Activist Hedge Fund Voce Urges Argo to Cut $100M in Expenses, Nominates Directors

An activist hedge fund on Tuesday nominated five directors and urged insurance company Argo Group International Holdings Ltd to cut $100 million in expenses, including corporate jets and housing for its chief executive. Voce Capital Management LLC wants Argo shareholders …

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China Plans to Further Relax Rules for Foreign Banks and Insurers

China will further relax rules for foreign banks and insurers of all sizes that plan to invest in the domestic industry, the latest round of easing amid efforts to conclude a trade deal with the U.S. The China Banking and …

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Internet Privacy Bill Proving Struggle for Congress

Lawmakers drafting a bill to create rules governing online privacy hope to have a discussion draft complete by late May with a Senate committee vote during the summer, but disputes are likely to push that timetable back, according to sources …

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Risk Managers Reminded of Strategies for Coping with Disasters in Their Many Forms

Preparing for the unthinkable requires a lot thought. Risk management professionals this week cautioned audiences of the myriad pitfalls in planning for catastrophes during the Risk & Insurance Management Society’s annual conference at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. Corporations …

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Weed Killer Chemical Glyphosate Is Not a Cancer Agent, Says EPA, Contradicting Juries

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Tuesday that glyphosate, a chemical in many popular weed killers, is not a carcinogen, contradicting recent decisions by U.S. juries that found that it caused cancer in people. The EPA announcement reaffirms earlier …

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Florida Lawmakers Pass Text While Driving Ban, Hands-Free Requirement

The Florida House on Monday passed a compromise bill that would make texting while driving a primary offense, as well as create a hands-free area within school zones and construction zones where workers are present. The bill, House Bill 107, …

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Atlas General, Bascule Underwriting to Offer Workers’ Comp for Equine Industry

Atlas General Insurance Services has collaborated with Bascule Underwriting, specialists in equine insurance, to provide an exclusive workers compensation product for horse farm owners. The program will be administered by Atlas and distributed through Bascule’s network of independent agents/brokers. The …

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High Net Worth Insurer Vault Expands Into 3 States in Northeast

Vault, an insurer focused on the needs of the high net worth market, has received approvals to underwrite in Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. This adds to their existing operations in Florida and South Carolina and non-admitted coverage offerings in …

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Corvus Opens Atlanta Office, Hires Fehrman as VP of Cyber Underwriting

Corvus Insurance has opened an office in Atlanta, its fifth office location, and hired Joel Fehrman, who will serve as vice president of Cyber Underwriting based in the new office. Fehrman joins Corvus with more than 10 years of experience …

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Why the Missouri River Is Just Going to Keep On Flooding: Viewpoint

The Missouri River used to be out of control. “It cuts corners, runs around at nights, fills itself with snags and traveling sandbars, lunches on levees, and swallows islands and small villages for dessert,” is how the humorist George Fitch …

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Blaze at North Carolina Zinc Plant Releases Sulfuric Acid Into Air

A fire at a zinc production plant in North Carolina has been contained. The blaze had released sulfuric acid into the air and led to evacuations of nearby residents. American Zinc Products said in a statement Monday that firefighters contained …

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Texas Senate Passes School Safety Bill

The Texas Senate has approved a bill intended to increase security and prevent on-campus incidents of violence at public schools. Senate Bill 11, by state Sen. Larry Taylor of Friendswood, would direct the Texas Education Agency to develop rules for …

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Wisconsin Explosion Prompts Call for Updates to Chemical Study

The U.S. Chemical Safety Board wants federal regulators to re-examine a 1993 study on hydrofluoric acid after an explosion at a Superior oil refinery last year. The board sent a letter Wednesday to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency asking the …

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Death of Louisiana Nurse Attacked by Patient Prompts Call for Increased Safety

The death of a Louisiana nurse who was attacked by a mental health patient has prompted the medical community to demand better hospital safety practices. News outlets report Baton Rouge General Medical Center nurse Lynne Truxillo suffered serious injuries in …

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Kansas Took Control of 22 Struggling Nursing Homes Last Year

