. Mississippi represents the second state in which Palomar Specialty offers …

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Mississippi Restaurant Building Can be Packed, Moved During Hurricane Threat

It’s a different concept, a way to build at ground level in a flood zone. And it’s working for a business in Jackson County, Miss. DaBayou Bar & Grill may look thrown together, but there is a lot of planning …

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FEMA Extends Aid Deadline for North Carolina Victims of Hurricane Matthew

Hurricane Matthew victims in North Carolina have more time to apply for federal disaster assistance. The Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a news release that it has approved a 31-day extension for applications. Residents now have until Jan. 9, …

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Lack of Rain Fueling Fires in Western North Carolina

Dry conditions accompanied by high winds are continuing to hamper efforts to control wildfires across western North Carolina. Although a cold front passed through the state on Saturday, there was no precipitation to help firefighters. The U.S. Forest Service reports …

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New Orleans Jury Awards $16M to 4 Workers for 2013 Plant Explosion

Four workers injured in a deadly 2013 petrochemical plant explosion in south Louisiana have been awarded a total of $16 million by a jury. This week’s verdict follows a separate late September trial in which four other workers were awarded …

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Pinnacol in Colorado to Drop Workers’ Comp Rates in 2017

Pinnacol Assurance’s board of directors has approved a 2017 decrease in workers’ compensation rates that will average 3.2 percent for the insurer’s Colorado policyholders. The decrease surpasses the Colorado Division of Insurance’s recommendation of a 2.4 percent change, and will …

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Safety Violations at Ohio Glass Manufacturer Rack Up $227K in Fines

Workers began making multiple complaints of unsafe working conditions at the Fuyao Glass America Inc. facility in Moraine, Ohio, not long after it opened in October 2015, leading to eight separate federal inspections and $226,937 in proposed penalties for the …

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W. R. Berkley Forms Cyber Risk Unit with Chubb’s Vispoli at Helm

W. R. Berkley Corp. announced the formation of Berkley Cyber Risk Solutions. The new organization will offer specialty commercial insurance coverages on a worldwide basis to clients of all sizes on behalf of W. R. Berkley Insurance Group member insurance …

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North Dakota, with Fewer Volunteers, Ranks 47th in Firefighting Capability

North Dakota ranks 47th in the country in being equipped to fight fires and it’s not helping that fewer people are signing up to be volunteer firefighters. Most fire departments in North Dakota are made up of volunteers but now the …

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Exxon Climate Judge Orders ‘Unprecedented’ Questioning

A federal judge in Texas is giving Exxon Mobil Corp. an unprecedented chance to question a state law-enforcement officer who is investigating whether the energy company hid damaging data about climate change from investors. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in …

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27 Energy Companies Sued by Quake-Weary Oklahomans

Residents of a town hit by Oklahoma’s strongest earthquake have filed a class-action lawsuit against dozens of energy companies, accusing them of triggering destructive temblors by injecting wastewater from oil and natural gas production underground. Pawnee residents filed the suit …

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In Oklahoma, Pawnee Nation Files Suit to Void Drilling Permits

The Pawnee Nation of Oklahoma has filed a lawsuit against the federal government to void drilling permits for oil and natural gas wells on tribal land that the tribe alleges cause earthquakes in northern Oklahoma. The lawsuit was filed in …

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Only 4 Out of 300 Claims Paid After Record Oklahoma Earthquake

Nearly 300 damage claims have been submitted since Oklahoma’s largest earthquake in September, but only four of those claims have been paid. An analysis of Oklahoma Insurance Department data by the Tulsa World shows that the approved claims totaled $24,000 …

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Louisiana Commissioner: No Agency Fees on Individual Health Insurance Policies

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon recently issued a bulletin reminding insurance agents that charging fees for individual health insurance policies is not allowed. Now, the commissioner is reaching out to consumers to let them know that agency fees cannot be …

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Colorado Will Test out Digital Driver Licenses in 2-Year Pilot Program

Colorado will test digital licenses for drivers in a two-year pilot program. The Gazette reported Gemalto Inc. was awarded $2 million in August from the U.S. Commerce Department to make a driver license mobile application for Colorado, Idaho, Maryland and …

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Colorado Ruling Barring Pot Use In Denver Businesses Unwise, Say Opponents

Opponents of a state ruling that would prevent bars and many restaurants in Denver from offering on-site marijuana consumption said the ruling would overturn a law approved by voters and force people to sneak around while they use pot and …

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New Mexico Insurance Regulator Says Back Taxes Audit Inaccurate

New Mexico’s superintendent of insurance is saying an audit into his office’s failure to collect some $190 million in back taxes from insurers was based on incorrect data. The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that in a letter Tuesday to …

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TMK Names Ex-AIG Exec Burke as Trade Credit & Political Risk U/W

Tokio Marine Kiln has appointed Gary Burke to the special risks division in its London office. Burke will focus on trade credit and political risks. Previously he worked for American International Group (AIG) where he held different underwriting roles. Most …

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U.S. Insurers Now Among Major Buyers of ETFs: JP Morgan

The booming demand for hot exchange-traded funds has finally caught up with the staid, sleepy insurance industry. U.S. insurers are the latest group of investors to start buying ETFs (exchange-traded funds) en masse, with one of the fastest adoption rates …

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Ex-Fire Company Treasurer in Pennsylvania Charged with Stealing Nearly $400K

A former Pennsylvania volunteer fire company treasurer who received a $400 annual stipend has been accused of stealing nearly 1,000 times that much from the organization. Fifty-one-year-old Agnes Patterson, of Hellertown, surrendered Wednesday on charges she stole more than $395,000 …

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Woman Convicted in $7M Pennsylvania Insurance Fraud Scheme Charged Anew

A woman who spent more than seven years in prison for a $7 million insurance fraud and the unrelated death of a patient at her now-defunct Pennsylvania nursing home is in trouble with the law again. This time, the Allegheny …

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After Trump Win, Massachusetts Becoming a Hub of Resistance

As Republican Donald Trump prepares to take over as president, Massachusetts is fashioning itself into a hub of resistance, with politicians and advocacy groups vowing to battle what they see as the extremes of a Trump agenda. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth …

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Connecticut Insurance Department Launches Online Pay Portal

