UK, EU Strike Tentative Brexit Deal Covering Financial Services: Times Report

British Prime Minister Theresa May has struck a tentative deal with the European Union that would give UK financial services companies continued access to European markets after Brexit, the Times reported on Thursday. British and European negotiators have reached tentative …

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Insurtech Profile: Snapsheet’s Evolution in Making Virtual Claims Service a Reality

Tech-driven virtual claims services company Snapsheet started out as a service for body shops called Body Shop Bids before pivoting to serving insurers five years ago. Alex Meisner, director of innovation, is one of the original employees and knows the …

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Supreme Court Hears Google Case Where Award Monies Don’t Go to Those Harmed

U.S. Supreme Court justices questioned an $8.5 million Google settlement in a case that could make it harder for companies to resolve class-action lawsuits without providing direct compensation to those affected. The court’s conservative members signaled skepticism toward those types …

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Plaintiff in Monsanto Weedkiller Cancer Case Accepts Court’s Reduced $78M Award

The school groundskeeper who won a jury trial against Bayer AG’s Monsanto unit over allegations that the company’s glyphosate-containing weed-killers caused his cancer, accepted a court-mandated reduced punitive damages award on Wednesday. The decision by Dewayne Johnson, who sued Monsanto …

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7 Children Hurt in Alabama School Bus Crash

State troopers say seven children have been injured in a school bus crash in Alabama. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency spokesman Cpl. Jeremy Baker tells news outlets six children were released after being treated for minor injuries at a hospital in …

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Suit Filed in Florida Against Tesla Claims Autopilot Failed, Caused Crash

A Florida man says the autopilot feature of his Tesla vehicle failed to detect a disabled car on a highway, leading to a collision that left him with permanent injuries, according to a negligence lawsuit filed Tuesday. Shawn Hudson said …

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Florida Insured Losses from Hurricane Michael Top $2B, And Growing

Total estimated insured losses from Hurricane Michael have reached more than $2.1 billion, according to the most recent data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. The current number of claims from Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 storm that hit …

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ProSight Adds Coverage for Fitness, Wellness Experts to Direct-to-Consumer Platform

ProSight has expanded ProSight Direct, its online direct-to-consumer platform that offers customized insurance for small business professionals, to include coverage for customers in the fitness and wellness industries. From yoga instructors to personal trainers and dietitians – customers can get …

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AIG Again Battered by Catastrophes But Reinsurance Lowers 3Q Net Loss

Catastrophe losses in Japan and North America pushed American International Group to a net loss of $1.3 billion for the third quarter of 2018, compared to a net loss of $1.7 billion in the prior-year quarter. Adjusted after-tax loss was …

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Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado Names O’Rourke to Executive Team

Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado has named Krista O’Rourke vice president of agency relations and safety services. O’Rourke replaces longtime Pinnacol executive Jon Scott, who retired Sept. 30. She will also oversee business development, agent retention and safety management. O’Rourke has …

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LMC Insurance to Offer Health Insurance Pool for Mid-Size Iowa Firms

LMC Insurance and Risk Management (LMC Insurance) is launching a new health insurance product underwritten by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield for Iowa-based employers with 51-500 eligible employees. The program, referred to as the Employer Coalition, will be available …

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3 Suspects in Sausage Plant Fire ID’d After Texas Arson Hotline Call

A resident of Richardson, Texas, who recognized a suspected arsonist from a television news report has been awarded a $500 check for his call that will lead to the arrests of three suspects in the fire of the Owens Sausage …

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Texas Judge Finalizes $200M-Plus Award in Lexus Defects Case

A final judgment upholds a jury award of more than $200 million to a Dallas-area family against Toyota over what they alleged were defective front seats in their Lexus sedan. State District Judge Dale Tillery entered the final judgment on …

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City, Grocery Reach $240K Settlement in Case of Stun-Gunned Ohio Girl

There’s a $240,000 settlement in the case of an 11-year-old black girl stunned by a Cincinnati, Ohio, police officer after she was spotted shoplifting in a grocery store and tried to run away. The Cincinnati Enquirer reported the city of …

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Oklahoma Troopers Say Semi’s Lost Wheels Caused Crashes, 1 Fatal

Oklahoma state troopers are trying to find a tractor-trailer they say lost a wheel assembly in Oklahoma City and caused multiple crashes, including one that left a driver dead. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the series of crashes happened shortly …

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Court Limits Insurer’s Payout in Massive Wisconsin Wildfire

The state Supreme Court is limiting an insurance company’s payout in a massive northwestern Wisconsin wildfire. Logging equipment owned by Ray Duerr Logging LLC sparked the Germann Road Fire in Douglas County in May 2013. The fire consumed about 7,442 …

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School District in California Settles Teacher Sex Suit for $5M

The Los Angeles Unified School District will pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit filed on behalf of a student who was molested by a teacher when she was 13. It would be the largest payout the nation’s second-largest school …

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QBE North America Names Kendle Regional Executive for Western Region

QBE North America has promoted Kristy Kendle to regional executive for the Western region, which includes Arizona, California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah and Washington. Kendle is accountable for profitable growth across QBE’s specialized insurance business portfolio, as well as …

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Weather, Wildfire Claims an Increasing Share of Home Insurance Losses

U.S homeowners insurers saw an increase in both the number of losses and the percentage of those losses that resulted from an extreme weather event during 2017. According to a LexisNexis Home Trends report, loss costs increased 19 percent from …

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Connecticut Insurance Department Approves Rate Decrease of Nearly 17% for 2019

The Connecticut Insurance Department has approved a nearly 17 percent decrease in rates for workers’ compensation insurance, marking the fifth consecutive year that rates have dropped in Connecticut. “This steady drop – nearly 50 percent over the last five years …

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QBE Canada Unveils New Leadership Team, Including Thompson as Director

QBE Canada unveiled a new leadership team, which is being led by Jamie Thompson, who took on the role as director of Canada earlier this year. In this role, Thompson has oversight of QBE’s Canadian customers, including those who purchase …

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Risk Strategies Acquires Maryland’s Arkin Youngentob Associates

Risk Strategies, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has acquired Arkin Youngentob Associates, a full-service employee and executive benefits firm headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founded in 1981, Arkin Youngentob …

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Utility Says Massachusetts Pipeline Replacement to be Completed This Week

The pipeline upgrade work that triggered natural gas explosions and fires in three Massachusetts communities last month is slated to be finished this week ahead of schedule. Columbia Gas said in a newsletter to customers Monday that replacement of about …

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EMC Insurance Exits Personal Lines Business; Safeco Agrees to Accept Accounts from Agents

Liberty Mutual’s Safeco insurance has agreed to accept the $132.5 million in personal lines business of Iowa-based EMC Insurance Companies. Safeco is offering EMC’s independent agents the opportunity to transition their EMC personal lines policies to Safeco beginning the first …

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Willis Research Network Renews Partnership with Global Earthquake Model Foundation

The Willis Research Network (WRN) announced it has renewed its partnership with the Global Earthquake Model (GEM) Foundation. The agreement represents a continued commitment to working collaboratively in order to develop and promote better understanding of earthquake risk. “The truly …

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Ageas to Sell 33% Stake in Wealth Manager Cardif Lux Vie to BNP Paribas Cardif

Ageas announced it has reached an agreement with BNP Paribas Cardif to sell its 33 percent share in the share capital of Cardif Lux Vie S.A. (CLV), for a total cash consideration of €152 million ($172.7 million). Under the deal, …

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No-Deal Brexit Could Push UK into Lengthy Recession, Warns S&P

A no-deal Brexit would be likely to tip Britain into a recession as long as the downturn that followed the global financial crisis, and investors should no longer ignore this danger, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s said on Tuesday. …

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Canada’s Manulife Seeks Dismissal of Court Case Filed by Hedge Fund

Canadian insurer Manulife Financial Corp said on Tuesday it would ask a court in Saskatchewan to dismiss claims made against it by a hedge fund after the province changed its rules to limit how much an investor can put into …

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Search Team May Have Located Main Wreckage of Lion Air’s Crashed Jet

Indonesia may be close to finding the main wreckage of the Lion Air plane that crashed earlier this week, as the hunt for clues to what caused the country’s worst air disaster since 1997 continued into a third day. The …

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Typhoon Yutu Pummels Philippines; Landslides Trap 30 with at Least 7 Dead

About 30 people were trapped in northern Philippine buildings buried by landslides caused by heavy rain from Typhoon Yutu, according to the disaster-monitoring agency. Local media is reporting at least seven dead. The buildings in Natonin town in Luzon’s Mountain …

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Chubb Adds Small Business Coverage for Manufacturers to Marketplace Platform

Chubb has added Small Commercial Insurance (SCI) coverage for risks faced by small manufacturers to its digital platform – the Chubb Marketplace, which features a broad and customizable suite of products for manufacturers. With this launch, Chubb SCI now offers …

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As Deaths, Injuries Pile Up, So Do Claims Against Electric Scooter Firms

A lawsuit targeting electric scooter-sharing companies seizes on the dangers of zipping around town on two wheels and brings gory detail to one of the more polarizing technology trends to emerge over the last year. Nine people who were injured …

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Global Insurance M&A Deals Total Value Soars, Volume Dips in First Half

Global insurance mergers and acquisitions rose to 37 billion euros ($41.9 billion) in the first six months of 2018, with a host of mega deals resulting in the highest first-half total since the financial crisis, a report by Willis Towers …

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Kentucky AG Files 8th Opioid Lawsuit Against Pharmaceutical Company

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear has sued a pharmaceutical company, accusing it of contributing to the state’s opioid epidemic. Beshear says he has sued Pennsylvania-based Teva for marketing its products to treat chronic pain despite the drugs being approved for …

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Most of Southeast Mostly Drought-Free But Alabama, Georgia Worsening

The Southeastern United States is mostly free of drought, but a new federal assessment shows conditions are worsening slightly in Georgia and Alabama. A new map released last week by the U.S. Drought Monitor shows about one-third of Georgia is …

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A.M. Best Upgrades Ratings of Workers’ Comp Insurers Retail First, BusinessFirst of Florida

A.M. Best has upgraded the financial strength ratings of two workers’ compensation insurers based in Florida. RetailFirst Insurance Co. and BusinessFirst Insurance Co. have received a financial strength ratings of A- (Excellent) from A.M. Best, upgraded from B++ (Good). The …

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RenaissanceRe to Acquire Tokio Millennium Re in $1.5 Billion Deal

Bermuda-based RenaissanceRe Holdings has agreed to pay about $1.5 billion to acquire Tokio Marine’s reinsurance platform (TMR), which includes Tokio Millennium Re AG and Tokio Millennium Re (UK). If closing tangible book value is unchanged from June 30, 2018, Tokio …

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Waymo First Cleared to be First in California for Testing Without Backup Driver

Alphabet Inc.’s Waymo unit on Tuesday became the first company to receive a permit from the state of California to test driverless vehicles without a backup driver in the front seat, the state’s Department of Motor Vehicles said. California said …

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Cascade Insurance Agency in Washington Merges with Leavitt Group

Oak Harbor, Wash.-based Cascade Insurance Agency merged operations with Leavitt Group Northwest. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Shelli Trumbull will join Sue Blouin and Bonnie Wallin in Leavitt Group’s Oak Harbor office. With this merger, the combined agency …

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Embracing Change Key to 100 Years for California-based Woodruff Sawyer

When encountering a centenarian one often asks their secret to longevity. Embrace change. That’s was the secret Andy Barrengos, CEO of Woodruff Sawyer, shot back to the question without hesitation. Barrengos, 54, is himself barely halfway to the 100-year-mark. However, …

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Texas Workers’ Comp Division Proposes New Carrier Reimbursement Forms

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is accepting comments on five newly proposed forms to help insurance carriers submit requests for reimbursement from the Subsequent Injury Fund (SIF). Use of these forms will be voluntary. The …

