Wisconsin’s AIS Technology, Maryland-Based Kite Tech Merging

Maryland-based Kite Technology Group and Wisconsin-based AIS Technology are merging their operations effective Jan. 2, 2017. The merged company will operate under the name Kite Technology Group. Nick Oliver, owner and president of AIS Technology, will join Kite Technology Group (KiteTech) …

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Kansas County Agrees to $48K Settlement in Discrimination Lawsuit

Commissioners in Kansas’ Shawnee County have agreed to pay a $48,000 settlement to two women who claimed they were wrongfully terminated from their jobs in the prosecutor’s office because of racial and gender discrimination. Although the settlement releases the county, …

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Wisconsin DNR Backtracks on Climate Change Cause

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has quietly removed language from its website that said humans and greenhouse gases are the main cause of climate change. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports the website now states the cause of climate change …

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California Labor Commissioner Nails Taxi Company for Failure to Carry Comp

Santa Rosa, Calif. taxi company A-C Transportation Services Inc. has agreed to settle a $522,300 citation for refusing to provide its 30 drivers with workers’ compensation insurance coverage and for misclassifying them as independent contractors. California Labor Commissioner Julie A. …

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Mississippi Officials Worry About Future Opioid-Related Problems

Mississippi officials are worried that the state could end up with an opioid problem like other states that have battled with drug addiction. The Daily Journal reported that Gov. Phil Bryant issued an executive order creating an Opioid and Heroin …

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Texas Feed Manufacturer Fined Nearly $92K for Health, Safety Violations

Thomas Moore Feed in Navasota, Texas, has been cited by federal safety officials for repeat and serious health and safety violations. Proposed penalties total $91,911. Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigators inspected the feed manufacturer’s facility on Aug. …

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Homes Evacuated in Detroit Suburb after Sewer Collapse Caused Sinkhole

A major sinkhole has disrupted the holiday season in Fraser, a suburb of roughly 14,500 people about 15 miles north of downtown Detroit. Roads were closed and about two dozen homes evacuated after the Christmas Eve sewer collapse. No injuries …

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Texas Sets Workers’ Comp Discount, Interest Rate for Q1 2017

For the first quarter of 2017, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation has set at 4.41 percent any interest or discount provided for in the state’s workers’ comp statutes. The rate is effective Jan. 1, 2017, through …

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Texas Mutual: Judge Upholds State Regulation of Air Ambulances

A Texas district court judge in Austin has upheld the state’s right to regulate fees paid to air ambulances for transporting patients covered by workers’ compensation insurance, according to Texas Mutual Insurance Co. This case involved litigation over whether the …

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Washington Lawsuit Says Special Needs Student Sexually Abused by 3 Students

A lawsuit has accused a Washington school district of failing to protect a female special needs student from a male special needs classmate who sexually abused her in 2012. The News Tribune reported the lawsuit was filed earlier this month …

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Canada’s Fairfax Gets Approval to Buy 51% of India’s Catholic Syrian Bank

Value investor Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. won regulatory approval to buy 51 percent of Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd., marking the first time India’s central bank is allowing a foreign investor to purchase a majority stake in a domestic …

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Expert: Remote Nevada Earthquakes Big Enough to Cause $1B in Damage

A trio of significant earthquakes that struck a remote part of western Nevada along the Sierra Mountains’ eastern front Wednesday were big enough to cause as much as $1 billion in damage if they had been centered beneath a big …

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How Flood Risk in U.S. Is Changing: Increasing in North, Decreasing in South

The risk of flooding in the United States is changing regionally, and the reasons could be shifting rainfall patterns and the amount of water in the ground. In a new study, Recent Trends in U.S. Flood Risk, University of Iowa …

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Top 10 ‘Most Ridiculous’ Lawsuits of 2016: Chamber of Commerce

Too much ice in an iced coffee? Too much lip balm left in the tube? Too much environmental damage from thousands of red balloons? Lawsuits complaining about those situations made this year’s list of unnecessary litigation as judged by the …

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General Motors Sued over Fire Causing $450K in Damage to Pennsylvania Homes

General Motors has been sued over a 2014 car fire that caused more than $450,000 in damage to two central Pennsylvania homes. Pennlive.com reports that Erie Insurance Exchange and four of its policy holders claim the blaze resulted from a …

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Why Free Market Believers Should Naturally Accept Climate Change Science

Are you someone who has faith in the power of free markets? Then you should naturally accept the evidence that human activity is bringing about climate change. Free and competitive markets work efficiently in large part because they are phenomenal …

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Crystal & Co. Names Weiss Managing Director in Southern California

Crystal & Co. has named Scott Weiss a managing director in its commercial property/casualty department and a team leader for Northern California. Weiss’ responsibilities include the development, administration and execution of account service strategies. He maintains a primary client management …

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New York Announces Health Insurance Reforms to Combat Opioid Crisis

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that new health insurance reforms aimed at combatting New York State’s heroin and opioid crisis will go into effect January 1, 2017. These reforms were part of the legislative package that the Governor signed …

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Maine Town to Consider Pot Moratorium After Vote to Legalize

Officials in Richmond held a public hearing this week on a proposed temporary ban on marijuana retailers and social clubs in the Maine town. The Kennebec Journal reports the Planning Board’s hearing was set for 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Board …

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Markel to be Honored as 2016 Insurance Leader Of The Year in New York

Anthony F. Markel, vice chairman of the board at the Markel Corporation will be honored by The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. John’s University as the School of Risk Management’s 2016 Insurance Leader of the Year at …

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Chinese M&A to Continue Despite Regulatory, Policy Hurdles: A.M. Best

While Chinese companies have been increasing their overseas merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in recent years, there are signs that growth could slow in the coming year, as a result of uncertain economic outlook and evolving government policies in China …

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Bangladesh Police Detail How Insiders May Have Aided Cyber Bank Heist

A top investigator into the electronic theft of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank is turning his attention to some IT technicians from the bank whom he suspects hooked up its transactions system to the public Internet, giving hackers …

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China Unveils Plans to Allow More Foreign Financial Services Investment

China unveiled plans on Friday to allow more foreign investment in banking, insurance, securities and credit-rating firms, as part of a wider opening up of the world’s second-largest economy. The moves could ease some frustration among foreign firms over their …

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Investigators Conclude Crushed Kentucky Miner Not Wearing Safety Device

Federal investigators have concluded that a worker crushed to death by a machine at a Kentucky coal mine earlier this year wasn’t wearing an emergency shut-off device, and that his managers had not provided a way to securely attach it. …

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Republicans Ready to Repeal Obamacare, Work Out Replacement Later

The first major act of the unified Republican government in 2017 will be a vote in Congress to begin tearing down Obamacare. But the euphoria of finally acting on a long-sought goal will quickly give way to the reality that …

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How Agents Feel About Their Compensation from Carriers… and Other Matters

On a first quarter results call W.R. Berkley Corp. President and CEO Robert Berkley cited a growing and alarming level of tension between carriers and distributors, driven by what he called a fight to grow margins in the face of …

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Hospital That Treated Florida Toddler Who Swallowed Battery Sued by Family

A Florida family sued a hospital for malpractice on Wednesday, saying their baby suffered severe burns because it took too long to remove a coin-sized battery that she swallowed. Parents Cole Parsons and Courtney Thorne said in a lawsuit that …

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Injury Crashes Involving Texting, Driving Decrease in Oklahoma

Oklahoma has seen a significant decrease in injury traffic accidents involving drivers distracted by an electronic device since a law banning texting and driving went into effect last year. Data from the Oklahoma Highway Safety Office show that injury crashes …

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Indiana Slow to Address Expired Rules Drafted after Stage Collapse

Emergency rules drafted following the deadly 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse expired nearly a year ago and state regulators have not yet drafted a permanent rule intended to prevent such a disaster from happening again. The rules that established …

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Report: Operator Error Caused 2015 Wisconsin Train Derailment

Federal investigators said crew fatigue may have contributed to the derailment of a BNSF freight train that spilled more than 20,000 gallons of ethanol last year in western Wisconsin. The engineer and the conductor scored poorly on the Federal Railroad …

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Trump V. California Climate Battle Brewing

California v. Trump, so to speak, is shaping up to be a heavyweight match. On one side is the world’s sixth (or so) largest economy – home to Disneyland, Hollywood and Big Sur. On the other is the reality show …

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Robberies Surge in 2016, Ending Downward Trend in Tulsa, Oklahoma

Tulsa experienced a surge of robberies in 2016, ending a five-year downward trend. Tulsa Police Department data showed that over 1,000 robberies were reported from the start of January through November, already 19 percent more than last year’s total of …

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2 Hurt in Explosion at Northern Oklahoma Manufacturing Plant

Authorities say two workers were injured after an explosion and fire at a manufacturing plant in northern Oklahoma. The fire broke out Tuesday afternoon at the ICES Corporation plant in Cleveland, about 80 miles northeast of Oklahoma City. Cleveland Fire …

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Historic Flooding Prompts Uptick in Flood Policies in South Louisiana

Four months after devastating flooding ravaged South Louisiana, nearly 30,000 new flood insurance policies have been written in the affected areas, the Louisiana Department of Insurance announced. As of July 30, the total number of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) …

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California DIR Releases Overview of Upcoming New Laws

The California Department of Industrial Relations has released its 2016 Legislative Digest, which summarizes new laws that impact workers and employers. Most of the chaptered bills are slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2017. Highlights those new laws include: …

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New Year’s Day Is Deadliest For Alcohol-Related Crashes: IIHS

New Year’s evokes visions of celebrations and fresh beginnings but the holiday has a more somber side when it comes to alcohol and crashes. Jan. 1 is the deadliest day on average for alcohol-related crashes involving a motor vehicle, pedestrian …

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Why Young Insurance Agents Are So Optimistic

It’s no secret that the insurance industry is facing a huge talent gap. Almost half of all insurance professionals are over age 45, with 25 percent of the industry expected to retire by 2018. That’s a concerning trend for the …

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Fidelity National Unit Reported Close to Settlement Over Robo-Signing

A Fidelity National Financial Inc. subsidiary is in final talks to pay as much as $65 million to resolve U.S. government accusations that it contributed to improper and fraudulent foreclosures after the 2008 credit crisis, according to a person familiar …

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Markel International Names Brown & Larson to Equine & Livestock Team

Markel International, the London-based specialist insurer, has appointed Lynette Brown as underwriter in its livestock team and Emilie Larson as underwriting assistant for the equine team. Brown has over 10 years’ experience in livestock insurance, most recently as livestock underwriter …

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Obamacare Individual Market Profitability Outlook Improving, Says S&P

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual market has proven a tough nut to crack for U.S. health insurers, with the benefit of strong premium growth offset by persistent underwriting losses for most insurers. But 2016 is going to be the …

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Report: Vast Majority of Surplus Lines Filings in Texas Come in on Time

An overwhelming majority of surplus lines policies are filed on time in Texas, according to the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas. SLTX is required by statute to file an Annual Late Filers report with the Texas Department of Insurance, …

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Families Remember Deadly North Texas Tornado

Kenneth and Natasha Briggs and their four children had avoided the area near the Bush Turnpike and Interstate 30 in spite of, and because of, what it had done to form their family. This week, however, Natasha sat front and …

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USI Taps Lang as Practice Leader in Southern California

USI has named Jeff Lang practice leader for its Southern California commercial insurance division. Lang has more than 20 years of experience in property/casualty brokerage and five years as an insurance company and TPA executive. Lang was a vice president …

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Wisconsin Company Cited in Teen’s Machine Shop Death

A federal workplace safety agency has cited a Wisconsin company after a teenage worker was fatally injured at a machine shop. The U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration said Tuesday it has issued multiple safety and health violations against G.D. …

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R&Q Completes Novation with Captive Owned by Coca-Cola Bottlers’ Assoc.