Kansas lawmakers have tightened the financial requirements for a license to operate nursing homes after state regulators were forced to take over 22 struggling facilities last year. Officials with the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services told The Kansas …

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Hartford InsurTech Hub Holds Demo Day, Completes Second Accelerator Program

Hartford InsurTech Hub, powered by Startupbootcamp, hosted its second Demo Day at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Conn., on April 26. The InsurTech Accelerator is the first component of Hartford InsurTech Hub, an initiative established in 2017 by …

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Oh Rats! Pests a Problem in Building That Houses Texas Insurance Department

On Jan. 16, an employee at the Texas Department of Insurance noticed an unwelcome pest in her fifth-floor office in one of the towers of downtown Austin’s William P. Hobby Jr. State Office Building. Her maintenance work order described the …

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University Of Alaska Reaching out to People Hit by Data Breach

The University of Alaska is attempting to contact people who may have been affected by a computer data breach. The Daily News-Miner reported Sunday that hacking between January and February 2018 may have compromised email accounts containing a wide variety …

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Relation Insurance Services in California Adds McKechnie and Hall

Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Relation Insurance Services has named Chris McKechnie has been named to the role of Chief Financial Officer, Tim Hall Executive Vice President and Head of M&A. The company also announced the completion of the acquisition by Aquiline …

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CNA Financial Reports 17.5% Jump in Q1 Net Income

CNA Financial Corp. reported first quarter 2019 net income of $342 million, up 17.5 percent over the $291 million reported for the same period in 2018. The company’s saw a big improvement in its first quarter results over its Q4 …

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World Insurance Associates Acquires New Jersey’s Joseph A. Britton Agency

World Insurance Associates LLC, an independent insurance agency headquartered in Tinton Falls, N.J., acquired the Joseph A. Britton Agency Inc. of Mountainside, N.J., on April 1, 2019. The Joseph A. Britton Agency is a healthcare and professional liability insurance agency …

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Delaware Supreme Court Rejects Untimely Appeal in Air Crash Lawsuit

Delaware’s Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in a lawsuit stemming from a 2012 airplane crash in the Congo that claimed the life of the chief adviser to that country’s president and left his finance minister seriously injured. The companies …

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R-T Specialty Promotes Altomare to Senior Account Manager

Hannah Altomare has been promoted to senior account manager within R-T Specialty LLC’s National Environmental and Construction Professional Liability Practice (ECP). In this role, she is responsible for supporting the company’s new business and marketing efforts in addition to providing …

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UK Climate Change Adviser to Recommend Target of Zero Emissions by 2050: Sources

The U.K. government’s official adviser on climate change is set to recommend the country adopt a target to drive net fossil fuel emissions to zero by 2050, according to people familiar with the plan. If adopted, the proposals would give …

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Arch Insurance (UK) Launches Cyber Product for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses

Arch Insurance (UK) Ltd., the London-based subsidiary of Arch Insurance International, is set to enter the cyber insurance market with a new product focused on the needs of small and medium enterprise (SME) clients and their insurance brokers. The product …

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Norsk Hydro Cyber Attack Cost It Nearly $52M in First Quarter

Norsk Hydro said the March cyber attack that paralyzed its computer networks would cost the aluminum maker up to 450 million Norwegian crowns ($52 million) in the first quarter. The Oslo-based firm, one of the world’s largest producers of the …

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Canopius Opens Office in Sydney, Australia

Canopius, the London-based global specialty re/insurer announced it is opening an office in Sydney, Australia, as part of its commitment to expand in the Asia-Pacific region. Subject to regulatory approval, the local entity will be open to underwrite business in …

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Gen Re Appoints D’Arcy as Head of International Property & Casualty

General Re Corp., the reinsurance subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, announced that Andrew D’Arcy will become head of Gen Re International Property & Casualty. D’Arcy will relinquish the role of CEO of Faraday, Gen Re’s Lloyd’s operation, which manages Syndicate 435. …

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Hiscox Appoints Hill from Blackboard Insurance Co. as Head of Claims in the U.S.

