Scientists Investigate Recent Earthquakes in the South

Scientists are sending additional sensors to south Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with aims of solving the mystery of what caused a spate of recent earthquakes. Five earthquakes have been detected in the region within a three-week span. Government researchers …

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North Carolina Personal Auto Rates to Increase by 1.6%

The North Carolina Rate Bureau has reached a settlement with the North Carolina Department of Insurance to raise personal auto insurance rates by 1.6 percent, according to a statement by NCDOI. The NCRB, which is not a part of NCDOI …

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1 Million Acres of Midwest Farmlands Flooded as Corn Planting Deadlines Approach

At least 1 million acres (405,000 hectares) of U.S. farmland were flooded after the “bomb cyclone” storm left wide swaths of nine major grain producing states under water this month, satellite data analyzed by Gro Intelligence for Reuters showed. Farms …

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Big Settlements Drove Value of Securities Class Actions Above $5 Billion in 2018

The total settlement value of securities class actions rose sharply to $5 billion in 2018, driven by five settlements of at least $100 million, according to a report by Cornerstone Research. The report, Securities Class Action Settlements—2018 Review and Analysis, …

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How Disasters, Tax Reform Affected P/C Insurers’ Performance in 2018

Mainly due to above-average catastrophe losses, the aggregate financial performance of U.S. publicly traded property/casualty insurers deteriorated slightly in 2018, according to a new A.M. Best special report. The catastrophe losses counteracted gains from the implementation of tax reform, according …

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Insurer Introduces Revolutionary 3-Word Personal Insurance Policy

APRIL 1, 2019 — An insurance company that says it wants to simplify insurance has whittled its personal insurance policies for families down to three words. The new product, named TriWord, bundles property and casualty coverages for auto, home and …

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EPIC Adds Knight, Smiley in Atlanta

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property, casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has added two senior vice presidents in its Atlanta office. Chris Knight has joined EPIC’s growing Integrated Risk Solutions Consulting Practice as senior vice president, …

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Judge Nixes Trump Administration’s Low-Cost Association Health Plans for Small Firms

A federal judge has struck down a small-business health insurance plan widely touted by President Donald Trump, the second setback in a week for the administration’s health care initiatives. U.S. District Judge John D. Bates wrote in his opinion late …

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Fire Knocks Out Power to 22K People in South Florida

Authorities in Florida say a fire at a power utility substation left thousands of people without power in Broward County. News outlets report an explosion at a Florida Power & Light substation in Fort Lauderdale late Tuesday interrupted service and …

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Strong Storm Causes Hail Damage in Central Florida

A series of hail storms in central Florida dinged up car windshields and blew off pool screens in an unusual sight for the Sunshine State. In tiny Trenton, the streets were covered in so much hail that it resembled a …

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New Investment Management Coverage from Berkley Targets Asset, Fund Managers

Berkley Professional Liability, a Berkley Company, has expanded its product offerings to include a primary management liability policy for investment advisors and funds. The new customizable policy offers a choice of coverage options, including investment adviser professional liability, fund professional …

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Missouri Bill Could Exempt 1M Vehicles from Safety Inspections

Mandatory safety inspections would no longer be required for more than a million vehicles on Missouri’s roads under legislation passed by the state House. Safety inspections currently are required every other year for all vehicles more than five years old. …

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CEO of Texas Petrochemical Tank Facility Apologizes for Fire

The chief executive of a Houston-area petrochemical storage company has apologized more than a week after a fire erupted, causing school closures, an order for residents to stay indoors and the partial closure of a critical commercial waterway. Intercontinental Terminals …

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Rare Manuscript Museum in St. Louis Badly Damaged by Fire

A 107-year-old St. Louis, Missouri, building that houses rare manuscripts was badly damaged in a fire, but the museum’s owner says the manuscripts were spared and he plans to rebuild. The fire broke out Tuesday night at the Karpeles Manuscript …

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Michigan’s Unique Auto Fee Will Rise to $220 per Vehicle in July

Michigan’s mandatory fee to cover unlimited medical benefits for catastrophically injured drivers is rising to a record $220 per vehicle, which is more than double what it was a decade ago. The Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association, a state-created entity that …

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Surplus Lines Windstorm/Hail Bills Move Forward in Texas Legislature

Legislation clarifying that eligible surplus lines insurers can provide windstorm and hail insurance, despite available coverage from the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA), has moved forward in the Texas legislature, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) reported. The …

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Update: Truck That Exploded in Arkansas Was Carrying Ammonium Nitrate

A commercial truck hauling a chemical commonly used as fertilizer exploded Wednesday on a highway in Arkansas, killing the driver and creating a massive crater in the road, authorities said. The explosion happened west of the city of Camden, or …

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2 Killed When Boulder Falls from Truck in Oklahoma

Oklahoma authorities say a large boulder fell from a truck and went through the windshield of a passing SUV, killing two women who were passengers in the smaller vehicle. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says the deadly accident happened Tuesday near …

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Brexit Crisis Deepens as UK Parliament Again Rejects Prime Minister’s Deal

Lawmakers rejected Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit deal for a third time on Friday, sounding its probable death knell and leaving Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union in turmoil on the very day it was supposed to leave the bloc. …

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Vermont Sues Two Prescription Opioid Distributors

Vermont filed a lawsuit against two pharmaceutical distributors, accusing them of selling ever-increasing amounts of prescription opioids in the state while failing to effectively monitor and control the sales and acknowledge the quantity of pills was outpacing the need. The …

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Cal/OSHA Cites Contractor After Workers Hospitalized for Valley Fever

Cal/OSHA has issued serious health and safety citations to Underground Construction Co. Inc. of Benicia, Calif. after two of its employees contracted Valley Fever. The workers were reportedly exposed to the fungal disease while using hand tools to dig trenches …

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Los Angeles to Pay $12M in Wrongful-Conviction Case

The Los Angeles City Council has agreed to pay $12 million to a woman who spent 17 years in prison on a murder conviction before a judge declared her innocent. Susan Mellen was convicted of the 1997 beating death of …

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Bolder Insurance in Colorado Names Mckeon Insurance Advisor

Bolder Insurance has named Patrick Mckeon a business and personal insurance advisor. Mckeon previously worked as an intern at Philadelphia Insurance and The Maguire Foundation. Bolder Insurance is an independent insurance advisor. The firm has offices in Boulder and Louisville.

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Cavignac & Associates in California Names Schuman Account Manager

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has named Bree Schuman an account manager in the company’s commercial department Among other duties, Schuman is responsible for endorsement processing, billing and cancellation issues, reconciling audits and contract review. Schuman has 10 years …

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AIG Exits Individual Personal Lines Business in Canada

American International Group (AIG) has decided to stop underwriting new policies in its individual personal insurance lines of business in Canada, namely auto and homeowners. “We continually review our operations to make sure that AIG Canada provides clients and partners …

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Massachusetts Insurance Agency CEO Charged in $270K Insurance Fraud Scheme

The president and CEO of a Taunton, Mass., insurance agency has been indicted in connection with an alleged embezzlement scheme that left client companies uninsured. David Pietro of Sandwich, Mass., and his company, DGP Miles Insurance Agency of Taunton, were …

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FDA Medical Panel Opposes Restrictions on Breast Implants at This Time

Government medical advisers said this week it’s too soon to ban a type of breast implant that has recently been linked to a rare form of cancer, saying more information is needed to understand the problem. The Food and Drug …

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Purdue Pharma Owners Sued by New York Over Opioid Addiction Epidemic

The billionaire owners of Purdue Pharma LP were sued by New York state for allegedly triggering a U.S. addiction epidemic with their marketing of the Oxycontin painkiller, just two days after the company agreed to pay $270 million to settle …

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Alliant Hires Rossi Capital Partners’ Rossi as Vice President in New York

Alliant has hired Francis Rossi as vice president. In this new role, the New York-based property and casualty insurance veteran will deploy his experience in finance, insurance and risk management to a portfolio of clients. Prior to joining Alliant, Rossi …

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Swedbank Fires CEO on Growing Investor Criticism of Handling of Laundering Scandal

Swedbank dismissed Birgitte Bonnesen as chief executive on Thursday only an hour before its annual meeting after disgruntled shareholders rounded on her handling of a rapidly-growing money laundering scandal. The lender had repeatedly said it had faith in Bonnesen to …

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Judge Allows Suit Challenging Nestle Claim Its Poland Spring Water Is From Natural Spring

A federal judge on Thursday rejected Nestle SA’s bid to dismiss a revised lawsuit claiming that it defrauded consumers by filling bottles of its Poland Spring water with ordinary groundwater. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer said consumers from eight …

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Mozambique City of Beira Tried to Battle Climate Change – Then Cyclone Idai Hit

Long before Cyclone Idai roared in and tore apart Mozambique’s seaside city of Beira, the mayor dreamed of protecting his people from climate change. It would be a huge challenge. Large parts of the city of 500,000 residents are below …

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Africa RE Joins World Bank’s IFC to Build Insurance Market for Nigeria’s Farmers

The International Finance Corp. (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, announced it has signed an agreement with Africa RE, the pan-African reinsurance company, to help small holder Nigerian farmers more easily access insurance to protect their crops and …

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Lloyd’s Announces Chief Risk Officer Weaver Leaving Market After 16 Years

Lloyd’s of London announced that Hilary Weaver, the corporation’s chief risk officer, is leaving at the end of March 2019 after 16 years. Weaver joined Lloyd’s in 2004 as head of Internal Audit and became chief risk officer in April …

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Chubb Bermuda Names Porter Head of Financial Lines

Chubb Bermuda has named Richard Porter as senior vice president, head of Financial Lines. In this role, Porter is responsible for leading Chubb Bermuda’s Financial Lines division, which includes directors and officers liability, cyber, transactional risk, errors and omissions, and …

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Shareholder Accuses Argo Group of Illegally Appointing Two Board Members

An Argo Group shareholder accusing the company and CEO Mark Watson III of extravagant spending practices now claims that the carrier illegally appointed two board members. Argo disagreed, continuing a very public battle between Voce Capital Management LLC and itself …

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Miami Insurance Agent Arrested for Stealing $620K in Premiums

A former licensed insurance agency owner was arrested in Florida after allegedly stealing more than $620,000 in insurance premiums, according to a statement from Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis. Orestes Valentin Rodriguez, owner of Blue Guard Insurance Group …

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Duke University to Settle Whistleblower Suit Over Faked-Research for $112M

Duke University will pay $112 million to settle a whistleblower lawsuit after federal prosecutors said a research technician’s fake data landed millions of dollars in federal grants, the school and the government said Monday. The private university in Durham submitted …

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North Carolina-Based AmWINS Group Names Kiley as SVP

AmWINS Group, Inc., a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has named Alycia Kiley as senior vice president at the company, focused on building strategic partnerships with the firm’s retail clients. AmWINS works with retail insurance agents, brokers …

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Final Four a ‘Big-Ticket’ for Insurers Covering NCAA Tournament

If the NCAA’s Final Four basketball games were to be cancelled or postponed for any reason, that would be really, really bad news, not only for the collegiate sports association and fans but also for the panel of insurers that …

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House Committee Passes Bill to Protect Financial Firms Serving Marijuana Businesses

A House committee has advanced a bill to protect financial institutions from criminal prosecution for providing services to legal marijuana businesses. The House Financial Services Committee voted 45 to 15 in favor of the SAFE Banking Act, which promises to …

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Rates, Lower Loss Frequency, Innovation Drove Personal Auto Market Turnaround

After a weakened performance in 2015-2016, the U.S. private passenger auto segment has turned around as rate actions and underwriting initiatives have driven a 3.8-point year-over-year improvement in the sector’s combined ratio in 2017. A 4.7-point loss ratio reduction through …