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Ltd. announced the novation of reinsurance policies issued between 2002 and 2016 by Georgia Atlantic Insurance Ltd. (GAIL) for workers’ compensation, general liability, auto liability and auto property damages. GAIL is a wholly owned, Bermuda-based …

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New York Town Scrambling to Replace Vehicles Destroyed by Fire

Officials in a suburban Rochester community are scrambling to replace snow removal equipment after a fire gutted the town’s public works garage. The Christmas Eve fire at the town of Irondequoit’s Department of Public Works garage caused millions of dollars …

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Family of New Jersey Train Crash Victim Files Notice of Intent to Sue

The family of a woman killed when a New Jersey Transit commuter train slammed into a station this year has filed notice of their intent to sue. Lawyers for Fabiola Bittar de Kroon’s family filed a claim for damages Tuesday. …

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XL Catlin Adds Clinical Trials Solution for Life Science Clients in Germany

XL Catlin’s insurance operations in Germany have announced the addition of a stand-alone clinical trials solution for life science clients. Life science companies are operating in an increasing complex and litigious environment, the company explained in a statement. “They are producing …

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Security Weaknesses Found at Smartphone-Only, Fintech-Startup N26

German fintech company N26, which made its name mocking traditional banks, has found itself on the receiving end of criticism after a security researcher proved its smartphone apps exposed users to potential account hijacking. N26, previously known as Number26, has …

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33% of Canadians Admit to ‘Dangerous Habit’ of Texting at Red Lights

One third (33 percent) of Canadians admit they have texted while stopped at a red light in the last month, reveals a poll released by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). That is despite evidence that your mind could still be …

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United Settles Lawsuit Over Safety Hazards at New Jersey Airport

United Continental Holdings Inc. will install new conveyor belts and take other steps to improve worker safety at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub in New Jersey, after federal inspectors found hazardous conditions in its baggage handling operations there. The …

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Northern Indiana City Expanding Efforts to Deal with Underground Vault Threat

A northern Indiana city is extending a campaign to repair or fill old coal-storage vaults that pose a public safety threat. Goshen started its matching funds program in 2012 after a man walking on a downtown sidewalk fell through the …

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Greenberg Traurig Adds Gausewitz to Insurance Regulatory Practice in California

Greenberg Traurig LLP has added Bill Gausewitz as a shareholder to its government law and policy and insurance regulatory and transactions practices in the firm’s Sacramento, Calif. office. Gausewitz focuses his practice on administrative law, insurance regulation, title insurance and …

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Kansas Mom’s Medical Pot Suit Dismissed by Federal Judge

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a western Kansas woman against the state and several agencies after her son was removed from her home in 2015 when he told school officials she used marijuana. Shona Banda, of …

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83 Vehicles Broken Into on Christmas at Southwest Florida Hotels

Authorities in southwest Florida say they’re tracking down leads after 83 vehicles were broken into around several hotels early Christmas morning. The News-Press reports that the Lee County Sheriff’s Office is investigating smashed windows and stolen property at four Estero …

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West Virginia Settles Opioid Lawsuits Against 2 More Drug Distributors

Two major prescription drug distributors have agreed to settle a West Virginia lawsuit alleging they fueled West Virginia’s opioid epidemic with excessively large shipments of painkillers into the state over several years. Boone County Circuit Court Judge William Thompson disclosed …

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Unlicensed Miami Public Adjuster Arrested for $100K Water Claims Scam

A Miami man was arrested on multiple felony fraud and grand theft charges following an investigation by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Investigative and Forensic Services (DIFS). Julian Garcia-Sellek of Miami is accused of acting as an …

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Alabama Establishes New Mitigation Discounts for IBHS Fortified Structures

The Alabama Department of Insurance (ALDOI) has established new wind mitigation discounts for property insurance for Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) Fortified residential and commercial structures in Alabama. Under Bulletin 2016-07, discounts range from 35 percent to …

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Groups Suing Seattle over Voter-approved Hotel Workplace Safety Measure

Seattle is being sued over a voter-approved measure requiring new workplace protections for hotel workers. The American Hotel and Lodging Association, Washington Hospitality Association and Seattle Hotel Association say provisions of Initiative-124 duplicate or clash with existing laws. The Seattle …

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CEA Reports No Claims So Far from Nevada Quake

A swarm of earthquakes in Nevada produced shaking in wide parts of Northern and Central California early this morning, including in Sacramento and Fresno. The first shock, a magnitude 5.7, occurred shortly after midnight southwest of Hawthorne, Nev., roughly 72 …

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Widow of Pilot Killed in Washington Crash Files Suit against Aircraft Companies

The wife of one of the men who died after a plane crashed into Washington’s Spokane River has filed a lawsuit against the companies that built and maintained the aircraft. The Spokesman-Review reported that 60-year-old Lyndon Amestoy and the 64-year-old …

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New Mexico Regulators Approve Reopening of Troubled Nuclear Dump

New Mexico regulators have approved restarting normal operations at the nation’s only underground nuclear waste repository, a major step for U.S. officials aiming to reopen the facility nearly three years after a radiation leak shut it down indefinitely. Two letters …

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Chubb Expands Cyber Risk Mitigation Offerings

Chubb has expanded its suite of cyber loss mitigation services for U.S. and Canadian policyholders to reduce the impact and likelihood of a cyber incident. Chubb’s expanded suite of cyber services for loss mitigation includes: Password Defense—Available to Chubb cyber policyholders’ employees, …

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Western Kansas Saw 3 Brief Tornadoes Seen On Christmas Day

Three tornadoes were reported in Kansas on Christmas Day, causing some damage but no injuries, the National Weather Service confirmed. The Dodge City office of the weather service said the first tornado was reported six miles southeast of Bucklin Sunday …

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Despite Disastrous Flooding, Future of Louisiana Project Remains Murky

Despite the flooding that struck south Louisiana in August, prospects for a decades-old project aimed at protecting Baton Rouge, La. area homes remain murky. The 12-mile structure is called the Comite River Diversion Canal. It would siphon high water from …

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New York State DFS Issues Updated Proposed Cybersecurity Regulation

New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) Superintendent Maria T. Vullo has announced that the DFS has updated its proposed cybersecurity regulation to protect New York State from the ever-growing threat of cyber-attacks. The proposed regulation, which serves as …

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A.M. Best Downgrades Golden Insurance, RPG in Nevada

A.M. Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating to B- (Fair) from B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating to “bb-” from “bb” of Nevada-domiciled Golden Insurance Company, A Risk Retention Group. Concurrently, A.M. Best has placed the Credit …

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Celebrity Chefs Flunk Food Safety Test

Celebrity chefs are cooking up poor food safety habits, according to a Kansas State University study. Kansas State University food safety experts Edgar Chambers IV and Curtis Maughan, along with Tennessee State University’s Sandria Godwin, recently published “Food safety behaviors …

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Study Shows Growth in Virginia’s Medical Payments per Workers’ Comp Claim

Virginia’s medical payments per workers’ compensation claim with more than seven days of lost time increased 26 percent for claims that occurred between 2009 and 2014, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). This growth …

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U.S. Launches Safety Probe of Brakes on 2007-09 Ford Fusion

U.S. safety regulators are investigating Ford Motor Co.’s Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from the 2007 to 2009 model years for brakes that may fail in certain conditions, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Tuesday. There have been …

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Hannover Re Receives License to Launch Branch in India

Hannover Re received the approval (R3) to establish a branch in India from the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). The opening up of the Indian market to foreign reinsurers enables Hannover Re to enjoy direct access to …

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Ex-Players Drop Case to Force NFL to Pay Workers’ Compensation for Concussions

The federal court case brought by 38 former National Football League players seeking to force the NFL to recognize chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a covered disease under workers’ compensation has been withdrawn. Instead of pursuing their joint case, the …

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Christmas Day Fire in Connecticut Blamed on Toy Hoverboard

New Haven, Conn., fire officials say a toy hoverboard appears to be the cause of a Christmas Day apartment fire that displaced four people and sent one to the hospital. Battalion Chief Ben Vargas tells the New Haven Register the blaze …

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Philippines Searches for Crew of Ship Sunk by Typhoon Nock-Ten; AIR Comments

The Philippine coast guard pressed its search Tuesday for 18 crewmen from a cargo ship that sank at the height of Typhoon Nock-Ten, which struck the country on Christmas Day. Coast guard spokesman Armand Balilo said 14 other crewmen have been rescued …

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Fairfax Plans to Raise $1 Billion in IPO for Fund to Make Africa Investments

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., the Canadian insurer that made its largest acquisition last week, is selling shares in an initial public offering for a fund that will make investments in Africa. The company is seeking to raise as much as …

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NN Group Agrees to Acquire Dutch Insurer Delta Lloyd for $2.6B

NN Group NV agreed to buy Delta Lloyd NV for about 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion) after its earlier offer for the Dutch insurer was rejected. NN offered 5.40 euros a share in cash for Amsterdam-based Delta Lloyd, the companies …

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Judge Upholds Ban on Guns in Delaware State Parks, Forests

A Delaware judge has sided with state environmental officials in a lawsuit challenging a ban on non-hunting firearms in state parks and forests. Members of the Bridgeville Rifle & Pistol Club and the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association who have concealed-carry …

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Chubb Names Lambourne Head of Multinational Claims, Overseas General Insurance

Chubb announced that Graham Lambourne, currently Global Clients Claims manager, Europe, has been promoted to the role of head of Multinational Claims for Overseas General Insurance. Lambourne will be responsible for further refining and enhancing Chubb’s multinational claims capability, working with colleagues in North …

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New Jersey Town Says It’s Not to Blame in Beach Collapse Death

A beach town being sued for the drowning death of a man swept out to sea when the sand collapsed underneath him says it is immune from such lawsuits due to a state law governing unimproved public property. North Wildwood …

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SCOR Authorized to Open India Branch Office to Write Life, P/C Reinsurance

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has granted SCOR “R3 authorization,” allowing the group to open a composite branch office in India to conduct life and P/C reinsurance business. SCOR has been writing business with Indian clients …

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Major Travel Booking Systems Vulnerable to Hackers: Researchers

Major travel booking systems lack a proper way to authenticate air travelers, making it easy to hack the short code used on many boarding passes to alter flight details or steal sensitive personal data, security researchers warned on Tuesday. Passenger …

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Update on the Opioid Epidemic in U.S.