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Michigan AG Charges 2 With Selling Fake Insurance

Two people in Michigan face felony charges filed by the state’s attorney general for allegedly selling fraudulent insurance to customers. The charges are the result a joint investigation by the Child, Elder, and Family Financial Crimes Division at the Michigan …

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Cleaning Company Owner Pays $43K Restitution to Ohio Workers’ Comp Insurer

The owner of a Columbus, Ohio, cleaning company who continued to run his business after his workers’ compensation insurance lapsed in 2010 has paid more than $43,000 in restitution to the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC), the insurer announced. …

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Lawsuits: Operator of Oklahoma Rig That Exploded Used Cheaper Drilling Plan

Two lawsuits allege that the operator of a gas well that exploded in southeastern Oklahoma used a cheaper and quicker drilling plan despite experts’ advice. The Tulsa World reports that the January explosion near Quinton killed five workers who were …

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Illinois Launches Autonomous Vehicle Testing Program

The Illinois Department of Transportation has begun a statewide initiative among multiple government agencies to develop a testing program for connected and autonomous vehicles. Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an executive order last week directing IDOT to develop a program called …

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Stephens Insurance Adds 4 in Management Positions in Texas

Stephens Insurance LLC an independent, financial services firm, has hired Chris Hawkins as senior vice president, Robert Mann and John Rhodes as vice presidents, and Kevin Yandell as claims coordinator. All four are located in Texas. Hawkins will lead the …

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Transit Authority in Washington Settles Bus Fatality for $7.7M

King County Metro Transit in Washington has apologized and made a multimillion-dollar payment to the family of an Amazon employee who was killed last year by a turning bus. The Seattle Times reports 43-year-old John Ahn had finished dinner with …

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Mercury General in California Reported 3Q Income of $58.6M

Mercury General Corp. reported third-quarter net income of $58.6 million. On a per-share basis, the Los Angeles-based insurance carrier said on Monday it had profit of $1.06. Earnings, adjusted for investment costs, were $1.11 per share. The auto insurance company …

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What’s Happening and What Lies Ahead for P/C Insurance Pricing: Moody’s

The current pricing environment for property/casualty insurers is “modestly positive,” with commercial and personal auto rates rising by mid-to-high single digits, homeowners and commercial property rates rising by low-to-mid-single digits, and commercial casualty rates showing smaller changes, according to a …

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Former Pastor Sentenced to Prison for Setting Fire to Apartment in Insurance Scam

The former pastor of a Baltimore, Md., church has been sentenced to three years in prison for setting fire to an apartment he rented in Southeast Washington in a plan to collect insurance money. The announcement was made by U.S. …

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UK Insurers, Brokers Applaud Government’s Decision Not to Hike Premium Tax

UK insurers and brokers have applauded the UK Treasury’s decision not to raise premium taxes, which they said would have cost each household an average of £200 ($256.40) annually. “We are pleased that the Chancellor has done the right thing …

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Brit Global Specialty USA Appoints King as Chief Underwriting Officer

John King has been named chief underwriting officer for Brit Global Specialty USA. King moves to BGSU, based in Chicago, from his current role as group executive underwriter at Brit Global Specialty in London. King brings 30 years of experience …

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Utility to Miss Deadline for Restoring Gas After Massachusetts Explosions

The utility involved in a series of natural gas explosions and fires in three Massachusetts communities last month acknowledged Friday it would not meet its original Nov. 19 deadline for restoring gas service to all its customers. Columbia Gas set …

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Virginia Lawsuit Seeks $350K for Injuries in Game of Tag in Gym Class

Local Virginia education officials have been sued over a game of tag played in gym class by a student who says it caused him serious long-term injuries. The Virginia-Pilot reports Javonte Smith and his father sued this month in Chesapeake …

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Supreme Court Looks to Favor Business Arbitration with Individuals Over Courts, Class Actions

U.S. Supreme Court justices signaled on Monday they may issue more pro-business rulings giving companies wide latitude to use arbitration to resolve disputes with employees, customers or other businesses rather than the courts. The nine justices heard arguments in two …

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RMS Lists Top 10 ‘1-in-100-Year’ Events for Asia Pacific Region

The Asia Pacific region remains highly vulnerable to major catastrophes, RMS said, announcing a list of 10 “1-in-100-year” events possible in the vast area that includes the Pacific Ring of Fire and the largest concentration of tropical cyclones. Without providing …

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Final Insured Loss for Germany-Austria’s Storm Herwart Rises to €264M: PERILS

The final estimate of insured property losses for Extratropical Cyclone Herwart, which primarily affected Austria and Germany on Oct. 29, 2017, is €264 million (US$300.6 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. This …

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Uber Court Case in London Could Determine Future of UK’s Gig Economy

Just months after Uber Technologies Inc. persuaded a London judge to allow it to keep operating in the city, the ride-hailing company is back in court. At stake this time is an issue that could strike at the core of …

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Typhoon Yutu Slams into Philippines, Traveling Path of Super Storm Mangkhut

Typhoon Yutu slammed into northern Philippines on Tuesday and is traveling a path similar to last month’s super storm Mangkhut that killed at least 82 people and damaged about $500 million of farm output in the Southeast Asian nation. More …

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AIG Appoints Bilsby from Talbot as Global Head of Specialty

American International Group Inc. announced the appointment of Peter Bilsby as global head of Specialty. In this new role, Bilsby will report to Christopher Townsend, chief executive officer of AIG General Insurance International, with responsibility for the global energy, marine, …

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Lion Air Jet Plunged at 300 Miles Per Hour Before Crash into Java Sea, Data Show

The Indonesian airliner that crashed Monday in waters near Jakarta was plunging at hundreds of miles an hour in its final seconds, according to preliminary data transmitted by the plane that could aid investigators looking for a cause. Lion Air …

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Alabama Woman Awarded $10K in Damages in Cyberbullying Lawsuit

An Alabama woman who claimed in a lawsuit that she was cyberbullied has been awarded $10,000 in damages. The Tuscaloosa News reports Victoria Love was awarded the money Oct. 23 by a Tuscaloosa County jury in her suit against Tim …

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At Least 35 People Killed in Florida, 45 Total by Hurricane Michael

Florida authorities have linked six more deaths to Hurricane Michael, raising the state’s death toll to 35. The storm’s overall death toll now stands at 45, with 10 deaths in other states. Florida Emergency Management Division spokesman Alberto Moscoso said …

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1 Dead, 2 Injured in Kentucky House Explosion

Police say an explosion at a Kentucky home has killed one person and injured two others. State Trooper Scotty Sharp says in a news release the explosion occurred Saturday in McDaniels. The statement says a preliminary investigation found the explosion …

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Hub International Launches Captive for Hospitality Industry

Hub International Limited (HUB) has launched a hospitality captive, an exclusive member-owned group captive insurance program designed for hospitality clients. Through the use of a captive, hospitality clients can gain better insight into exposures and risks, and have the option …

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Top 10 Market Conduct Actions Facing P/C Insurers

Untimely claims handling and failure to provide required compliant claims, underwriting, and policyholder service disclosures are the U.S. insurance industry’s top compliance shortcomings. That’s according to a review by Wolters Kluwer of U.S. insurers’ market conduct actions published by state …

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How High Customer Expectations Raise the Bar for Insurance Industry

Record high customer satisfaction among auto insurance customers is clearly good news for customers, especially at a time when their overall customer experience is being tested by the rising cost of auto insurance. For insurers, on the other hand, record …

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U.S. Safety Agency Probing Mercedes-Benz Recall Notice Practices

Mercedes-Benz USA is under investigation by U.S. safety regulators who say the luxury-auto maker may be taking too long to send safety recall notices to car owners and inform the government. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the unit …

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Wells Fargo Says Repaying Auto Insurance Customers to Take Until 2020

Wells Fargo & Co. will not finish paying back the estimated 600,000 customers it wrongly charged for auto insurance until at least 2020, the bank said in a letter to U.S. lawmakers seen by Reuters. U.S. regulators slapped Wells Fargo …

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Florida Fraud Strike Team Targets Unlicensed Contractors in Panhandle

Three contractors conducting business in Leon, Gadsden, and Gulf counties have been removed from the Panhandle by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team for unlicensed activity following Hurricane Michael, according to a statement from Florida …

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Shook-Leavitt in Idaho Now Leavitt Inland Pacific, Cunningham New Owner

Mike Cunningham has been named new co-owner of Shook-Leavitt Insurance Agency in Idaho, which will now do business as Leavitt Inland Pacific Insurance Services. Amy Shook remains with the agency as manager and a licensed agent. The changes will not …

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Idaho Trucking Operator Convicted of Pocketing Premiums

A fraud investigation initiated by the Idaho Department of Insurance lead to the criminal prosecution of a local trucking company owner who pocketed insurance premiums. DOI investigators teamed with the state Attorney General’s Office following a consumer tip to build …

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Possible Mold in Grain Harvest May Threaten Wisconsin Farmers’ Profits

Wet weather this year has delayed Wisconsin’s grain harvest and caused widespread mold problems in farm fields, according to agriculture experts. The U.S. Department of Agriculture expects Wisconsin farmers to harvest a record amount of soybeans this year, but farmers …

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Brightway Insurance Opens New Locations in Midwest, South Central Regions

Florida-based insurance agency franchisor, Brightway Insurance, has recently opened new stores in Louisiana, Michigan and Texas. Ankur Patel and Vipul Hapani opened Brightway, The Blue Water Agency in Ann Arbor, Michican. Joseph Bohrer opened Brightway, The Joseph Bohrer Agency in …

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14% of Louisiana Bridges Are Deficient, Report Says

A national transportation research group says 14 percent of Louisiana’s state and local bridges are structurally deficient, the seventh-highest rate in the nation. A report by TRIP, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, says 1,821 bridges in Louisiana are deemed to …

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Ohio Supreme Court: Subcontractor’s Faulty Work Not Covered by Contractor’s Policy

The Ohio Supreme Court in early October ruled that a general contractor’s commercial general liability policy does not cover the faulty work of a subcontractor. In its consideration of Ohio N. Univ. v. Charles Constr. Servs., Inc., the court relied …

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2 Women Hospitalized After Balcony Collapses in Northern California

Authorities say two women were injured when the third-floor balcony of their San Francisco home collapsed. The San Francisco Fire Department reported the collapse happened early Saturday at a single-family home in the city’s Outer Sunset District. The women were …

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Electric Scooters Banned at University of Arizona over Safety

The University of Arizona has banned dockless electric scooters from its campus effective immediately. University of Arizona Parking and Transportation Services Interim Executive Director Gail Nazarenko says the decision for the ban is “based on the experience of ASU,” which …

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Judge Dismisses County’s Case Against Oregon Marijuana Legalization

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Josephine County against the state of Oregon over legalized marijuana. The Daily Courier reported that U.S. District Judge Michael McShane earlier this week signed a formal order dismissing the lawsuit. It …

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Insurer: Not liable for Claims of Embezzlement in New Mexico Matter

Another insurance company has gone to federal court in New Mexico to avoid paying millions of dollars in claims from victims whose trust funds and savings were embezzled. The Albuquerque Journal reported the Cincinnati Insurance Co., based in Fairfield, Ohio, …

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Supreme Court to Weigh If Government Agencies Entitled to Challenge Patents

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up a dispute involving a small Alabama company that accused the U.S. Postal Service of infringing its patented mail processing system and improperly convincing a federal tribunal to cancel the patent. …

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Officials Say Plane Broke Apart Before Long Island Fatal Crash

Federal transportation officials say a plane that crashed off Long Island earlier this month, killing all three people aboard, had broken up before hitting the water. Newsday reports the National Transportation Safety Board’s preliminary report says the twin-engine Piper PA-34 …