Hiscox, the Bermuda-headquartered specialist insurer, announced the appointment of Melissa Hill as head of Claims in the United States. Hill, who has more than a decade of experience in claims operations, will oversee the strategic direction and performance of the …

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Industry Veterans Catlin and Brand Launch Specialty Bermuda Re/Insurer Convex Group

Insurance industry experts Stephen Catlin and Paul Brand announced they have launched an international specialty insurer and reinsurer, Convex Group Ltd. Convex launches with $1.8 billion of initial committed capital and will draw down $1.6 billion to commence business; it …

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Not All Analysts Still See Berkshire Hathaway As a Buy

Two longtime analysts of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. appear deeply divided over prospects for the company led since 1965 by billionaire Warren Buffett, in reports issued on Monday ahead of this weekend’s shareholder extravaganza. Jay Gelb of Barclays Capital, who rates …

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Senators Push Regulator to Finalize Drone ID System

Two U.S. senators on Monday urged U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao to finalize a long-delayed rule that would require the remote identification of unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. The U.S. Congress tasked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2016 with …

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Boeing’s Legal Woes Over Crashes Mount with Negligence Suits by Families

Boeing Co. was sued Monday by two Canadians who lost 10 family members in the March crash of a 737 Max in Ethiopia, adding to the aircraft manufacturer’s legal woes stemming from two deadly crashes by the jet. Among the …

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West Virgina Airport Awarded $14.8M in Runway Overrun Collapse Suit

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit over the 2015 landslide that collapsed a runway safety overrun at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Yeager officials say the airport was awarded $14.8 million in the …

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Appalachian Underwriters Taps Florida-Based Kidd to Lead Commercial Auto

Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. has hired transportation broker Mary Kidd to focus on large commercial transportation accounts in its Sarasota, Fla., office. Kidd will work with accounts with more than $25,000 in premium, across all states. Kidd comes to AUI with …

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Florida Man Suspected of Committing Multiple Fires Arrested

A Florida man believed to be responsible for multiple fires in the Umatilla area of Lake County, Fla., has been arrested, according to a statement by Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis. James Anthony Bennett was arrested this month on four counts …

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New Everest Insurance Management Liability Policy Targets Public Companies

Everest Insurance has released a new Everest Elevation Management Liability Policy, which provides comprehensive coverage for publicly traded companies across all industries. Everest Elevation joins the insurer’s management liability primary product suite. According to Keith Lavigne, head of Financial Lines …

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California Workers’ Comp Rating Bureau Chief’s Message to Comp Community

The California workers’ compensation marketplace today remains generally healthy for insurers, employers and injured workers, the chief of the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California said in an open letter on Monday. The WCIRB continues to experience the “overwhelmingly …

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Oregon Woman Who Lost Legs Sues Rail Companies

An Oregon woman who lost both legs after being hit by a freight train has filed a lawsuit against several railroad companies. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Cindy Rodriguez filed a $33.8 million lawsuit April 19 against Union Pacific Railroad Company, …

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MyNewMarkets.com Upgrades with New Features for Agents, Markets

MyNewMarkets.com today unveiled a redesign with new features for both agents hunting for insurance markets and providers offering solutions. The site, first launched in 2007, is now the leading search engine helping insurance agents find property/casualty insurance markets. Its database …

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9: The Number of Tornadoes that Hit East Texas, Louisiana Last Week

The National Weather Service says at least nine tornadoes were formed during a two-day period of severe weather in eastern Texas and Louisiana. Meteorologist Davyon Hill says seven tornadoes were part of the same parent storm that started in San …

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Brinkerhoff to Lead Healthcare Industry Practice in Gallagher’s Benefits, HR Unit

Rolling Meadows, Illinois-based global insurance broker and risk management consultant, Gallagher, has appointed Rob Brinkerhoff managing director of the Healthcare Industry practice within the company’s Benefits and Human Resources division. Brinkerhoff joins Gallagher with nearly two decades of healthcare industry …

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Autonomous Vehicle Regulation Bill Passed by Oklahoma Legislature

Oklahoma would establish rules regulating how to safely operate driverless vehicles navigating state highways under a bill passed by Legislature that has been sent to the governor’s office. Autonomous vehicles are expected to bring in billions of dollars annually in …