Drug overdose deaths, including opioid overdose deaths, continue to increase in the United States, according to new data from the federal government. The Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in …

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500-Plus Oceanfront Homes in Florida Still at Risk Months after Matthew

Officials estimate over 500 oceanfront homes remain at risk months of Hurricane Matthew swept past northeast Florida’s coastline. According to the St. Augustine Record, St. Johns County officials say all 42 miles of county beaches suffered erosion from the Category …

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Brentwood Services Administrators Adds Vinson in North Carolina

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. has selected Theresa Vinson as a new senior claim representative in the Raleigh, N.C., office, according to Jeff Pettus, president and CEO of BSA. In her position as senior claim representative, Vinson is responsible for reviewing, …

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Truck Rolls Away From North Carolina Construction Site, Kills 5-Year-Old Boy

Authorities say a young boy has been killed by an unmanned truck that rolled down a hill after it wasn’t properly secured at a construction site. Hillsborough Police Chief Duane Hampton says the 5-year-old boy was playing in the neighborhood …

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Bump in Issue of Concealed Carry Permits in Ohio

The number of concealed carry permits issued by the state of Ohio this year is on pace to far exceed the number of permits issued in 2015. Records from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office shows nearly 94,000 permits were issued …

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Louisiana Meeting to Discuss Flood Spending Plans Set for January

Plans for spending more than $1 billion in newly approved federal flood recovery money will be discussed at a Jan. 6 meeting of the Restore Louisiana Task Force. U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro announced Friday that Louisiana …

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Indiana Governor-elect Reappoints Robertson as Insurance Commissioner

Indiana Governor-elect Eric Holcomb has reappointed Stephen Robertson as the commissioner of the state’s Department of Insurance. Robertson was appointed by Gov. Mitch Daniels as commissioner of the department in 2010 and was reappointed in 2013 by Gov. Mike Pence. …

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Deadly California Fire Has Artists, Officials Clashing over Safety of Venues

The party is over at Purple 33. About a week after 36 people died in a fire at an underground music party in Oakland, inspectors acting on a complaint discovered a makeshift nightclub and unpermitted living quarters concealed in a …

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Oregon Bystander Lawsuit Allowed to Proceed

The Oregon Supreme Court has allowed a lawsuit to proceed that was filed on behalf of two boys who witnessed their younger brother hit and killed by a pickup truck five years ago. The decision was a reversal of two …

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New Mexico Farming Firm Expected to Lose $4M over Breach

A break earlier this year in the water delivery system that serves Navajo Agricultural Products Industry is expected to end up costing the tribal business in New Mexico more than $4 million in lost revenue. The Daily Times reported the …

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Top 12 Insurance Trends and News Stories of 2016: Countdown

In the year 2016, as in past years, there were the familiar or continuing stories including reinsurers still wishing and hoping for a hardening market; property/casualty insurance carriers reporting financial results dampened by catastrophes, auto losses, and interest rates; and …

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Workers’ Comp Rates in Missouri Expected to Drop Again

Employers in Missouri should see a continued decrease in workers’ compensation insurance costs. The Missouri Department of Insurance is recommending a 4.6 percent decrease in workers’ comp insurance loss costs for 2017. This would mark the third year in a …

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Illinois Governor Names New Insurance Director, Budget Chief

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has announced changes at the top of two key state offices, naming new directors of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget and the Department of Insurance. The Republican governor announced last week that his budget …

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USGS: Several Quakes, 1 of 3.5M, Struck North Oklahoma

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed several earthquakes have struck northern Oklahoma, including one with a preliminary magnitude of 3.5. No injuries or damage are reported from the quakes that occurred Friday afternoon near Mooreland, about 108 miles northwest of Oklahoma …

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Florida Church Struggles to Fix Steeple Toppled by Hurricane Matthew

The pastor of a Florida church whose steeple was toppled by Hurricane Matthew says it’s painful to see the storm’s damage linger. The Daytona Beach News-Journal reports that the 25-foot steeple remains where it fell next to Historic New Bethel …

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Blizzards, Ice Storms Wreak Havoc In Midwest Plains

Travel conditions remained hazardous as a winter storm swept across much of the northern Great Plains late, with blowing and drifting snow creating near-zero visibility on some roads. The combination of freezing rain, snow and high winds that forced the …

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Central California City Wins $22M from Shell Oil in Toxic Drinking Water Case

The central California city of Clovis has won a $22 million civil case against Shell Oil over the cleanup of a toxic chemical found in drinking-water wells, officials said. The Fresno Bee reported that the chemical 1,2,3-trichloropropane, or TCP, is …

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California Mudslide Bursts Through Complex, Displaces 4 Families

Oceanside firefighters say a river of mud that flowed down a slope, burst through an apartment complex wall in the California town and poured into downstairs units displaced four families early Christmas morning. The Oceanside Fire Department says they found …

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Fleet of Self-Driving Uber Cars Gets Warm Welcome from Arizona Governor

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is happy about the arrival of a fleet of Uber self-driving cars delivered via a self-driving truck that transported them from California. Ducey’s office says the governor welcomed the truck carrying the self-driving Volvos at the …

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Young Victim’s Family Brings First Suit in Deadly California Fire

The parents of a 20-year-old college student who died in the arms of her boyfriend in Oakland’s deadly warehouse fire filed the first lawsuit Friday in the disaster, blaming the building’s owner, chief tenant and others. The lawsuit, filed in …

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Uber, Lyft Drivers in Maryland Won’t Have to Submit Fingerprints

Uber and Lyft drivers in Maryland won’t have to submit their fingerprints for background checks after the ride-hailing companies complained about the proposal. The Maryland Public Service Commission announced Thursday that it has approved an alternative background check process for …

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Pollution from New Hampshire’s Dartmouth College Lab Dump Worries Neighbors

Neighbors of Dartmouth College property where for years the Ivy League school disposed of mice and other small animals used in science experiments say they fear pollution from the site has contaminated their groundwater and they worry the school hasn’t …

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School Transit Company, Owner Charged with Insurance Fraud in Pennsylvania

A school transit company with a $2.4 million contract to provide rides to special needs students in a Pittsburgh-area charter school network has been charged with failing to properly insure some vehicles and hiring drivers with criminal records by ignoring …

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Authorities Say Ex-Insurance Agent in New Jersey Stole Clients’ Identities

State authorities say a former insurance agent assumed the identities of former clients to fraudulently apply for new life insurance policies in their names. Marta Cristina Cunha is charged with insurance fraud, identity theft and theft by deception. Authorities say …

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Russia Focuses on Pilot or Technical Fault, Not Terrorism, as Plane Crash Cause

A pilot error or a technical fault — not terrorism — is likely to be the cause of the plane crash into the Black Sea, Russian officials said Monday as the nation held a day of mourning for the victims. …

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Earthquake in Southern Chile Causes Minor Damage; 4,000 Evacuated

A powerful earthquake shook southern Chile on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of deaths and only minor known damage. The U.S. Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 7.6 and said it struck at 11:22 a.m. local time …

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Israel’s ‘Facebook Law’ Targets Content ‘Liable to Incite’ Terrorism

Israeli courts could demand that companies such as Facebook Inc. remove content deemed as incitement, under a bill that that will head for parliamentary approval amid concerns about free speech. The law would give Israel the tools “to have content liable …

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Halliburton Settles Securities Fraud Class Action for $100 Million

Halliburton Co. on Friday said it had reached a $100 million settlement to resolve a long-running securities fraud class action lawsuit against the oilfield services provider that twice reached the U.S. Supreme Court. The deal resolves a lawsuit in federal …

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Top 10 Personal Auto Insurers and Today’s Market: A.M. Best

The U.S. personal auto insurance industry saw net premiums written grow 5.1 percent in 2015 — a rate of growth that may not be repeated as rising loss ratios weaken both underwriting and operating results, according to an A.M. Best …

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China Vows Cybersecurity Hard Line, Including Use of Military

China will use all necessary means to protect its information security, including the use of its military, striking a hard line in the country’s first strategic report on cybersecurity. Zhao Zeliang, director general of the bureau of cybersecurity for the Cyberspace …

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Exiting U.S. Mine Safety Chief Hopeful Safety Progress Will Continue

The nation’s coal mines are headed for another record low year in workplace deaths, and the outgoing federal mine safety chief said he’s hopeful that mining companies will work with the incoming Trump administration to continue that progress. Joe Main …

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Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank Settle Subprime Mortgage Probes with U.S.

Deutsche Bank AG and Credit Suisse Group AG agreed to pay a combined $12.5 billion to resolve U.S. investigations into sales of the toxic debt that fueled the financial crisis, putting behind them a major dispute that undermined confidence in …

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Report: West Virginia Flooded with Painkillers by Drug Wholesalers

Drug wholesalers shipped 780 million hydrocodone and oxycodone pills to West Virginia in just six years, a period when 1,728 people fatally overdosed on these two painkillers, according to an investigation by the Charleston Gazette-Mail. That amounts to 433 of …

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Risk Strategies Acquires Advanced Insurance Underwriters in Florida

Risk Strategies Company, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has acquired business insurance specialist Advanced Insurance Underwriters (AIU), headquartered in Hollywood, Fla. Terms of the deal were not announced. AIU specializes in commercial property & casualty …

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Beecher Carlson Promotes Lynch to President, Global Energy Practice in Atlanta

Beecher Carlson Insurance Services, LLC, a specialized large account insurance broker, has promoted Erin Lynch to president of its Global Energy Practice. Lynch will lead the production and service teams that specialize in risk financing for power generation clients. Beecher …

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Texas Surplus Office Projects 2016 Increase in Premium, Filings

Projections show that the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas is on track to surpass fourth quarter premium totals set in the past two years, according to data prepared by the office. The amount of surplus lines filings with SLTX …

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Texas Grocery Chain Recalls Raw Shelled Pistachios

The H-E-B grocery store chain has recalled some bulk and packaged raw shelled pistachios. San Antonio-based H-E-B said this week there’s a potential that the pistachios could be contaminated with salmonella. There are no reports of anyone getting sick. The issue …

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University in Ohio Agrees to Settle Student’s Sex Discrimination Suit

The University of Cincinnati has settled a federal lawsuit filed by a student who said she was told she had to sit and work with other female students and not with male students in a physics lab. U.S. District Judge …

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Chicago Man Sues Mcdonald’s Arguing ‘Value Meal’ Is No Deal

A suburban Chicago man is suing McDonald’s restaurants in two Illinois counties, arguing cheeseburger “Extra Value Meals” are actually more expensive than when the items are purchased separately. James Gertie of Des Plaines tells The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald that …

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South Central Regulation Report Card: Texas’ Grade Rises, Arkansas’ Drops

No South Central state had the best score and none had the worst in a report recently released by a conservative-leaning research organization that annually assesses the effectiveness states’ insurance regulatory systems. Grades assigned to the insurance regulatory systems in …

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Midwest Regulation Report Card: States’ Grades Range from A to D

Grades assigned to the insurance regulatory systems in the Midwest states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin range from A to D in a report recently released by a conservative-leaning …

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State Regulation Report Card: R Street Grades Them from Best to Worst

For the second year in a row, Vermont has been graded at the top of the class as having the best insurance regulatory system, while North Carolina has again been graded as having the worst, according to the fifth edition …

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Southeast Regulation Report Card: North Carolina Flunks; Florida, South Carolina Dispute Grades

North Carolina ranks the worst of all 50 states when it comes to insurance regulation, according to a 2016 insurance regulation report card by an insurance industry think tank. The R Street Institute’s 2016 Insurance Regulation Report Card scores state …

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East Regulation Report Card: Vermont Ranks Best for 3rd Straight Year

The R Street Institute, a nonprofit public policy research organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., has found that Vermont has the best insurance regulatory environment in the U.S. for the third straight year in its annual Insurance Regulation Report Card. The …

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West Regulation Report Card: California Most Politicized State

A report gives California’s insurance regulatory environment low marks for auto body repair rules, the insurance commissioner’s call for insurers to divest from coal, its prior approval law and being the “most politicized state in the country.” California was given …

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Ohio Jury Hits DuPont with $2M Ruling over Teflon-making Chemical