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Court Rules Dating App Not Liable for Harassing Content

A U.S. federal appeals court refused to hold Grindr liable to a New York man who said his former boyfriend used the gay dating app to post fake profiles, in a harassment campaign that caused more than 1,000 men to …

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California Commissioner Yet to Move on Petition from Climate Activists for More Insurer Regs

Nobody’s saying much as California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara considers how he will respond to a petition submitted by climate change activists urging him to place new regulations on insurers to disclose what fossil fuel projects can companies in the …

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Against Storage Tank Owner Sued by State, County Over Texas Chemical Fire

Texas officials on Tuesday sued owners of a Houston area petrochemical storage facility over a fire last week, alleging violations of environmental laws and seeking damages to cover response costs for the disaster that burned for days, releasing chemicals into …

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Nebraska Alcohol Retailers Told to Destroy Inventory Touched by Flood

Nebraska retailers who were hoping to salvage alcohol that was touched by floodwaters are out of luck. The Nebraska Liquor Control Commission said that stores must destroy any alcohol in containers that came into physical contact with floodwater. Stores are …

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Minnesota Truck Repair Shop Contests OSHA Fines Tied to Explosion Injuries

A truck service shop in North Mankato is contesting federal fines levied after a natural gas explosion last November that injured two workers. The explosion happened Nov. 14 at Allstate Peterbilt when natural gas that leaked from a garbage truck …

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Wisconsin Manufacturer Again Cited for Workplace Hazards; Faces $188K in Fines

A wood pallet manufacturer in Beloit, Wisconsin, has been cited by workplace safety regulators for safety and health violations and now faces more than $188,000 in penalties. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reported it …

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1 Killed When Truck Carrying Chemical Explodes on Arkansas Highway

Authorities say a commercial truck carrying an unknown chemical has exploded on a highway in south Arkansas, killing one person and creating a massive crater in the road. The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management says one person was killed in …

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Hundreds File Claims Against Company in Wake of Texas Petrochemical Fire

A Houston-area petrochemical storage company that was heavily damaged by fire has received hundreds of compensation claims from residents seeking lost wages and other damages, a company executive said. Brent Weber, a senior vice president for Intercontinental Terminals Company, told …

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Mine Operator Cited for Safety Issues in Fatality at Nevada Gold Mine

Federal mine safety officials have cited an Idaho-based company for inadequate safety controls at a gold mine it operates in northeast Nevada where a worker was killed in an underground collapse in October. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration …

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Oregon Ponders Grants Driving Privileges to Undocumented Immigrants

Every time Mariana Alvarez leaves her home, she crosses herself in prayer in hopes she will be able to return to her three children. Alvarez moved to Salem from Mexico, and lives in Oregon without proof of legal residence. Under …

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California Jury Awards $9M to Family of Woman Shot to Death

A California jury has awarded $9 million to the family of a woman fatally shot seven times by police in Long Beach in 2017 in what the family’s attorneys say is the largest such award in city history. The federal …

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Alera Group Acquires New York City’s Phalanx Healthcare Solutions

Alera Group, a national insurance firm, has acquired Phalanx Healthcare Solutions LLC, effective March 1, 2019. Located in New York City, Phalanx is an insurance and reinsurance broker of medical malpractice insurance for healthcare facilities, large physician groups and individual …

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New Jersey Men, Associated Companies Charged in $1.4M Insurance Fraud Scheme

Four New Jersey men and six of their associated businesses were charged with first-degree conspiracy and money laundering in connection with a bank scheme involving the deposit of nearly $1.4 million in phony or forged checks related to insurance claims. …

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New Hampshire’s The Concord Group Promotes McCabe, Nolin

The Concord Group Insurance Companies has appointed Daniel L. McCabe as the president and CEO of the Concord, N.H.-based company. McCabe will serve on the board and executive committee. Most recently, McCabe acted as senior vice president and chief operating …

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Brexit Political Impasse Deepens Even with Prime Minister’s Offer to Quit

Britain’s political standoff over Brexit escalated further, with even Theresa May’s announcement that she’ll quit as prime minister doing nothing to move closer to a resolution. It leaves the country entering another critical 48 hours after Parliament signaled it’s more …

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Supreme Court Could Overturn Tradition of Courts Deferring to Regulatory Agencies

The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative justices expressed doubts about a precedent that business groups and the Trump administration say gives federal agencies too much power to change regulations without notice. In an hour-long argument in Washington on Wednesday, the court …

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HDI Global Specialty to Launch Australia General Aviation Team, Led by QBE’s Bowes

HDI Global Specialty SE – Australia, the new specialty lines insurer, has recruited Jamie Bowes as head of Aviation as a first step to developing a general aviation footprint in the Asia Pacific markets. Bowes, a 20-year veteran in insurance …

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UK Insurers Pay Record £1 Million ($1.3 Million) Each Day for Vehicle Thefts: ABI

A surge in vehicle thefts, including keyless car crime, has led to motor insurers paying out a record £1 million (US$1.3 million) every day, according to figures published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). See below for ABI’s explanation …

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SCOR Investment Partners Promotes Rostan as Head of Insurance-Linked Securities

SCOR Investment Partners announced the promotion of Sidney Rostan as head of Insurance-Linked Securities (ILS), effective April 1, 2019. Sidney Rostan replaces Vincent Prabis, who is leaving the company to take a different career path. Rostan, 47, will be in …

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Neon Leads New London Political Risks Consortium, Offering $100M Limit Per Policy

Specialist Lloyd’s insurer Neon announced it will lead a newly established London Political Risks Insurance Consortium, with MS Amlin becoming a joint agreement party. Spearheaded by Neon’s recently promoted head of Specialty, Nicholas Robinson, the consortium has been created in …

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Engine Failure on Luxury Cruise Ship Blamed on Low Level of Engine Lubricating Oil

The engines of a luxury cruise ship that narrowly escaped disaster during a storm off Norway on Saturday failed because of relatively low levels of lubricating oil in the engines, the Norwegian Maritime Authority said on Wednesday. The Viking Sky, …

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China to Expand Market Access for Foreign Investors in Banking, Insurance Sectors

China will sharply expand market access for foreign banks and securities and insurance companies, especially in its financial services sector, Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday. The government will also work on more favorable policies for foreign investors to trade …

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Seeman Holtz P&C Acquires Assets of Wisconsin’s Prey Insurance Services

Florida-based Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty LLC announced the asset acquisition of Prey Insurance Services LLC, headquartered in Shawano, Wisconsin. Led by Mike Prey and his team, Prey Insurance Services has been serving the state of Wisconsin for more than …

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Sayata Labs Raises $6.5M in Funding for Small-Medium Business Cyber Risk Underwriting Service

Tel Aviv-based Sayata Labs has raised $6.5 million in seed funding for its cybersecurity and data science capabilities that give insurers and brokers the ability to assess the cyber risk of small and medium sized businesses and provide these businesses …

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Distracted Driving Habit Is Proving Tough for Americans to Break

Nearly eight in 10 consumers talk on the phone while driving and more than 30 percent admit to having been in a near-miss crash because they were distracted. Also, although distracted driving poses potential liability risks for companies, many expect …

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How One Company, AT&T, Is Using Models to Prepare for Natural Disaster Costs

By 2050, residents of southern Florida could become familiar with storms borne on 90-mph winds. Water levels during floods will rise by an average of 5 percent across the Southeast. And it will not be out of the ordinary for …

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Florida’s Citizens: $200M Reinsurance Buy Needed to Protect Personal Lines Surplus

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. plans to purchase approximately $200 million in traditional reinsurance coverage for the 2019 hurricane season to protect its Personal Lines Account (PLA) surplus it says is exposed to storm risk in areas located away from the …

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Lockton Affinity to Administer Westport Lawyer PL Program in Pennsylvania

Lockton Affinity will be the new program administrator for the Westport/Swiss RE’s Lawyer Professional Liability insurance in Pennsylvania, effective June 1, 2019. This program offers a comprehensive professional liability product for lawyers through Westport with program administration from Lockton Affinity. …

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Zurich Sues Insured After Deadly Plane Crash in Georgia

An insurance company is suing a business whose chief executive was flying a plane that crashed in Georgia, killing him and three passengers. Federal court records show Zurich American Insurance Co. of Illinois is suing Sunshine International Corp. in relation …

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United Heartland Promotes Pierce to Regional Director in North Carolina

United Heartland, a national workers’ compensation insurance company, has promoted Dana Pierce to regional director in Charlotte, N.C. Pierce began his United Heartland career in Underwriting in 2007. Most recently, he was regional manager of Business Development. Pierce is a …

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Storms Cause High Winds, Damage in Central Alabama

Some buildings were damaged in central Alabama as storms moved across the state. Chilton County Emergency Management Director Derrick Wright told news outlets the damage in downtown Clanton on Monday afternoon appears to be from straight-line winds, not a tornado. …

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Jury Clears Johnson & Johnson in Talc Asbestos Case; J&J Settles 3 Other Cases

A New Jersey jury on Wednesday cleared Johnson & Johnson of liability in a lawsuit brought by a man who said that asbestos in the company’s talcum powder products caused his mesothelioma. The jury delivered its unanimous verdict in Middlesex …

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Bayer Must Pay $80 Million in Roundup Cancer Trial, Says Jury

A U.S. jury on Wednesday awarded $80 million to a man who claimed his use of Bayer AG’s glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup caused his cancer, in the latest legal setback for the company facing thousands of similar lawsuits. The jury …

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Holmes Murphy Moves Denver Office

Holmes Murphy has moved to a new location in the firm’s Denver, Colo. market. Executives said one reason for the move was to accommodate the firm’s growth. Nearly 40 employees occupy the new location. Including its office in Denver, Holmes …

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UPS, Drone Maker Kick Off U.S. Commercial Flights in North Carolina

United Parcel Service Inc. and a startup drone partner began the first continuing commercial drone deliveries in the U.S., making a short flight carrying a medical sample between North Carolina hospitals on Tuesday. The deliveries, using a drone made by …

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Report: Farm Income Continues to Drop in Minnesota

A report finds Minnesota farm income continues to drop and hit a new low last year. University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota State tracked the past 23 years of data and found after adjusting for information, Minnesota farms in 2018 …

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14 Troopers Hit This Year in Illinois Despite Move Over Law

Fourteen Illinois State Police officers or their vehicles have been struck in roadside crashes this year. That’s double last year’s total of eight. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and the Illinois State Police on Monday urged motorists to observe the “Mover Over …

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Environmental, Economic Damage a Concern Following Texas Petrochemical Fire

Businesses and residents expressed concern on March 25 about the environmental and economic fallout from a fire at a Houston-area petrochemical storage farm that sent huge plumes into the air for days and prompted the partial closure of one of …

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Credit Ratings Assigned to Midwest Insurance Group by AM Best

AM Best has assigned a Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a-” to Midwest Insurance Co. of Springfield, Illinois, and its affiliate, West River Insurance Co. in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, collectively known as …

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Natural Disasters Drive £1 Billion (US$1.3 Billion) Loss at Lloyd’s During 2018

Lloyd’s of London reported a £1 billion (US$ 1.3 billion) loss for 2018, attributed to an above-average number of major natural catastrophes such Hurricanes Florence and Michael, Typhoon Jebi in Japan, as well as the Californian wildfires in the fourth …

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Tokio Marine HCC Names Skarinka President, Public Risk Group

Houston-based Tokio Marine HCC has promoted Christopher Skarinka, chief operating officer for its Professional Lines and Public Risk Groups, to president of the Public Risk Group, effective April 1. He succeeds Thomas Harmeye,r who will continue to serve the division …