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Lawyer Says Family Wants Justice After Massachusetts Gas Explosions Death

The family of a teen killed when a series of natural gas explosions and explosions rocked communities north of Boston plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the utility company. Attorney Doug Sheff told reporters Thursday Columbia Gas was …

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It’s a Very Different World for P/C Insurance Underwriters, Says Guy Carpenter

Property/casualty insurers’ operating environment today is very different than just a few short years ago. Lines that were stable are now volatile and those that have struggled are looking profitable, reinsurance intermediary Guy Carpenter & Co. says in its 2018 …

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PERILS Offers Windstorm Forecasting Platform in Australia, Updates Europe Service

PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data, has launched a windstorm forecasting platform in Australia and updated its existing service in Europe. The website, called “Wind-Jeannie,” was first launched in Europe in September 2015. Designed to …

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Mass. Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Insurer in Underinsured Motorist Coverage Case

A Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled in favor of an insurer in a case involving an automobile accident in which the injured plaintiff sought to obtain underinsured motorist coverage under a policy held by the mother and stepfather of his …

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UK’s Ed Broking to Be Acquired by BGC Partners

Ed, the London-based reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced that it would be acquired by a subsidiary of BGC Partners, Inc (BGC), a global brokerage and financial technology company. Financial details of the deal, which is subject to a number …

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Shareholders Begin to Derail UK CEO’s Gravy Train: Opinion

Boardroom pay is a contentious issue in the U.K., which is hardly surprising when top CEOs earn 145 times more on average than their workers. Shareholders have been slow to call time on the gravy train, probably because the stock-market …

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Philippine Authorities Move People to Safer Grounds as Typhoon Approaches

Philippine authorities started to move people to safer grounds as Typhoon Yutu approaches, tracking a path similar to last month’s storm that devastated rice-producing provinces in the main island of Luzon. Yutu, which last week became the strongest storm since …

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AFL Insurance Brokers Finds Good Strategic, Cultural Fit with U.S. MGA Zodiac

AFL Insurance Brokers, the London-based Lloyd’s broker, was looking for an MGA platform in the United States and found the perfect partner last month when it purchased Zodiac Insurance Services, which specializes in professional, entertainment and event insurance. It wasn’t …

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Lion Air Boeing 737 Crashes in Java Sea Near Indonesia with 189 on Board

A Lion Air jet carrying 189 people crashed in the Java Sea off Indonesia, in potentially the worst commercial aviation disaster in three years. Flight JT610, operating a brand new Boeing Co. 737 Max 8, took off from the capital …

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North Carolina Emerald Mine Robbed of $100K in Rare Gems

A heist has wiped a North Carolina emerald mine out of an estimated $100,000 in rare precious gems and gold jewelry. An Alexander County Sheriff’s Office release says thieves broke into, vandalized and robbed Emerald Hollow Mine on Oct. 20. …

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U.S. Forming Strike Force to Combat Appalachia Opioid Abuse

U.S. Justice Department officials say a new law enforcement strike force is being formed to combat opioid abuse in Appalachia. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski says the Appalachian Regional Prescription Opioid Strike Force will investigate health care fraud schemes …

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Damage to Florida Crops from Hurricane Michael to Total $158M

A new study says Florida crops suffered $158 million in damages from Hurricane Michael. The report released Friday by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences says that almost all of the state’s cotton crop was wiped …

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Small Firms’ Access to Low Cost Health Plans Depends on State

As small business owners shop for 2019 health insurance, some will for the first time have the chance to join forces and buy cheaper insurance – depending on which state they’re in. New rules that began going into effect last …

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MGM Resorts Looks to Settle with Las Vegas Shooting Victims

MGM Resorts International wants to negotiate a possible settlement with the victims of the Oct. 1, 2017, shooting at the Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, in which 58 people were killed and hundreds were wounded. The company and a group …

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Class Action Claiming Wells Fargo Made Robocalls Seeks Triple Damages

A proposed class action lawsuit in San Francisco federal court accuses Wells Fargo of making tens of thousands of automatically dialed, or “robo,” calls to cell phones without consumers’ consent. Filed on Thursday on behalf of a nationwide class, the …

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Super Typhoon Yutu Threatens Philippines’ Most Populous Island

Super Typhoon Yutu is set to rip into the Philippines’ most populous island with crushing winds, heavy rain and a dangerous storm surge late Monday into Tuesday, adding to the destruction it left in the U.S. Northern Mariana Islands last …

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UK Heading for ‘Acrimonious and Disruptive’ No-Deal Brexit: Fitch

Ratings agency Fitch said on Friday it no longer assumed that Britain would leave the European Union in a smooth transition and said a “no deal” Brexit could lead to a further downgrade of its sovereign credit rating. “In Fitch’s …

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Army Corps, Texas Officials Propose Sweeping Hurricane Protection Plan

Following years of research, studies and public debate, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — in partnership with the state’s General Land Office — has recommended a multi-billion-dollar project that would protect the Houston area and its massive industrial complex …

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OSHA Fines Florida Farm Over Worker’s Death by Lightning

Officials say the farm that employed a Florida woman fatally struck by lightning has been cited for failing to protect workers. A U.S. Department of Labor news release says Occupational Health and Safety Administration inspectors determined that C.W. Hendrix Farms …

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Iowa Delays Launch of New Workers’ Comp Electronic Filing System

Iowa’s Division of Workers’ Compensation has delayed its planned roll out of a new electronic filing, case management, hearing scheduling and EDI system for workers’ compensation, WCES. The Division had planned to go live with the new system on Dec. …

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Miller Named President, CEO at Minnesota’s SFM Mutual

The board of directors at Bloomington, Minnesota-based SFM Mutual Insurance Co. has named Terry Miller president and chief executive officer of the organization. Miller’s promotion, effective Nov. 5, is the result of a leadership succession strategy that has been in …

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W.T. Berkley Names Barraclough CEO at Public Entity; Fletcher as President at Admiral

W. R. Berkley Corp. has announced that Scott R. Barraclough is the new chief executive officer of its Berkley Public Entity and Curtis E. Fletcher has succeeded Barraclough as president of Admiral Insurance, another Berkley company. Barraclough most recently served …

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Texas County to Pay $115K After Judgment in Pay Discrimination Lawsuit

Texas’ Denton County will pay $115,000 to a female former county doctor after a federal court entered judgment in favor of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in a pay discrimination lawsuit (EEOC), the federal agency announced. According to …

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Better Underwriting, Lower Taxes Behind The Hartford’s Strong Q3 Results

The Hartford reported third quarter 2018 net profit of $427 million compared with $145 million in third quarter 2017. The $282 million increase was due to higher commercial lines, personal lines, group benefits and mutual funds income, including the benefit …

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American Family Policyholders Approve Merger with Main Street America

Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Insurance Mutual Holding Co. (American Family) announced its policyholder members have approved the company’s merger with Florida’s Main Street America Group Mutual Holdings Inc. (Main Street America). More than 86 percent of votes cast by proxy …

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10 Students, Driver Injured in Central Texas School Bus Crash

Investigators say 10 students and their school bus driver were injured when the vehicle was broadsided by an 18-wheeler on a Central Texas highway. The Texas Department of Public Safety says nobody was seriously hurt in the accident involving a …

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Wyoming Files Suit Against Purdue Pharma Over Opioid Marketing Practices

The Wyoming Attorney General’s Office is suing the maker of OxyContin, claiming the pharmaceutical company deceptively marketed opioid painkillers in the state. The Casper Star-Tribune reports the state filed the lawsuit Thursday in Laramie County Circuit Court against Purdue Pharma, …

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Hawaii Private School Pays $65M to Sex Abuse Victims

A private school system in Hawaii has paid $65 million to 32 people who sued the institution for the sexual abuse perpetrated decades ago by a psychiatric consultant. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the payment Kamehameha Schools made this week is …

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Nevada-Based Employers Holdings Reports $47.6M in Earnings

Employers Holdings Inc. reported third-quarter earnings of $47.6 million. The Reno, Nevada-based company said it had profit of $1.43 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, came to 98 cents per share. The provider of workers-compensation insurance posted revenue of …

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House Fire in California May Have Been Started by Blowtorch Used to Kill Spiders

Authorities say a man apparently set a California home on fire while using a blowtorch to kill spiders. KFSN-TV reported 29 firefighters were called to a Fresno housing development Tuesday night to put out a two-alarm blaze. Authorities say a …

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New Jersey Insurance Broker Stole Nearly $1M While Selling Fake Health Insurance

An insurance broker who stole nearly $1 million while continuing to sell health care coverage he knew was fake has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. David Clark, 75, of Morristown, N.J., previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge …

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New York Says Exxon Misled Investors About Climate Risks

New York’s attorney general on Wednesday sued Exxon Mobil, saying the Texas energy giant has misled investors about the risks that climate change poses to its operations. The lawsuit filed by Attorney General Barbara Underwood is the latest in a …

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A.M. Best Revises Outlooks to Stable for Agency Insurance Company of Maryland

A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to stable from positive and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of bbb+ for Agency Insurance Company of Maryland Inc. (AIC), based in Hanover, Md. The …

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Employers, Employees Disconnect Over #MeToo Effect

Ask employers how they’re doing on sexual harassment in the workplace and most will say pretty well. Employees have a different take. Nearly 70 percent of leaders “strongly agree” that their workplace “does not tolerate harassment.” Fewer than half of …

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AIG’s European Restructuring Gets Nod in Final Step of Brexit Preparations

American International Group, Inc. announced its European subsidiary, AIG Europe Ltd. (AEL) has received approval from the High Court of England & Wales to transfer its business into two new entities: American International Group UK Ltd. (AIG UK) and AIG …

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Hartford Steam Boiler Completes Acquisition of Industrial Tech Firm Relayr

Hartford Steam Boiler (HSB), part of Munich Re, announced the close of the acquisition of relayr, Inc., the Berlin-based industrial internet of things technology company. HSB acquired 100 percent of relayr’s shares and equity interests for $251.7 million in cash …

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No-Deal Brexit Would Drag UK Economy to Near Standstill: Report

A no-deal Brexit would drag the U.K. economy to a near standstill next year, according to a new report. If Britain leaves the European Union without an agreement, reverting to World Trade Organization’s most-favored-nation status rules, gross domestic product would …

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Brexit Talks on Hold as UK Cabinet Can’t Agree on Way Forward: Sources

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May’s Cabinet is not close enough to agreeing on a way forward for top level Brexit negotiations to resume, even as time is running short to reach a deal, according to people familiar with the matter. …

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British Airways’ Data Breach Was More Extensive than Original Estimates

International Airlines Group said an investigation into the theft of customers’ data at its British Airways subsidiary showed hackers may have stolen the personal information of a further 185,000 customers. British Airways apologized in September after the credit card details …

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Cathay Pacific Cyber Attack Is World’s Biggest Airline Data Breach

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. said a hacker accessed personal information of 9.4 million customers, becoming the target of the world’s biggest airline data breach. The airline’s shares sank the most in almost two years, shaving $201 million off its market …

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State Regulators Fight Federal Charters for Fintechs

A body of U.S. state banking regulators on Thursday sued the federal government to void its decision to award national bank charters to online lenders and payment companies, saying it was unconstitutional and puts consumers and taxpayers at risk. The …

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Chubb CEO Says Lloyd’s Hasn’t Adapted to Changed World

Chubb President and CEO Evan Greenberg offered positive words about new Lloyd’s of London CEO John Neal, though he cautioned that the venerable insurance marketplace has a long way to go to address “long-term structural issues.” What’s more, Greenberg added, …

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Red Tide Plaguing Florida Beaches Spreads to Space Coast

A toxic algae bloom has reached Florida’s Space Coast. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said red tide had reached parts of Brevard County. The wildlife commission says red tide now spans from Miami-Dade County to halfway up Florida’s …

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Insurtech Profile: Openly’s ‘Sophisticated’ Digital Experience for Independent Agents

Keep an eye out for Openly, a new digitally-sophisticated upmarket homeowners insurer catering to independent agents. According to Ty Harris, founder and CEO, Openly will launch in early 2019 in a yet-to-be-announced large inland state. “We’re going after mainland America …

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Alabama School Bus Crash Kills 1, Injures 11

A crash between an Alabama school bus and a passenger vehicle has killed one person in the vehicle and injured 11 on the bus. State Police Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Harrell tells AL.com 31-year-old Amanda Nicole Hubbard died in the Tuesday …

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Injury Rates Jump at Coal Giant Murray’s West Virginia Mines

Injury rates have more than doubled at five West Virginia coal mines acquired by Murray Energy Corp. in 2013, according to a Reuters review of federal data, as the firm sharply increased the amount of coal produced per manhour. Although …

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Climate Change Impact Assessment Looks at Risk, Readiness Around U.S.