The Connecticut Insurance Department has issued a online pay portal to process financial transactions for licensees that conduct business daily within the department, Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade announced. The credit card portal will expedite transactions by processing producers’ letters …

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Global Board Updates List of Systemically Important Banks, Insurers

Citi has joined JPMorgan at the top of global regulators’ list of systemically important banks, replacing HSBC and meaning the U.S. bank will have to hold extra capital from 2019 to help preserve financial stability. The group of 20 economies …

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AIG Expects to Win Some, Lose Some in Sale of Assets

American International Group Inc., the insurer that’s shrinking to free up capital for shareholder buybacks, said it expects to book a loss of about $430 million on the previously disclosed deal to sell Fuji Life Insurance Co. in Japan. That …

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October Floods in Atlantic Canada Cost $100M-Plus in Insured Damage

A tropical moisture system resulting from Hurricane Matthew swept through Atlantic Canada last month, resulting in more than $100 million in insured damage, according to Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), which quoted a report from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). A cold front interacting …

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Advent Claims Launches Regulatory Compliant Platform for MGAs, Coverholders

Advent Claims, a division of Advent Insurance Management with claims operations in the US, UK, Canada and Australia, has launched a proprietary web-based claims management system for managing general agents (MGAs) and coverholders, called “Advantage.” Designed to capture all information …

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China’s Anbang Eyes $2.3B Purchase of Japanese Property Assets: Sources

China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. is in talks to buy as much as $2.3 billion in Japanese residential property assets from Blackstone Group, two people involved in the discussions said, in what would be Japan’s biggest property deal since the …

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China’s Fosun International to Buy Stake in Portugual’s BCP for $185M

Fosun International Ltd. agreed to pay 174.6 million euros ($185 million) for a stake in Banco Comercial Portugues SA, Portugal’s biggest publicly traded lender by assets. A unit of Fosun will subscribe to about 157.4 million Banco Comercial shares at …

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XL Catlin Adds Terrorism & Political Violence Coverage to Property Program

XL Catlin has enhanced its Platinum Property insurance program with a new terrorism and political violence insurance option. XL Catlin’s Platinum Property program allows businesses to address 100 percent of their commercial property risks under one policy form, with one …

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77 Guests at Alabama Wedding Sickened by Salmonella Outbreak

The state health department believes a salmonella outbreak at a Colbert County wedding caused at least 77 people to become ill, including 12 who were hospitalized. Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers told news outlets on Thursday that the …

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23 Students Injured in Tennessee School Bus Crash

Twenty-three students were hospitalized after a Tennessee school bus crashed and rolled over on an interstate off-ramp Friday, but authorities said none suffered life-threatening injuries. The bus was one of three headed from Chester County in western Tennessee to an …

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Child Hospitalized After Fall from 3rd Floor Balcony at Orlando Hotel

A child has been hospitalized after falling from the balcony of a third-floor hotel room not far from Walt Disney World. Orange County Sheriff’s officials say family members had left the 9-year-old boy alone in the room at Lake Buena …

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West Virginia Settles Claims Against 3 Drug Companies for $800K

The West Virginia Attorney General’s Office says it has reached settlements with three more prescription drug wholesalers for $800,000 resolving allegations they failed to detect, report and stop suspiciously large drug orders into the state. According to the office, the …

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Trump Settles University Fraud Claims for $25 Million, Avoids Trial

President-elect Donald Trump agreed to pay $25 million to settle claims that his defunct Trump University cheated more than 6,000 students with false promises of teaching them his real estate secrets. The accord, announced Friday minutes before the start of …

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Missouri Settles Case of Man’s Drowning While in Patrol Custody for $9M

The state of Missouri will pay $9 million to the family of an Iowa man who drowned after he fell out of a boat handcuffed and in an improperly secured life vest while he was in custody of a state …

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O’Connor Insurance Hires Brandel, Dobyns; Promotes Schurwan

St. Louis, Mo.-based O’Connor Insurance has hired Jacque Brandel as personal lines account manager and Laura Dobyns as commercial lines account manager. The agency also promoted Elizabeth Schurwan to assistant commercial lines manager. Brandel is a Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) …

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Arkansas Road Team Busy Promoting Big Rig Safety

Just over a year ago, the Arkansas Trucking Association named the first class of a brand new Arkansas Road Team: 12 drivers from six companies given the task of educating the public about safe driving around heavy-duty commercial vehicles. The …

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Study: Head Injuries Increase after Michigan’s Motorcycle Helmet Law Repeal

The 2012 partial repeal of Michigan’s universal motorcycle helmet law resulted in less helmet use and more head injuries, according to a new study in the American Journal of Public Health. Researchers compared helmet use rates and motorcycle crash fatality …

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Cause for Huge May Fire at Houston Chemical Warehouse not Found

Houston’s fire chief says investigators haven’t been able to determine what caused a blaze earlier this year that ignited a chemical warehouse, leading to explosions and hazardous runoff. The Houston Chronicle reports the city’s interim fire chief, Rodney West, has …

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Allied World Appoints Hall-Shaw as VP in Professional Lines Division

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings announced that Jacqueline Hall-Shaw has been appointed vice president, Professional Lines Division, based in London. She will report to Martin Heathfield, Senior Vice President, Professional Lines. Hall-Shaw has more than 15 years of experience in …

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New York Attorney General Concerned Trump May Gut Anti-Fraud Law

New York’s top law enforcement official said he does not want U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s administration to “eviscerate” the state’s anti-fraud law that has dropped a hammer on Wall Street corruption. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said on Thursday …

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West Virginia Regulator Sues Alpha Natural on Fraud Allegations

West Virginia’s environmental regulator sued Alpha Natural Resources Inc’s former management on allegations of fraud on Wednesday, saying top executives should be held accountable for an unusual $100 million funding gap that has emerged just three months after the U.S. …

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Fintech Firms Alibaba, Tencent Support China’s New Cyber Law Despite Foreign Critics

China’s Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. rallied behind Beijing’s recently imposed cyber security law on Thursday, following criticism of it from overseas technology rivals. The country’s two tech giants also urged closer cooperation between the public and …

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Alaska Jury Deadlocked in Family’s Lawsuit Against Tobacco Company