A U.S. jury in Ohio ordered DuPont to pay $2 million to a man who said he developed testicular cancer from exposure to a toxic chemical leaked from one of the company’s plants, according to the plaintiff’s lawyer Robert Bilott. …

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Activist Kids in Washington Allowed to Go Forward with Climate Case

Eight Seattle children should have “their day in court” to argue that Washington state and others aren’t protecting them from climate change, a judge ruled. King County Superior Court Judge Hollis Hill on Monday allowed the young petitioners to move …

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Uber Capitulates, Takes Self-driving Cars off Streets of San Francisco

Uber Technologies Inc has removed its self-driving cars from San Francisco streets after California regulators cracked down on the week-old program because the company had not obtained a permit to test the vehicles. The California Department of Motor Vehicles said …

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Brexit Threatens 10% of London’s Financial Jobs: City of London Corp. Official

Up to 10 percent of jobs in London’s financial district may be lost if Britain fails to secure adequate access to European Union markets after Brexit, a City of London official said on Wednesday. Bankers first called for full access …

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Days Numbered for Agency Distribution in Hong Kong; China Warily Embraces Innovation: 2017 Predictions, Part 4

The twin forces of regulation and technology will see the emergence of new distribution models in 2017. This sounds like a commonly heard disrupter scenario for the U.S. and European markets, but it’s actually a prediction for the future of …

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Startup Insurer Lemonade Is Going National; Files for Licenses Countrywide

Insurance startup Lemonade is eyeing a national expansion and has filed for licenses to operate in 46 states and the District of Columbia. The peer-to-peer insurer that is focused on renters and homeowners insurance is pursuing the broader regulatory approval …

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Ex-Nanny for Penguins Player in Pennsylvania Gets 5-Year Federal Sentence

The former nanny of Pittsburgh Penguins player Chris Kunitz was sentenced Tuesday to five years in federal prison for setting fire to her rental residence and then filing fraudulent insurance claims for the contents. The public defender for Andrea Forsythe, …

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Pieciak Reappointed as Commissioner of Vermont Department of Financial Regulation

Vermont Governor-elect Phil Scott announced he would reappoint Michael Pieciak as commissioner of the Department of Financial Regulation. The department will also retain the deputy commissioners for each of its four divisions, which include Cynthia Stuart for Banking, Kaj Samsom …

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New York Financial Regulator to Delay Cyber Security Rules

New York’s financial regulator will delay an anticipated Jan. 1 deadline for banks and insurers doing business in the state to comply with controversial cyber security rules, a person familiar with the matter said. The regulator, the New York State …

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All Risks to Provide E&O Coverage to PIA of Florida Members

All Risks, Ltd. has partnered with the Professional Insurance Agents of Florida (PIA of Florida), to provide professional liability errors and omissions insurance to its members. Effective Jan. 1, 2017, All Risks will become the official underwriter for insurance agents …

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Trump Taps Billionaire Icahn, Activist Investor and Dodd-Frank Critic, as Regulation Advisor

Billionaire Carl Icahn will advise Donald Trump on rescinding what the activist investor called “excessive regulation” on U.S. businesses, the president-elect’s transition team announced on Wednesday. Icahn will serve as a special adviser, not a federal employee, and he will …

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6.4 Million Have Signed Up for Obamacare Since Nov. 1, Says HHS

Roughly 6.4 million consumers signed up for Obamacare insurance on Healthcare.gov from Nov. 1 to Dec. 19, indicating “clear demand for quality, affordable coverage,” the U.S. government said on Wednesday. The number of people signing up for Jan. 1, 2017 …

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Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Louisiana’s Group Insurance Associates

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Group Insurance Associates Inc. in Metairie, Louisiana. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1983, Group Insurance Associates Inc. (GIA) is an employee benefits insurance broker that provides all lines of group …

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Google Confidentiality Agreement Is Unlawful, Claims Employee in Lawsuit

A Google Inc. product manager has sued the company, accusing it of unlawfully prohibiting employees from sharing concerns with coworkers, shareholders or the press, and maintaining a “spying program” to prevent leaks. In the class action lawsuit filed on Tuesday …

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Hiscox UK Taps AIG’s White as London Regional Mgr, Professional & Specialty Lines

Specialist global insurer Hiscox has announced the appointment of Trish White as London regional manager for Professional and Specialty Commercial lines within Hiscox UK. White joins Hiscox from AIG, where she had worked since 2007 in a range of roles …

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Data Breaches of Internet Giants & Online Services Pose Major 2017 Cyber Threats

Potential leaks of personal user data collected by internet giants and online services will be one of the major cyber-security threats of 2017, according to computer safety company Kaspersky Lab. “Users have de facto become hostages as today they can’t …

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China’s Regulator Toughens Insurer Licensing Requirements: Sources

China’s insurance regulator is making it much tougher for insurers to get new licenses as it seeks to reduce risks resulting from the aggressive business and investment practices of some players, said three people with knowledge of the matter. Concerns …

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Wal-Mart to Pay $75K to Settle Illinois Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. will pay a former employee $75,000 to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit filed over the company’s alleged actions in regard to an employee at a store Hodgkins, Ill. The lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment …

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Oklahoma Near the Bottom in U.S. Health Rankings, High in Uninsured

Oklahoma ranks ahead of just four states in overall health, according to a report by the United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings. Oklahoma ranks No. 46 in the report released, one spot worse than in 2015, ahead of only Alabama, …

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Jewelers Mutual Insurance Adds Sieman as CFO, Treasurer

Kathryn Sieman has joined the executive leadership team of Neenah, Wis.-based Jewelers Mutual Insurance Co., assuming the role of chief financial officer and treasurer. Sieman has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience. She most recently served as executive …

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Kentucky Business Owner Gets Jail Time for Environmental Violations

A western Kentucky business owner will serve 90 days in jail for committing environmental violations during the demolition of the former Goodyear Tire plant in Madisonville. A release from the U.S. Attorney’s office says Timothy J. Smith’s company committed Clean …

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New Alabama Storm Shelters to Open for Tornado Season

Officials in Birmingham, Ala., say three of five planned community storm shelters will be open before the spring tornado season. That’s nearly six years after the April 27, 2011 tornadoes that devastated parts of Alabama, including the community of Pratt …

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U.S. Regulators Order Action to be Taken for North Dakota Oil Spill

U.S. pipeline regulators on Wednesday ordered Belle Fourche Pipeline Co. to improve leak detection, along with other actions, after a Dec. 5 incident that spilled about 4,200 barrels of oil in North Dakota. Of that total, an estimated 3,100 barrels …

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New York Issues Insurance Rule on Hiring Ex-Convicts

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Wednesday issued a regulation making it easier for businesses to hire former convicts by prohibiting insurance companies from refusing coverage for crime-related losses caused by employees. The regulation, the first of its kind in …

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USI Names Lang Commercial Insurance Leader in Southern California

USI has named Jeff Lang practice leader for the Southern California commercial insurance division. Lang is based in USI’s Woodland Hills regional office. He will focus on growth strategies, client service and retention, talent acquisition and building USI’s brand in …

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New Mexico’s Mountain States Mutual to Merge with Donegal Mutual

New Mexico’s Mountain States Mutual Casualty Co. is merging into Pennsylvania-based Donegal Mutual Insurance Co., the insurers announced. Donegal Mutual will be the surviving company in the merger, and Mountain States’ insurance subsidiaries, Mountain States Indemnity Co. and Mountain States …

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California Attorney General Sues Feds in Offshore Fracking Challenge

Attorney General Kamala Harris and the California Coastal Commission has filed a lawsuit challenging the federal government’s recent finding that fracking off the state’s coast has no significant environmental impact. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Los Angeles says …

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Oklahoma Creates Fracking Guidelines with Goals of Reducing Quake Risk

Oklahoma is imposing guidelines to reduce the risk of earthquakes caused by hydraulic fracturing in its oil-rich shale formations, the first rules in the state to target the controversial production technique. The guidelines are aimed at the South Central Oklahoma …

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Lawmakers OK Uber, Lyft to Operate in New Jersey

New Jersey lawmakers have given their OK to ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. Lawmakers on Monday approved a measure to make the services legal. If approved by Republican Gov. Chris Christie, the measure would allow the state attorney general …

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New Hampshire Town Seeks Municipal Water from City after Coakley Rejection

Officials and residents in the New Hampshire town of Greenland are urging Portsmouth’s City Council to support running municipal water to homeowners whose wells are vulnerable to contamination from a Superfund cleanup site. The Coakley Landfill Group, which includes the …

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Prosecutors Won’t Use Suspect’s Statement in New York, New Jersey Bombing Case

A federal prosecutor on Monday said the government won’t introduce at trial a lengthy statement from a man charged with setting off bombs in New York and New Jersey in order to keep to a scheduled trial date in March. …

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Alliant Hires Bothwell in Massachusetts to Expand Its Energy and Marine Group

Newport Beach, Calif., headquartered insurance broker Alliant has hired Robert J. Bothwell as executive vice president based in Boston, Mass. In this role, Bothwell will provide targeted risk management and insurance solutions to a global client base, expanding the reach …

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Record Number of Miners Being Diagnosed with Black Lung Disease

New data show many more coal miners across Appalachia suffering from the most serious form of black lung disease than federal regulators previously reported. National Public Radio reported Friday that its investigation shows cases 10 times more prevalent, with data …

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Emerging Risks/Markets Offer New Opportunities: 2017 Predictions, Part 3

Insurers and reinsurers continue to look for organic growth where they can find it – sometimes from emerging risks and sometimes from emerging markets. As always, the keys to success are market knowledge and patience. Providing a heads-up for such …

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VW Claims Costs in U.S. for Emissions Scam Top $17 Billion with More to Come

Volkswagen AG has agreed to a $1 billion settlement to fix or buy back another 80,000 polluting diesel vehicles sold in the United States as the German automaker on Tuesday took new steps to put its emissions cheating scandal behind …

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Twitter, Google, Facebook Sued by Orland Nightclub Shooting Victims’ Families

The families of three men killed at Orlando’s Pulse gay nightclub have sued Twitter Inc., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Facebook Inc. in federal court, accusing the companies of providing “material support” to the self-radicalized gunman. The gunman, 29-year-old Omar Mateen, …

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Hamilton Underwriting Appoints Novae’s Holland as Claims Director

Hamilton Underwriting Ltd., the managing agency of Syndicate 3334 and the Lloyd’s operations of Hamilton Insurance Group, has appointed Peter Holland as claims director to lead the agency’s claims function. A qualified solicitor, Holland has 26 years of re/insurance experience and joins …

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Zhongan Online P&C Insurance Pulls H.K. IPO Plans; China Listing Eyed: Sources

Zhongan Online P&C Insurance Co. scrapped plans for an initial public offering in Hong Kong or the U.S. and is instead focusing on a listing in mainland China, people familiar with the matter said. Lukewarm overseas interest and an attempt …

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Canada to Ban All Products Containing Asbestos by 2018

Canada is moving to ban all products containing asbestos by 2018. The comprehensive ban will include construction materials and brake pads that currently use the cancer-causing agent. Canada closed its last asbestos mines a decade ago, but had obstructed international …

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Europe’s Insurers, Pensions Seek Higher Yields in Infrastructure Investments

Europe’s pensions and insurers, seeking returns in infrastructure deals after asset purchases by the European Central Bank gutted yields on bonds, say they’re being crowded out again. Their frustration is directed at the European Investment Bank, a public lender tasked …