Low risk, but low readiness. That’s the assessment for Long Beach, Calif., a city that’s close to my heart. For those who love numbers, the city has a risk score of 49.48, and a readiness score of 47.01. Not entirely …

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MMC Reports 5% Growth for Q3; Marsh Revenues Up 10%

Global insurance, risk and consulting firm Marsh & McLennan Companies (MMC) reported consolidated revenue in the third quarter of 2018 was $3.5 billion, an increase of 5 percent compared with the third quarter of 2017. MMC, which is in the …

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Ohio Village Has 10 Years to Refund Drivers in Traffic Camera Case

A judge will allow an Ohio village 10 years to refund an estimated $3.2 million collected from drivers for speeding citations from automated camera. New Miami’s automatic camera enforcement was ruled unconstitutional in 2014. Butler County Judge Michael Oster later …

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Families Await Justice in North Dakota Oilfield Workplace Lawsuits

Brenda Austin was worried when her son, Casey, told her he planned to work in North Dakota’s Bakken oilfield in early 2013. “Don’t worry. I’ll be in a safe spot,” he told her when he left their Mandan home for …

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Workplace Shuttle Bus Overturns in Texas, Killing 1

A shuttle bus transporting contract workers from a Southeast Texas liquid natural gas plant overturned and rolled down a roadside embankment, killing one person and injuring 30 others. The crash happened Tuesday afternoon on the outskirts of Freeport, Texas, more …

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J.D. Power Adds Schmitt to Global Insurance Practice in Chicago

Kyle Schmitt, an expert in insurance and corporate strategy, has been hired as managing director of the Global Insurance Practice at J.D. Power. He is based in Chicago. Schmitt will report directly to Keith Webster, senior vice president and general …

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Barge Operator in Louisiana Bridge Crash Likely Wasn’t Fined in 32 Others

Records show that before a barge-mounted crane slammed into a Louisiana bridge this month, operators for Marquette Transportation had more than 30 collisions and the company likely wasn’t fined. The Advocate reports Marquette vessels had smashed into, collided with or …

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Alleging Voting Rights Violations, Students Sue Texas County

A group of students from a historically black university have filed a lawsuit alleging a southeast Texas county is suppressing the voting rights of its black residents. In a lawsuit filed in federal court in Houston on Monday, five Prairie …

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Ahead of Utah Medical Marijuana Vote, Lawmaker Tries Pot in Vegas

A Utah lawmaker drove to Las Vegas and tried marijuana for the first time ahead of an upcoming vote on a proposition that would legalize its use in his state for individuals with qualifying medical conditions. Salt Lake City TV …

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Report: Workers’ Comp Medical Payments Fell in California After Reforms

Medical payments per claim with more than seven days of lost time in California decreased after the implementation of workers’ comp reform for claims with experience through March 2017, according to a recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute. …

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Alliant Names Quinlan Senior Vice President in California

Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has named Brendan Quinlan a senior vice president in its San Francisco, Calif., office. Quinlan was previously area senior vice president with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Quinlan is also founder and board member with RiskRadius, …

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New Hampshire Restaurant Accused in Crash Death of Three Men Faces Trial

A Chinese restaurant in New Hampshire accused of over-serving alcohol to three men who later died in a 2016 crash is now on trial. Prosecutors argue 21-year-old Malachi Davis, 21-year-old Hunter Vars and 20-year-old Jack Perrault were all given too …

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HMS Agency Acquires New York’s Adirondack Family Insurance Services

HMS Agency Inc. (HMS), a family-owned and operated insurance agency based in Albany, N.Y., has acquired Adirondack Family Insurance Services of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. The purchase agreement was finalized on July 1, 2018, and represents the fifth acquisition by HMS …

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Pennsylvania’s Arthur Hall Insurance Hires Hernandez

Arthur Hall Insurance, a West Chester, Penn.-based insurance agency, has hired Cynthia Hernandez as a commercial lines account manager. In this role, Hernandez will be responsible for all client management services for the Commercial Lines Delaware Division of Arthur Hall …

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Mexico Begins Digging Out from Destruction of Hurricane Willa

Residents on Mexico’s Pacific Coast on Wednesday began clearing up the wreckage left by Hurricane Willa, which ripped through towns overnight, tearing off rooftops, downing power lines and splitting trees apart. Willa, a powerful Category 3 hurricane, hit the northwestern …

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Massachusetts’ Rogers & Gray Insurance Names Bizak as Chief Partnership Officer

Rogers & Gray Insurance, a South Dennis, Mass.-based insurance agency, has named Robert Bizak to the newly created position of chief partnership officer. In this role, Bizak will be responsible for building upon Rogers & Gray’s acquisitive and/or partnership growth. …

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U.S. Making Some Progress Against Opioid Epidemic, Says Health Chief

The number of U.S. drug overdose deaths has begun to level off after years of relentless increases driven by the opioid epidemic, health secretary Alex Azar said Tuesday, cautioning it’s too soon to declare victory. “We are so far from …

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China’s Swine Fever Outbreaks Blamed on Feeding Kitchen Waste to Pigs

China’s agriculture ministry said on Wednesday it would ban the feeding of kitchen waste to pigs after linking the practice to the majority of the early cases of African swine fever. The statement from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural …

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Typhoon Yutu Hits Northern Mariana Islands as Strongest Storm in 68 Years

Super Typhoon Yutu battered the Pacific Ocean’s Northern Mariana Islands with 178 mile (286 kilometers) per hour winds, making it the strongest storm to hit the U.S. territory since 1950. The storm’s eye crossed directly over the island of Tinian, …

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Mexican Insurers Will Absorb Losses from Hurricane Willa: A.M. Best

Mexico’s insurance industry overall remains well-capitalized and can absorb the financial impact generated from Hurricane Willa, which made landfall Oct. 23, 2018, but was later downgraded to a tropical depression, according to an A.M. Best briefing. Hurricane Willa made landfall …

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Cross-Border Insurance, Derivative Contracts May Get No-Deal Brexit Reprieve

The European Union might grant temporary permission for clearing houses in Britain to continue serving EU customers if there is a no-deal Brexit next March, an EU document seen by Reuters showed. LCH, a unit of the London Stock Exchange …

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Australia’s AMP to Sell Life Insurance Arm at Discount, as Funds Bleed Cash

Australia’s largest wealth manager AMP Ltd said on Thursday it would sell its life insurance arm at a discount and revealed its funds were hemorrhaging cash as clients pulled out their money in response to revelations of systemic wrongdoing. Investors …

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AXA Mexico Confirms Client Information, Resources Are Safe After Cyber Attack

AXA Mexico said the information and resources of its customers are safe and have not been affected by a cyber attack, which it discovered on Oct. 22. In a statement, AXA Mexico said that it had “identified anomalies in its …

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New York AG ‘Puts Up,’ Sues Exxon Over Climate Change Disclosures

Lawyers for Exxon Mobil Corp. stood before a New York judge in August and told the state’s attorney general to “put up or shut up” after spending three years investigating the company’s public disclosures about climate change, saying authorities should …

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Insurers Under Scrutiny in Puerto Rico with 13,600 Hurricane Maria Claims Still Open

Thousands of Puerto Ricans have been forced to drain their savings, close their businesses, or resign themselves to living with structural damage as they fight insurance companies over millions of dollars’ worth of claims that have gone unanswered or unpaid …

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Insurtech Pie’s Founder Talks About Entry into California Workers’ Comp Market

Pie Insurance seems to be slicing its way through workers’ compensation markets in state after state. The Washington, D.C.-based insurtech is a direct provider of workers’ comp that touts its ability to leverage “data analytics, easy-to-use online features, and a …

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GM Hitting Bumps on $5 Billion Road to Driverless Cars by 2019

It’s one of the biggest bets going in the world of cars. Since May, General Motors Co. and its Cruise self-driving car unit have landed $5 billion in investment commitments from Japan’s SoftBank Group Corp. and Honda Motor Co. Ltd. …

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North Carolina Approves 17.2% Rate Decrease for Workers’ Comp

The North Carolina Rate Bureau’s 17.2 percent rate decrease filing for workers’ compensation insurance has been approved by North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey, according to a statement from the North Carolina Department Insurance. “This rate decrease should serve as …

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Utility, Insurer Sued Over Damage to Voting Machines in Mississippi County

A southwest Mississippi county is suing an electrical utility and its own insurer, seeking more than $500,000 for damage to voting machines caused by a 2016 power outage. The Enterprise-Journal reports Pike County earlier this month sued Entergy Corp. and …

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Survey: Florida Keys Population Fell by Nearly 3K After Hurricane Irma

An annual population survey in the Florida Keys shows how many people left the island chain after Hurricane Irma last year. The Bureau of Economic and Business Research at the University of Florida found that every Keys city and the …

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Chubb Notches Solid Q3 Profit with Lower Catastrophe Losses

Chubb reported solid profit, increases in net premiums written and a healthy property/casualty combined ratio in its 2018 third quarter. The insurer booked $1.2 billion in net income during Q3 versus a $70 million net loss over the same period …

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W.R. Berkley Q3 Profit Holds Steady

W.R. Berkley Corp.’s third quarter featured flat net income but also higher premiums and soaring investment income. The Connecticut-based insurer and reinsurer said it generated $162 million in net income during the 2018 third quarter, on par with the 2017 …

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Georgia Gov. Calls Special Session to Address Hurricane Michael Recovery Costs

Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has called a special session of the state legislature to grapple with the recovery costs from Hurricane Michael. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the governor’s office expects the state’s portion of cleanup costs to be approximately …

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Austin’s Flood Induced Boil-Water Decree Could Last Weeks, Official Says

Nearly 900,000 people in Texas’ capital may have to boil their tap water for two weeks, an official said Tuesday, as authorities struggled to treat a water supply filled with silt, mud and debris after recent heavy rains and flooding. …

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South Texas Sees Resurgence in Eagle Ford Shale Drilling

Three years ago, Allen Startz found himself in an unwanted kinship with thousands of other oilfield workers in South Texas’ Eagle Ford shale — laid off with few prospects nearby. The Houston Chronicle reports he left his home in Bryan …

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Galveston Struggling to Rebuild Housing 10 Years After Hurricane Ike

Galveston hasn’t done enough to rebuild public housing that was destroyed by Hurricane Ike a decade ago, public housing advocates say. Fewer than half of the island city’s 569 public housing units have been rebuilt since the 2008 hurricane, The …

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Leaks Cause 5K Barrels of Brine to Spill at 3 Locations in North Dakota

The North Dakota Oil and Gas Division says a pipeline leak caused 4,050 barrels of brine to spill at a saltwater disposal well south of Williston. The division said Monday Oasis Petroleum North America recovered the majority of the brine, …

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Traffic Deaths This Year in Minnesota Now Exceed 300