After more than three weeks, a Bethel Superior Court jury cannot decide whether or not a tobacco company misled an Alaska man about the harmful effects of smoking. KYUK-AM reported jury foreman Robert Sundown says jurors deadlocked over whether Philip …

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Report: Deportations Under Trump Could Hit 1 in 4 Idaho Ag Workers

What would happen to an industry that loses one-fourth or more of its employee base? Idaho’s agriculture industry, and particularly its farming sector, might run head-on into that hypothetical question if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on a pledge to …

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Reinsurers Welcome Rate Stabilization: S&P-PwC Bermuda Reinsurance Forum

North American reinsurers may soon see some rate stabilization after a prolonged period of declining premium rates, as they deal with a supply-demand imbalance that has weighed on returns, according to executives at the 2016 Bermuda Reinsurance Conference co-hosted by …

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Plaintiffs Strike Out with Suit Seeking More Baseball Stadium Safety Netting

A U.S. judge has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to require the 30 Major League Baseball teams to extend netting at stadiums farther down the first- and third-base lines to protect fans from injuries caused by foul balls and broken bats. …

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Outgoing Treasury Secretary Lew Sticks Up for Financial Stability Council

U.S. Treasury Secretary Jack Lew on Wednesday offered a heartfelt defense of the Financial Stability Oversight Council made up of the heads of the major regulatory agencies, which is often criticized by Republicans and could be under threat next year. …

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‘Star Trek’ Mockumentary Maker Boldly Resists Copyright Infringement Claim

On Wednesday, a federal judge was told that while Paramount Pictures and CBS have produced a “limited number” of Star Trek television episodes and films, “they do not not own a copyright to the idea of Star Trek, or the …

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ANZ’s Life Unit Attracts Interest from Suitors in Japan & Hong Kong: Sources

Australia and New Zealand Banking Group’s sale of its life insurance and wealth business, which has been valued at $3.33 billion by the bank, is attracting interest from Japan’s Meiji Yasuda and Hong Kong-based AIA Group, according to people familiar with the …

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President-Elect Trump Seeks Delay in Fraud Trial Over His Real Estate University

Donald Trump is pulling out the stops to stall a fraud trial over his defunct real estate “university” until he’s president. Having earlier persuaded a federal judge to delay the trial until after last week’s election, the president-elect now says …

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New Zealand EQ Insured Losses Could Top $3B: AIR Worldwide

Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide released its initial estimates of industry insured losses from the earthquake that struck New Zealand’s South Island early this week, putting a range of $762 million to $3.5 billion out for the event (NZD1.15 billion …

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Crews Protect 60 Virginia Homes from Wildfires, but Blazes Continue

Virginia is one of several southern states battling forest fires caused by humans and fueled by drought. Ed Stoots of Virginia’s Forestry Department said Wednesday that crews have fought up to 20 blazes in more than a week. About 1,500 …

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Ex-Assistant Principal in Virginia Files Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

A former elementary school assistant principal in Richmond has accused the school’s principal of sexual harassment in a $5.3 million federal lawsuit. Local news organizations report that Fernando Lightfoot filed the lawsuit Monday afternoon, claiming Linwood Holton Elementary principal David …

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Hemp Crop Harvested in Virginia for 1st Time in Decades

Among the many crops grown on Glenn Rodes’ family farm in Rockingham County, this summer was one that has not been cultivated in Virginia for decades but that may have a chance at a comeback now, thanks to a slow …

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Insurance Society of Philadelphia Presents Distinguished Leadership Award

Starr Companies, a New York-headquartered global insurance and financial services organization providing risk management solutions, announced that the Insurance Society of Philadelphia honored Maurice R. Greenberg, chairman and CEO of C.V. Starr & Co. Inc., with the Distinguished Leadership Award. …

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Earth on Track to Hit Warmest Year on Record: NOAA

The earth is on track for its warmest year on record after October temperatures equaled the third-warmest for the month ever, a U.S. government agency said on Thursday. October globally was 1.31 Fahrenheit (0.73 Celsius) above the 20th century average …

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The Hanover Insurance Group in Massachusetts Hires Keim

The Hanover Insurance Group Inc., a Worcester, Mass., based holding company for several property and casualty insurance companies, has appointed Mark L. Keim as executive vice president of corporate development and strategy. His appointment is effective Monday, November 21. In …

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North Carolina Couple Arrested for Making Duplicate Auto Claims

A North Carolina couple has been arrested and charged with one count of insurance fraud and obtaining property by false pretense, according to North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin. Keith Hedgepeth, 48, and Sharon Hedgepeth, 48, of Nashville, N.C., are …

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Baylor Names Nitsche Group Medium Family Business of the Year

Giddings, Texas-based independent insurance agency, Nitsche Group, has been named the 2016 Medium Family Business of the Year by Baylor University’s Institute for Family Business. The Family Business of the Year Award Program was created in 1989 and recognizes outstanding …

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South Carolina Church Ordered to Halt For-Hire Bus Service After Fatal Crash

A South Carolina church that owned the bus involved in a collision that killed four people in September was ordered on Monday to stop for-hire operations, federal authorities said. Sandy River Baptist Church failed to make sure its drivers were …

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IICF’s Midwest Division Raises More Than $8K in World Series Fundraiser

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation’s (IICF) Midwest Division raised more than $8,000 through its World Series-related fundraiser to support its Midwest Division Community Grants Program. The program helps local community non-profits focused in the areas of health, safety and education. …

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What Hobbyists Should Know About Drone Insurance

If a drone is on your holiday shopping list, be sure to check your insurance coverage before you crack open that instruction manual and take flight. Damage from a drone is a bit more complicated than handing your kid a …

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Kentucky Levies Nearly $8.2M in Fines Against Businesses for Waste Disposal

Kentucky state health regulators said Monday they will seek millions of dollars in civil penalties against companies accused of bringing radioactive drilling waste into Kentucky to dump in Appalachian landfills. Penalties imposed by the Department for Public Health totaled nearly …

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BHSI Adds EPLI Coverage to Executive First Product Suite

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has added employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) to its Executive First suite of policies. This new policy provides coverage for companies facing harassment, discrimination and other claims initiated by employees, regulators, customers, and others. The …

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Zurich’s Sustainable U.S. Campus Is One Part of Its Green Ambitions