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Louisiana Firm to Pay $70K to Settle Disability Discrimination Lawsuit

A packaging company in Monroe, Louisiana, has agreed to pay $70,000 in lost wages and damages, and provide other significant relief to settle a federal disability discrimination lawsuit. The suit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), alleges …

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Ohio Company Faces $1.3M in OSHA Penalties for Workplace Hazards

Federal safety officials have fined a metal heat treatment company based in Bowling Green, Ohio, $1,326,367 for exposing its employees to severe workplace hazards. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) said Dowa THT America Inc. …

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Lawsuit Blames Nevada Casino Restaurant for Salmonella

A Nevada man is suing the corporate owner of a casino restaurant in Elko where he says he was infected with salmonella after eating contaminated ham or eggs there earlier this month. Harry Wiseman of Elko says he is one …

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Oregon Confirms Data of 1.6M Residents Exposed in Breach

The Oregon Department of Human Services says that a data breach may have exposed the personal information of the 1.6 million residents the department serves. The department said on Thursday it isn’t sure exactly how many people had their information …

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New York’s Cybersecurity Regulation: A Compliance Framework

This writing presents a framework that if adopted by insurance agencies and carriers could simplify and minimize the cost of complying with the New York Department of Finance Regulation 23 NYCRR Section 500.11 “Third-Party Service Provider Security” while simultaneously deploying …

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Pennsylvania Treatment Firm Accused of Exploiting Addicts, Insurers

The Pennsylvania attorney general’s office charged the co-founder and former executives of an addiction treatment firm and accused them of profiting off addicts by fraudulently billing insurance companies for tens of millions of dollars, with seeming little regard for the …

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Supreme Court Upholds SEC on Scope of Securities Fraud Liability

The U.S. Supreme Court safeguarded investor-protection laws on Wednesday by refusing to further narrow the scope of who can be held liable for securities fraud, upholding a lower court ruling against a New York investment banker banned from the industry …

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Coface Appoints Haigley as Vice President

Coface, a global credit insurer, has appointed Paul C. Haigley III as its vice president of broker and financial institutions relationship management in the U.S. In this new role, Haigley will be leading a team that is focused on driving …

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Every Day, More Than 200 Cars with Keys Inside Are Stolen in U.S.: NICB

U.S. motorists appear to forgetting one of the earliest lessons of car ownership: Don’t leave the keys in the car. The National Insurance Crime Bureau reports that the number of vehicles stolen because drivers left their keys or fobs in …

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Liberty Mutual Names Proctor as Branch Executive in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Liberty Mutual has named Kelly B. Proctor as branch executive in the Mid-Atlantic region, serving Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. In this role, Proctor will partner with key brokers in her territory to provide a range of commercial and specialty …

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Lloyd’s Will Name and Shame Sexual Harassers Who It Bans from the Market: CEO

Lloyd’s of London will publicly name and shame anyone it bans from its insurance market for sexual harassment, according to Chief Executive Officer John Neal. “When we do see instances of bad behavior, and let’s hope they are infrequent, we …

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Report Finds Rise in State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks on Financial Firms

Cyber attacks on financial institutions are increasingly being linked to nation-states, resulting in destructive and disruptive damages rather than just theft, according to a report by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Out of 94 cases of cyber attacks reported …

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FDA Vows Tougher Testing as More Manufacturers Outsource

U.S. regulators plan to revamp rules governing how medicines are manufactured, in an effort to ensure the safety of the nation’s drug supply as recalls of contaminated imports from developing countries widen. “We’ve seen a lot of instances of adulterated …

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Hong Kong Grants Online Banking Licenses to Insurer ZhongAn, 2 Bank Joint Ventures

Hong Kong has issued online-only banking licenses to three groups, including joint ventures (JVs) of Standard Chartered and BOC Hong Kong, in what could be the biggest shake up in years in the city’s retail banking sector dominated by old-guard …

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Global Carbon Emissions Hit Record in 2018 on Higher Fossil Fuel Consumption

Carbon emissions from fossil-fuel use hit a record last year after energy demand grew at its fastest pace in a decade, reflecting higher oil consumption in the U.S. and more coal burning in China and India. Those findings from the …

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Hamilton Hires Barrett, Garber to Fill New Leadership Slots; O’Donohoe to Depart

Hamilton Insurance Group, moving full-speed ahead with its growth strategy, is hiring two executives in newly-created roles, and a third leader is leaving the company. The Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance holding company said it had hired Peter Barrett, a former …

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Hannover Re Offers Match-Making Service for Insurtechs, Insurers Called ‘hr | equarium’

Insurtech companies across the globe have created an abundance of innovative solutions and services that span the insurance value chain. However, the challenge for both insurers and insurtechs is how to find the best match. That’s why Hannover Re has …

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ISO Releases Policy Rule, Rating Factors for Insuring Vehicles with Driver Assistance Features

ISO has introduced a new policy manual rule and rating factors to help auto insurers underwrite and price coverage for the growing number of cars with advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). ISO is a Verisk business and a leading provider …

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5th Earthquake This Month Strikes Near Alabama-Florida State Line

Another weak earthquake has struck near the Alabama-Florida state line. News outlets report it’s the fifth small quake in the area this month. There has been no damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey said a 2.7 magnitude quake hit …

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FAA Plans Major Overhaul of Aviation Safety

The U.S. aviation regulator will significantly change its oversight approach to air safety by July following two fatal Boeing Co MAX 737 passenger plane crashes, according to written congressional testimony seen by Reuters. At a U.S. Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing …

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Despite Licensing Hassles, More Doctors Moving to Telemedicine

Most doctors have a license to practice medicine in just one state. Lindsey Mcilvena can practice in 26. “I’ve lost track a little bit,” she said of all her medical licenses. Mcilvena is a telemedicine doctor, one of a growing …

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Trump Now Sides With Those Hoping to Pull Plug on All of Obamacare

The Trump administration is siding with Obamacare opponents who argue that it is unconstitutional and should be scrapped entirely, initiating a new, more aggressive assault on the health care law that will assure the issue will be squarely at the …

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Marsh Partners with Insurers on Program to Help Firms Pick Best Cybersecurity Products

What the insurance industry has done for auto and building safety products, insurance broker Marsh wants to extend to cybersecurity products. That is, recommend the cybersecurity products that are the most effective. The program, named Cyber Catalyst, calls on leading …

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25 Homes Destroyed by Fire at Apartment Complex in Atlanta Area

A fire at an Atlanta area apartment complex destroyed more than two dozen units. The American Red Cross was working to help more than 40 people displayed by the fire at the Gallery Apartments in Marietta late Saturday afternoon. No …

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MedMal Direct of Florida Appoints Dupre as VP of Claims

Jacksonville, Fla.-based MedMal Direct Insurance Co. has appointed Dan Dupre as vice president of Claims. Dupre succeeds Tim Bone, MedMal Direct’s co-founder and chief claims officer, who retired on Jan. 1, 2019. Bone will continue to serve on the company’s …

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CSAA in California Names Allstate’s Troy President and CEO

The board of directors of the CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA insurer, has named Thomas M. Troy to succeed Paula F. Downey as the company’s chief executive officer and a member of its board of directors. The promotion is effective …

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Washington Insurance Commissioner Issued $80K in Fines in February

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler disciplined and issued fines in February totaling $79,400 against insurance companies, agents, brokers and others who violated state insurance regulations. Insurance companies Asuris Northwest Health, Seattle; fined $20,000 The company retroactively denied coverage for a …

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California Disaster Insurance Act Passes Key Committee

Legislation by that could lead California to consider buying insurance in the private market to cover rapidly increasing costs of fighting wildfires due to climate change cleared a key committee vote Tuesday. Senate Bill 290, called the California Disaster Insurance …

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Berkley FinSecure Launches Embezzlement Insurance for Investors

Berkley FinSecure, a Berkley Company, has launched Capital Shield, an insurance product that covers individuals for embezzlement of their invested assets. The product has been launched with Capital Shield Inc. and Capital Shield Insurance Services and covers individual investors in …

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Trump Eyes Bipartisan Deals on Infrastructure and Drug Prices

U.S. President Donald Trump is willing to work with congressional Democrats to lower drug prices for Americans and on infrastructure funding, White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said on Tuesday. Conway said the Trump administration considered those two issues as areas …

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Lloyd’s Forms Plan to Create Safe, Inclusive Working Environment After Harassment Reports

Lloyd’s announced “a robust plan of action to address reports of sexual harassment in the Lloyd’s market and create a safe and inclusive working environment.” The plan has been developed in collaboration with and endorsed by Lloyd’s Board and Council, …

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In ‘Trump Country’ Farm Belt, Flooding Woes Add to Trade War Stress

Nebraska grain farmer Ryan Ueberrhein was barely breaking even after the U.S.-China trade war pushed prices for his soybean crop to a decade low. Then the nearby Elkhorn River burst its banks as flooding swept across the U.S. farm belt. …

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Universal Insurance Holdings Enters Illinois’ Homeowners Market

Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co. (Universal Property), a subsidiary of Universal Insurance Holdings Inc., has entered the market for homeowners insurance in Illinois. The company is now offering homeowners insurance in 18 states. Universal Property policies may be purchased …

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Shipping Resumes in Houston Channel Closed After Chemical Tank Fire

The U.S. Gulf Coast’s most important industrial waterway partially reopened on Monday after it was polluted with cancer-causing benzene and toxic runoff from the region’s worst chemical disaster in more than a decade. A two-mile (3.2-kilometer) stretch of the Houston …

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Arkansas Insurance Department Warns of Fake Auto Policy Scam

Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr is warning consumers in his state to be wary of individuals posing as car insurance agents to sell fraudulent policies at car dealerships. In a media release, Kerr said the Criminal Investigation Division at the …

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Normandy Insurance Expands Workers’ Comp Coverage to Arkansas

Deerfield Beach, Florida-based workers’ compensation carrier Normandy Insurance Co. is now offering workers’ compensation insurance to small, mid-size and large businesses in Arkansas. The company said it has entered four new states in 2019. In addition to Arkansas, Normandy now …

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California Grower Recalling Avocados Over Listeria Fears

A Southern California company is voluntarily recalling whole avocados over possible listeria contamination. Henry Avocado, a grower and distributor based near San Diego, said Saturday that the recall covers conventional and organic avocados grown and packed in California. The company …

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Washington City Planning Big Driver Bike, Pedestrian Safety Changes

A Washington city is planning changes to make streets safer for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians. Bellingham residents can expect to see substantial changes to thoroughfares over the next few months as the city continues work on its long-term effort to …

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California to Waive Environmental Rules to Prep for Wildfire Season

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has moved to bypass environmental regulations to prepare for the next wildfire season, a move he said was necessary to prevent further loss of life even as it frustrated activists in a state viewed as a …

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New Jersey Legal Marijuana Bill Pulled Over Lack of Support

New Jersey’s planned legislative vote on legalizing recreational marijuana was canceled as Senate President Steve Sweeney said it didn’t have enough support to pass. The bid to end the state’s prohibition was supported by Governor Phil Murphy, fellow Democrats who …

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Bills on Tap at Massachusetts Statehouse Target Lead in School Water

Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are pushing legislation aimed at improving the safety of drinking water in schools in part by requiring schools and child care centers to test every drinking water outlet each year for elevated lead levels. Legislation on …

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NTSB Says Plane Didn’t Slip; It Entirely Missed Maine Runway

The National Transportation Safety Board says a United Express regional jet didn’t slide off a runway in Maine – it missed the runway altogether. A preliminary report indicates the 50-seat Embraer 145 approached to the right of the runway on …

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African Bank Expands into Digital Banking, with Plans to Offer More Insurance Products