Minnesota officials say more than 300 people have died in traffic crashes so far this year. The Minnesota Department of Public Safety said Monday the 302 deaths were 17 more than the 285 reported at this time last year. In …

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San Francisco High-Rise Fire Doused Without Injuries

A fire engulfed five floors of a San Francisco high-rise but authorities say nobody was hurt and the blaze was quickly doused. The Fire Department says the blaze hit the 25-story building in the Financial District Monday afternoon. Firefighter helped …

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Socal Gas Settles Motorcycle Crash Lawsuit For $46M

Southern California Gas Co. has agreed to pay $46 million to settle a lawsuit by a motorcyclist who was struck and badly injured by a company driver who suffered an epileptic seizure. U.S. Air Force Capt. Jason Lo was stopped …

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NJM Hires Callahan to Expand Teen Driver Safety Program in Pennsylvania

NJM Insurance Group (NJM), a property and casualty insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S., has hired Jeneen M. Callahan to lead the expansion of its Teen Driver Safety Program into Pennsylvania. In her role, Callahan will lead the …

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NIF Group Hires Schutz as an Excess and Surplus Lines Broker in Massachusetts

NIF Group Inc., a New York-based wholesale broker, program administrator and managing general agency, has hired Erich A. Schutz as an excess and surplus lines broker in the East Douglas, Mass., branch office. Schutz joins NIF from DeCotis Specialty, where …

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Massive Blaze Tears Through New Jersey Town, Destroys Multiple Businesses

A fast-moving blaze ripped through the business district of a New Jersey town, destroying multiple businesses and causing the partial collapse of at least four buildings, according to officials. Daniel DeGroot, director of public safety for Dover, N.J., said the …

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Fidelis Sets Up Re/Insurer in Dublin to Prepare for Brexit; Senior Leaders Appointed

Fidelis Insurance Holdings Ltd. announced it has established a regulated re/insurer in Ireland, called Fidelis Insurance Ireland DAC (FIID), to take advantage of opportunities in the European Economic Area (EEA) after Brexit. On Oct. 22, 2018 the Central Bank of …

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Teens Urged to Seize Initiative This Teen Driver Safety Week

Four-in-10 parents of teen drivers don’t talk to their kids about safe driving on a regular basis. That factoid, says survey sponsor Allstate, could be an incentive for teens to flip the script and spearhead the conversation with their parents …

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Apple CEO Calls for U.S. Privacy Law to Protect User Data

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook said on Wednesday customer data was being “weaponised with military efficiency” by companies to increase profit. Cook, speaking at the International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners, said Apple supported a federal privacy law …

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Court Says Nestle, Cargill Can Be Sued Over Child Labor Overseas

A U.S. federal appeals court on Tuesday reinstated a lawsuit by a group of former child slaves accusing the U.S. unit of Nestle SA, the world’s largest food maker, and Cargill Co of perpetuating child slavery at Ivory Coast cocoa …

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Weakened Hurricane Willa Moves Inland from Mexico’s Pacific Coast

Willa’s fierce winds eased as the storm barreled inland over Mexico early on Wednesday, unleashing heavy rains after leaving power outages and toppled trees on the coast but causing no deaths, officials and forecasters said. Willa, a Category 3 storm …

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Marsh Joins with Insurtech Firm Concirrus to Drive Behavioral Analytics in Marine Market

Concirrus, the London-based insurtech company specializing in marine analytics, announced it has formed a multi-year agreement with insurance broker Marsh. The agreement will see the two companies working together to drive the use of behavioral data in the global marine …

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Tokio Marine Kiln Closes Hong Kong Office

Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) announced a reorganization of its Asian operations based primarily in Singapore with supporting offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai. TMK will be closing its Hong Kong office with immediate effect and making arrangements over the next …

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French Insurer April Attracts Interest From Private Equity Firms CVC, KKR

French insurer April SA has drawn takeover interest from private equity firms including CVC Capital Partners, KKR & Co. and BC Partners as it weighs a sale amid a wave of industry consolidation, according to people familiar with the matter. …

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AXA Cyber Attack Prompts Mexico Central Bank to Issue Security Alert

Mexico’s central bank said on Tuesday it had raised the security alert level in its payment system after a non-banking financial user reported “inconsistencies” in the cash payment matching system. Insurer AXA said in a separate statement it suffered a …

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Australia Life Insurers Will Be Required to Publish Customer Disputes Numbers

Australia’s life insurers will be required to publish customer dispute numbers every six months, top financial regulators said on Wednesday, as a misconduct inquiry threatens other reforms that could hurt industry profitability. For the first time, customers will be able …

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Florida Death Toll From Hurricane Michael Climbs to 29

Authorities in Florida say Hurricane Michael has killed at least 29 people in the state, bringing the overall death toll to 39. Florida Emergency Management Division spokesman Alberto Moscoso says the state toll stood at 29 on Monday afternoon. Ten …

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More Than 30 Dorm Rooms Damaged in Fire at Mississippi State University

Mississippi State University officials say no one was hurt by a fire in a dormitory room. The fire happened Sunday night on the third floor of Oak Hall on the Starkville campus. The university said in a news release Monday …

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Insurance Linked Securities Move from ‘Alternative’ to Mainstream: WTW Survey

The insurance-linked securities (ILS) market is here to stay, said a new survey from Willis Towers Watson. End investors, ILS funds, and buyers – the three groups active in ILS – have predominantly weathered 2017 loss activity and accept that …

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The Hilb Group Acquires Michigan’s Burns & Eustice Insurance Agency

Hilb Group LLC (THG) has acquired Michigan-based Burns & Eustice Insurance Agency (B&E). B&E has been offering property/casualty insurance products and services to businesses and individuals throughout northern Michigan since 1931. Led by Managing Director Tony Eustice, B&E’s associates will …

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Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Richter International Consulting in Washington

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Issaquah, Wash.-based Richter International Consulting LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Founder Dave Richter and his associates will continue to operate from their current location under the direction of Leslie Lemenager, …

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More Disclosure Doesn’t Settle Goldman Investor’s Claim

A bid by Goldman Sachs Group Inc. to settle a lawsuit over how much it pays directors was rejected by a judge who said that simply making changes in corporate governance didn’t provide enough benefit to the firm. The investment …

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U.S. Agency Calls for Better Safety Metrics for Autonomous Cars

Autonomous vehicle manufacturers need a better yardstick to show that their products are safe, said Derek Kan, under secretary for policy at the U.S. Department of Transportation. The metrics that are most widely used by self-driving car developers — miles …

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BRP Partners with Medicare Division of Trilogy Financial Group of Florida

Baldwin Risk Partners (BRP), a Tampa, Fla., based insurance distribution holding company, has completed the formation of its partnership with the Medicare Division of Trilogy Financial Group, a financial agency based in Ocala, Fla. The partnership, which finalized on Oct. …

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Stricter Gun Laws Haven’t Made Communities Safer from Mass Shootings

A trauma research team has developed a profile of commonalities among communities where mass shootings have occurred that includes a shortage of mental health professionals, a relative lack of socialization opportunities, higher rates of income inequality, and relatively high housing …

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Lockton Names Byrne Risk Management and Benefits Consultant in California

Lockton has added Tom Byrne as a risk management and employee benefits consultant. Byrne is based in the San Francisco, Calif. office. He has more than 16 years of experience in the industry. Byrne worked as a client advocate for …

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The Man Behind the InsureTech Connect Conference Phenomenon

The 2018 InsureTech Connect (ITC) conference is history. In its short three-year life, the ITC affair has grown from 1,500 to 6,000 attendees. This year, an estimated 500 CEOs were there. “It’s hard to believe,” says Jay Weintraub, CEO and …

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New Orleans Towing Company Ordered to Pay in Pregnancy Discrimination Suit

A U.S. District Court has entered judgment against a New Orleans-based towing company for failing to respond to a lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) for breaching an EEOC mediation agreement of a pregnancy discrimination charge. According …

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Zurich North America, Allied Public Risk Partner on Public Sector Program

Schaumburg, Illinois-based Zurich North America has entered into an agreement with program administrator Allied Public Risk LLC to provide a full range of insurance coverage to select cities, towns, boroughs, counties and special service districts with populations under 100,000. Zurich …

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Opioid Memorial in Houston as Part of Nationwide Tour

The National Safety Council on Monday made Houston the sixth stop on a nationwide tour of its exhibit, Prescribed to Death: A Memorial to the Victims of the Opioid Crisis, by unveiling the display inside the George R. Brown Convention …

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Appalachian Underwriters Names Schnarre as Midwest External Marketing Rep

Appalachian Underwriters Inc. has named Nick Schnarre as external marketing representative for Illinois, Indiana and Missouri agents. He will be working remotely in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, helping agents in those states listed find the best markets and products …

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Judge Dismisses Nebraska County’s Claim Against Insurers

A judge in Nebraska has ruled that Gage County’s insurance policies from a risk-sharing pool of companies don’t cover a $28.1 million jury verdict for the wrongful convictions of six people for a 1985 murder. The Lincoln Journal Star reports …

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Midwest Food Distributor to Pay $3.6M to Settle Sex Discrimination Lawsuit

A food distributor with warehouses in Cleveland, Ohio, and Detroit, Michigan, will pay $3.6 million to settle a class sex discrimination lawsuit filed by the filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). The EEOC alleged that Sherwood Food …

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Washington Packing House to Pay $525K in Sexual Harassment Settlement

A Grant County, Wash. vegetable-packing house will pay $525,000 to settle a lawsuit alleging a supervisor groped, propositioned and retaliated against female workers. The Seattle Times reports State Attorney General Bob Ferguson says the settlement announced with Quincy-based Horning Brothers …

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Farmers in Hawaii Lost $28M Because of Volcano

A survey of Big Island farmers has found that they suffered nearly $28 million in damages because of the months-long eruption earlier this year of the Kilauea volcano, the Hawaii Tribune Herald reported. The survey of 46 farmers by University …

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Delaware Workers’ Comp Insurance Rates Decrease for Second Year in a Row

Workers’ compensation insurance rates will decrease for the second year in a row in Delaware, effective December 1, 2018. “I am delighted to approve yet another decrease in workers’ compensation rates in Delaware and even happier to see a double-digit …

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Wells Fargo Will Pay $65M Penalty to New York Over Cross-Selling Practices

Wells Fargo & Co. will pay a $65 million penalty to New York state related to its cross-selling practices. The bank failed to disclose to investors that the success of its cross-selling – the pitching of additional financial products to …

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Head of Crumbling Foundations Fund in Connecticut Says $1B Needed

The superintendent of a new captive insurance company charged with distributing millions of dollars to Connecticut homeowners with crumbling foundations is warning he doesn’t have nearly enough money to address the problem. Michael Maglaras said he hopes to secure funding …

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CoreLogic to Buy Toronto-Based Claims Workflow Firm Symbility Solutions

CoreLogic, the Irvine, Calif.-based data and analytics firm, announced it has agreed to acquire the outstanding shares of Symbililty Solutions Inc. not already owned by CoreLogic. CoreLogic currently holds approximately a 28 percent ownership interest in Symbility. Symbility, which is …

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Disaster Relief Approved for Pennsylvania Areas Affected by August Storm

Businesses and homeowners in Lancaster, York and surrounding Pennsylvania counties affected by flooding in August will be eligible for low-interest federal loans. Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf said Friday those areas have been approved for disaster relief to repair damage caused …

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Shareholders of Singapore Reinsurer ACR Capital Eyeing Sale: Sources

ACR Capital Holdings Pte shareholders are considering reviving a sale of the Singapore reinsurer, less than a year after a deal with Chinese buyers fell apart, people familiar with the matter said. The company’s owners, which include Temasek Holdings Pte …

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U.S. Hog Farmers on Alert Over African Swine Fever Disease