The voice of Zurich North America Chief Legal Officer Dennis Kerrigan swelled with pride as he described the carrier’s new headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., and its importance to the carrier’s overall philosophy about environmental and social responsibility. The 783,800-square-foot corporate campus …

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Jones: Undocumented License Law in California May Have Led to UM Drop

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced today that Assembly Bill 60, a law which provided driver’s licenses to those who could not submit proof of legal presence in the U.S., may have led to a modest decrease in the number …

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Small Business Insurance Site CoverWallet Pulls In $7.8 Million in Funding

Online commercial insurance agency CoverWallet announced it has received $7.8 million in funding in a Series A round led by Union Square Ventures, bringing its total raised to date to $9.5 million. In addition to Union Square Ventures, Index Ventures …

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Oklahoma Company to Pay $50K to Settle Race Discrimination Charges

An Oklahoma-based automobile detailing business, OnSite Solutions LLC, will pay $50,000 to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. EEOC charged that OnSite Solutions and two other entities were liable …

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Jury Awards $37.5M to Man Paralyzed in Missouri Tractor-Trailer Crash

A Missouri jury has awarded a $37.5 million judgment to a man left a paraplegic after a 2014 accident involving a vehicle and a tractor-trailer. The Kansas City Star reports that the Jackson County jury sided with Steve Holdeman during …

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Insurer to Pay $1.9 M to Settle West Des Moines Discrimination Lawsuit

The city of West Des Moines, Iowa, has agreed to pay nearly $2 million to a police officer who sued, saying the department’s former police chief discriminated against her because she’s a woman. The city announced the $1.9 million settlement …

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State’s Self-Insurance Plan a Concern for Wisconsin Healthcare Groups

A group of healthcare stakeholders have asked Gov. Scott Walker to consider how self-insuring state workers could affect Wisconsin’s economy and its health care market. The Wisconsin Hospital Association, the Wisconsin Medical Society and a dozen other groups said the …

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J.M. Wilson’s Mandwee Promoted; Dodd Receives ACORD Scholarship

Managing general agency and surplus lines insurance broker, J.M. Wilson Corp., has promoted Adam Mandwee to fleet underwriter in its Portage, Michigan, office. Mandwee is responsible for quoting new and renewal fleet transportation accounts, setting up and binding policies and …

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Brinson Elected President of Texas Surplus Lines Association

Teri Brinson, executive vice president of M.D. Jensvold & Co. Inc. in Houston, has been elected president of the Texas Surplus Lines Association (TSLA). Brinson was installed at TSLA’s 61st Annual Meeting held November 14 in Austin. Brinson took over …

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2 Former Postal Employees Convicted in Dallas for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Two former U.S. Postal Service employees have been convicted on felony charges related to a workers’ compensation fraud scheme, U.S. Attorney John Parker of the Northern District of Texas announced. McArthur Baker, 69, and Tonya Evans, 52, both of Dallas, …

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Starr Launches Site Selling Directly to Small Businesses

Starr Companies has joined a growing roster of insurers selling insurance directly to small business owners online with its launch of  Starr Insure. The new digital agency currently offers property/casualty business owner coverages for distributors, retailers, artisan contractors, medical offices, …

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Rutgers Law School in Massachusetts Launches Project to Improve Homeowners’ Insurance

Rutgers Law School’s Camden, Mass., location, in collaboration with United Policyholders, is seeking to improve homeowners’ insurance nationally through its recently launched project. The Rutgers Center for Risk and Responsibility at Rutgers Law School in Camden and United Policyholders have launched a …

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Oregon’s Building Backlog on Food Inspections Increasing Disease Risk

Rodents, insects and microscopic bacteria: All these hazards can exist in food and where it is stored, and it is up to the Oregon Department of Agriculture to ensure they’re not there. But the department’s Food Safety Program, which is …

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2 Men File Sex Abuse Lawsuits against Boy Scouts In Oregon

Two Oregon men have filed sexual abuse lawsuits against the Boy Scouts of America. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the lawsuits were filed on Tuesday. They allege the plaintiffs were sexually abused by former scout leaders who were allowed to lead …

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Uber Working to Settle with California Drivers over Employee Benefits

Uber Technologies Inc. is trying to finalize a settlement with California drivers to resolve potentially billions of dollars in claims stemming from the company’s refusal to give them the protections and benefits of employees. The case centers on allegations that …

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Qatar Insurance Weighs Bond Issue to Raise Capital Reserves: Sources

Qatar Insurance Co. (QIC) plans a bond issue to boost its capital reserves, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday. It would be the first perpetual bond to be issued by the insurance sector in the Gulf. Qatar’s …

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Watchdog’s List of 10 Most Hazardous Toys Has Its Critics

A sling-shot, inflatable suits that kids can don and wear while crashing into each other and a hammer inspired by weapons in the movie “Warcraft” ranked among the 10 most hazardous toys on an annual list released on Tuesday by …

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U.S. Rule Requires Sound Alerts on Quiet Electric, Hybrid Cars

The U.S. government on Monday finalized long-delayed rules that will require “quiet cars” like electric vehicles and hybrids to emit alert sounds when they are moving at speeds of up to 18.6 miles per hour (30 km per hour) to …

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City Officials in Massachusetts Seek Advice on Legal Pot Issues

Boston officials will be getting some firsthand advice on how to deal with issues surrounding the legalization of recreational marijuana. Two public health officials from Denver will participate remotely in a meeting of the city’s board of health on Wednesday. …

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Regulators Look to State Laws as Republicans Move to Change Dodd-Frank

State securities regulators said they may have to rely more heavily on local laws to police banks and finance companies if President-elect Donald Trump and a Republican-controlled Congress roll back federal reforms introduced after the financial crisis. For example, New …

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Platform Barriers Eyed Amid Spate of New York City Subway Deaths

A member of the board that oversees New York City’s transit agency has asked it to give more thought to adding safety barriers on subway platforms. Forty-four people have been killed by trains in the city this year, either by …

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XL Catlin Hires Huber in New York

XL Catlin has appointed Barry G. Huber as its global practice leader for political risk and trade credit claims. This move comes as the firm works to continue building out its political risk and trade credit insurance capabilities. Huber is …