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Council Formed with Goal of Changing Ohio’s Distracted Driving Culture

Gov. Mike DeWine says a newly formed council will develop a plan to change the distracted driving culture in Ohio. The Republican governor this week announced creation of the Distracted Driving Advisory Council. The council’s formation follows a report by …

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Ohio Company Admits to Concealing Information After Worker’s Death

An Ohio aluminum manufacturing company accused of misleading investigators and its parent company after a fatal workplace accident has pleaded guilty to a related federal charge about concealing information on a crime. Extrudex Aluminum in North Jackson this week pleaded …

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Texas Tops the Nation in Traffic Deaths; Filed Bills Aim to Stem the Tide

At least one person has died on Texas roads every day since Nov. 7, 2000. Despite efforts to End the Streak, as the Texas Department of Transportation puts it, the state still leads the nation in traffic deaths. Fatalities did …

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Washington D.C. Plans to Confront Climate Change by Retrofitting Flood-Prone Buildings

Washington is announcing a goal of retrofitting or removing all of its flood-prone buildings by 2050, the first major U.S. city to set such a policy. The proposal is part of a broader plan to protect Washington, which is home …

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Beazley-Led Consortium to Offer Corporate C-Suite Reputational Risk Coverage

Specialist Lloyd’s insurer Beazley is partnering with other Lloyd’s insurers to offer reputational risk coverage targeted towards C-suite exposures. The Beazley Custodian Consortium at Lloyd’s provides reputational risk coverage for clients throughout the lifespan of a crisis. Clients will have …

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Brexit Uncertainty Takes a Toll on UK Businesses: Report

As talks on a Brexit deal fumble on, the uncertainty it has brought is hurting U.K. property firms and the financial services sector. The number of companies classed as being in “critical distress,” often a precursor to insolvency, rose 17 …

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L.A. County Sues Southern California Edison for Wildfire Damage

Los Angeles County sued Southern California Edison and parent company Edison International on Thursday to recover more than $100 million in costs and damages from a wind-driven wildfire that may have been sparked by one of the utility’s wires. “This …

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Crane Collapse Casts Pall Over Seattle’s Rapid Growth

The crane collapse in the heart of Seattle’s tech hub Saturday ended four lives, cast a pall on the city’s rapid expansion and may lead to tens in millions of dollars of costs for a building that Alphabet Inc.’s Google …

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PG&E Behind on Tree Work in California a Month from Wildfire Season

California is just one month away from the official start of wildfire season and bankrupt utility giant PG&E Corp. is running behind on inspections, repairs and tree-trimming that was ordered up to reduce the risk of another devastating blaze. PG&E, …

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MS Amlin Appoints Pearce from Old Mutual as CFO

MS Amlin, the global re/insurer, announced the appointment of Iain Pearce to the role of chief financial officer. Pearce will join the business on June 3, 2019, forming part of the executive team and reporting to Simon Beale, CEO. The …

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Risk Managers Rank Economic Slowdown, Damage to Reputation as Top 2 Risks: Aon

Economic and global trade concerns are challenging organizations’ ability to invest adequately in preparing for and protecting the continuity of their operations, according to findings from Aon’s 2019 Global Risk Management Survey, which identifies the challenges organizations face in assessing …

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Father Sues Over Son’s Drowning on School Field Trip in Maine

The father of a 13-year-old boy who drowned on a field trip to a Maine state park is suing the state and the city of Lewiston in federal court. The Sun Journal newspaper reports that the lawsuit filed by Ali …

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Augusta Police Department to Change Practices Based on NTSB Recommendations

The Augusta Police Department says it’s going to follow “best practices” outlined by the National Transportation Safety Board in a report on a 2017 pileup during the United Bikers of Maine Toy Run. The report said an unsafe maneuver by …

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Reports Say Massachusetts Workplace Deaths Down Slightly

Labor organizations and a workplace safety advocacy group say 69 people died of work-related causes in Massachusetts last year, down slightly from 74 in 2017. The 28-page report released Friday by the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and the Massachusetts Coalition for Occupational …