U.S. hog farmers are ramping up safety procedures and leaving animal-feed ingredients imported from China in storage in an attempt to keep out a highly contagious swine disease that is sweeping through Asia and Europe. U.S. government officials said in …

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Dangerous Hurricane Willa Heads to Pacific Coast of Mexico

Hurricane Willa, an extremely dangerous a Category 4 storm, weakened slightly as it veered toward popular tourist resorts on Mexico’s Pacific coast on Monday, prompting government warnings for people to leave high-risk areas and take cover. Mexican authorities urged residents …

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Federal Safety Agency Shuts Down Self-Driving School Bus Test

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on Monday said it had ordered Transdev North America to immediately stop transporting school children in Florida in a driverless shuttle, as the testing could be putting them at “inappropriate” risk. Transdev’s use of …

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Generali to Acquire Polish Asset Management Firm, Union Investment TFI in

Generali has entered into an agreement with the German Group Union Asset Management Holding AG to acquire a 100 percent stake in the Polish asset management company Union Investment TFI S.A. Financial details of the acquisition were not revealed. The …

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Coordinated Global Regulation of Cryptocurrencies Needed: Circle CEO

Major economies should launch coordinated regulation of cryptocurrencies, the head of Goldman Sachs-backed startup Circle said on Monday, underscoring growing industry support for international rules on digital money. “Ultimately there needs to be normalization at the G20 level of critical …

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At Least 30 Injured When Floor Collapses at South Carolina Condo Clubhouse

The floor of a condominium clubhouse near Clemson University collapsed during a large private party early Sunday, hurtling dozens of people into the basement, authorities said. About 30 people were taken to local hospitals after the center of the floor …

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Honeywell Facing SEC Probe Over Asbestos Liabilities Reporting

Honeywell International Inc. said on Friday the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission had opened an investigation into its accounting for asbestos-related liabilities. The industrial conglomerate’s revised estimate for asbestos-related liabilities was $2.61 billion as of end-2017, some $1.09 billion higher …

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Verisk Product Scores Properties on Flood Risk; Could Replace Outdated Flood Maps

Data analytics firm Verisk is touting the launch of WaterLine, an underwriting tool that scores flood risk for all properties in the contiguous United States, helping identify homes and businesses vulnerable to flood. The product scores properties on a 0-to-100 …

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A.M. Best Upgrades Workers’ Comp Carrier ICW Group in California

A.M. Best Company has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating of San Diego, Calif.-based ICW Group Insurance Cos. to “A” (Excellent) from a “Stable” outlook. A.M. Best said its ratings reflect the company’s balance sheet strength as well as its solid …

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Judge Upholds Bayer/Monsanto Roundup Cancer Liability But Slashes Award

Bayer AG failed to persuade a California state judge to set aside a jury’s verdict in the first trial over allegations that its Roundup weed killer causes cancer, but the judge said damages should be slashed to $78.6 million from …

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Parents of Florida College Student Killed by Garbage Truck Awarded $25M

Jurors have awarded $25 million to the parents of a University of Florida student who was run over and killed by a garbage truck near campus. The Gainesville Sun reports that an Alachua County jury awarded $12.5 million each on …

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Georgia Estimates $250M in Insured Losses from Hurricane Michael

The Georgia Department of Insurance has estimated insured property losses from Hurricane Michael will reach $250 million, according to a statement Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens. In figures released Oct. 18, GADOI said more than 35,000 property-related claims were expected. …

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Major Surgey Patients Without Opioids Have Shorter Hospital Stays: Research

Surgeons at an Ohio hospital have developed a treatment protocol that they say sends people home after operations without any opioids to manage their pain, leading to shorter hospital stays. “Over 75 percent of our elective colorectal patients underwent surgery …

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New Report Shows California’s Share of Payroll, Workers’ Comp

Californians accounted for 11.9 percent of all jobs covered by workers’ compensation in the U.S. in 2016, 13.9 percent of covered payroll and 19.6 percent of all cash and medical benefits paid for work injuries and illnesses, according to the …

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Robertson Ryan & Associates Adds First Dependable Insurance in Nevada

Robertson Ryan & Associates Inc. has added First Dependable Insurance in Las Vegas, Nev. with the addition of Tom and Vicky Raasch. Tom and Vicky Raasch own First Dependable Insurance. Tom Raasch focuses on commercial insurance programs for business, but …

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Insurtech Profile: Kordinator Adds Empathy to Automated Customer Service

Automated customer service is a fact of life. In fact, many people are more comfortable sharing personal details with a machine than with a human. But automation must appreciate that not every customer is a 40 year-old college graduate, with …

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Oregon Woman Sues Bank of America After Losing Money in Scam

An Oregon woman is suing Bank of America, claiming a Hillsboro branch transferred $13,000 from her account to scammers. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Rebekah Adams filed the lawsuit last week, claiming a teller failed to inform her that the money she …

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Power Outages Still Plague Florida Panhandle Nearly 2 Weeks After Michael

It’s the greatest need after a hurricane and sometimes the hardest one to fulfill: Electricity. Almost two weeks after Hurricane Michael smashed into the Florida Panhandle on a path of destruction that led all the way to the Georgia border, …

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Timber Industry Suffers $1.3B in Losses from Hurricane Michael

Trees brought down by Hurricane Michael’s ferocious winds took a heavy toll on life, property and the timber industry in the heavily forested Florida Panhandle, where $1.3 billion in timber was lost, authorities said Friday. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam …

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Premium Price for ACA Policies to Decline in Louisiana

People searching for health insurance policies in Louisiana will likely fare better than those in many other states as the Nov. 1 annual open enrollment period approaches for the individual marketplace. The Advocate reports data from the Centers for Medicare …

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Minnesota Frozen Food Company Recalls 212K Pounds of Pork, Chicken Products

Authorities say a Minnesota frozen food and packing company is recalling more than 212,000 pounds of ready-to-eat pork and chicken products that contain vegetables that might be contaminated with salmonella and listeria. The Agriculture Department said in a release issued …

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Insurance Office of America Hires Lane in Florida, Expands in Brevard County

Insurance Office of America (IOA) has hired industry veteran Phillip Lane to its team as it adds locations in Brevard County, Fla. Lane joins the team as a risk management consultant. Prior to joining IOA, Lane was a producer at …

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Land O’Lakes, Gravie to Expand Farmer Health Insurance Plan in Minnesota

Land O’Lakes Inc. and Gravie will expand their Farmer Health Insurance Plan in 2019 in Minnesota. When a law was passed in Minnesota last year allowing agricultural co-op members to band together to purchase group health benefits, Land O’Lakes partnered …

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Texas, Oklahoma Panhandles Shaken by Magnitude 4.0 Quake

An earthquake shook parts of the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles on Oct. 20. The U.S. Geological Survey says the 4.0 magnitude earthquake was recorded at 8:04 a.m. Saturday about 9 miles (15 kilometers) north-northeast of Amarillo. The temblor was recorded …

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After Catastrophic Flooding, Austin Issues First Ever City-Wide Boil Water Notice

Early Monday morning, Austin Water issued a boil water notice for all of its customers due to elevated levels of silt from last week’s flooding. The water system is “the most recent infrastructure to struggle to keep up with” the …

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Iowa Supreme Court: IDOT officers Can Only Ticket Commercial Vehicles

The Iowa Supreme Court has ruled that Iowa Department of Transportation officers do not have authority to issue speeding tickets to or arrest drivers outside of the regulation of commercial vehicles. The finding came Friday in separate 2016 cases in …

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Suit Says Safeco Field in Washington Discriminates Against Wheelchair Users

Wheelchair users attending Seattle Mariners baseball games at Safeco Field get a “second-class” experience, a nonprofit disability-rights law firm says, and has filed a discrimination lawsuit. The Seattle Times reported that Washington Civil and Disability Advocate filed the lawsuit earlier …

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Oregon Worker Lawsuit Says She was Fired After Heavy Corpse Fell on Her

A Portland, Ore. cremation worker who says she was sexually harassed and fired after reporting she sustained a back injury when a heavy corpse fell on her has filed a lawsuit seeking $900,000. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the sex discrimination …

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Sales of Marijuana in Colorado Topped $1B Through August

A Colorado reports shows marijuana sales in the state have exceeded $1 billion as of August of this year, with tax revenue from those sales reaching $200 million. The Denver Post reports the state Department of Revenue report indicates medical …

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California Moving Ahead with Marijuana Delivery Regulations

California moved a step closer Friday to allowing marijuana deliveries in communities that have banned retail sales of the drug as regulators rebuffed cities and police chiefs who are opposed to the rule. The proposal is a major issue that …

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USI Insurance Services Acquires Pennsylvania’s Beneficial Insurance Services

USI Insurance Services (USI), a provider of insurance brokerage and risk management services, has acquired Philadelphia, Penn.-based Beneficial Insurance Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of Beneficial Bancorp Inc. Founded in 2005, the insurance brokerage provides commercial property and casualty, personal …

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No Trial for Amtrak Engineer in Deadly Pennsylvania Crash Until 2019

An Amtrak engineer charged with manslaughter in a deadly high-speed derailment in Philadelphia won’t go on trial until next year because of delays in getting evidence from federal investigators. A lawyer for Brandon Bostian says neither he nor state prosecutors …

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Insurance Broker Hays Companies to Be Brown & Brown’s Biggest Acquisition

Brown & Brown Inc. has agreed to acquire the assets of the Hays Companies insurance operations. The deal for the Minnesota-based insurance broker with $200 million in revenues marks the largest acquisition ever by Brown & Brown. Headquartered in Minneapolis, …

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Vermont Construction Company Investigated After Death of Employee

Federal officials are investigating a Vermont roofing and construction company whose employee died in a fall at a job site in New Hampshire. The Brattleboro Reformer reports the Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation into Jancewicz & Son …

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As Tornadoes Shift Eastward, Scientists Explore Why

Over the past few decades tornadoes have been shifting — decreasing in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas but spinning up more in states along the Mississippi River and farther east, a new study shows. Scientists aren’t quite certain why. Tornado activity …

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How States Are Battling Distracted Driving

Like many diligent public servants, Georgia state Representative Ed Setzler enjoys crowing about a nice, tidy highway project. In a Sept. 8 Facebook video, the Republican appeared to be doing just that from behind the wheel of a car. This …

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AIR Worldwide Develops Probabilistic Model for Global Cyber Risks

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide announced it has developed a probabilistic model for cyber risk, which is capable of accounting for security breach and cloud service provider downtime incidents for insurance portfolios worldwide. AIR’s probabilistic cyber model estimates the …

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London Market Group to Offer Faster Solution for Coverholder Approval

The London Market Group (LMG) announced that a contract has been signed with Sequel to deliver a faster and more efficient solution for approving and registering coverholders, and a new integrated tool for generating delegated authority binder contracts. This is …

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Miller Agrees to Acquire London Re/Insurance Broker Alston Gayler

Miller announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Alston Gayler and Co. (AG), majority owned by Nelson Holdings Ltd. AG is an independent London market re/insurance broker specializing in multiple lines of business, said Miller, noting that …

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Billionaire Li’s FWD Group Nearing Deal to Buy CBA’s Indonesia Unit

Billionaire Richard Li’s FWD Group is nearing an agreement to buy control of Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s Indonesian life insurance arm, people familiar with the matter said, in a deal that would boost the tycoon’s presence in one of the …

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London’s Biggest Private Taxi Firm Aims to Roll Out Self-Driving Cars by 2021

A fleet of autonomous taxis could roll onto the streets of the U.K. capital within three years, after one of London’s biggest private-hire taxi companies struck a deal with a maker of autonomous vehicle software. Addison Lee Group, which has …

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China Insurer PICC Cuts Size of IPO in Response to Collapse in Market Prices

The People’s Insurance Company (Group) of China Ltd., the nation’s largest property insurer, cut the size of a planned first-time domestic share sale and indicated it will proceed when the market improves. The company will offer a maximum of 1.8 …