African Bank Holdings Ltd. is joining the rush into digital banking to fail-proof the business and provide an exit for shareholders that resurrected the South African lender from its collapsed former parent. The firm’s unusual owners, which includes the South …

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Norsk Hydro Returns Major Production Division to 60% of Capacity After Cyber Attack

Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, said on Monday one of its major divisions was back up to 60 percent of capacity after a cyber attack earlier in March. The cyber attack forced the company to shut …

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Tropical Cyclone Idai Destroyed More Than $1B of Southern Africa Infrastructure: UN

A cyclone that tore across southern Africa this month may have destroyed more than $1 billion of infrastructure, the United Nations said, as the death toll from the storm climbed to more than 700. After devastating Mozambique’s port city of …

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UK Parliament Seizes Control of Brexit Process from Prime Minister May

The U.K. Parliament seized control of the Brexit process from Prime Minister Theresa May and will now seek to decide how Britain exits the European Union. In a vote late Monday, the House of Commons split 329 to 302 to …

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French Activist Fund Aims to Remove SCOR CEO Kessler from Board

French activist fund CIAM will ask reinsurance company SCOR’s CEO Denis Kessler to surrender the chairmanship of the company’s board after he thwarted a takeover attempt earlier this year. CIAM, which has just under one percent of SCOR, will ask …

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Illinois’ SBJW Insurance Joins Valley Insurance Agency Alliance

SBJW Insurance in Quincy, Illinois, has joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of over 120 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. SBJW Insurance was founded in 2019 by owner Sara Bruns, who has more than 15 …

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Governor Signs South Dakota Law That Targets Labeling of ‘Fake Meat’

Gov. Kristi Noem has signed legislation that requires “fake meat” products to be correctly labeled, hoping to reduce the impact of lab-cultured products on the local beef market. A product is misbranded if it intentionally labels products in a false, …

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Vanderbilt University Hospital Sued for $25M for Operating on Wrong Kidney

A Tennessee woman says Vanderbilt University Medical Center operated on the wrong kidney during her surgery in what federal officials call a “never event.” The Tennessean reports Carla Miller says the error damaged her urinary system and she now needs …

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Tennessee Gov Requests Federal Aid for Flood Damage

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is asking President Donald Trump’s administration to make federal assistance available for government efforts to address recent flooding and storms, citing a $151.3 million impact through local and state emergency responses, and infrastructure and road damage. …

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U. of Minnesota Worker Charged with Stealing $134K in Computers from School

A former University of Minnesota employee who admitted to stealing iPads from Target is also accused of the using school funds to purchase 78 computers over 14 months and sell them for personal profit, according to authorities. Hennepin County District …

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J&J, Bayer Deny Liability But Settle 25,000 Xarelto Lawsuits for $775 Million

Bayer AG and Johnson & Johnson have agreed to settle more than 25,000 U.S. lawsuits alleging that their blockbuster blood thinner Xarelto caused unstoppable and in some cases fatal bleeding for a total of $775 million, court documents on Monday …

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California Judges Target Class Actions That Benefit Lawyers Over Consumers

Federal judges in California are cracking down on warped incentives in class-action lawsuits, exerting tighter oversight of settlements that provide hefty fees for plaintiff lawyers but no meaningful benefit for those harmed by corporate misdeeds. A recent example was the …

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Oklahoma Supreme Court OKs Start of Landmark Trial Against Opioid Makers

Oklahoma’s top court on Monday declined to delay a landmark trial set for May in a multibillion-dollar lawsuit accusing OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma LP and two other drugmakers of helping fuel an opioid abuse and overdose epidemic in the state. …

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Employers Using Robots to Catch Fraud in Expense Reports

It sounds like it should have been impossible to miss, but it took more than a year for an industrial equipment company to discover $12,000 worth of doggie day spa charges on an employee’s expense reports. Level upon level of …

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Supreme Court Rejects Copyright Claim Against Nike’s Michael Jordan Image

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a photographer who said Nike Inc. stole key aspects of his iconic photo of basketball star Michael Jordan and used them to sell billions of dollars in shoes and other merchandise. The …

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How to Turn Today’s Confusion Into a Sustainable Cyber Insurance Market

There has been plenty of talk about how cyber continues to evolve in an ever-changing technology landscape, how cyber risks have become increasingly sophisticated and how the insurance industry needs to keep pace. Meanwhile, the question of how to transform …

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Cohen & Co. Insurance Acquisition Corp. Raises $150 Million in IPO

Insurance Acquisition Corp., company sponsored by Cohen & Co. and formed for the purpose of acquiring or merging with insurance firms, completed an initial public offering that raised gross proceeds to the company of $150,650,000. Insurance Acquisition Corp. is a …

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Florida Insurtech HoneyQuote Rolls Out Real-Time Rating Engine, Adds Heritage to Platform

HoneyQuote.com has added a new carrier partner and launched its real-time rating engine, which lets Florida homeowners compare multiple home insurance quotes and purchase a policy online. The application is backed by proprietary technology that allows users to see in …

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Western Growers in California Names Floyd Employee Benefits Director

Western Growers has promoted Darcie Floyd to the insurance services team as the director of employee benefits. Floyd will be responsible for supporting the production employee benefits to new and existing customers. She will also oversee employee benefit account executives. …

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West Virginia to Receive $14.6M in Federal Funds to Fight Opioid Addiction

West Virginia will receive $14.6 million in federal funds to fight opioid addiction. U.S. Sens. Joe Manchin and Shelley Moore Capito announced the funding in a news release Thursday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grant …

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Arkansas Plant Board Bans Older Dicamba Formulas After Mid-April

A state panel has voted to ban use of older versions of an herbicide, clarifying rules it previously agreed upon in February. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports the state Plant Board on Friday unanimously approved an emergency rule to ban the …

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Midwest Flood Risk Might Last for Months, Experts Say

Even as floodwaters receded in hard-hit places in in the Midwest, experts warned Saturday that with plenty of snow still left to melt in northern states, the relief may only be temporary. Rainfall and some snowmelt spurred flooding in recent …

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Escalating War Over Ads, MillerCoors Sues Anheuser-Busch in Wisconson

A fight between beer giants escalated after MillerCoors filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch that accused its rival of trying to “frighten” consumers into switching to Bud Light with “misleading” Super Bowl ads. MillerCoors said in the lawsuit filed in Wisconsin …

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Errors a Problem for Oklahoma Program Targeting Uninsured Drivers

Nearly 5 percent of vehicles flagged as uninsured in Oklahoma were identified by error, according to a prosecutor who leads a new program that includes automatic license plate readers. The Oklahoma District Attorneys Council sent warning letters to at least …

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Company in Fatal Missouri Sinking Stops Duck Boat Operations for 2019

The company that owns a duck boat that sank on a Missouri lake last summer, killing 17 people, announced that it won’t operate the vessels this year because of the ongoing investigation and will instead open a replacement attraction in …

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Weather Service Reports Record Gust During Colorado Springs Blizzard

The National Weather Service says winds reached a record 96 mph in Colorado Springs during last week’s blizzard. The 96-mph gust was measured at 1:04 p.m. on March 13 during the bomb cyclone storm that hit the state. The previous …

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Washington Teacher Agrees to $850K to Withdraw Discrimination Suit

The Sequim School District in Washington has agreed that a former middle school teacher and athletic director will receive $850,000 to withdraw her sexual orientation discrimination lawsuit. The Peninsula Daily News reports the settlement agreement and a school district investigative …

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PG&E Pushes Back on Judge’s Proposals to Prevent Wildfires

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is pushing back on a U.S. judge’s revised proposals to prevent the utility’s equipment from causing more wildfires, saying it could not “monitor every tree at every moment of every day” to ensure they don’t …

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Supreme Court Denies Amazon’s Bid to Halt Suit Over Hack of Zappos

The U.S. Supreme Court turned away an appeal by Amazon.com Inc.’s Zappos unit, letting a lawsuit proceed over a 2012 hack that exposed the personal information of 24 million customers. The online shoe and clothing retailer argued unsuccessfully that the …

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Analysis: Warren Buffett Champions an Inferior Product in THREE Policy

Warren Buffett, often ahead of the curve, sounded like a disrupter in a 2004 shareholder letter. Fifteen years ago, Buffett wrote, “Insurers have generally earned poor returns for a single reason: They sell a commodity-like product. Policy forms are standard, …

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Virginia’s McLean Insurance Agency

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Potomac Falls, Va.-based McLean Insurance Agency Inc. Established in 1971, McLean Insurance Agency offers retail property and casualty, life and employee benefit brokerage and consulting services to businesses and individuals throughout the Eastern …

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Vermont Hospital Email Hack Exposes Info of More Than 72,000

Officials at a Vermont hospital say the information of more than 72,000 people may have been exposed during an email hack. Rutland Regional Medical Center says the email accounts had information such as patient names, medical records and contact information, …

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New Jersey Sues California Company Over ‘Ghost Guns’

New Jersey’s attorney general announced a lawsuit Friday against a California company that sells mail-order firearms parts that can be turned into working weapons, the first such action the state has taken since it banned so-called ghost guns last year. …

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This Corn Syrup Lawsuit from MillerCoors Is For You, Bud Light

MillerCoors, maker of Miller Lite and Coors Lite beers, has sued Anheuser-Busch InBev, maker of Bud Light, claiming that Bud Light’s ads that debuted during this year’s Super Bowl over corn syrup are false and misleading advertising. The Bud Light …

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NTSB Says Impaired Truck Driver Likely Cause of GOP Train Crash in Virginia

A trash truck driver who had marijuana in his system likely caused a fatal collision last year with an Amtrak train that was carrying Republican lawmakers, federal investigators concluded. The National Transportation Safety Board’s final report said the crash in …

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UK Financial Services Firms Share Gloomiest Outlook Since 2008 Crisis: Survey

Optimism about the business outlook among Britain’s financial services firms has fallen at its fastest rate since the 2008 financial crisis amid concerns about Britain’s exit from the European Union, a survey showed on Monday. Business volumes among the 84 …

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Brazil Mining Giant Vale Warns Another Tailings Dam Could Collapse

Brazilian mining giant Vale said Saturday [March 23] that communities in the southeastern state of Minas Gerais have been ordered to evacuate after independent auditors found that one of its dams could collapse at any moment. On Friday, the company …

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Willis Re Names Claims Veteran Robson as Head of London Market Reinsurance Claims

Claims veteran Steve Robson has joined Willis Re as head of London Market Reinsurance Claims, effective immediately. He brings extensive client-side experience and perspectives, and supports the closer alignment of the servicing and placement teams of Willis Re, the reinsurance …

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Marsh & McLennan Cos. Clears Final Regulatory Hurdle to Buy Jardine Lloyd Thompson

Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC) announced on Friday, March 22 that the European Commission approved its $5.6 billion acquisition of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. All regulatory and competition authority approvals required to close the transaction have now been satisfied, …

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RenaissanceRe Completes $1.5B Acquisition of Tokio Millennium Re

RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. announced it has concluded its acquisition of Tokio Marine Holdings’ reinsurance platform for $1.5 billion in cash and RenaissanceRe common shares. The acquisition of Tokio Millennium Re AG and Tokio Millennium Re (UK) Ltd. (collectively known as …

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Massive Explosion at Chinese Pesticide Plant Kills at Least 64

Rescuers in eastern China pulled a survivor from rubble early on Saturday [March 23], two days after a massive explosion at a pesticide plant killed at least 64 people, flattening nearby buildings and shattering windows more than a mile away. …

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Lloyd’s to Include Women on Governance Committee After Harassment Reports: Times

Lloyd’s of London plans to appoint women to its all-male nominations and governance committee to improve diversity and will convert the pub beneath its offices into a coffee shop in an attempt to phase out its drinking culture, the Sunday …