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UK Government Should ‘Refine Not Replace’ Solvency II with Brexit: Insurers

Rather than replacing Solvency II entirely when the UK leaves the European Union, regulators need to refine EU’s insurance regulation to make it more appropriate for the UK market and customers, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI). Following …

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China’s Anbang Insurance Set to Buy Toronto Tower for at Least $395M: Source

China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. is set to purchase an office and retail tower in downtown Toronto that counts the Government of Ontario as a major tenant, according to people familiar with the deal. Anbang is close to an agreement …

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Zurich to Cut Costs by $1.5B with Simplification ‘Name of Game’: CEO Greco

Zurich Insurance Group AG plans to cut costs by $1.5 billion from 2015 through 2019 as Chief Executive Officer Mario Greco overhauls Switzerland’s largest insurer and seeks to boost the firm’s dividend. The new plan replaces a previous goal to …

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Lloyd’s Names Swiss Re’s Kelly as Singapore Country Manager

Lloyd’s has appointed Angela Kelly as Lloyd’s country manager, Singapore, and CEO of Lloyd’s of London (Asia) Pte. Ltd. Kelly joins Lloyd’s from Swiss Re where she was chief executive officer of Swiss Re International SE Singapore Branch and head …

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Tennessee Nursing Home Ordered by Health Officials to Stop Taking Residents

Tennessee health officials have ordered a nursing home to stop taking new residents and pay a $6,100 fine for violations. A Tennessee Department of Health news release Monday says Creekside Health and Rehabilitation in Madison faces the penalties for problems …

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Ian H. Graham Adds Umbrella Coverage to Product for Community Associations

Ian H. Graham Insurance (IHG), a division of Aon Affinity, has expanded its suite of products with CNA to include umbrella insurance for community associations, in addition to its directors’ and officers’ (D&O) liability and crime insurance. IHG will have …

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County Farmers in South Carolina Uncertain of Future After Devastating Disasters

The Double R Farm in South Carolina has produced abundant crops for four generations of Rabon family farmers here, and despite the double whammy of record rains during the October harvest last year and last month’s hurricane, they are determined …

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Burn Bans Enacted Over Much of Dry Southeast as Fires Continue

As drought-stressed forests burn across much of the South – including a blaze scorching a Manhattan-sized area of north Georgia – some traditional outdoor activities are now banned. Starting campfires, lighting fireworks, smoking cigarettes, even parking a car off-road is …

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Berkley Programs, SPS Launch Inland Marine Program for Southeast Lumber Firms

Berkley Program Specialists and Specialty Program Solutions (SPS) have created a new inland marine program for mobile equipment and machinery used by logging, lumbering and construction companies located in the Southeast. Coverage for first party physical damage is extended to …

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Felony Charges for California Pair in $250K Classic Car Theft Claim

Two people from California were arrested on a scheme allegedly involving the reported theft of an expensive classic car. Constantine Petros, 54, of Petaluma, was arrested on Oct. 19 in Sonoma County. Also arrested was Christopher Hatton, 60, of Tahoma, …

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Arch Launches New Network Security & Privacy Products

Arch Insurance Group, a division of Arch Capital Group Ltd., has launched a new network security & privacy product. The new Arch Netsafe 2.0 is designed to protect a company’s liability to third parties and their own business income and …

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North Carolina Gov Seeking $1B in Federal Aid for Matthew Recovery

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory wants Congress to approve a little more than $1 billion in federal aid to help North Carolina with repairs and recovery after Hurricane Matthew’s record flooding last month. On Monday, McCrory released his requests for …

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Velocity Risk to Write Texas Coastal Wind-Only Homeowners Policies

Nashville, Tenn.-based Velocity Risk Underwriters announced it is offering coastal wind-only homeowners insurance policies for customers that may otherwise be insured in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA). Velocity’s homeowners program is rated “A” by A.M. Best. The company is partnering …

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Lloyd’s Names Former Generali Exec, Vagnone, as Strategy & Change Director

Lloyd’s announced that Paolo Vagnone has been appointed to the newly created role of Strategy & Change director. Vagnone will lead the teams responsible for the development of Lloyd’s strategy as well as the management of major change projects. He …

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18 Passengers File Suit Over American Airlines Plane that Caught Fire

A lawsuit has been filed by 18 passengers who were aboard an American Airlines aircraft that caught fire last month on the tarmac of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport after an engine failed. The lawsuit filed Nov. 14 in Cook County …

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22,000 Chickens Die in Barn fire at Ohio Poultry Operation

More than 22,000 chickens are dead after a fire at a barn in north-central Ohio. The smoke was visible for miles as the fire burned Nov. 14 at a Mennonite poultry operation in Nova Township, north of Ashland. It took …

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Bryant Named President at Ohio-Based Britton Gallagher

Britton Gallagher, a Cleveland based employee benefits and commercial insurance broker, has appointed Jeremy Bryant president. Bryant has been with Britton Gallagher since 2012, most recently serving as one of the agency’s executive vice presidents. He has more than 20 …

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Arkansas McDonald’s to Pay $103K to Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

A McDonald’s restaurant owned and operated by Mathews Management Co. and Peach Orchard Inc. in Bentonville, Ark., will pay $103,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the …

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2 New Insurers Approved to Operate in Arkansas

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr has approved a New York-based property/casualty insurance company and an Arkansas-based captive insurer to begin doing business in the state. Kerr has granted authority to Sompo Japan Fire & Marine Insurance Co. of America (SJFM), …

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Brit Launches Diamond Processing Consortium with Capacity Up to $50M

Brit Ltd., the London-based specialty insurer, announced the launch of a Lloyd’s consortium for diamond processing. Now quoting business, the new consortium brings additional capacity of up to $50 million to the London market. “The consortium, which is led by …

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Trucking Company Settles California Discrimination Case with Sikhs for $260K

A national trucking company has agreed to pay $260,000 to settle discrimination complaints by four Sikh drivers who were denied jobs for refusing to take drug tests that would have violated their religious beliefs. J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. reached …

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Allied World APAC Appoints 2 Casualty Specialists from AIG

Allied World Assurance Company Holdings announced two appointments to its General Casualty Division in Asia: Daphne Boon to the position of vice president, head of General Casualty (Asia), and Christie Huang Shuying to assistant vice president. Boon joins Allied World …