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West Virginia Won’t Change Funding for State Workers’ Comp Funding in 2019

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice says there will be no change in state funding for the state employees’ public insurance plan next year in a letter to the agency’s director. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Justice said in the letter that …

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Lawsuit Over Fan Death at Atlanta Braves Stadium Claims Team, MLB Ignored Safety

In court documents filed last week in a lawsuit following the 2015 death of a fan who fell from the upper deck at an Atlanta Braves game, Nolan Ryan says guard rails at the Texas Rangers’ stadium had to be …

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Conservative Ex-Google Engineer’s Bias Complaint Goes to Arbitration

The engineer who sued Google after he was fired for blasting the company with allegations of anti-conservative bias won’t get his day in court after all. James Damore’s claims against the Alphabet Inc. unit will be heard behind closed doors …

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To Insure Cyber or Not to Insure Cyber: Cautions and Caveats for Carriers

While there are some issues with the data, virtually every report shows the cyber insurance market growing. Aon Benfield had it growing 37 percent last year to $1.8 billion. It’s profitable and the loss ratio is in the 30s or …

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Allianz Insurance Product Protects Firms Against Clean Energy Price Swings

Microsoft Corp. has helped develop a way to protect corporate buyers of clean power from electricity prices that go up and down with the weather. The company is using a risk-management tool called a volume-firming agreement for almost 500 megawatts …

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UK Businesses Roll Back Investment as Brexit Uncertainty Bites: Survey

Four-fifths of U.K. companies have cut or withheld investment because of the uncertainty caused by Brexit, Britain’s biggest business lobby said. Some 58 percent of businesses have made plans to cut jobs, adjust supply chains, relocate production and services or …

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Swiss Re Weighs an Investment in Chinese Insurer Anbang: Sources

Swiss Re AG has held discussions with Chinese authorities about an investment in embattled insurer Anbang Insurance Group Co., people with knowledge of the matter said. Swiss Re is among parties that have been approached as China seeks to find …

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With Central, South Texas Awash in Water Governor Issues Disaster Declaration

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has issued a State Disaster Declaration for 18 Texas counties impacted by recent severe weather and flooding that has caused widespread property damage, and threatened loss of life. The governor’s declaration comes as rain continues to …

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Florida Residents Hit by Michael Return to Face Damage as Death Toll Climbs

More than a week after Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle, authorities are reporting three more deaths from the Category 4 storm as residents returning to their homes try to piece together their lives from the rubble left by …

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DOI: Workers’ Comp Rates in Indiana to Drop Again Next Year

Businesses in Indiana can expect to pay less for workers’ compensation insurance coverage next year, continuing a trend that has been ongoing for several years. Insurance Commissioner Stephen W. Robertson has approved an average 7.6 percent reduction for workers’ comp …

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Illinois’ Cook County Board OKs $4M Medical Malpractice Settlement

Cook County’s board of commissioners have voted for a nearly $4 million settlement of a malpractice lawsuit filed after an alleged botched heart surgery at Chicago’s Stroger Hospital. Lawyers for Jaime Flores alleged Stroger physicians made a “very unfortunate and …

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JBA Risk Management Releases High-Resolution Flood Maps for Florida

Flood specialist JBA Risk Management has rolled out its high-resolution flood maps and associated pricing data for the continental United States starting with the State of Florida. These new maps are designed to enable (re)insurers and others with an interest …

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Von Bomhard Likely to Return to Munich Re – This Time as Board Chairman

Nikolaus von Bomhard, who retired as CEO of Munich Re in April 2017, is likely to return to the German reinsurer as chairman of the supervisory board. This week, Munich Re’s nomination committee recommended to the full supervisory board that …

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Arch Insurance Names Shulman as CEO for North America; Makes Other Leadership Changes

Arch Insurance announced that Matt Shulman will assume the newly created role of CEO, Arch Insurance North America, effective January 1, 2019. In this role, he will lead Arch Insurance’s operations in the United States and Canada. He will report …

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Utah Firefighting Costs This Year a Record $110M

Utah State Forester Brian Cottam says the state’s wildfire season appears to be over and that it is adding up to be Utah’s most expensive ever. KSL-TV reported that Cottam told the Utah Executive Appropriations Committee that firefighting costs this …

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Hawaii Panel Advances Vacation Rental Regulations

A Big Island panel has advanced a measure that would prohibit short-term vacation rentals in residential and agricultural zones. The Hawaii County Council Planning Committee approved the measure’s fifth draft this week after the ordinance has been in the works …

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$28M Settlement for Washington Crash Survivor

Washington state has agreed to pay a $28 million settlement to woman who was left quadriplegic in wreck on Interstate 5 in DuPont. The News Tribune reported 20-year-old Skylar Seward filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Transportation after …

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West Coast Quake Warning System up and Running

Automated alerts from the fledgling West Coast earthquake early warning system are ready to be used broadly by businesses, utilities, schools and other entities but not for mass public notification, officials said Wednesday. “We’re making a large change from a …

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Everest Re and Argo Report Net Catastrophe Loss Estimates for Q3 2018

Everest Re Group Ltd. and Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. announced their preliminary pre-tax catastrophe loss estimates for the third quarter, ended Sept. 30, 2018. Bermuda-based Everest Re’s estimated catastrophe loss was $240 million, net of reinsurance. The estimate includes …

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Chubb Bermuda Names Gonsalves Division President, Succeeding Clabby

Chubb has appointed Judy Gonsalves vice president of Chubb Group and division president of Bermuda. In this capacity, she has executive operating responsibility for the Bermuda-based commercial property and casualty (P/C) insurance business that writes high-limit excess liability, property, directors …

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Everest Appoints McKeon to Lead Both Risk Management, Commercial Casualty

Everest Insurance said that Christopher McKeon, currently vice president and head of Commercial Casualty, will add leadership responsibility for the Risk Management business unit, which focuses on customized primary casualty large accounts. Risk Management and Commercial Casualty will continue to …

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Danish Insurer Qudos Ceases Underwriting, Pending Restructuring

Copenhagen-based Qudos Insurance will cease underwriting new business with immediate effect, pending a restructuring of the business, announced parent company New Nordic Advisors. New Nordic said it aims to re-launch the underwriting platform following a comprehensive audit. The restructuring project …

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Google ‘Definitely’ Interested in Other Insurtech Investments Following Applied Systems

Google is eager to invest in other insurance technology companies well beyond its newly announced minority stake in Applied Systems, a principal investor with the global search engine giant said on Oct. 17. “We really like the market,” said Jesse …

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Can Go-Slow Brexit Breathe New Life into Flagging Divorce Talks?

The U.K. and the European Union are inching towards a plan that could help unblock Brexit negotiations and clear the path to a deal, raising hopes of progress after months of stalemate. While the EU summit in Brussels fell far …

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Mad Cow Disease Confirmed on UK Farm – First Case Since 2015

Mad cow disease has been found on a U.K. farm for the first time since 2015, raising concern that some countries may move to limit imports of British beef. The disease, also known as bovine spongiform encephalopathy or BSE, was …

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Boston Cop Who Was Shot Sues Online Gun Dealer for Negligence

Armslist, an online peer-to-peer firearms dealer, was sued on Thursday by a Boston police officer allegedly shot by a convicted felon with a gun purchased on the platform. The officer, Kurt Stokinger, argued in the complaint that the website acted …

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New York Is Considering Blocking Parts of $68B CVS, Aetna Merger

New York state officials are considering blocking parts of the $68 billion merger of drugstore store chain CVS Health Corp. and Aetna Inc., jeopardizing billions of dollars in insurance premiums for Aetna. CVS and Aetna won approval from the U.S. …

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Aon Forms New Ventures Group, Led by Chief Innovation Officer Goland

Aon plc announced it has formed a new unit called New Ventures Group, which is designed to increase Aon’s investment in innovative new businesses. The global unit will identify, incubate and deliver new sources of value for clients, explained an …

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Merchants Insurance Group Names Winkworth to Agents Council for Technology

Merchants Insurance Group has named Customer Experience Lead Ginny Winkworth as co-chair of the Customer Experience Work Group of the Agents Council for Technology (ACT), a program of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America (IIABA). ACT helps independent …

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Nearly $2M Spent Fight Over Proposed Arkansas Lawsuit Damage Limits

Supporters and opponents of a proposal to limit the damages awarded in civil lawsuits in Arkansas report spending nearly $2 million combined last month in the campaign fight over the measure. Arkansans for Jobs and Justice, the primary group campaigning …

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Appalachian Underwriters Adds St. Clair as Garage Underwriter for Midwest

Appalachian Underwriters Inc. has hired Joanna St. Clair as a garage underwriter. She will be working remotely in the Austin, Texas, area, primarily underwriting garage risks for Midwest agents. St. Clair comes to AUI with 15 years of experience in …

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Louisiana Company Recalling 15 Tons of Packaged Restaurant Fare

A Louisiana company is recalling 15 tons of packaged ready-to-eat chicken and pork products produced since January 2017 for five restaurants or chains in Louisiana and Texas. A La Carte Foods of Belle Rose made the six products with sausage …

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Time to Upgrade Airline Black Boxes, Says Safety Board

The ubiquitous black boxes on airliners — designed to capture the sometimes gruesome words and sounds leading up to crashes — need an upgrade, U.S. accident investigators say. In too many cases, the current two hours of sound on the …

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The Changing Risk and Liability Landscape: New Tech, New Loss Scenarios

Advancements in technology are changing the risk landscape irrevocably and driving potential big changes in liability, and other insurance, claims activity. The opportunities for business from new technologies such as autonomous machines, artificial intelligenceI, smart factories and digitalized supply chains …

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NTSB: Texas Driver’s Drug Use Led to Deadly Church Bus Crash

A motorist’s use of marijuana and a sedative led to a collision with a church bus that killed 13 people on the bus, the National Transportation Safety Board said in a report released on Oct. 16. According to the report, …

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GenX Undetected in Bloodstreams of North Carolina Chemical Plant Neighbors

Dozens of neighbors of a North Carolina chemical plant had industrial compounds in their bloodstreams, but tests by state and federal health officials outlined Tuesday didn’t find the much-debated and little-studied one they were looking for. None of the 30 …

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Judge Orders Tennessee to Stop Suspending Licenses Over Traffic Fines, Court Costs

A federal judge in Nashville has ordered the state to stop suspending the drivers licenses of people who are unable to pay traffic fines and court costs. In an order Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Aleta Trauger also instructed the state …

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AIG Estimates Q3 Catastrophe Losses Will Be $1.5 Billion

American International Group said it expects to report third quarter 2018 catastrophe losses of approximately $1.5 to $1.7 billion. These losses are largely from multiple events in Japan, including Typhoons Jebi and Trami, as well as Hurricane Florence and revisions …

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Woodruff Sawyer Names Hessel Casualty Practice Leader in California

San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff Sawyer has named Evan Hessel vice president and casualty practice leader. Hessel will be responsible for expanding the current casualty platform and capabilities. He was previously managing director and West Coast casualty leader for Beecher Carlson. …

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Seeman Holtz P&C Acquires Missouri Agency, Redel Insurance

Boca Raton, Florida-based Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty Inc. has acquired Redel Insurance Agency Inc., headquartered in Ballwin, Missouri. Redel Insurance Agency has been operating in Missouri for three-quarters of a century. The agency offers personal and commercial insurance, from …

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Firms Sued Over Missouri Duck Boat Sinking Seek Mediation, Cite 1851 Law

Two companies facing multiple lawsuits over a summer tourist boat accident in Missouri that killed 17 people have invoked an 1851 law that allows vessel owners to try to avoid or limit legal damages as they also seek settlement negotiations …

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15 Emerging Risks from Policies to Playgrounds, Sandboxes to Scooters