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Australia Mining Firms Report Some Impact from Cyclones as Clean Up Begins

Mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP Group and Fortescue Metals said their Australian operations had suffered some impact after two cyclones hit the country over the weekend, with clean up starting on Monday in the wake of the storms. Cyclone Veronica …

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FEMA Gave Private Contractor Personal Data on 2.3 Million Hurricane, Wildfire Survivors

The Federal Emergency Management Agency wrongly released to a contractor the personal information of 2.3 million survivors of devastating 2017 hurricanes and wildfires, potentially exposing the victims to identity fraud and theft, a government watchdog reported Friday. The Homeland Security …

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Microsoft Exec Says It’s Time to Revisit Big Tech’s Responsibility for Its Content

Microsoft Corp. President Brad Smith has called for a broad effort by the technology sector to do more to halt posting and accessing of violent materials like the videos of killings from the recent terrorist attacks in New Zealand. “Words …

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Relationship Between Boeing, FAA Safety Regulators Under Scrutiny

Soon after Lion Air Flight 610 plummeted into the Java Sea last October, killing all 189 people aboard, Boeing Co. began to point gingerly toward mistakes the airline may have made. A preliminary report by Indonesian authorities recounted the trouble …

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Kentucky Investigating Drug Overcharges by Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear said on Thursday he had launched an investigation into allegations that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) had overcharged state health insurance programs for drugs and discriminated against independent pharmacies. The investigation comes against the backdrop of …

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Alabama High Court Backs $1.25M Wrongful Termination Settlement

The Alabama Supreme Court has upheld a lower court’s ruling that an Alabama man who was wrongfully terminated is entitled to seek lost future earnings totaling $1.25 million. The Hattiesburg American reported that the justices said Merchants Foodservice used faulty …

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BRP of Florida Appoints Galbraith as Chief Operating Officer

Baldwin Risk Partners (BRP), a Tampa-headquartered insurance distribution and consulting holding company, has appointed Dan Galbraith as chief operating officer. Galbraith joins BRP with more than 15 years’ of operational and sales experience across multiple business lines. He comes to …

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Part of Houston Port Closed for Third Day, Texas Sues ITC as Chemical Fire Cleanup Continues

Ship traffic was halted for a third day on Sunday along a key stretch of the United States’ busiest oil port as emergency workers siphoned fuels from the Houston Ship Channel that leaked from a massive fire at a nearby …

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California Worker’s Compensation Institute Elects 2019 Board

Rose Barrett of the Berkshire Hathaway Group was reelected as the chair of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute board of directors for 2019. Barrett, who has served on the CWCI board since 2014 and has been a member of the …

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Lockton’s Noonan, Children’s Bureau Honored by Insurance Industry

Service was at the heart of Timothy J. Noonan’s main message. The Lockton Cos. president and CEO was talking about the service insurance professionals give to their clients and about the service the industry gives to communities. “Lockton associates are …

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New Coalition Cyber Policy for Manufacturers Covers Security Failures, Data Breaches

Coalition, a cyber insurance company for small and midsize businesses, has launched a full-spectrum coverage to insure manufacturers against security failures and data breaches. The Coalition policy encompasses the physical, technological, and financial damages – including bodily harm, property damage …

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Cyber Insurance Specialist, CFC, Comments on Lessons of Norsk Hydro Cyber Attack

Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, is still struggling to return to full production, after a ransomware attack shut down its operations on Monday. “We are continuing to make progress towards a resolution, but the situation remains …

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Bill Limiting Suits Against Mississippi Property Owners Heads to Governor

A bill that would make it harder for people to sue Mississippi property owners for some injuries is headed to Gov. Phil Bryant for his signature or veto. The state Senate on Tuesday voted 31-21 to concur with changes that …

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Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Texas to Pay $75K to Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

Federal employment regulators say BlueCross/Blue Shield of Texas (BCBS), based in Dallas, will pay $75,000 and furnish other relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit. According to the suit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Sheryl Meador, …

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Arkansas ‘Truth in Labeling’ Bill Signed by Governor

Food manufacturers will soon have to comply with “truth in labeling” legislation that aims to protect Arkansas’ meat and rice producers from outlets who, the bill’s sponsor says, mislead consumers into thinking their products are something they are not. The …

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Missouri, Kansas Residents Rush to Fill Sandbags as Floodwaters Move Downstream

Floodwaters that devastated swaths of Nebraska and Iowa rolled downstream on Thursday, swamping more Midwestern farmland as waterfront communities in Missouri and Kansas hurried to shore up strained levees. Flooding of the Missouri River triggered by last week’s so-called “bomb …

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Bitter Debate Over Health Reinsurance Plan Erupts in Minnesota House

A bitter, partisan debate erupted on the Minnesota House floor on March 20 when Republicans tried to bring up a health care reinsurance bill that House Democrats oppose as a giveaway to the insurance industry. Back in 2017, when Republicans …

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PURE’s Johanson Joins Executive Team at H.W. Kaufman Group

H.W. Kaufman Group, a global network of companies headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, has added Kori M. Johanson to its executive team as corporate vice president and chief compliance officer. She will be based at the company headquarters. In this …

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Indiana’s Give Away Goal:10,000 Smoke Alarms Within 2 Years

The state of Indiana has announced a free smoke alarm program with a goal of installing 10,000 of the lifesaving devices in homes within two years. The Get Alarmed program managed by the Indiana Fire Marshal offers up to three …

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Texas Senate Passes Harvey Relief Package

Texas state senators unanimously approved a multi-billion dollar Harvey aid package aimed at helping communities still struggling to recover after the historic storm and prepare for the next one. “It’s been 20 months and we’re finally understanding the total impact …

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While You Were Busy, You May Have Missed These

“The problem is that those of us who are lucky enough to do work that we love are sometimes cursed with too damn much of it.” ― Terry Gross, All I Did Was Ask: Conversations with Writers, Actors, Musicians, and …

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Lloyd’s Comments on Reports of Rampant Sexual Harassment in the Marketplace

In the era of #MeToo when the ills of sexual harassment are regularly in the news, a recent article published by Bloomberg Businessweek indicates that some men working in the London insurance market still haven’t gotten the message about appropriate …

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Paralyzed California Man Settles Shooting Lawsuit for $2.5M

Three California police departments have reached a settlement with a man who was paralyzed after being shot by officers. The Fresno Bee reported this week that 19-year-old Adonis Serna has reached a $2.5 million settlement over injuries sustained when he …

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Q&A: Mitchell International’s Hatamian Talks Workers’ Comp’s Tech Transformation

Mitchell International’s product management and strategy group leader, Shahin Hatamian, recently spoke with Insurance Journal’s Elizabeth Blosfield about how technology has been transforming the workers’ compensation industry. “There’s going to be a lot more technology coming down the pipeline for …

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Mullen Named CEO of Artex; McManus Becomes Chairman

Artex Risk Solutions, the Bermuda-based alternative risk management solutions provider, announced that Peter Mullen has re-joined the company as chief executive officer, with David McManus assuming the new role of chairman. The move was first announced in March 2018. Artex …

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New Jersey’s NJM Insurance Group Names Malone as CFO

NJM Insurance Group, a property and casualty insurer in the Mid-Atlantic region, has named Chris Malone as chief financial officer. Malone joins NJM with more than twenty-five years of financial and leadership expertise. In this role, he will oversee the …

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New York’s SterlingRisk Insurance Hires McLaughlin as Program Sales Executive

SterlingRisk Insurance, a Woodbury, N.Y.-based independently owned insurance brokerage, has hired Debbie McLaughlin as program sales executive. In this position, McLaughlin will conduct market outreach on behalf of SterlingRisk Program Products. Founded in 1932, SterlingRisk has offices in New York, …

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New York Man Arrested for Alleged Car Dealership Insurance Fraud Scheme

A Bronx County, N.Y., man has been arrested and arraigned on a felony complaint for an alleged insurance fraud scheme. Barrington Mayne, who is not an insurance broker, allegedly used his position and contacts at various car dealerships throughout Brooklyn, …

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Swiss Re-Backed FWD in Talks for Biggest-Ever Southeast Asian Insurance Deal

FWD Group, backed by billionaire Richard Li, has revived talks about a potential acquisition of the life insurance operations of Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank Pcl after a two-year hiatus. Siam Commercial reached a preliminary pact with FWD on a potential …

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Australia Braces for 2 Cyclones, Disrupting Mining, Shipping Operations

Commodity giant Glencore on Friday said it had suspended operations at its McArthur River zinc mine in northern Australia as a cyclone approaches. Authorities have declared a state of emergency in the region as Tropical Cyclone Trevor nears, with the …

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Pasquesi to Become Arch’s Next Chairman, Succeeding Iordanou

John Pasquesi will replace Constantine “Dinos” Iordanou as Arch Capital Group Ltd.’s chairman of its board of directors in September when Iordanou completes his term. Iordanou joined Arch in 2002 to create its insurance segment and went on to serve …

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Bank of England to Issue Rules for How Banks, Insurers Should Manage Climate Risk

The Bank of England will soon spell out how it wants banks, insurers and investment companies to manage the financial risks from climate change, Governor Mark Carney said on Thursday. The central bank under Carney has been vocal in highlighting …

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EU Gives UK Prime Minister Two Extra Weeks to Avoid No-Deal Brexit

European Union leaders staved off the threat of the U.K. crashing out of the bloc without a deal next Friday by giving Theresa May an extra two weeks to work out what to do. At a summit in Brussels on …

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Florida CFO: More Than $40M Recovered for Insurance Consumers in 2018

More than $40.5 million was recovered for Florida insurance consumers in 2018, including $17.4 million recovered for Hurricane Michael victims, by the state’s Insurance Consumer Helpline, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis. Patronis said the Florida Department …

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W. Virginia Electric Company Worker Killed in Accident at Customer Home

Police in West Virginia say an electric company employee has died in an accident at a customer’s home. News outlets report the accident happened Wednesday morning in the Harts community of Lincoln County. State police say an Appalachian Power truck …

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Most of Country at Risk for Major Flooding This Spring

The deluge that devastated so much of the Midwest over the last week could be a preview for one of the worst years for flooding in the U.S., according to federal weather officials. Now flooding is occurring at St. Joseph, …

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Analysis: Jury Upends Bayer’s Roundup Defense Strategy

Bayer AG had hoped a new trial strategy focusing jurors on scientific evidence could stem a burgeoning tide of U.S. lawsuits over its glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup, but a second jury finding on Tuesday that the product caused cancer has …

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Only Few Who Need Them Get Medicines for Opioid Addiction, Says Medical Group

Medicines proven to treat opioid addiction remain vastly underused in the U.S., the nation’s top medical advisers said Wednesday. Only a fraction of the estimated 2 million people addicted to opioids are getting the medications, according to a report by …

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Mine Worker Advocates Worried Coal Firm’s Tax Cut Jeopardizes Black Lung Fund

The Trump administration and coal industry allies are insisting that a federal black lung trust fund will continue to pay benefits to sick miners despite a drastic cut in funding. But the expected shortfalls will be covered by taxpayers instead …

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Why Science Can’t Prove Roundup Weed Killer Causes Cancer: Viewpoint

Scientists can’t, for the most part, prove that a given product caused a particular person to get cancer – not the way you can prove, say, that a car with faulty brakes caused a fatal crash. And so when a …

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9 Insurance Agency Start-Ups: Why and How They Set Out on Their Own

What motivates people to take a risk in an industry dedicated to managing risk? New independent agencies are born of various circumstances. Sometimes it’s about seizing an opportunity that comes along; other times, it’s about creating something out of necessity. …