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Getting Americans to Stop Using Phones While Driving

The distracted driving report by Zendrive, a traffic-data startup, makes it clearer and clearer each year that millions of Americans can’t stop themselves from talking, texting and livestreaming—yes, even using FaceTime—while driving. The results have been increasingly unsettling, showing that …

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Liberty Specialty Promotes Hall, Wheeler in Specialty Binders Team in London

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has made two promotions within its specialty binders team in London. Kerry Hall becomes underwriting manager for property while Richard Wheeler becomes senior business and strategic development underwriter. Both promotions …

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Electrical Fault in Battery Caused Huge Blaze at Ocado’s UK Distribution Center

British online grocer Ocado said a huge blaze which destroyed its major distribution center in Andover, southern England, was caused by an electrical fault in a battery that caused a robot to catch fire. Shares in Ocado fell as much …

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Mozambique Floods Puts Hundreds of Thousands of Lives at Risk After Cyclone Kenneth

Serious flooding began on Sunday in parts of northern Mozambique that were hit by Cyclone Kenneth three days ago, with waters waist-high in areas, after the government urged many people to immediately seek higher ground. Hundreds of thousands of people …

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It Was Always Going to Be Hard to Oust CEO of SCOR – and His 300% Return: Opinion

European shareholder activism has suffered a painfully public humiliation. The lesson for investors is clear: Pick your battles. Paris-based investment fund CIAM wanted to split the chairman and CEO roles at French reinsurer SCOR SE, which has been run for …

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How Much Do Facebook Users Really Care About Privacy?

Facebook Inc. is preparing for a record-setting fine from U.S. regulators over privacy issues, but Wall Street shrugged at the looming penalty after the company added users and trounced profit expectations for the first quarter. It has been just over …

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Insurance Institute Calls for Rear Seat Safety Upgrades

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says in a new report that safer restraint systems are needed for the back seats of cars. The study finds that rear-seat safety has not kept pace with front-seat safety and it has been …

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FEMA Chief Urges New Culture of More Individual Responsibility for Disaster Mitigation

Americans must assume more responsibility for protecting themselves from the rising toll of natural disasters, the head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency warned. “Most people think, ‘I see it on TV, it’ll never happen to me — I’m not …

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Florida Officials Call on U.S. Lawmakers to Pass Hurricane Michael Aid Package

A bipartisan group of Florida Cabinet members and state lawmakers is demanding that U.S. lawmakers pass a disaster-relief package for Hurricane Michael victims. Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and lawmakers said Thursday …

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Jacks Joins Teneo Cobbs Allen Partnership in Alabama

Cobbs Allen of Birmingham, Ala., has added Chris Jacks to the Teneo Cobbs Allen team. Jacks comes with years of experience as a property and casualty underwriter, as well as actuarial knowledge. Most recently, Jacks served as CEO of Jacks …

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NWS: 75 Tornadoes Confirmed in Mississippi So Far in 2019

With three more tornadoes confirmed Friday from an April 18 outbreak, the National Weather Service now says 43 tornadoes hit Mississippi that day, and 75 for the year. The one-day amount alone equals Mississippi’s annual average of 43 tornadoes during …

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Florida Senate Passes Texting While Driving Ban

Texting while driving would become a primary traffic offense along with talking on a handheld cellphone in school and construction zones under a bill passed by the Florida Senate. The Senate’s 33-5 vote on Thursday made changes to a House …

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Expert Discusses Potential Solutions to Ease the Pain of California’s Severe Wildfires

James Woods has his sights set on finding ways to help California deal with repeated years of severe wildfire seasons, and the prospect of more seasons in which record losses from large blazes may lie ahead of us. Woods has …

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Coalition Launches Cyber Coverage for Healthcare Companies

Coalition, a cyber insurance company for small and midsize businesses, has launched comprehensive coverage for healthcare companies. The healthcare-specific policy is designed to fully addresses the risk healthcare organizations face before, during, and after a breach—including full HIPAA compliance, in-house …

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Tennessee Doctor, 30 Others Targeted in Federal Opioid Investigation