When insurance experts are asked what they see as the most important emerging risk for the property/casualty insurance industry, their consensus is cyber in some form. While cyber obviously poses tremendous risks, some experts are also eyeing a variety of …

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Alaska Pilot Awarded $500K in Airplane Safety Whistleblower Case

A federal judge has sided with an Anchorage, Alaska pilot who claimed a Homer-based air carrier fired him for reporting safety problems. Brian Bell had reported that Bald Mountain Air Service falsified safety records and had gaps in drug and …

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California to Cite Utilities More than $13M for Safety Violations

California regulators have fined two utilities more than $13 million for violations of safety rules for incidents that caused injuries. The Public Utilities Commission hit Southern California Edison with an $8 million citation for a downed power line that was …

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Tired Employees Common in Industries Using Shift Work

More than two-thirds (69 percent) of employees are tired at work, increasing the risk of injuries and incidents on the job, according to the National Safety Council. Many of these fatigued employees work in the construction, transportation, manufacturing and utilities …

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New Hampshire Insurance Company Trains Workers on Overdose Reversal Drug

Employees at one of New Hampshire’s community mental health centers are getting trained to administer overdose reversal drugs. Harvard Pilgrim Health Care on Friday held a training session for employees at Riverbend Community Mental Health in Concord as part of …

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Uber Driver Charged with Kidnapping New York Woman

An Uber driver in New York City kidnapped a woman who fell asleep in his vehicle, groped her in the back seat and then left her on the side of a highway in Connecticut, federal authorities said Tuesday. Harbir Parmar, …

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Mo’s Seafood in Maryland to Pay $1M to Workers Who Sued Over Pay

The company operating Mo’s Seafood restaurants will pay $1 million to settle a lawsuit with 34 former employees who said they were underpaid. In the collective-action lawsuit filed against Mo’s Fisherman Exchange Inc. and owner Mohammed Manocheh in 2015, waiters …

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Applied Systems Acquires Benefits Software Firm Dynamis

Fresh off its announcement of Google becoming a minority investor, insurance agency technology provider Applied Systems announced it has acquired Dynamis Software Corp., a Milwaukee-based provider of employee benefits software. This acquisition expands Applied System’s employee benefits offerings. The firm …

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Travelers Q3 Profit More than Doubles on Lower Catastrophe Losses, Higher Premiums

Third quarter profit more than doubled at Travelers Corp. due to higher premiums and investment income and lower catastrophe losses, the insurer reported. Net income came in at $709 million, up from $293 million for the third quarter last year. …

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Liberty Mutual Conducts Strategic Review of Pembroke Managing Agency

Liberty Mutual Insurance announced it is undertaking a strategic review of its London-based Pembroke Managing Agency Ltd., acquired through the lronshore purchase in May of 2017. The company has retained Evercore to serve as its adviser during the process. Pembroke, …

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UK’s May Eyes Extension of Brexit Transition Period, Opposed by Brexiteers

British Prime Minister Theresa May signaled on Thursday she would consider extending a so-called transition period “for a matter of months” after Britain leaves the European Union, a move her critics say is a betrayal of Brexit. Less than six …

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Gallagher Acquires UK Commercial Broker Portmore

Global insurance broker, risk management services and consulting firm Gallagher announces the acquisition of Portmore Insurance Brokers Ltd. and Portmore Insurance Brokers (Wiltshire) Ltd. in the UK. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Based in Southampton, England, Portmore was …

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RenaissanceRe Estimates Q3 Claims Costs of $155M from Natural Catastrophes

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced it currently estimates that the cost of claims from third quarter 2018 catastrophe events will have an estimated net negative impact of approximately $155 million on its third quarter 2018 results. The estimated losses for these …

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TigerRisk Adds Retro Specialist Hughes from Aon to London Retro Team

TigerRisk Partners LLC, the Stamford, Conn.-based insurance and reinsurance broker, announced it has appointed Jonathan Hughes as partner. Hughes will report to Alex Bridges, head of TigerRisk’s Retro Team, and will work in TigerRisk’s London office. Hughes joins TigerRisk from …

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Swiss Re to Post ‘Large’ Q3 Losses from Italy Bridge Collapse, Natural Disasters

Swiss Re AG said it will post relatively “large” losses from claims in the third quarter, as man-made disasters including the collapse of a bridge in Italy add to damage from storms. Natural disaster claims, mainly from Japan and North …

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Louisiana Citizens’ Commercial Insurance Policy Rates to Drop Next Year

A rate decrease request for commercial property policies filed by Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort has been approved by the state’s insurance commissioner. Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon has approved Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s recent request to lower …

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Texas Windstorm Insurer’s Request to Hike Liability Limits Denied

Texas Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan has declined to approve the request by the state’s property insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas coast to increase maximum limits of liability for certain types of property. The Texas …

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Glen Mulready, Candidate for Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner

Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Election 2018 The office of the insurance commissioner in Oklahoma is an elected position. The current commissioner, John D. Doak, is term limited and cannot run again; his successor will be determined in the general election that …

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Treasury Erases ‘Too-Big-to-Fail’ Label on Prudential

The Trump Administration has rescinded the systemically risky – or “too big to fail” – designation for Prudential Financial that placed the financial services giant under extra regulatory scrutiny. The designation of Prudential as a systemically important financial institution (SIFI) …

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National Safety Board Calls for Standards for Drugged Driving Tests

U.S. transportation safety officials are sounding the alarm on drug-impaired driving, calling for state and federal regulators to do more to tackle the growing problem as states grapple with prescription drug abuse and adopt a more permissive stance on marijuana. …

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Cavignac & Associates in California Names White Human Resources Risk Advisor

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has named Jessica White a human resources risk advisor. White will provide advice to Cavignac & Associates’ clients to help them reduce the frequency and severity of their employee claims. She primarily interacts with …

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How to Make Self-Driving Cars Safer on Roads with Humans

As the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Congress press for removing safety regulations in order to fast-track the introduction of highly automated vehicles, human factors/ergonomics experts are recommending requiring important testing and driver support. The Human Factors and Ergonomics …

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EPIC Insurance Brokers Adds Harnetiaux in California

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has named Kevin Harnetiaux senior vice president and chief operating officer of EPIC’s Sacramento, Cailf. Region, including Gold River, Calif., and Reno, Nev. Harnetiaux joins from the State Fund of California, where he was executive …

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Regulators, Industry Seek to Keep Florida AOB Abuse In Check After Michael

In an effort to keep the Florida assignment of benefits (AOB) crisis from further worsening in the state, Florida’s insurance industry, regulators and consumer advocates are on high alert for AOB activity in the wake of Hurricane Michael and working …

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Justice Family Coal Firm Ordered to Pay $478K Settlement

A judge has ordered a coal company owned by West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice’s family to start making payments on a settlement. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Justice Low Seam Mining, Inc. was ordered Oct. 10 to pay roughly $478,000 to …

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Waccamaw River in South Carolina Finally Below Flood Stage After Florence

The Waccamaw River near the South Carolina coast has finally gone back into its banks after 29 days of flooding following Hurricane Florence. The National Weather Service says the river level at Conway dipped below the flood stage of 11 …

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Rural Communities Hit by Michael Face Tough Recovery

Haylie Byler and her husband were just beginning life in their new home when Hurricane Michael’s monstrous winds mowed down a dozen trees on their property, more than an hour’s drive inland from where the storm made landfall. They had …

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Illinois County Pay $3M to Settle Case Over Missing Stop Sign in Fatal Crash

A northern Illinois county has agreed to a $3 million settlement with the family of a pregnant woman who was killed in a crash at a rural intersection where a stop sign was missing. The May 2013 crash near the …

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Floodwaters in Central Texas Destroy Bridge, Force Evacuations

Fast-moving floodwaters destroyed a bridge, forced the evacuation of riverside homes and led to numerous water rescues in Central Texas on Tuesday after more than a foot of rain fell in recent days. The bridge crumbled as it was overrun …

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WCIRB Studied Impact of Medical Fraud Enforcement in California

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has released a study that shows the impact of medical provider fraud on the system, and it finds that efforts by the state as well as local district attorneys and insurer special …

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Insurer Group Hammers Claim that California Prop 103 Saved Drivers Billions

The insurance industry is taking exception to a new report commemorating the 30th anniversary of one of California’s primary auto insurance laws that claims the law has saved drivers billions of dollars. The Consumer Federation of America reported on Wednesday …

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Texas DOT Report: Crashed Oklahoma School Bus Was Traveling Too Fast

An Oklahoma school bus that hydroplaned on a wet road and crashed in Central Texas last month, injuring nearly everyone on board, was traveling at an unsafe speed for the conditions, according to a Texas Department of Transportation report. The …

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Louisiana Contractor Awarded $62M in Fertilizer Plant Lawsuit

A federal jury has awarded a Louisiana mechanical contractor hired to help build a fertilizer plant in southeast Iowa $62.4 million after concluding the fertilizer plant’s general contractor defaulted on a contract. Court documents show the jury found Orascom E&C …

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Barge-Mounted Crane Hits Louisiana Bridge; Closing it for Months

A barge-mounted crane has slammed into a Louisiana bridge, shuttering a travel artery for what Louisiana officials say will be at least a few months. Operators for Marquette Transportation hit the Sunshine Bridge at Donaldsonville early Friday morning, The Advocate …

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Fiery Indiana Freight Derailment Blamed on Buckled Track

Officials say a buckled stretch of track is believed to have caused a fiery freight train derailment in southwestern Indiana that belched black smoke into the sky and forced the evacuation of nearby homes. The Evansville Courier & Press reports …

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Nebraska City Sues Owner of Grain Elevator That Exploded

South Sioux City, Nebraska, has sued the owner of the grain elevator that exploded earlier this year. The lawsuit against Andersen Farms Inc. and Bryce Andersen was filed last week in Dakota County District Court. It seeks reimbursement of more …

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Firefighters Sue Southern California Gas Company Over Toxic Leak

Firefighters who worked in and around the site of a massive natural gas leak have sued the Southern California Gas Co., saying the utility knowingly let them be exposed to dangerous levels of toxic chemicals. A blowout in a well …

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Penniall’s Integrity and Creativity Highlighted in Monarch’s Knightly Ads

Don Penniall beat “dilly-dilly” to the punch a long time ago. Penniall was a creative, well-liked insurance professional who had the fortitude to launch his own firm later in life, those who remember him say. Penniall died on Sept. 23, …

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California Says Judge Who Said Coffee Needs Cancer Warning is Biased

California said a state judge who earlier this year ruled that coffee requires a cancer warning is too biased to oversee a new lawsuit that challenges the state’s proposal to exempt the beverage from the requirement. The California Office of …

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Virginia’s Prosper Insurance Company to Expand Headquarters, Add 75 Jobs

Prosper Insurance Company has announced it will expand from its 6,000-square-foot headquarters in Virginia Beach, Va. The corporate investment is expected to be $750,000 with the buildout, furniture, fixtures and equipment. Prosper Insurance also said it anticipates growing from its …

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Everest Insurance Hires Pollert in New York City

Everest Insurance has hired Bill Pollert to its Marketing and Distribution team as a director in the East region. Pollert joins Everest Insurance from Marsh USA, where he worked for the last fourteen years and most recently served as senior …

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Anti-Hazing Law in Penn State Student’s Name Goes to Governor

Stricter criminal penalties for hazing will soon become Pennsylvania law under legislation inspired by the death of a Penn State student that cleared its final hurdle Monday. The Senate voted unanimously for a bill named for a fraternity pledge who …

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Supreme Court Declines Paint Manufacturers’ Appeal of $400M Public Nuisance Ruling

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected appeals from Sherwin-Williams Co. and Conagra Brands Inc., leaving intact a ruling that requires them to pay more than $400 million for lead-paint remediation in California. The rebuff, issued without comment Monday, is a blow …

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