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Worldwide Facilities Taps Holden as SVP, Property Broker in Atlanta

Worldwide Facilities has added Shane Holden to its Atlanta team as senior vice president/Property broker. Holden brings 25 years of insurance and risk management experience to his position at Worldwide Facilities. With various positions in the insurance industry, his previous …

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Climate Activists Petition for Carriers in California to Reveal Fossil Fuel Insureds

More than 60 environmental, consumer and social justice organizations on Thursday delivered a petition to California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara seeking what is believed would be the first regulations in the nation requiring insurance companies to disclose the fossil fuel …

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Stone Creek Adds Wagner in Washington

Stone Creek Insurance Agency has hired Jamison Wagner to manage its Spokane, Wash. office. Wagner began his insurance career in 1999 with Safeco Insurance. He was previously with Travelers Insurance as a commercial underwriter and as an agency program manager. …

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Hailstorm That Slammed Southern California Unusual, Though Not Unheard of

A rare hailstorm hit normally sunny Southern California on Wednesday, as residents flocked to social media to post pictures of driveways, lawns and roofs blanketed in white nickel-size ice chunks. The National Weather Service reported 1.57 inches of rain was …

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California Contractor Cited for Accident That Fatally Crushed Worker

Cal/OSHA has cited a Bay Area contractor for serious safety violations after a worker was fatally crushed at a San Rafael construction site on Sept. 18, 2018. Investigators determined that West Coast Land and Development Inc. did not follow regulations …

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Benzene Levels Rise near Petrochemical Fire Site; Residents Told to Shelter-in-Place

Tens of thousands of people east of Houston are being told to stay indoors after benzene and other volatile organic compounds were found in the air within the city limits of Deer Park, one day after a fire that broke …

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Ohio Judge Sides with Dum-Dum Makers in Lollipop Lawsuit

A federal judge is siding with the makers of Dum-Dums lollipops in its lawsuit against a rival candy maker. A preliminary injunction handed down in Ohio says Tootsie Roll Industries must at least temporarily stop using its new packaging for …

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QBE NA Appoints Zimmerman Health Care Risk Lead in Nebraska

QBE North America, an integrated specialist Insurer, has appointed Theresa M. Zimmerman global risk solutions lead for QBE Integrated Advantage for Healthcare. She is based in Omaha, Nebraska. The newly created role supports the recently launched QBE Integrated Advantage for …

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Houston-Area Petrochemical Blaze Probe Weighed by Federal Investigators

Federal and local investigators are weighing a probe of the Houston chemical blaze as hazardous compounds waft near the burned-out site. The U.S. Chemical Safety Board “is following up on the incident and should be making a decision to send …

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EPIC Insurance Brokers Adds Wells and Pitzer in Dallas

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has hired JoBeth Wells in Dallas as a principal in its property/casualty operations. EPIC also added Stephanie Pitzer in the Dallas property/casualty group as client executive. Both Wells and Pitzer report to EPIC Managing Principal …

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Anchorage Planning to Spend $36M to Fix Schools Damaged in Big Quake

Anchorage school officials have approved a plan calling for $36.3 million to repair two schools damaged by the magnitude 7.1 earthquake that shook south-central Alaska. The school board voted Monday for the plan to fix Gruening Middle School and Eagle …

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Washington High Court Hears Case on Carbon Pollution

The Washington Supreme Court heard arguments this week on whether the state Department of Ecology has the authority to cap carbon pollution from major industrial emitters, something business groups and utilities have argued can only be done by the Legislature. …

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Norsk Hydro Unit Begins Operating at 50% of Capacity After Cyber Attack

Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, said a key unit is operating at only 50 percent of capacity following a cyber attack on the company this week. “Extruded Solutions is working hard to enable further restarts during …

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Officials Say Temple University Mumps Outbreak Swells to 67 Likely Cases

Philadelphia health officials say they now believe 67 people have contracted mumps at Temple University. City Department of Health spokesman James Garrow said the total number of probable cases stands at 67 – up from 54 cases a day before. …

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Massachusetts Man Charged in Connection with Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme

The owner of a Revere, Mass.-based contracting company has been indicted in connection with a workers’ compensation insurance fraud scheme. Anner Valentin Amaya of Revere, Mass., was indicted by a Suffolk County Grand Jury on five counts of workers’ compensation …

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Mozambique Flood Deaths Climb in Wake of Cyclone Idai

Deaths from flooding in the wake of Cyclone Idai climbed to more than 300 as Mozambique’s government battled to deal with the devastation wrought by one of southern Africa’s most deadly recorded storms. The toll may rise dramatically. Almost a …

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Liberty Mutual Opens European Headquarters in Luxembourg in Preparation for Brexit

Liberty Specialty Markets, part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, said it has re-domiciled its European insurance company Liberty Mutual Insurance Europe SE (LMIE) to Luxembourg, the home of its European headquarters. Liberty Specialty Markets will maintain its branch network in …

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AmWINS Announces New Hires, Promotions Across Country

Wholesale specialty insurance broker AmWINS Group Inc. has announced new hires and promotions to its Specialty Logistics and AmWINS Access Personal Lines and Commercial teams, as well as several new branch leaders. Herman Cruz has joined AmWINS Specialty Logistics Underwriters, …

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UK on Brink of No-Deal Divorce with EU as Brexit Endgame Nears

Theresa May gambled on a desperate bid to get her Brexit deal approved by Parliament, as a standoff with the European Union drove Britain to the brink of an economically disastrous no-deal divorce. The premier heads to the European Council …

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SCOR Global P/C Makes Appointments to Reinsurance, Specialty Insurance Teams

SCOR Global P&C announced the following reinsurance appointments, effective April 1, 2019: Michel Blanc has been promoted to CEO of Reinsurance, following Jean-Paul Conoscente’s appointment as CEO of SCOR Global P&C with effect from April 1, 2019. Blanc currently serves …

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Volvo Hopes to Deploy Sensors to Detect Drunk Drivers, Making Insurance Less Pricey

Volvo Cars is planning to fit its next generation of autos with cameras and sensors that will detect drunk or distracted drivers and intervene to stop dangerous rides. From the early 2020s, Volvos will have the ability to notice if …

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AXA XL’s McGavick Looks Ahead to ‘The Golden Age of Insurance’

Mike McGavick’s turnaround experiences have led him to think carefully about changes that are needed for the insurance industry. “First, cost has got to come down. It’s absurd that approximately 60 cents on every dollar is what the customer gets …

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Thinking Past the Obvious: Former CEO of XL Group McGavick Looks Back

The former chief executive officer of XL Group, Mike McGavick, admits that frequently during his career he has taken on leadership roles that some of his contemporaries considered too hot to handle—such as the turnarounds he led at XL Group …

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Hands-Free Phone Use While Driving Bill Passes Minnesota House

Minnesota motorists would be required to use hands-free devices when talking on the phone while driving under a bill that passed the state House on Monday night, after sponsors said the measure will cut down on distracted driving and save …

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Hurricane Michael, Other Challenges Impacting Georgia’s Timber Industry

Georgia’s timber industry is facing many headwinds as it seeks to recover from the severe damage wrought by Hurricane Michael late last year. The storm erased three-quarters of a billion dollars in timber, The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported. Aside from Hurricane …

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16 Tornadoes Confirmed in Alabama During Recent Storms

The National Weather Service has confirmed a 16th tornado from an outbreak that left damage across Alabama last week. Forecasters say a small twister with winds of up to 65 mph (105 kph) was on the ground for a little …

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IPO-Bound Lyft Tells Investors Lowering Insurance Costs Is Priority

Lyft Inc. executives are focused on cutting insurance costs and will phase in self-driving vehicles on simple routes first, they said at a road show for investors ahead of the ride-hailing company’s initial public offering set for next week. Reducing …

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Those Who Name Hurricanes Retire Michael, Florence Names

Hurricanes Florence and Michael will never ravage the Americas again. The two names have been stricken from the official list of Atlantic storms after killing nearly 100 people in the U.S. South last year, the National Hurricane Center said in …

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Union Claims Amazon Illegally Fired Activist Employee

A union organizing Amazon.com Inc. employees in New York has filed a complaint accusing the company of illegally firing one of the labor group’s most prominent supporters. The Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union submitted a complaint Wednesday to the …

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Supreme Court Casts Doubt on $8.5 Million Google Privacy Settlement

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday put in jeopardy an $8.5 million settlement Google made with users to resolve a class action lawsuit accusing it of violating their privacy by sharing users’ search queries with other websites. The justices, in …

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Family Behind Purdue Pharma Facing Second Suit Over Role in Opioid Crisis

The billionaire family that owns opioid-maker Purdue Pharma LP has been accused by local governments in a new lawsuit of causing the nationwide public-health crisis involving pain-killing medicines that has left hundreds of thousands of Americans dead from overdoses. More …

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Judge Grants NRA Bid to Question N.Y. Ex-Official Over Insurance Inquiry

The National Rifle Association won permission from a judge to question a former New York regulatory official under oath in a lawsuit claiming the state illegally discouraged banks and insurers from doing business with the organization after a spate of …

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Conservation, CarFax-Like Disclosure, Means-Tests in Mix of Flood Insurance Reforms

The federal flood insurance program has a knack for inspiring ideas from reformers across the political spectrum on how to improve government. If some of today’s reformers get their way, flood insurance will become a mandatory topic at real estate …

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Main Street American Group Promotes Kusch, Listau in Florida

The Main Street America Group, a super-regional property/casualty insurance company, has announced the promotions of Jeff Kusch and Chris Listau to president roles of their respective divisions. Kusch, president of field operations, and Listau, president of Main Street America’s insurance …

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‘Devastation is Everywhere’ in Flooded Communities Along Missouri River

A string of small Missouri towns prepared for the next deluge along the raging Missouri River on Wednesday after flooding wreaked nearly $1.5 billion in damage in Nebraska, killing at least four people and leaving another man missing. High water …

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Burning Down a House to Show How to Build for Wildfire Defense

After only a year into his job as CEO and president of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, Roy Wright is setting the place on fire. The IBHS conducted a demonstration in early March simulating an active wildfire …

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Relation Names Brennan Account Executive in California

Relation Insurance Services has named Sean Brennan an account executive at Pan American Insurance Services, a Relation company. Brennan will be based in Relation’s Walnut Creek, Calif., office. He will work on increasing Pan American’s footprint in the San Francisco …

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Study Examines Impact of California Workers’ Comp Formulary

Since California implemented its workers’ compensation formulary last year, an increasing share of drugs prescribed to injured workers are either “Exempt” from prospective utilization review or “Not Listed” in the formulary, while “Non-Exempt” drugs that require UR before they can …

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Texas Body Shop Owner Sentenced in Auto Insurance Fraud Case

A Travis County body shop owner has been sentenced to 10 years of probation after pleading guilty to reporting wrecks that never took place and damaging vehicles to increase insurance payouts, the Texas Department of Insurance reported. The fraud took …

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FMH Insurance Collaborates With Start-Up FindBob to Offer Agents Perpetuation Tool

Farmers Mutual Hail Insurance Co. of Iowa (FMH) has a new web-based tool designed to help FMH insurance agencies identify growth opportunities. The new tool, called FMH Bridge, was developed in collaboration with FindBob, a tech start-up company focused on …

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Farm Bureau: Flooding-Related Ag Losses in Nebraska Nearing $1B

The Nebraska Farm Bureau president says farm and ranch losses to the devastating flooding could reach $1 billion in the state. President Steve Nelson estimates $400 million on crop losses because of crops that will be planted late _ if …

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Houston-Area Petrochemical Blaze Extinguished, Company Says