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German Police Resume Hunt for Killer in Christmas Market Terrorist Attack

German investigators intensified their search for the perpetrator of a deadly truck assault on a Christmas market in Berlin after an initial suspect was released, deepening the fear and uncertainty over what Chancellor Angela Merkel called a terrorist act. The …

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How Santa Shapes Up as Role Model for Health and Safety

Despite his reputation as a model of good behavior, is it possible that Santa Claus is setting a bad example? After all, he engages in some risky behavior – racing from rooftop to rooftop in an open sleigh, apparently without …

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XL Catlin Launches Active Assailant, Terrorism Threat Coverage

XL Catlin’s has launched Active Assailant, Loss of Attraction and Threat (ALT) insurance coverage to respond to the impact of terrorism or an active assailant attack or the threat of an attack on the operations of businesses and public service providers. …

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CNA Appoints Riza VP, Corporate Development

Chicago-based CNA has appointed Emma Riza to vice president, Corporate Development. In this role, Riza will be responsible for a number of functions, including enterprise-level strategy, financial reporting to the board of directors and executive management, capital & rating agency …

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Report: Eastern Kentucky Sees Spike in Severe Black-Lung Cases

A spike in serious black-lung cases in eastern Kentucky indicates that a disease lawmakers hoped to eradicate decades ago continues to afflict miners. Citing a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health report released Dec. 15, the Lexington Herald-Leader says …

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Police Testify Driver in Deadly Tennessee School Bus Crash was Speeding

The 24-year-old driver in a Tennessee school bus crash that killed six children was speeding about 20 miles per hour over the 30 mile-per-hour limit, police testified Dec. 14, drawing tears from their families in court. Johnthony Walker also was …

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Tennessee Joins International Information Exchange Agreement

The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) has joined the Multilateral Memorandum of Understanding (MMoU), an international supervisory cooperation and information exchange agreement. The MMoU is part of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS), a global standard-setting body …

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Liabilities Mount in Wake of Sioux Falls Building Collapse

The parties who have a potential legal claim in the fatal collapse of a building in downtown Sioux Falls, S.D., have had a final opportunity to inspect the ruins before crews start removing critical pieces of the building. Lawyers and experts have …

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Higginbotham Expands with Insurance Associates of the Southwest Merger

Fort Worth-based independent insurance broker, Higginbotham, and Insurance Associates of the Southwest (IAS) have merged their operations in Houston. IAS is an independent broker with 38 commercial, personal, life, health and employee benefit professionals in its Energy Corridor office neighboring Higginbotham’s …

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Austin Insurance Professionals Collect Money, Groceries for Food Bank

The Independent Insurance Agents of Austin and the Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. joined efforts in December to collect food and money for the Capital Area Food Bank located in Austin. Food and money were collected at the IIAA Christmas …

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Ohio Court: No Permanent Partial and Total Disability Benefits for the Same Claim

The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that an injured worker may not receive permanent partial disability compensation when that worker is receiving permanent total disability payments from the same claim. The Dec. 8 ruling came in State ex rel. Ohio Presbyterian …

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Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires National Ethics Bureau in California

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired National Ethics Bureau Inc. in Carlsbad, Calif. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Japheth Smellie and his team will continue to operate from their Southern California location under the direction of Kevin …

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Acrisure Acquires Alaska USA Insurance Brokers’ Commercial, Benefits Business

Acrisure LLC has acquired Alaska USA Insurance Brokers’ commercial insurance and employee benefits books of business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The new company will operate under the name Insurance Brokers of Alaska. All commercial lines and employee …

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Enstar Launches Bermuda Specialty Reinsurer KaylaRe; Packer Appointed CEO

Enstar Group Ltd. has launched KaylaRe Ltd., a Bermuda-based Class 4 reinsurer, offering a diversified range of specialty reinsurance to the global insurance market. KaylaRe launches with initial capital of $620 million, backed by a $300 million investment from Enstar; …

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New Orleans Settles Katrina Police Action Civil Rights Cases for $13M

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced the settlement of three federal civil rights lawsuits stemming from city police actions related to Hurricane Katrina. Landrieu joined city officials and the families of James Brissette, Henry Glover, Ronald Madison, and Raymond Robair …

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Work-Related Fatalities in Minnesota Rose 12% in 2015

The number of work-related fatalities in Minnesota last year was up 12 percent from the recent five-year average. The state Department of Labor and Industry says there were 74 work-related fatalities in 2015, up from 62 the previous year and …

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USI Acquires Austin-Based Employee Benefits Firm, Ball Peoples

USI Insurance Services (USI) has acquired Ball Peoples, an employee benefits advisory firm headquartered in Austin, Texas. Since 1975, Ball Peoples has been providing employee benefits for clients throughout Central Texas and across the Southwest. The employees will remain at …

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Court Order Can’t Stop Stray Golf Balls from Hitting Pennsylvania Home

A couple who live next to a Pennsylvania golf course says errant balls are still hitting their property despite a previous court order. The (Allentown) Morning Call says Jerzy and Halina Wisniewski returned to Northampton County court Wednesday with 50-some …

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2017 Predictions for Insurtech, Australia D&O & India Cyber Insurance, Part 2

Insurtech was an insurance buzzword in 2016 and that’s likely to continue next year when it will permeate almost every aspect of U.S. industry, according to a prediction from international law firm Clyde & Co. Clyde & Co.’s insurance team …

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Florida Uber Driver Shoots, Kills Would-Be Robber

Police say an Uber driver fatally shot a would-be robber who tried to ambush him near an upscale South Florida mall. Aventura police spokesman Chris Goranitis told local media that the driver had picked up a passenger about 5:30 a.m. …

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Wyoming Refiner Pays $655K for Asbestos Cleanup

Sinclair Casper Refining Co. has paid $655,000 to the Environmental Protection Agency for cleaning up asbestos at an oil refinery in the town of Thermopolis, Wyo. The Casper Star-Tribune reported the agency determined there was significant contamination at the site …

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Los Angeles County Email Hack Exposes Data of 750K people

Officials say a Nigerian national has been charged in connection with a hack of Los Angeles County emails that might have exposed personal data from more than 750,000 people who had business with county departments. The district attorney’s office says …

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Art University to Settle for $60M with San Francisco

The Academy of Art University in San Francisco has agreed to a $60 million settlement with the city aimed at bringing the school’s many illegally converted buildings into compliance with local rules. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the deal …

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Credit Suisse Facing $5-$7 Billion Penalty by U.S. for Toxic Mortgage Securities

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked Credit Suisse to pay between $5 billion and $7 billion to settle a probe over its sale of toxic mortgage securities in the run-up to the 2008 financial crisis, a source with knowledge …

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QBE North America Appoints Hill as CFO in New York City

QBE North America, an operating division of global insurer QBE Insurance Group Limited, has appointed Kris L. Hill as chief financial officer. Hill will assume her new role effective January 17, 2017 and also serve as a member of the …

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Maine’s BroGue Insurance Under New Ownership

The current owners of several insurance agencies, Patrick Maguire and Paul Tracy, acquired ownership of BroGue Insurance & Financial Services in Bangor, Maine, on November 1, 2016. Established in Bangor in 1983, BroGue Insurance & Financial Services is an independent …

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10th Annual IICF Northeast Charitable Gala in New York Raises Record $1.4M

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a nonprofit organization working with the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives, has announced that more than 900 insurance professionals attended its 10th annual Northeast Benefit Dinner on December 14th at New York City’s …

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Kaplansky Insurance of Massachusetts Acquires R.P. Ahearn Insurance

Kaplansky Insurance, a Needham, Mass., based independent insurance agency, has acquired certain assets of R.P. Ahearn Insurance Agency, based in Framingham, Mass. Since 1987, R.P. Ahearn Insurance has been dedicated to providing personal and commercial services to clients throughout the …

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Republicans Prepare Assault on Obama’s Final Regulations

Republicans in Congress plan to deploy a powerful tool soon after Donald Trump is inaugurated to scuttle a host of rules put in place in the last months of Barack Obama’s presidency, yet they must act quickly for the tactic to …

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Greenlight Capital Re CEO Hedges to Step Down in March 2017

Greenlight Capital Re Ltd., the Cayman Islands-based specialist property and casualty reinsurance company, announced that Barton Hedges will be stepping down as chief executive officer on March 31, 2017. Hedges will also step down from the company’s board of directors. …

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XL Catlin Extends Partnership with Kidnap Response Specialist S-RM

XL Catlin’s insurance operations announced it has extended its partnership with S-RM, the London-based specialist risk and business intelligence consultancy, effective Jan. 1, 2017. S-RM becomes XL Catlin’s provider of choice for delivering kidnap response services to XL Catlin’s kidnap …

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German Police Suspect Terrorist Attack Kills 12 at Berlin Christmas Market

Investigators suspect the driver of a truck that plowed into a crowd at a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 people and injuring 48, did so intentionally in a terrorist attack, police said on Tuesday. The truck crashed into people gathered on …

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Climate Scientists Coming to Terms with Skeptical Trump Administration

Climate scientists worried that President-elect Donald Trump will slash their budgets and sideline their research are entering survival mode, trimming the words “climate change” from study proposals, emphasizing business applications of their work, and safeguarding data that shows global warming …

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Vertus Insurance Launches Supplemental Catastrophe Insurance in Florida

Florida-Based managing general underwriter Vertus Insurance Partners has launched a supplemental insurance policy targeting homeowners in hurricane prone states. Available now in Florida, CAT4Home will provide complete hurricane deductible reimbursement and additional coverage for select exposures typically limited or excluded …

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Alabama Governor Forms Task Force to Tackle Opioid Abuse

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has created a new state council to address what the governor called a growing crisis of opioid misuse and addiction. The governor made the announcement at a Dec. 15 news conference at the Alabama Capitol. The …

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Dolly Parton Telethon Raises $9M for Tennessee Wildfire Victims

Dolly Parton says a star-studded telethon for those affected by recent wildfires in her native Tennessee has brought in about $9 million. Parton headlined the event on Dec. 13 that was broadcast on several cable networks and livestreamed online. Parton …

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Percentage of Non-Subscribers in Texas Workers’ Comp System Falls

The percentage of companies that don’t participate in the Texas workers’ compensation system has fallen to the lowest level since 1993, the agency that regulates this line of insurance in the state has reported. In its Biennial Report to the …

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Guidewire to Acquire Insurance Cloud Software Firm ISCS for $160 Million

Guidewire Software, which serves property/casualty insurers, has agreed to acquire another insurance software firm, San Jose, California-based ISCS for $160 million in cash. The deal give Guidewire entry into the small carrier market and additional expertise in cloud-based products. The …

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Illinois Large Workers’ Comp Deductible Rules

The Illinois Department of Insurance has posted in the Illinois Register a second notice of the approval by the Illinois Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (IJCAR) of rules concerning size limits on large deductibles for workers’ compensation insurance policies. The …

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Chicago-Area Insurance Agency Owner Fatally Shot While Driving Home

A long-time insurance agency owner and community leader in the Chicago area was shot while driving home in the early morning hours of Dec. 1. Ronald L. Allen, founder and past president of the A. Allen Insurance Agency Ltd. in …

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Study: Cumulative Trauma Claims in California Comp Affected by Attorneys

A new study on California’s workers’ compensation system finds a “strong association” between attorney involvement and the high cost of cumulative trauma claims. The California Workers’ Compensation Institute study looks at CT claims and identifies characteristics that differentiate CT claims …