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DIR: California Independent Medical Review Shows Improvements

A California Department of Industrial Relations progress report shows continuing of the state’s Independent Medical Review process IMR is the medical dispute resolution process that uses medical expertise to obtain consistent, evidence-based decisions and component of the state’s workers’ comp …

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Sharing Economy Requires More Sharing Between Underwriting, Claims

The sharing economy poses new challenges for insurers including new exposures from technology and a need for better communication between claims and underwriting. That’s according to members of the International Association of Claim Professionals (IACP) who spoke out in a …

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UK MGA Nexus Underwriting Forms Claims Company Called ‘Nexus Claims’

Nexus Underwriting, the London-based independent specialty managing general agent (MGA), has formed a claims company, trading as Nexus Claims. Being run independently from the underwriting companies, Nexus Claims offers claims management services to Nexus’ underwriting partners as well as insurance …

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Zurich’s Re-Underwriting Program Begins to Bear Fruit – With Its Financials

Zurich Insurance Group’s re-underwriting program is starting to bear fruit – as evidenced by the company’s improved third-quarter results – but Group CFO George Quinn readily admits there is still work to be done. The steps that the company took …

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A New Hampshire Prep School Faces Trial Over Boy’s Dismissal After Having Sex

A New Hampshire prep school criticized for how it’s handled sexual assault cases faces trial on a lawsuit brought by a former student’s mother who alleges the school wrongfully withdrew her 15-year-old son after he had sex with another student. …

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Eastern Insurance Group of Massachusetts Hires Surette

Eastern Insurance Group, an insurance agency headquartered in Natick, Mass., and a subsidiary of Eastern Bank, an independent, mutually owned bank in New England, has hired William Surette as a senior vice president and sales executive. Surette is based in …

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North Country Insurance Group Adds Two Vermont Based Member Agencies

North Country Insurance Group (NCIG), an alliance of independent insurance agencies located throughout Northern New England, has expanded by adding Finn & Stone Insurance and Mars Insurance to the group. Brothers Chip Ams, president of Finn & Stone, and Jeffery …

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RSA Restructures UK Commercial Lines Operation; Names CUO for UK & Int’l

London-based RSA has announced changes to its commercial lines operation with the creation of two new divisions, as well as the appointment of a chief underwriting officer for the UK & International region. Effective immediately, RSA’s UK commercial lines business …

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Sandy Hook Families Ask Connecticut Top Court to Hear Suit

The families of some of the 26 children and educators killed at a Connecticut elementary school in 2012 asked the state’s top court on Tuesday to overturn a lower court’s dismissal of their lawsuit against the maker of the gun …

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Next Big Car Safety Feature Could be This Smartphone Camera App

Drivers in San Francisco, Manhattan and Tel Aviv may soon have another safety tool at their disposal: a mobile app that alerts them to dangers ahead in the road. Nexar Ltd., an Israeli startup whose app records video from a smartphone’s …

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The Right Cyber Coverage Can Protect a Business from Financial Ruin

A recent report on cybersecurity still shows many companies are unprepared for cyberattacks. The report, conducted by KPMG and British Telecom, reveals only 22 percent of companies have a comprehensive plan in place to deal with a major cybersecurity incident. …

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Fed Proposal Would Hike Capital Requirements to Discourage ‘Too Big to Fail’

Minneapolis Federal Reserve President Neel Kashkari unveiled a plan on Wednesday to prevent future government bailouts by forcing the largest U.S. banks to hold so much capital that they would probably decide to break themselves up. Kashkari’s plan would also …

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FEMA Adds 4,400 Properties to High-Risk Zones in Tennessee’s Davidson County

Thousands of property owners may have to purchase flood insurance for the first time as new flood maps go into effect next year in Davidson County. The Federal Emergency Management Agency last month finalized revised flood maps for the county, …

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Beazley Adds Miami-Based Vieira to Specialty Surety Treaty Team

Beazley, a provider of specialist reinsurance, has added Stephan Vieira as a reinsurance underwriter in its Specialty Surety Treaty unit, providing treaty and facultative reinsurance for surety and ancillary products. Vieira will work out of the company’s expanding Miami office …

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ISO Files Homesharing Coverage Options For Homeowner Insurers

ISO has introduced new homesharing insurance options to address exposures that policyholders may face when renting their homes, typically done through online websites. The new homeowners coverage options and accompanying rating provisions have been filed on a multistate basis that …

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Sober-living Home Operators in California Charged in $176M Fraud Scheme

Former operators of a Southern California sober-living operation have been charged with fraud for allegedly keeping hundreds of people in what the state insurance commissioner calls a “never-ending cycle of treatment, addiction and fraud.” The Insurance Department announced the arrests …

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Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Adds Leathers Insurance Agency

Leathers Insurance Agency has joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance, a network of more than 100 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. Founded in April 2016, Leathers Insurance Agency is a full-service insurance agency located in California, Mo., that specializes …

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Texas Workers’ Comp Division: State’s Rates Among Nation’s Lowest

Texas has some of the nation’s most affordable workers’ compensation coverage, according to a 2016 study, which found that the Lone Star State had the 10th lowest rates among all states, the Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation reports. The study …

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Affordable Care Act Does Not Crowd Out Workers’ Comp Claimants: NCCI Research

New industry research has found that while the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) has dramatically increased the number of people who are medically insured, it has not hurt access to medical care for workers’ compensation claimants, which had …

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Missouri Insurance Regulators Recover More Than $9M by Q3 2016

The Missouri Department of Insurance recovered over $9 million for consumers who filed complaints against their insurance companies during the first nine months of 2016. In the first three quarters of 2016, the Consumer Affairs Division received 3,182 formal complaints. The …

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Leveridge Promoted to Executive VP at Lockton Dunning Benefits

Dallas-based Lockton Dunning Benefits (LDB) has promoted Todd Leveridge to executive vice president/partner. Leveridge has more than 27 years of experience in employee benefits consulting and outsourcing. He began his career with a major insurance carrier in national accounts business …

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Nebraska Grain Facility Fined Nearly $527K over Worker’s Death

Federal safety regulators have proposed nearly $527,000 in penalties against the operators of a northeast Nebraska grain facility where a worker was fatally injured. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said in a news release that it cited Prinz Grain …