Firefighters on Wednesday extinguished a fire at a Mitsui & Co. petrochemical storage site outside Houston that has been billowing acrid smoke for days, the company said. The blaze at Mitsui unit Intercontinental Terminals Co. in Deer Park, Texas, was …

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Ohio Sues Pharmacy Benefit Manager over $16M in Alleged Drug Overcharges

Ohio is suing a company that managed prescription benefits for the state Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, seeking to recover nearly $16 million in alleged overcharges for the fund for injured workers. Attorney General Dave Yost says OptumRx Administrative Services managed …

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White Named VP, Chief Internal Auditor at LWCC

Baton, Rouge, Louisiana-based workers’ compensation insurer, LWCC, has hired David White as vice president, chief internal auditor. White brings over 40 years of audit experience in the insurance, reinsurance, telecommunications and retail industries, and expertise across multiple disciplines such as …

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Washington Blizzard Killed 1,850 Cows, Yakima Farmers Reeling

The unexpected blizzard that swept through the Yakima Valley on Feb. 9 was just one more clobbering for the region’s dairy farms. The number of dairy farms in the state has plummeted from 2,500 in 1993 to 377 in 2018, …

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Arizona Names Insurance Department Head to Second Agency

Gov. Doug Ducey has chosen the head of the state’s insurance department to also serve as interim director of Arizona’s financial institutions agency while the two are consolidated. Keith Schraad has directed the Arizona Department of Insurance since February 2018. …

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Mass. Appeals Court Rules Insurer Has Duty to Defend in Property Damage Case

A Massachusetts Appeals Court has ruled that an insurance company is responsible for insuring alleged property damage caused by its subcontractor client, vacating an earlier Superior Court decision that the insurer has no duty to defend in this case. The …

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Assaults Are Among Most Common Cause of Workplace Injuries for Women

Women suffer 70 percent of all nonfatal assault-related injuries involving days away from work and are disproportionately impacted by other safety issues, according to an analysis by the National Safety Council. The number of women who incurred assault-related injuries at …

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Facing Bias Claims, Facebook Will Revamp Its Advertising Platform for Housing, Jobs, Credit

Facebook Inc has agreed to change its paid advertising platform as part of a wide-ranging settlement to prevent discriminatory and “harmful” practices, the company and U.S. civil rights groups said on Tuesday. Under the agreement, Facebook will create a new …

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Meeker Sharkey & Hurley Appoints Rosky to Lead Employee Benefits Team

Meeker Sharkey & Hurley has appointed Peter Rosky as senior vice president and practice leader of Employee Benefits to lead the insurance agency’s team of employee benefits professionals. Meeker Sharkey & Hurley is a provider of employee benefits, risk management …

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Another Jury Finds Roundup Weed Killer Causes Cancer in First Phase of Trial

A U.S. jury on Tuesday found Bayer AG’s glyphosate-based Roundup weed killer caused cancer, a blow to the company eight months after another jury issued a $289 million verdict over similar claims in a different case. Tuesday’s unanimous jury decision …

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Norsk Hydro Using Backup Servers to Restore Systems After Ransomware Attack

Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest aluminum producers, has made some progress restoring operations but is not yet back to normal after it was hit by a ransomware cyber attack, the company said on Wednesday. After the attack late …

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Mozambique Struggles to Deal with Devastation Wrought by Cyclone Idai

Mozambique’s death toll from flooding in the wake of Cyclone Idai more than doubled as relief workers struggled to deal with the devastation wrought by the storm. The number of dead has increased to 202, Mozambique’s cabinet said, as it …

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Another Money Laundering Risk Seen Coming from Firms Providing Payment Services

As one avenue for money launderers is shut, another one may be opening. In Denmark, home to Danske Bank A/S, the authorities are now taking a closer look at companies that provide payment services. The worry is that the chain …

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PERILS Lowers Loss Estimate for December 2018 Sydney Hailstorms to A$633M

PERILS AG disclosed its second loss estimate of A$633 million (US$449.2 million) for the hailstorms which affected the greater Sydney region on Dec. 20, 2018. The estimate also includes the losses from the storm activity in southeastern Queensland on Dec. …

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UK Prime Minister to Ask EU for Brexit Delay – But How Much Time Is Needed?

Britain’s messy divorce from the European Union is once again stuck between the demands of Theresa May’s divided government and the reality of what the bloc is willing to offer her — this time over how long the delay to …

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Next-to-Last Flight of Lion Air’s Doomed 737 MAX Was Saved by Off-Duty Pilot

As the Lion Air crew fought to control their diving Boeing Co. 737 MAX 8, they got help from an unexpected source: an off-duty pilot who happened to be riding in the cockpit. That extra pilot, who was seated in …

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Norsk Hydro Cyber Attack Exposes Risks of Global Supply Chain Disruptions

The ransomware attack crippling one of the world’s top aluminum makers is exposing how crucial sophisticated digital systems have become in the centuries-old industry of turning mined rock into metal products. Following a “severe” cyber attack on Norsk Hydro ASA’s …

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Ransomware Attack on Aluminium Producer Norsk Hydro Is Similar to Other Breaches

Norsk Hydro ASA confirmed that a ransomware attack was behind production outages across the aluminum producer’s operations in Europe and the U.S. The perpetrators are still unknown but the work is similar to other recent breaches. The Norwegian company, one …

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Alliant to Offer AmWINS Program for Waste Operators, Haulers

AmWINS Group, Inc., a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has partnered with Alliant Insurance Services to service the needs of waste clients nationwide. Alliant’s WasteAssure clients, come April 1, will have access to coverage through AmWINS Program …

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Why Drivers, Like Pilots, Should Be Trained to Use Autonomous Features

Should drivers using vehicles with autonomous features be trained on those features before they get behind the wheel? A new paper, “What Do We Tell the Drivers? Toward Minimum Driver Training Standards for Partially Automated Cars,” recently published by the …

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Regulators Investigating If One Dairy Farm’s Tainted Milk Is Isolated Case or Broader Problem

For Maine dairy farmer Fred Stone, the discovery in 2016 that his cows were producing tainted milk has since brought financial ruin and threatened to shut down a century-old family business. Now state regulators and health experts are investigating whether …

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U.S. Safety Agency Weighs Bids for Putting Automated Vehicles on Roads

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Friday it was seeking public comment on General Motors’ 15-month-old petition seeking approval to deploy a limited number vehicles on U.S. roads without steering wheels or other human controls. The agency also …

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RSG Affiliate PERse Opens Miami Office, Makes 3 Staff Appointments

PERse (Power.Energy.Risk), a managing general underwriter specializing in property and casualty insurance products for energy and power production facilities with a specialized focus on renewable energy, has opened a new office in Miami, Fla., and made three key hires to …

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City of Charlotte, North Carolina Pays Family $950K in Pedestrian’s Death

A North Carolina city has paid the family of a man who was hit and killed by a speeding police car in 2017. The Charlotte Observer reports the city of Charlotte paid $950,000 in December to the family of James …

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Florida Insurance Agent Arrested in $16K Commission Fraud Scheme

A licensed insurance agent out of Orlando, Fla., was arrested this month for allegedly submitting fraudulent insurance applications to multiple carriers, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis. Sheila De Lima Torres Tecchio with Enterprise Insurance Agency, Inc. …

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Kentucky Court Overturns $21M Judgement in Helicopter Crash Case

The Kentucky Court of Appeals has overturned a $21.7 million judgment against a helicopter company regarding a crash that killed three people. Three people died in June 2013 when an air ambulance crashed as it was returning from a trip …

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Brightway Insurance Independent Agent Program Kicks Off in 6 States

Brightway Insurance has kicked off its new Independent Agent Program with its first group of seven new Independent Agent Owners. Brightway Insurance, a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent agencies, unveiled a no-upfront cost program …

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Hub Acquires Assets of Ritehealth Solutions in Colorado

Hub International Ltd. has acquired the assets of Lafayette, Colo.-based RiteHealth Solutions Inc. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. RiteHealth owner Rachel Zeman will join Hub Colorado as a senior employee benefits consultant. RiteHealth is an employment benefits brokerage …

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Surplus Line Association of California Formally Elects 2019 Board

The members of the Surplus Line Association of California have reelected Robert Gilbert of Markel West Insurance Services as chair of the SLA board of directors. Gilbert’s election was finalized after the SLA tallied the final ballots from members who …

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Mississippi Deputy Accused of Cheating Insurer Out of Nearly $13K

A Mississippi sheriff’s deputy and another man face felony charges after authorities said they cheated an insurance company by falsely claiming an off-road vehicle was stolen. Federal prosecutors said Friday that Wilkinson County Deputy Christopher James and another resident of …

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Insurance Industry Has Major Impact on Illinois’ Economy, Study Shows

A new study shows that Illinois insurance companies, agents and brokers continue to fuel the economy with quality jobs, revenue and investments, the study’s sponsors say. The recently released study was conducted by the Katie School of Insurance and Financial …

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Wisconsin Salmonella Cases Prompt Recall of Butterball Ground Turkey

Butterball LLC issued a voluntarily recall of more than 78,000 pounds (35,400 kilograms) of raw ground turkey products nationwide as Wisconsin health officials investigate four salmonella cases in the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service …

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Houston-Area Chemical Blaze Intensifies After Loss of Water Pressure

A fire at a petrochemical storage facility that’s covered Houston in a thick pall of smoke for the past two days intensified overnight after firefighters briefly lost water pressure. Two additional storage tanks are ablaze, bringing the total to eight, …

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Supreme Court Finds Manufacturers’ Duty to Warn Sailors Where Asbestos Parts Were Added Later

Manufacturers have a duty to warn about potential dangers of parts with asbestos that were later added onto their products by third parties, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled. The ruling, in a case involving sailors diagnosed with cancer, says …

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Seattle Paying $160K to Settle Lawsuit

Seattle, Wash. has paid nearly $160,000 to settle a federal civil-rights lawsuit. The case involved a veteran police officer with a history of discipline for unprofessional and questionable behavior who tackled a belligerent man who was handcuffed in a holding …

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New Mexico Tornado Destroyed 10 Homes, Inured 5

A tornado that ripped roofs from buildings and injured five people in a tiny New Mexico town left a trail of debris, authorities reported. The tornado touched down outside of Dexter last week on Tuesday evening before quickly barreling into …

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Los Angeles Explosion Following Gas Leak Reports

Authorities confirmed multiple people were inured in an explosion following reports of an underground gas leak in South Los Angeles, Calif. The fire department says crews found flames coming from storm drains early Sunday. Officials say the blast displaced several …

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Former Mass. Association of Insurance Agents CEO Partners with Renaissance Alliance

Francis A. Mancini, former president and CEO of the Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA), has partnered with Renaissance Alliance Insurance Services LLC (RAIS) working on new business development and promoting the Renaissance Alliance brand in New England and nationally. …

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State Farm to Cut Rates in Maryland for Second Time in Two Years

State Farm Insurance Companies will cut its rates in Maryland for the second time in two years. As a result, its overall personal auto rate will drop by 1.4 percent. The total state-wide expected impact for State Farm by this …

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Company Denies Responsibility for Vermont Ski Resort Fraud

The former owner of Vermont’s Jay Peak resort is fighting claims from a court-appointed receiver that it should pay millions in damages as part of a settlement. The Caledonian-Record reports Canadian Saint-Sauveur Valley Resorts, Inc. says the federal receiver in …

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Accidental Delaware House Fire Causes $250K in Damage

Delaware authorities say a house fire in a neighborhood near the coast was an accident. The Delaware Office of the State Fire Marshal issued a news release saying that it had ruled the fire in Sussex County, Delaware, was accidental. …

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Tesla Defends Factory Worker Safety as Injury Days-Off Rises