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Texas Issues Mandatory Data Call to Property/Casualty Insurers

The Texas Department of Insurance has issued a mandatory annual data call to all insurance companies writing private passenger nonfleet automobile, homeowners multiple peril, workers’ compensation, commercial fire and allied lines, commercial multiple peril, general liability, boiler and machinery, commercial …

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Parents Blame Hospital in Death of Kansas Girl with Viral Meningitis

The parents of a 13-year-old Kansas girl who died of viral meningitis are suing a Lincoln hospital, alleging that doctors there were negligent when treating her in 2014. Terrisa and Scott Waters filed a wrongful death lawsuit in district court …

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Corpus Christi Chemical Leak Reported Week Before Public Was Warned

A chemical leak from an asphalt plant that led Corpus Christi officials to warn its 300,000 residents not to drink the water last week was apparently reported a week earlier, according to an email from a state environmental official. The …

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Ohio Insurer Disclosure Bill Passed by Legislature

The recent passage of consumer protection legislation provides the Ohio Department of Insurance with better, more common sense tools when it comes to evaluating the financial health of Ohio’s insurance industry, according to Lt. Governor Mary Taylor. Taylor also serves of …

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Needing More Work, Minot’s Flooded Home Buyout Policy on Hold

A proposed change to Minot, N.D.’s home buyout policy following the devastating 2011 Souris River flood is on hold for more refinement. The City Council is considering providing extra compensation to homeowners who have houses at an appraised value below …

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Battle Over Property Claims and Litigation in Texas Set to Continue in 2017

If a Dec. 1, 2016, hearing is any indication, Texas lawmakers will be encouraged in the coming leg­islative session to take up what the property/casualty insurance industry says is a problematic trend following severe weather-related events in the state: increased …

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Court Rules Florida Workers’ Comp Rate Hike to Remain, For Now

Florida’s workers’ compensation rate increase of 14.5 percent will remain in effect while a Florida appeals court reviews a legal challenge to the state’s recent ratemaking process. The First District Court of Appeals granted an extension to the stay issued …

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Weekend Freeze Causes Hundreds of Wrecks in North Carolina

Light freezing rain caused hundreds of wrecks in central North Carolina along icy roads, leading to two fatal wrecks in Charlotte. Police and emergency workers reported more than 100 crashes overnight Saturday in both Raleigh and Charlotte as the drizzle …

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Confie Acquires Oasis Insurance in Arizona

Confie has acquired Mesa, Ariz.-based Oasis Insurance. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. Oasis Insurance is a provider of non-standard auto insurance. It operates from 21 offices located in Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, Avondale, Surprise, El Mirage and St. …

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California Attorney General Warns Uber over Self-Driving Cars

California Attorney General Kamala Harris has told Uber Technologies Inc. to pull its self-driving cars from San Francisco’s streets or it will seek a court order forcing it do so, saying the ride-hailing company needs a permit under autonomous vehicle …

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QBE Insurance Names Regan as CEO, Australia & New Zealand Operations

QBE Insurance Group Ltd. announced the appointment of Pat Regan as CEO, Australian & New Zealand Operations, effective March 1, 2017. Regan has been acting in this role since August 2016 in addition to his responsibilities as group chief financial officer. …

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QBE North America Names Liberty Mutual’s Hill as Chief Financial Officer

QBE North America has appointed Kris L. Hill as chief financial officer. Hill will assume her new role effective January 17, 2017, and also serve as a member of the QBE North America Executive Management Board. She will be based …

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JLT Re Acquires StoneHill Reinsurance Partners

JLT Re said it has acquired StoneHill Reinsurance Partners, a reinsurance intermediary specializing in medical professional liability. StoneHill, which is based in Minneapolis, will form part of JLT Re (North America). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. StoneHill was …

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How Much Do Health Insurance Subsidies Cost Taxpayers?

Taxpayers will fork over nearly $10 billion more next year to cover double-digit premium hikes for subsidized health insurance under President Barack Obama’s law, according to a study released Thursday. The analysis from the Center for Health and Economy comes …

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Newline Group Establishes Branch Office (and EU Platform) in Germany

London-based Newline Insurance Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Odyssey Re Holdings, announced it has received regulatory approval to establish a new branch office in Cologne, Germany. Led by Manuel Wirtz, who was appointed general representative in October, this new office …

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Vermont to Study Environmental Risks of Proposed Rail Tunnel

Vermont transportation officials have decided to pursue a more detailed environmental study of a proposed $40 million rail tunnel project in Middlebury, which could delay construction by at least a year. The project calls for replacing two aging bridges in …

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Snow Affects Travel in Southern New England

The season’s first major winter storm has dumped snow throughout southern New England and caused slippery road conditions. Snow fell for hours on Saturday morning. The National Weather Service reports snowfall ranged from just under three feet in southeastern Massachusetts …

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New York Man Sentenced to 60 Years for Killing Fiancee for Insurance

A 48-year-old man convicted of killing his fiancee to collect on her life insurance has been sentenced to 60 years in prison. Federal prosecutors said Thursday that Ronald Epps of Amherst was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Buffalo. A …

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Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Advises Preparation for Winter Weather

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller has advised consumers to plan ahead and review their homeowners and auto insurance policies as winter weather conditions like snow, sleet and ice become more frequent. “Winter is coming, and it is important that you …

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U.S. Investigators Blame Autopilot in Facebook’s Big Drone Crash

The wing on Facebook Inc.’s experimental high-altitude drone broke last summer in Arizona after the massive aircraft hit an updraft and its autopilot overcompensated seconds before touchdown on its maiden flight, a U.S. investigation has concluded. The end section of the …

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XL Catlin Invests $4M in Insurtech Microinsurance Startup, Stonestep

XL Catlin’s venture fund, XL Innovate, committed $4 million in first-round financing to Stonestep, a property/casualty insurtech startup looking to streamline how microinsurance is sold in emerging markets. The Series A funding is designed to help Stonestep grow into the …

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Anthem-Cigna Merger Trial Pits Efficiency Claims vs. Loss of Competition Claims

Anthem Inc. and the U.S. Justice Department extended their clash over whether the insurer’s planned takeover of rival Cigna Corp. will raise costs, as government witnesses testified Friday that the deal will harm health-care providers and patients. Frank Gorse, a …

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AXIS Capital’s London Office to Move to ‘The Scalpel,’ New Tower Near Lloyd’s

Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced its London office will be among the first commercial tenants in “The Scalpel,” a 36-story tower located at 52 Lime Street, adjacent to Lloyd’s of London. AXIS said it has taken 31,500 square feet …

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Aspen Appoints Thornton as Group Chief Operating Officer

Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced that Richard Thornton has been appointed to the newly created position of group chief operating officer. Thornton will undertake this new role in addition to his responsibilities as group head of strategy, said the company, adding …

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Canada’s Fairfax Agrees to Purchase Switzerland’s Allied World for $4.9B in Cash

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. agreed to buy insurer Allied World Assurance Co. for $4.9 billion in cash and stock in Chief Executive Officer Prem Watsa’s largest purchase. Fairfax will pay $54 per share, which is 18 percent higher than Allied …

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M&A to Remain Priority, Brexit Creates Opportunities: Clyde & Co. Predictions

The insurance team at the international law firm Clyde & Co. has published a set of predictions for 2017, ranging from projections about M&A to insurtech to global insurance opportunities. A wrap-up of some of those projections follow and will …

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Brentwood Services Administrators Promotes Saldana in Tennessee

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. (BSA), headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., has promoted Nick Saldana to the position of claim representative II in its Tennessee Claims Department, according to Jeff Pettus, president and chief executive officer of BSA. With increased responsibility, Saldana …

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West Virginia AG Sues Pharmacy for Role in Fueling State’s Opioid Crisis

West Virginia’s attorney general has sued a pharmacy in Boone County, alleging it provided too many highly addictive painkillers over more than a decade. Attorney General Patrick Morrisey says Larry’s Drive-In Pharmacy helped fuel the state’s opioid prescription crisis by …

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Restoration Company Suing West Virginia’s New Gov Over Unpaid Flood Cleanup Bills

West Virginia Gov.-elect Jim Justice’s businesses are being sued by a flood restoration company for unpaid bills, after cleanup crews restored parts of the Greenbrier following flooding that hit parts of the state in late June. Attorneys for BMS CAT, …

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Delaware Court Delays Patriot National Dividend, Stock Repurchase Plans

Shares of Patriot National Inc fell 4.6 percent on Friday after it announced late Thursday that it could not pay a special dividend pending a court hearing that would happen late March at the earliest. Patriot, which had originally planned …

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California Worker Fatalities Down in 2015, Report Shows

There were fewer workplace fatalities in California in 2015 compared with the prior year, and worker deaths are below the average rate of fatalities prior to the recession, according to a California Department of Industrial Relations issued today. The report …

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California Workers’ Comp Division Files Medical Fee Schedule Amendment

California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation has adopted and filed an amendment to the official medical fee schedule hospital outpatient departments and ambulatory surgical centers section with the Secretary of State. The amended regulation institutes a payment model in which the …

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National Association of Insurance Commissioners Elects 2017 Officers

Members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) elected 2017 officers as follows: President: Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel. Nickel was appointed by Governor Scott Walker as Commissioner of Insurance for the state of Wisconsin on Jan. 3, 2011. …

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California Commissioner Issues Anti-Steering Regulations

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has issued new Anti-Steering in Auto Body Repair regulations that he says increase protections to prevent consumers from being misled or claims delayed when a collision-damaged vehicle needs to be repaired. The new rules prohibit …

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North Carolina Lawmakers Approve $200M for Matthew, Fire Relief

North Carolina lawmakers on Wednesday finalized a $201 million hurricane and wildfire relief package sought by Gov. Pat McCrory in a special session he called, but they’re not ready to go home just yet. Republican legislative leaders announced they’ve got …

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Judge Tosses Louisiana Governor’s Anti-Discrimination Executive Order

An executive order issued by Louisiana’s governor that was aimed at protecting the rights of LGBT people in state government was thrown out Wednesday by a judge who said the governor exceeded his authority. State District Judge Todd Hernandez ruled …

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OSHA Investigating Kansas Oil-Drilling Blast That Injured 5

Federal workplace safety officials are investigating a western Kansas oil field explosion that injured five workers, two of them critically. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration said the Dec. 12 accident near Sharon Springs in Wallace …

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Louisiana Insurance Department Chief Actuary Honored by NAIC

Louisiana Department of Insurance Chief Actuary Rich Piazza has been awarded the Robert Dineen Award for Outstanding Service and Contribution to the State Regulation of Insurance by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The award honors a staff member …

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Tennessee Insurance Commissioner McPeak Elected NAIC President-Elect

Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak will serve in 2017 as president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the nation’s insurance regulatory support organization. McPeak was recently elected to the post during the …

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Texas Mutual Offers Guidance on New OSHA Rules

Recognizing the complex nature of keeping up with rules promulgated by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), workers’ compensation insurer, Texas Mutual, has provided guidance on one of OSHA’s newest rules: Improved Tracking of Workplace Injuries and Illnesses. …

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Wisconsin Commissioner Elected President of NAIC for 2017

  Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel has been elected as president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Created in 1871, the NAIC establishes standards and conducts peer reviews for insurance regulatory agencies across the nation. In addition to …

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Possible Petroleum Contamination Prompts Tap Water Warning in Corpus Christi