A doctor who prescribed more than 4 million opioid pills, including to a pregnant woman who later died, is one of more than 30 medical professionals in Tennessee charged with illegally prescribing and distributing millions of painkillers, federal authorities said …

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Arnold Appointed Deputy Insurance Commissioner for Minnesota

Grace Arnold has been tapped to lead the insurance division at the Minnesota Commerce Department. Arnold was named deputy insurance commissioner by Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Steve Kelley earlier this month. Arnold will oversee solvency, policy form approval, rate review and …

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Florida Supreme Court Rules Against Parkland Sheriff

The Florida Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled against a sheriff who fought his removal from office after the governor claimed he failed to prevent last year’s Parkland school shooting. Florida’s highest court agreed that Gov. Ron DeSantis was within his …

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Buildings Damaged, 2 Killed as Tornado Tears Through Northern Louisiana

A tornado killed two people as it swept through the northern Louisiana city of Ruston early Thursday, officials said. The tornado caused severe damage to buildings, vehicles and power lines and forced a local university to cancel classes. Communications director …

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Ammonia Leak in Chicago Suburb Sends 31 to Hospitals

Plumes of a toxic gas that leaked in the northern Chicago suburb of Beach Park on Thursday morning sent at least 31 people to hospitals and prompted an order for residents to stay locked inside their homes with windows shut …

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CNA Names Haas Senior VP, National Accounts Casualty

Chicago-based property/casualty insurer, CNA, has appointed David Haas senior vice president, National Accounts Casualty. Haas will be responsible for the profitability, growth and strategic direction of CNA’s National Accounts Casualty business, reporting to Kevin Leidwinger, president and chief operating officer, …

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30 Texas University Students Receive Insurance Council Scholarships

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) Education Foundation has awarded a total of $40,000 in academic scholarships to 30 students studying insurance and risk management at five Texas universities. The students attend the University of Houston Main, the University of …

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Louisiana House Passes Bill Targeting High Auto Insurance Rates

A bill aimed at lowering Louisiana’s sky-high auto insurance rates has passed the state House of Representatives. On April 23, House lawmakers passed HB 372, named the “Omnibus Premium Reduction Act of 2019, authored by Rep. Kirk Talbot. According to …

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SCOR’s Shareholders Reject Attempt to Oust CEO Kessler

The shareholders of French reinsurer SCOR rejected a request by activist fund CIAM to oust chief executive Denis Kessler from the board of SCOR, although Kessler’s pay deal was only approved by a slim majority. About 54 percent of shareholders …

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PG&E Asks California for Higher Rates to Pay for Wildfire Safety, Profits

California utility Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. is asking state regulators for another increase in rates and profits, saying it’s needed for wildfire safety and to attract investment as the utility goes through bankruptcy. The Sacramento Bee reported that the …

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Arizona City’s Pedestrian Safety Effort Fails

Phoenix, Ariz. officials failed to advance an effort that aimed to reduce pedestrian deaths by improving street safety in the city. The Phoenix City Council voted 4-4 this week on the motion to direct city staff to develop a strategy …

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In Race for New Personal Lines Insurance Business, Exclusive Agents at Disadvantage

Personal lines insurers have only one option when it comes to growing their business: they must steal market share from competitors. That’s because each year brings very few new customers. Only about two to three percent of personal lines customer …

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Vermont Officials to Verify Flood Damage

The state of Vermont says it will be working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to verify damage caused by last week’s flooding. Representatives of Vermont Emergency Management and the Vermont Agency of Transportation are expected to meet with FEMA …

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Another Fire Breaks Out at Pennsylvania Church Burned by Arson Blaze

A small fire has been extinguished at a Pennsylvania church that was severely damaged earlier this week by another blaze that authorities say was deliberately set. The latest fire at Iglesia Pentecostal de Bethlehem was reported around 2 a.m. Thursday …

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Eyewear Website Operator Sentenced in Manhattan to Two More Years in Prison

An eyewear website operator who has already served over five years in prison for threatening customers across the country with rape and murder was sentenced to an additional two years in prison Wednesday for resuming the same fraudulent online scam, …