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Lockton Dunning Benefits Relocates Minnesota Pharmacy Consulting Practice

Dallas-based Lockton Dunning Benefits (LDB) has relocated Excelsior Solutions, its main pharmacy consulting practice, to a new home at 7650 Edinborough Way, Suite 100, Edina, Minnesota. In 2012, LDB merged with Excelsior Solutions, which specializes in pharmaceutical and healthcare consulting. …

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Texas DOT: Hazardous Chemical Routes in Houston Unchanged in 20 Years

Texas Department of Transportation records show no highway routes designated for transport of hazardous chemicals in the Houston area have been updated over the past 20 years and government officials appear befuddled over who has the authority to do so, …

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Windham Group Hires Heffner as Chief Sales Officer

Windham Group, a case management company focused on the return-to-work continuum and based in Manchester, N.H., has named David D. Heffner as its chief sales officer. In this role, Heffner is responsible for national sales, growing and mentoring the company’s …

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Judge Awards $1.9M to Medical Clinic Whistleblower in Pacific Northwest

The former chief financial officer of a chain of medical clinics in Washington and Idaho has been awarded $1.9 million after claiming he was fired for refusing to file fabricated financial reports. Gregg Becker was the CFO of Rockwood Clinic, …

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How SEC Scrutiny of Unicorns Could Affect Private Company D&O Insurance

Underwriters of directors and officers (D&O) liability insurance should keep an eye on the increased scrutiny of “unicorn” technology firms by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for potentially inflated valuations and misleading statements, both of which pose a …

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EPIC Adds Haycock as Producer in Northern California

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has hired Rick Haycock as a property/casualty insurance producer in Northern California. Haycock will be responsible for new business development and the design and management of insurance and risk management programs for clients in the …

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Safety Advocates Frustrated that Accident-Prevention Technologies Remain Optional

Computerized sensors that warn drivers they’re about to rear-end another vehicle or prevent other types of accidents are available on models made by every major auto manufacturer. The problem, according to a U.S. safety agency and accident-prevention advocates, is that …

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Report Finds New York Officials Aware of Soil Contamination Since 1987

State officials first uncovered evidence of contaminated soil in parts of an upstate New York city about 30 years ago, but didn’t officially warn residents until last month. An investigation by the Democrat & Chronicle of Rochester found that a …

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Chubb Appoints Reiss as Executive Vice President in New York

Chubb, the world’s largest publicly traded property and casualty insurance company, has appointed Steven Reiss as executive vice president and real estate and hospitality industry practice leader. He will be based in New York and will report to Chris Maleno, …

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Rep. Hensarling’s Plan Could Be Blueprint for Trump Revamping of Dodd-Frank

When Jeb Hensarling, the Republican chair of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee, released legislation this summer to weaken the major financial law known as Dodd-Frank, many said it was a prêt-a-porter plan that his party’s nominee, Donald Trump, could …

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City in Virginia Proposes Changes to Flood Insurance Rate Maps

Norfolk officials are urging residents to take notice of proposed changes to federal flood insurance rate maps in the wake of Hurricane Matthew. The Virginian-Pilot reports that the rate maps would require some landowners to buy coverage and put some …

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Report: Big One Along Full-length of San Andreas Could be Quite Destructive

A large earthquake along the San Andreas fault impacting both Northern and Southern California at the same time could wreak much more havoc that is most may believe. Such an event, once considered impossible up until demonstrated otherwise by the …

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UK Insurers & Banks Make Contingency Plans for ‘Hard Brexit’: BofE’s Carney

Banks based in Britain may start to relocate activities to other countries about 1-1/2 years before a British departure from the European Union if a “hard Brexit” looks likely, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said on Tuesday. If the …

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Miller Appoints Griffiths to Its Sports & Entertainment Team

David Griffiths, who has held several top sports insurance broking and production roles in a career spanning 25 years has joined Miller’s sports and entertainment team to further boost its growth plans. Griffiths began his insurance career in 1991 with …

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Verisk Analytics Buys UK’s The GeoInformation Group

Verisk Analytics Inc., the Jersey City, N.J.-based data analytics provider, announced it has acquired The GeoInformation Group, a leader in the field of geographic data solutions based in Cambridge, England. “This acquisition expands Verisk’s footprint in the U.K. as a …

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Marsh to Acquire UK-Based Bluefin Insurance from AXA for $369.4M

Marsh announced it has reached agreement with AXA Group to acquire Bluefin Insurance Group Ltd., a subsidiary of AXA UK plc. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approval, is expected to close in the first quarter of 2017. AXA …

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AIG Agrees to Sell Japan Life Business to Hong Kong’s FWD Group

Hong Kong tycoon Richard Li is poised to buy American International Group Inc.’s Fuji Life Insurance Co. business, a deal that marks his FWD Group’s first foray into Japanese insurance. AIG will continue to offer property-casualty coverage in the Asian …

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Former Florida Commissioner McCarty Recognized for International Insurance Work

The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) has recognized former Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin M. McCarty for his service to international insurance regulation. McCarty is a past president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and was nominated by …

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Tennessee Man Charged With Arson After Torching Business for Insurance

Authorities have charged a restaurant owner in Lewis County, Tenn., with setting fire to his business for the insurance money. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Thursday that Nick Spicer set fire to Nick and Bubba’s Beer, Butts and Clucks …

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QBE Expands Commercial Products to Include Cyber, Data Compromise Coverage

QBE North America, an operating division of global insurer QBE Insurance Group Limited, has launched CyberOne and Data Compromise, an expanded suite of products and services designed to help protect small to medium-sized commercial organizations from information security exposures. CyberOne …

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Miami Explores Using Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes to Fight Zika

Officials in Miami trying to stop the outbreak of Zika are exploring the use of mosquitoes infected with bacteria that inhibit the insects’ ability to transmit the virus. The Miami Herald reports that Florida’s surgeon general has been notified that …

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9-Year-Old Tennessee Boy Hospitalized After Crashing Car

Authorities in Clarksville, Tenn., say a 9-year-old boy has been hospitalized after a car he was driving crashed. Media outlets report the accident occurred Sunday morning. Clarksville police said in a statement that the boy got into a car belonging …