Corpus Christi, a Texas Gulf Coast city, is warning its 320,000 residents not to use tap water because it might be contaminated with petroleum-based chemicals, prompting a rush on bottled water and the closure of local schools. City officials said …

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HUB International Promotes 4 Midwest Executives

Insurance broker HUB International announced the promotions of four executives in the Midwest region that become effective on Jan. 1. Neil Hughes, current president of HUB International Midwest, will assume the role as president of HUB International’s U.S. North Region, …

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California Vs. Uber in Legal Bout over Self-driving Cars

Uber is riding its self-driving cars into a legal showdown with California regulators. The ridesharing company is refusing to obey demands by the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles that it immediately stop picking up San Francisco passengers in self-driving cars. …

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Yahoo’s Cyber Breach Adds to Age of Hacker Anxiety

Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Yahoo has become the worst-case example of an unnerving but increasingly common phenomenon – massive hacks that steal secrets and other potentially revealing information from our personal digital accounts, or from big organizations that hold sensitive data on …

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Former Gunpowder Plant Owner to Surrender $65K in Maine Case

A former gunpowder plant owner imprisoned over a deadly 2010 explosion in New Hampshire has agreed to surrender some money to the federal government in a separate wire fraud case in Maine. Craig Sanborn, of Maidstone, Vermont, is serving a 10- to …

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Recreational Marijuana Law Takes Effect in Massachusetts

Having spent nearly three decades crusading for relaxed marijuana laws in Massachusetts, Bill Downing is greeting the state’s new recreational marijuana law with a mix of satisfaction and trepidation. The voter-approved measure took effect on Thursday, making it legal for …

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2017 Changes to Used Car Dealer Bonds in New York

Those in the business of selling used cars in the state of New York will need to comply with new surety bond requirements in the spring of 2017. The car dealer bond is part of the licensing criteria enforced by …

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Company Cited After Worker’s Arm Inflated in Massachusetts

A Massachusetts company where a worker’s arm was inflated in an industrial accident has been cited by federal workplace safety regulators. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Wednesday says it’s recommending penalties of nearly $300,000 against Shield Packaging in …

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Here’s Some Litigation to Go with That Christmas Cheer

Christmas is right around the corner, meaning that the time has come for the usual passel of lawsuits and threats of lawsuits, of bitter division over words and symbols — in short, of all the usual trimmings of the season. …

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Novae Taps Mitsui Sumitomo’s Steadman as Head of Cargo

Novae Group plc, the specialist listed Lloyd’s insurer, announced the appointment of Helen Steadman as head of cargo. She reports to Darren Carr, head of marine. Steadman brings nearly a decade of cargo underwriting experience to Novae. She joins from …

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Re/Insurers’ Fundamentals Begin to Erode in Challenge-Filled Market: A.M. Best

The ongoing pressures of diminishing investment returns, dwindling loss reserves and intense competition are beginning to erode industry fundamentals, cautioned A.M. Best in a special report titled “Insurers Hunt for Diminishing Opportunities in a Market Laden with Challenges.” “There is …

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Hartford’s Execs Make Plea to End ‘Real Issue, Real Pain’ of Distracted Driving

Although small commercial insurance—outside of auto—is a top-line accelerator at The Hartford, auto insurance severity continues hitting the bottom line, say executives who expect a pretax $50 million prior-year reserve charge to impact fourth-quarter profits. During Goldman Sachs Financial Services …

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Turkey’s Akbank Faces Possible $4M Liability After Cyber Attack – But It’s Insured

Hackers targeted Turkish lender Akbank in a cyber attack on the SWIFT global payment system, the bank said, adding it faced a liability of up to $4 million from the incident but no customer information was compromised. It was not …

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Investigators Find Traces of Explosives on Victims of EgyptAir Crash

Egyptian investigators found traces of explosives on victims of the crashed EgyptAir jet that went down over the Mediterranean seven months ago, in the clearest indication so far that terrorism may have caused the fatal incident. The findings have been …

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Germany’s Cyber Security Watchdog Urges Yahoo Users to Switch Email Providers

Germany’s cyber security authority, the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), criticized Yahoo on Thursday for failing to adopt adequate encryption techniques to protect its users’ personal data. The BSI also advised German consumers to consider switching to alternatives for email …

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Allianz Eyes Purchasing Generali’s French Operations: Sources

Allianz SE, Europe’s largest insurer, is in discussions with Assicurazioni Generali SpA as it weighs a bid for the company’s French operations, according to people familiar with the matter. Allianz executives are uncertain that a combination with the French insurance …

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Mississippi Supreme Court Weighing Injured Contract Workers’ Right to Sue

A worker is fighting one of Mississippi’s largest industries in a skirmish over who can be sued when employees suffer on-the-job injuries. The Mississippi Supreme Court Tuesday heard arguments in a suit by Quindon Thomas against Chevron USA. Thomas was …

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Top Florida Stories of 2016: Florida’s Flood Market

Before McCarty announced his decision to leave office, he initiated dialogue with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) over the National Flood Insurance Program’s rate making. Citing the fact that the flood insurance rates Floridians pay are the highest in …

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Is Climate Change Causing Colder Weather and More Snow in Eastern U.S.?

Baby it’s cold outside. And guess what? Climate change could make it even colder. December’s a great time to talk about climate change and global warming – it’s cold and blustery across many parts of the U.S., and there’s even …

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Origami Acquires Utah-based Workers’ Comp Form Provider Claimwire

Origami Risk has acquired Kaysville, Utah-based Claimwire, a provider of automated workers’ compensation forms, compliance resources and regulatory information to the insurance industry. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of Origami Risk, Claimwire will continue to …

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Data Provider Location Inc. Gets California Department of Insurance OK

Location Inc. announced that the California Department of Insurance has approved its predictive crime analytics for rate filing, making it the 12th state the firm has received approval for rate filings. Location Inc. analytics collect raw data reported from local law enforcement agencies …

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California’s Workers’ Comp Division Posts Adjustments to Medical Fee Schedule

California’s Division of Workers’ Compensation has posted an order adjusting the Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies (DMEPOS) section of the official medical fee schedule to conform to the 2017 changes in the Medicare payment system as required by …

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Oklahoma, Texas Insurance Commissioners Elected to Leadership Posts at NAIC

Texas Commissioner of Insurance David Mattax has been elected secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), and Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak was elected vice chair of the group’s Midwest Zone. The NAIC establishes standards and conducts …

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Appeals Court in Ohio Revives Claims in Notre Dame Concussion Suit

A state appeals court in Cleveland, Ohio, has ruled that the widow of a former Notre Dame football player can proceed with claims in a lawsuit that said her husband was disabled by and ultimately died from concussion-related head injuries …

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10 Hospitalized After Gas Leak at Ohio Nursing Home

Ten people were hospitalized for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning after a gas leak occurred at a nursing home on Columbus, Ohio’s Near East Side. Fire Battalion Chief Steve Martin says firefighters were dispatched to Bryden Place just after 5 …

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Failed $1M Insurance Plot Leads to 5-Year Sentence for Texas Pair

A Texas Panhandle woman and man must serve five-year prison terms for seeking to have her estranged husband killed in a failed $1 million insurance plot. Brandi Nicole Blanco of Dalhart and Randy Exavier Greene, who lived in Stratford, were …

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Democrats Question Performance of Iowa’s Privatized Medicaid System

A handful of Democrats in a health oversight committee say they continue to have questions about the performance of Iowa’s Medicaid program, more than eight months after it switched to a privatized system run by three insurance companies. Democrats in …

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INSURICA, DFB Insurance Group Forge Partnership

Oklahoma City-based INSURICA and Amarillo, Texas-based DFB Insurance Group have combined to form INSURICA DFB Insurance Services LLC. The new entity will be jointly owned by INSURICA and DFB. The transaction, effective Jan. 1, 2017, will grow INSURICA’s revenues to …

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Missouri’s Grundy County Farmers Mutual, CFM Insurance to Merge

The boards of Missouri-based mutual insurance companies, CFM Insurance Inc. and Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of Grundy County, have approved a plan to merge the two companies. Pending formal approval by Missouri Department of Insurance Director John Huff, all FMIC …

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Amerisure Promotes Buddie, Maciejewski to Director Positions

Farmington Hills, Mich.-based Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company has appointed Erin Buddie as director of Human Resource operations and Keith Maciejewski as director of Underwriting Consultative Services Buddie will lead HR operations with direct responsibility for compensation, benefits, employee relations, performance …

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False Claims Settlements in 2016 Top $4.7 Billion: Justice Department

The Department of Justice obtained more than $4.7 billion in settlements and judgments from civil cases involving fraud and false claims against the government in fiscal year 2016. This is the third highest annual recovery in False Claims Act history, …

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Moderate Quake Shakes California’s Central Coast

California’s central coast was rattled overnight by a 3.9-magnitude earthquake. San Luis Obispo County Sgt. Dave Nottenkamper says he felt a single sharp jolt just before 4 a.m. Wednesday. The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake’s epicenter was about five …

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California Orders Uber to Halt Stop Self-Driving Operations

California regulators warned ride-hailing company Uber on Wednesday that it would face legal action if it did not immediately stop giving people in San Francisco rides in self-driving cars until it receives permission from the state. Uber started a public …

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Next Insurance in California and Munich Re Form Online Partnership

Palo Alto, Calif.-based Next Insurance has partnered with Munich Re to launch a product targeting commercial photographers, who will be able to buy, renew and maintain policies online. Photographers will now be able to pay for insurance with Next Insurance …

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Metromile: New App Resolves Some Claims in an Hour

Pay-per-mile auto insurer Metromile has announced a new automated claims service that allows customers to file a claim entirely from their mobile phone or online dashboard. The insurer says some claims can be resolved within an hour. Customers can also …

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SCOR Launches Contingent Capital Facility as Solvency Cover After Major Cat Event

SCOR announced the launch of a new three-year contingent capital facility, which provides the group with €300 million ($319 million) coverage in case of extreme natural catastrophe or life events affecting mortality. SCOR said the facility takes the form of …

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Maine-Based MEMIC’s Founding President and CEO to Retire in 2017

The MEMIC Group, the Portland, Maine, headquartered workers’ compensation insurer, has announced the retirement of its founding President and CEO, John T. Leonard, effective September of 2017. Leonard serves as the first and only president and CEO in the history …

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Supreme Court Will Hear Case on Patent Litigants’ ‘Friendly Court’ Shopping

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide whether to limit where patent lawsuits may be filed, potentially threatening a years-long trend that critics say allows frequent and often-baseless litigants to sue in courts friendly to them. The justices …

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U.S. Issues New Safety Rules for Underground Gas Storage Facilities

The U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) issued an interim final rule (IFR) revising pipeline safety regulations to address safety issues related to underground natural gas storage facilities. The IFR followed recommendations by a U.S. interagency task force …

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Allstate Continues Its Technology Drive, Invests in Autonomous Vehicle Research at Stanford

Allstate Insurance Co., the nation’s largest publicly held personal lines insurer, is continuing its drive into new technology, agreeing to a multi-year research project with the Intelligent Systems Laboratory at Stanford University. The scope of the research encompasses machine learning, …

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XL Catlin Enhances Wording for Fine Art & Specie Offering in Europe

XL Catlin’s insurance operations announced it has enhanced the wording of its all-in-one solution for collectors, arts and jewelry professionals, called Mosaic. The Mosaic coverage, which is available in France, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland and Spain, now includes a number of additional …