Tesla Inc. factory employees spent almost three times as many days off the job because of work-related injuries and illness in 2018 as the year before, an indication of just how much strain they were under as they manufactured electric …

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More Rain Forecast as Midwest, Great Plains Continue to Deal With River Flooding

The Great Plains and Midwest, struggling with flooding that inundated roads and farms and pushed rivers to record heights, is set to get more rain ahead, with light showers forecast over the next few days and a heavier downpour next …

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Ex-CEO, 7 Other Execs Blamed for $7.4B Accounting Fraud at S. Africa Retailer Steinhoff

Former Steinhoff Chief Executive Markus Jooste and seven others were involved in a 6.5 billion euro ($7.4 billion) accounting fraud at the South African retailer, the new CEO said told lawmakers on Tuesday. Steinhoff said on Friday an independent report …

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Floods, Earthquake Pummel Indonesia, Killing More Than 80

The number of people killed after torrential downpours triggered flash floods and mudslides that tore through mountainside villages in Indonesia’s easternmost province has climbed to 79, with dozens of others missing, officials said Monday. On Sunday, the disaster-prone country was …

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Brazil’s Backlash over Vale Dam Disaster Deepens with Mine Closure, Frozen Funds

Vale SA’s shares declined on Monday as the world’s biggest iron ore producer faced continued backlash from Brazilian authorities after a deadly mining accident in January. Rio de Janeiro-based Vale was ordered on March 15 to shut its Timbopeba mine …

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Brexit Makes It Harder for Fintech, Financial Services Firms to Recruit Top Talent: Report

Leaving the European Union is making it harder for fintech firms in Britain to recruit top talent, a report said on Tuesday, threatening to slam the brakes on a 7 billion pound ($9 billion)growth sector just as EU states step …

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Lengthy Brexit Delay Grows More Likely After House Speaker Torpedoes PM May’s Plans

Theresa May looked set to seek a long extension to the U.K.’s European Union membership after the House of Commons speaker torpedoed her plan to win Parliamentary approval for her deal to leave the bloc. Officials privately accused Speaker John …

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Aluminium Producer Norsk Hydro Hit by Cyber Attack

Norsk Hydro, one of the world’s largest producers of aluminum, was sustaining a cyber attack on Tuesday that affected its operations, sending its shares lower. “IT-systems in most business areas are impacted and Hydro is switching to manual operations as …

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BNP Paribas’ Insurance Unit Cuts Exposure to Coal on Climate Change Concerns

The Cardif insurance division of BNP Paribas, France’s largest bank, on Monday outlined new targets to reduce its exposure to coal as companies around the world step up fossil fuel divestment plans to improve the environment. Cardif, which has already …

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Mozambique’s Death Toll from Cyclone Idai Could Top 1000

A tropical cyclone that tore across Mozambique at the weekend may have killed more than 1,000 people, President Filipe Nyusi said, as heavy rains continued to inundate the southeast African nation and neighboring Zimbabwe. “It’s clear that the next few …

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Insurance Department Takes Over Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace

The Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace has become part of the state’s insurance department after Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed legislation dissolving the marketplace board as a separate entity. The state Legislature established the insurance marketplace in 2013. The Arkansas marketplace used …

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State Farm: Illinois and Missouri Ranked 3rd and 5th for Hail Damage in 2018

A new report from State Farm says that Illinois and Missouri were among the top states in the nation for hail damage in 2018, according to a new report from State Farm. Illinois ranks third with $330 million in paid …

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Cotuno Joins Alliant’s Texas Benefits Team as VP

Houston-based benefits consultant Dan Cotuno has joined Alliant Insurance Services as vice president within the company’s Employee Benefits Group. Cotuno will provide integrated, data-driven benefits to a diverse client base as Alliant continues to grow its Texas benefits team. Cotuno …

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Berkley Launches Private Company Primary Management Liability Policy

Berkley Professional Liability, a Berkley Company, has expanded its product offerings to include a primary private company management liability policy. This comprehensive package policy offers coverage designed to address growing exposures facing private companies. Management teams can select one or …

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Investigation Found FAA Employees Warned of Boeing Influence Over Safety Approvals

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees warned as early as seven years ago that Boeing Co. had too much sway over safety approvals of new aircraft, prompting an investigation by Department of Transportation auditors who confirmed the agency hadn’t done enough …

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PwC to Pay $335 Million to Settle Negligence Claim Over Colonial Bank Audits

A top U.S. banking regulator said on Friday that PricewaterhouseCoopers will pay $335 million to settle claims of “professional negligence,” after saying the auditor should have identified problems leading to the 2009 collapse of Alabama-based Colonial Bank. PwC did not …

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Researchers Aim to Spot a Liar Using Online Polygraph

Can you spot a liar? It’s tricky enough in face-to-face conversations that offer facial expressions, gestures and tone of voice because those physical cues add context. Spotting a liar gets even tougher in blind computer conversations. Florida State University researcher …

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Harmful Dry Cleaning Chemical Detected in W. Virginia Town’s Drinking Water

Officials say the drinking water in a West Virginia community along the Ohio River contains a harmful chemical widely used by dry cleaners. State Bureau for Public Health spokeswoman Allison Adler said in an email Wednesday tetrachloroethylene has been detected …

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Commentary: How Florida AOB Crisis Is Impacting State’s Independent Agents

Florida’s “one-way attorney fee” statute enacted to protect Florida policyholders from large insurance companies has instead spawned a huge industry of assignment of benefits (AOB) predators who take advantage of policyholders and threaten the livelihood of hundreds of independent insurance …

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Cooper Nominates State Rep. Goodman to North Carolina Workers’ Comp Panel

A sitting North Carolina legislator has been nominated by Gov. Roy Cooper to serve on the state Industrial Commission. Cooper told legislators at the beginning of the month of his choice of fellow Democratic Rep. Ken Goodman of Richmond County …

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Pinnacol Assurance in Colorado to Distribute $70M Dividends

Pinnacol Assurance announced on Monday it is distributing general dividend checks to its customers totaling $70 million. Pinnacol also recently lowered its rates by 10 percent on average. Both the dividend and the rate decrease marked the fourth consecutive year …

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Texas Insurer Group, State Farm Begin North Texas ‘Storm Tour’

Severe storms in Texas last week caused an estimated $30 million in damage and generated some 6,000 wind-related insurance claims, according to the Insurance Council of Texas, which joins State Farm Insurance in conducting a “storm tour” of North Texas …

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Confirmed Tornado Damaged Homes, Businesses in Mid-Michigan

Authorities say a tornado swept through mid-Michigan, damaging homes and knocking out power to thousands. The National Weather Service confirmed that a tornado touched down at 7:03 p.m. Thursday around the Shiawassee County community of Vernon, about 21 miles (34 …

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Report: Texas Hospital Knew Elevator Needed Upgrade Before Malfunction

Officials knew a Forth Worth hospital elevator was in need of upgrades two years before a nurse was crushed and seriously injured when the elevator continued to rise as she tried to step inside, a maintenance audit shows. A report …

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Insured Property Loss for Northern Australia Floods Estimated at US$1.1B: PERILS

Initial insured property losses for floods that recently affected northern Queensland, Australia, and in particular the city of Townsville, are estimated at A$957 million ($1.1 billion), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. The …

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Midwest Flooding Prompts Evacuations, Rescues

Authorities used boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least …

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USG Promotes Berger to Regional Manager in Texas

USG Insurance Services Inc., a national wholesaler and managing general agent (MGA), has promoted Jodi Berger to regional manager, based in Arlington, Texas. Berger joined USG in 2002 as a senior underwriter and was promoted to branch manager of the …

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Monfre Joins Wisconsin’s Integrity Insurance as Business Development Manager

Integrity Insurance, a property/casualty insurance carrier headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin, has added Becky Monfre as business development manager. In this new position for Integrity, Monfre is responsible driving growth and visibility, in addition to managing a territory in Wisconsin. Monfre …

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Government Overhaul of National Flood Insurance Cheered by Climate Resilience Experts

Climate advocates say an overhaul of the nation’s flood insurance program being unveiled by the Trump administration will spur communities around the country to better plan for extreme weather, but could drive up costs for some homeowners. The changes being …

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U.S. Fintech Firm to Buy Worldpay for $35B in Biggest Ever Digital Payments Deal

Fidelity National Information Services Inc. (FIS) agreed to buy Worldpay for about $35 billion on Monday, with the U.S. financial services provider striking the biggest deal to date in the fast-growing electronic payments industry. The financial technology sector is consolidating …

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Utah Abortion Doctor Files Defamation Suit Against Conservative Media Sites

A well-known abortion rights activist from Utah has filed a lawsuit against three conservative media publications for defamation, says that online stories spread misinformation that she cut the throats of fetuses during abortions. Dr. Leah Torres, a former Salt Lake …

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New Mexico Tornado Traveled 15-Mile-Long Path, Report Shows

The National Weather Service reported that a tornado that destroyed or damaged numerous homes and other structures in the southern New Mexico community of Dexter traveled a path about 15 miles long and 150-350 yards wide. The weather service’s damage …

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Nevada Mulling ‘Textalyzer’ Tech That Scans Cellphones After Crashes

Most states ban texting behind the wheel, but a legislative proposal could make Nevada one of the first states to allow police to use a contentious technology to find out if a person was using a cellphone during a car …

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Nuclear Power Industry Pushes for Fewer Inspections

The nuclear power industry is pushing the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to cut back on inspections at nuclear power plants and throttle back what it tells the public about plant problems. The agency, whose board is dominated by Trump appointees, is …

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$20M Grant for California Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program

The California Fire Safe Council in partnership with the Watershed Research and Training Center has been awarded a $3 million grant, part of which is to help improve wildfire resiliency. The Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program aims to help …

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Maine Marketing Firm Settles Lawsuit with Employee Claiming She Was Drugged

A Maine marketing firm has settled a lawsuit with a former employee who claimed she was drugged at a company party and fired after requesting accommodations to recover. The Portland Press Herald reports an attorney for Trueline Publishing told the …

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Gas Refineries Pay Vermont Settlement Over Fuel Additive

The Vermont attorney general’s office says more than two dozen of the country’s biggest gasoline refiners, including ExxonMobil and Shell Oil Company, are paying a $3.8 million settlement over the use of the gasoline additive that the state alleged caused …

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In Fatberg Fight, New York Goes to War Against Flushable Wipes

One of humanity’s most private and pervasive hygiene habits is changing. And Sal Scapelito’s job is a sign that the trend may not be sustainable. Every two minutes, the 31-year-old sewage treatment worker cleans off a five-foot-wide device designed to …

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Aon’s New Ventures Group Focuses on Intellectual Property with Cochrane Named COO

Aon’s New Ventures Group (NVG), which was formed in October 2018 to accelerate Aon’s investment in innovative new solutions, is focusing its first efforts on intellectual property in order to help clients manage their intangible assets. NVG is formally sponsoring …

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Real Life Examples Show Why Businesses Must Boost Their Cyber Defenses

When cyber thieves attacked Empire Industries’ computer network, technology manager Rich Shemanskis could see files in the process of being infected by malicious software. “We were looking at the network, and I noticed it, and another guy noticed it. We’re …

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Tropical Cyclone Idai Devastates Mozambique, Zimbabwe with at Least 166 Deaths

A tropical cyclone killed at least 166 people in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, destroying roads and bridges and curbing electricity exports to neighboring South Africa. The death toll has risen sharply since Tropical Cyclone Idai made landfall almost directly over the …

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BHSI Launches Professional Liability Cover for Asset Managers and Funds in UK, Ireland

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has launched Professional First Asset Management Liability Insurance, which provides broad professional liability, directors & officers liability, and crime coverage tailored for investment managers and funds in the UK and Ireland. “Highly volatile investment and …

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