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New Woodruff-Sawyer CEO Plans to Continue National Footprint Expansion

Continued growth and expansion of the national footprint are part of the course being plotted for San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. by new CEO Andy Barrengos. Barrengos’s appointment by the firm’s board of directors takes effect on Nov. 30., …

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Woodruff-Sawyer Names Barrengos CEO, Among other Leadership Changes

San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co.’s board of directors has named Andy Barrengos the firm’s new CEO. The appointment is effective Nov. 30. Barrengos, 52, has been with the firm for 20 years. He’s a partner, senior vice president and …

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Parker, Flavin Promoted, Yturralde Added at Ascende in Houston

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, announced that Ascende — an EPIC Company has promoted Mary Parker and Dina Flavin to managing principals in Houston. In addition, the company’s Southwest Region also welcomed …

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Use of Medical Marijuana in Illinois Grows Slowly in First Year

Illinois is marking its first year of medical marijuana sales as more states voted on Election Day to allow legal use of the drug. Despite anecdotes of medical marijuana’s positive influence on patients, broader data and randomized clinical trials of …

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Now in Some Form of Drought Covering More than 86% of Arkansas

More than 86 percent of Arkansas is in some form of drought ahead of a warm, dry winter forecast, meaning there’s little chance of immediate relief. Because of the drought, ranchers are turning to alternate sources of feed for cattle …

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Injured Transit Worker Awarded $2.5M in 2012 Chicago Train Crash

A jury has ruled the city of Chicago must pay nearly $2.5 million to a Chicago Transit Authority train operator who was injured after a police car chasing a bicyclist ran into a Brown Line train. CTA worker Jeffery Bryant’s …

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Michigan Utility Paid $25,000 Ransom After Cyberattack

Officials say the Lansing Board of Water & Light in Michigan has paid a $25,000 ransom to unlock its internal communications systems after they were disabled in the spring by a cyberattack. General manager Dick Peffley told the Lansing State …

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Will Rising Earthquake Risks in Oklahoma Shake Up Insurance Market?

The 5.0 magnitude earthquake that struck near the oil and gas storage hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, on Nov. 6 put the nation on alert to the vulnerability of the country’s oil reserves to the significant increase in seismic activity in …

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Search is on For Suspects Behind Southeast Wildfires, 2 Arrested in Kentucky

A wannabe weatherman was jailed for arson after admitting he started a wildfire to draw attention to his selfie videos on Facebook, his town’s police chief said Friday. Meanwhile, a Georgia sheriff appealed for help identifying the driver of a …

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Brightway Insurance Opens Office in Arizona

Brightway Insurance opened a location in Arizona. Shauna Summ has opened Shauna Summ Agency in Phoenix. The Landers Agency, owned by Kandie Landers, opened in Glendale, Colo., recently. Brightway Insurance is a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network …

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Wildfires Rage Throughout Southeast States, Arson Suspected

Wildfires near the Georgia-North Carolina line are spewing smoke so thick that residents are being urged to wear special masks if they must do outdoor activities. The fires – many of them suspected arsons – have prompted evacuations in Georgia, …

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Hub Purchases Certain Assets of MDA in Montana

Hub International Ltd. has acquired certain assets of Kalispell, Mont.-based MDA Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Doug Anders, president, MDA, will join Hub Mountain and report to Michael Stockwell, employee benefits practice leader of Hub Mountain. MDA …

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USGS Confirms Moderate Quake in Southwest Alaska

A moderate earthquake was felt by residents in southwest Alaska, but there were no immediate reports of damage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Alaska Earthquake Center says the temblor had a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 and it was located …

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Online Seller CoverHound Adds Pay-per-Mile Insurer Metromile

Online insurance comparison shopping agency CoverHound has announced a partnership with pay-per-mile auto insurance company Metromile to provide more coverage options for customers of both companies. The partnership gives CoverHound, which now operates its personal lines platform in all 50 …

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Argo Group to Acquire Ariel Re for $235M

Argo Group International Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products, announced it has entered an agreement to acquire Ariel Re, an underwriter of global re/insurance business, for approximately $235 million in cash. The acquisition, which is …

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Exxon Adds New York to Suit in Bid to Stop Climate Change Probe

Exxon Mobil Corp. sued New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman to stop his investigation into what the company knew about climate change. The oil giant on Thursday revised a lawsuit it filed in June against Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey. …

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Atlantic City Ride-Hailing Drivers Face Legal and Regulatory Hurdles

Joshua DeLeon earned $200 a week driving for Uber, a side job he used to buy an engagement ring for his girlfriend. Then he got a $300 ticket from Atlantic City for operating without a proper license, and he quit. …

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Opponents of Maine Marijuana Vote Take Out Recount Papers

Opponents of a vote to legalize marijuana in Maine have taken the first step toward a potential recount request. Voters in the state chose to legalize recreational marijuana via a referendum vote this week. The referendum won approval by a …

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Trump May Keep Key Affordable Care Act Provisions

President-elect Donald Trump reversed himself on completely eliminating the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s signature health law, saying instead he would keep two popular features and pledged no gap in coverage as it’s replaced. In an interview with Lesley …

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Lockton Names Tyler as Head of Global Benefits Business

Lockton has appointed Mike Tyler as head of Lockton International Benefits. He will also become chair of the Global Benefits Leadership Group, which will oversee expansion of the benefits capabilities around the globe. The benefits practice represents 30 percent of …

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New Zealand’s Earthquake Avoids Widespread Destruction; AIR Comments

New Zealand was rocked by a powerful earthquake early Monday that killed two people and caused extensive damage to roads and businesses, but avoided the widespread destruction caused by a 2011 quake that killed 185 people. The local dollar fell. …

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Insurers to Fund $27 Million Duke Energy Accord Over Ouster of CEO

Duke Energy Corp. agreed to a $27 million settlement of claims that directors wrongfully concealed their plan to fire Chief Executive Officer William Johnson just minutes after the company closed on its $13.7 billion merger with Progress Energy Inc. Duke …

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Drone Makers Shift to Commercial Uses as Consumer Market Crashes

The fledgling drone industry is in the throes of change as weak consumer demand and falling prices drive startups to shift their focus to specialized business applications. 3D Robotics – an early drone startup that raised more than$125 million from …

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