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RenRe Chief Investment Officer & Treasurer to Leave, Succeeded by Brosnan & Dutt

RenaissanceRe Holdings said that its chief investment officer and treasurer will be leaving the Bermuda-based reinsurer in the 2017 first quarter. Two people will take over his responsibilities. Todd Fonner, who also has the title of senior vice president, will …

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Vermont Ski Resort Owner Suing Insurer to Fund Defense in Fraud Case

A Vermont ski resort owner is suing his insurer in federal court for more than $2 million to fund his legal defense against fraud accusations brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Jay Peak owner Ariel Quiros and former president …

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13 New York City Workers Arrested in $500K Insurance Fraud Scheme

Thirteen current and former New York City employees have been arrested in a $500,000 insurance fraud scheme. Authorities say 10 FDNY emergency medical technicians and paramedics, including EMS officers, and three NYPD traffic enforcement agents were arraigned Tuesday on charges …

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Maine-Based Cross Insurance Acquires Colt Insurance of Massachusetts

Cross Insurance, a Bangor, Maine, based subsidiary of Cross Financial Corp. and one of the largest independent insurance providers in New England, has further expanded its presence in western Massachusetts, New York and southern Vermont with the acquisition of Pittsfield, …

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More UK Insurers Consider Move to Ireland for Europe HQs: Central Bank

A growing number of global insurers are considering moving to Ireland and some may choose to locate European headquarters there rather than Britain following that country’s vote to leave the European Union, Ireland’s central bank said on Thursday. Ireland is …

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Insured Cat Losses in 2016 Totaled $49B, with $158B of Economic Costs: Swiss Re

More than 10,000 people died as a result of natural and man-made disasters during 2016, with financial losses totaling at least $158 billion, Swiss Re said on Thursday. At an estimated $49 billion, insured losses rose by nearly a third …

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Yahoo Warns 2nd Hack Exposed 1 Billion Users in Largest Data Breach in History

Yahoo Inc. warned on Wednesday that it had uncovered yet another massive cyber attack, saying data from more than 1 billion user accounts was compromised in August 2013, making it the largest breach in history. The number of affected accounts …

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Top Florida Stories of 2016: McCarty Resigns as Commissioner, Altmaier Takes the Reins

Kevin McCarty’s decision to resign as Florida’s insurance commissioner at the beginning of the year after 13 years in the position rocked the state’s insurance world. It also set the stage for a political battle between Florida Gov. Rick Scott …

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Tennessee Wildfire Damage Estimated at $500M

Deadly wildfires caused more than $500 million in damage as they tore through a tourism community in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains and killed 14 people, local officials estimated Tuesday. Sevier County Mayor Larry Waters put a dollar …

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52 Million Americans Under Age 65 Have Pre-Existing Health Conditions: Kaiser

A new Kaiser Family Foundation study finds that 52 million adults under 65 – or 27 percent of that population — have pre-existing health conditions that would likely make them uninsurable if they applied for individual health coverage under medical …

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Another Worker Dies From October Pipeline Explosion in Alabama

Officials say a second worker injured in the Oct. 31 explosion of a major gasoline pipeline in Alabama has died. Al.com quotes the Occupational Health and Safety Administration as saying the employee died on Nov. 22 from injuries received during …

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Insurer Community Investments in California Earn $10M in Tax Credits

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced $10 million in tax credits awarded to 15 insurance companies and other investors that made more than $50 million in capital investments into California’s underserved communities through the 2016 California Organized Investment Network Community …

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Carbon Monoxide Sickens 30 at North Carolina Restaurant

More than two dozen people were treated by paramedics after showing symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning at the River Ridge Tap House restaurant in Clemmons, N.C. Forsyth County EMS tells local media that about 30 people who visited the restaurant …

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Extreme Divide Marks Approach to Healthcare in Arkansas, Texas

The Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, is highly unpopular in both Texas and Arkansas, but the sharply different approaches the states have taken is evident in the availability and cost of health care — in the span of a few …

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Tennessee Gov Asks Obama to Expedite Disaster Declaration for Storms, Wildfires

Tennessee’s governor has sent a request to President Barack Obama to expedite a major disaster declaration for five of the state’s counties to aid in recovery from wildfires and severe storms. The counties included in Gov. Bill Haslam’s declaration request …

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Pardridge Insurance Agency Adds Ruvalcaba in Illinois

Maria Ruvalcaba has joined the Pardridge Insurance Agency in Sycamore, Ill. Ruvalcaba comes to the independent insurance agency after 20 years working for various direct writers including State Farm and American Family. Ruvalcaba has experience in both personal and commercial lines …

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Next Insurance, Munich Re to Offer Coverage for Commercial Photographers

Next Insurance has partnered with Munich Re to launch a product targeting commercial photographers, who will be able to buy, renew and maintain policies online. According to a 2016 report by McKinsey & Co, the small commercial market has good …

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Jury: American Family Must Pay $20M in Missouri Age, Sex Discrimination Case

A Missouri woman who sued American Family Insurance for retaliation and age and sex discrimination has been awarded $20 million in punitive damages. Deborah Miller, 60, of Blue Springs, also was awarded $450,000 in actual damages by a Jackson County …

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Creedon Named CEO at Amarillo-Based Fairly Group

The Fairly Group, based in Amarillo, Texas, has named William (Bill) Creedon as chief executive officer of the Fairly Group and OccuNet, effective Jan.1, 2017. Creedon formerly was head of Corporate Risk & Broking for North America at Willis Towers …

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New Jersey’s NJM Insurance Announces Prall’s Retirement, Hires Shore

NJM Insurance Company, a West Trenton, N. J.-headquartered property and casualty insurer, has announced the retirement of senior vice president andd chief financial officer Charles A. Prall, effective December 31, 2016, after a career at NJM that spans more than …

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South Africa’s Rand Merchant Acquires 30% of UK Motor Insurer Hastings

South Africa’s Rand Merchant Investment Holdings ramped up its presence in the British insurance market on Wednesday with the purchase of a 30 percent stake in Hastings, driving the UK firm’s shares to 2-1/2 month highs. Hastings, which listed just over a …

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Texas Hail Losses Set Record in 2016

In 2016, Texas suffered through another costly year of weather related losses for homeowners and autos. Looking only at loss information through the end of September, it has been a year of record losses for hailstorms. The months of March …

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Cleanup Ongoing after North Dakota Pipeline Spill

Roughly a third of the more than 3,000 barrels of oil that spilled into a North Dakota creek following a pipeline leak last week has been recovered, a local official said. An estimated 4,200 barrels of oil leaked from the …

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G20 Task Force to Ask Firms to Disclose How They Manage Climate Risks

A global task force set up to try to prevent market shocks from the warming of the planet will ask companies to disclose how they manage risks to their business from climate change and greenhouse gas emission cuts. Although the …

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Caribbean Cat Facility, CCRIF, Pays Nicaragua $1.1M for Hurricane Otto

CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility) made a payout of US$1.1 million to the government of Nicaragua as a result of damages from Hurricane Otto. Damages triggered a CCRIF payment on the country’s tropical cyclone policy, which …

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‘Disruptor’ Hippo in California Raises $14M in New Funding Round

Mountain View, Calif.-based startup Hippo today announced it has closed a $14 million Series A round. The funding was led by Horizons Ventures, which invests in disruptive technology and startups.  It was joined by RPM Ventures, Propel Venture Partners, GGV …

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Uber’s ‘Self-Driving’ Cars Already Roaming Streets of San Francisco

Uber Technologies Inc. continues to dive head first into autonomous vehicles. Just don’t call them that in California. Starting today, Uber is letting customers in San Francisco hop in a self-driving car, if they’re lucky enough to hail one. There’s …

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Great American Insurance Promotes Sullivan, Thompson Within P/C Operations

Great American Insurance Group announced that Michael E. Sullivan Jr. has been promoted to executive vice president and David L. Thompson Jr. has been promoted to senior vice president within its property/casualty operations, effective January 1, 2017. In his expanded …

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XL Catlin Adds Chubb’s McGowan, DLA Piper’s Laws to M&A Insurance Team

Preparing to capitalize on merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in 2017, XL Catlin continued to build out its global M&A insurance team with the appointments of Joseph W. Laws and Michael J. McGowan as directors of M&A Insurance in North …

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Fire Official Says Virginia Marina Fire Investigation Could Take Weeks

A fire official says the investigation into a marina fire in Henrico County that destroyed around a dozen boats will take days or weeks to complete. Henrico fire Capt. Taylor Goodman tells the Richmond Times-Dispatch it is too early to …

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Outages Bring Scrutiny to Vermont’s 911 System

Vermont’s 911 emergency calling system – and state oversight of it – are coming under scrutiny after at least four outages in less than two years. Outages in November 2014, January of this year and two this past summer are …

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Rapid Repairs Sought After Pennsylvania Creek Flood Wall Section Collapse

Authorities city say they will seek funding for rapid repairs following the collapse of a section of a creek flood wall in a northeastern Pennsylvania city. Wilkes-Barre city administrator Ted Wampole says a 40-foot section of the Solomon Creek channel …

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U.S. Sees Proposal on Talking Vehicles Cutting Road Crashes, Deaths

U.S. automobile regulators want passenger cars and light trucks to wirelessly stream data about their movements and monitor other vehicles so they don’t crash into each other. All new light-duty vehicles would be required within four years to be equipped …

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Fate of Anthem-Cigna Merger Now in Judge’s Hands

The first phase of the U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit to halt Anthem Inc.’s planned takeover of rival insurer Cigna Corp. is in the hands of a federal judge after the government wrapped up its arguments Tuesday that the deal would …

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State Marijuana Laws Are Changing But Employer Attitudes, Federal Law Aren’t

Changing marijuana laws aren’t necessarily making weed more welcome in the workplace. For now, many employers appear to be sticking with their drug testing and personal conduct policies, even in states where recreational marijuana use is now permitted. Others are …

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Guy Carpenter Forms Global Strategic Advisory Unit with Bentley as President

Guy Carpenter & Co. announced a newly created Global Strategic Advisory organization comprised of its Advisory, Analytics, Structured Risk, M&A Advisory, Lloyd’s Capital and Business Intelligence capabilities. Rob Bentley has been appointed president of Global Strategic Advisory. He re-joins Guy …

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Generali Names Sesana as Italy’s Country Manager; Ryan Named Group CIO

Assicurazioni Generali’s board of directors has appointed Marco Sesana as country manager of Italy. He will also retain the position of chief executive officer of Generali Italia. Marco Sesana joined Generali Italia in 2013 as chief operating officer and was …

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Reinsurance Prices May Be Bottoming but Outlook Remains Negative: A.M. Best

The outlook for the reinsurance sector is being held at negative by A.M. Best, which cited continuing market challenges that will hinder the potential for positive rating actions and may eventually bring negative rating pressures. The strain on profitability is …

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South Carolina Environmental Groups Say Seawalls Harming Turtles

South Carolina’s environmental protection agency is taking steps to ban experimental plastic seawalls once touted as a way to protect oceanfront property without erosion. The State newspaper reports that the Department of Health and Environmental Control on Thursday agreed to …

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Alliant Adds LaBour to Florida Practice

Property and casualty veteran Mark LaBour has joined Alliant’s growing Florida practice. As vice president within the company’s Alliant Americas division, LaBour will deploy targeted risk management and insurance products to clients throughout the Southeastern United States spanning a range …

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