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Google Agrees to More Changes in How It Handles Harassment, Misconduct Complaints

Google unveiled another round of policy changes to address employee concerns about misconduct at the world’s largest internet search company. Staff can now lodge complaints and concerns about harassment and other misconduct at work via a new website. During meetings …

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Brazil’s Argo Seguros Appoints Queiroz from Swiss Re as CEO

Argo Seguros, the Brazilian underwriter of specialty insurance and reinsurance products and a member of Argo Group, announced the appointment of Newton Queiroz as CEO, effective May 1, 2019. Queiroz will report to Jorge Cazar, head of Latin America at …

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Brit Ltd. Enhances Physical Damage Cyber Offering, Increasing Flexibility and Limits

Brit Ltd., the London-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, announced it has increased the flexibility and limits of Brit Cyber Attack Plus (BCAP), a cyber product designed to protect clients from the impact of physical damage arising from cyber attacks. Launched …

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SCOR’s Q1 Net Profit Drops 21% on Japan Typhoons in 2018

French reinsurer SCOR, whose CEO faces a vote on his demotion during a shareholders meeting on Friday, said its net profit in the first quarter fell 21 percent as a result of the impact of 2018 typhoons in Japan. SCOR …

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Lloyd’s Innovation Drive Faces Headwinds from Some Brokers, Underwriters

Lloyd’s of London, the world’s oldest insurer of seafaring vessels, is facing its own perfect storm. Old-fashioned business practices, exposure to natural disasters, competition from rival centers and Brexit are all threatening Lloyd’s reputation as the place to insure anything …

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Battle of Words Continues Between Argo Group and Activist Shareholder

An activist Argo Group shareholder accuses the company of using a corporate jet for 1,500 flights in recent months and questions whether the trips were exclusively for business purposes. So goes the latest salvo fired against the company in advance …

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New AAIS Florida Homeowners By-Peril Program Approved by State Regulator

AAIS (the American Association of Insurance Services) has received approval for its new Florida Homeowners By-Peril Insurance Program from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR). The AAIS Florida Homeowners By-Peril Program provides carriers operating in Florida a way to …

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Historic Tennessee Courthouse Damaged by Fire

A fire has caused significant damage to one of the oldest courthouses in Tennessee. Fire officials told news outlets that the first crew arrived at the Loudon County courthouse Tuesday evening and quickly called for backup as flames began to …

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Cannons, Networks, Radar, Jammers: The Business of Taking Down Drones

Just shoot them down? After troublesome drones infiltrated London’s Gatwick airport late last year, disrupting passenger flights and costing potentially millions of pounds in revenue, that was the instinctive question posed by the watching world. But for some businesses, shooting …

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Former Washington Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to Theft

Former Washington insurance agent Abu Ameena Ward has pleaded guilty in Pierce County Superior Court to one count of third-degree theft and was ordered to pay $18,666 in restitution to Farmers Insurance and $700 in court fees. He entered the …

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Marsh Begins Rolling Out Proof of Insurance Blockchain for U.S. Customers

A year after it began a collaboration to develop the product, insurance broker Marsh has announced that it has begun the rollout of its proof of insurance blockchain platform to U.S. commercial clients. Originally introduced as a proof of concept …

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Tesla to Create Own Insurance Product, Says Musk

For the second time in three days, Elon Musk has shed light on how Tesla Inc. plans to take on massive industries outside the automotive and clean-energy realms. Tesla’s chief executive officer said during Tesla’s earnings call Wednesday that the …

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U.S. Plans Global Summit on Boeing 737 Max Safety

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration next month will brief international aviation regulators on the agency’s work evaluating when the Boeing Co. 737 Max can return to service, which some countries have signaled they intend to decide on their own. The …

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California Lawmakers Advance Resilient Homes Initiative

A bill to enable the California Earthquake Authority to expand mitigation programs cleared its first hurdle this week when it passed the Senate Insurance Committee. The Resilient Homes Initiative, Senate Bill 254, was authored and introduced in earlier this month …

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Report: Number of Michigan Traffic Deaths Fell Below 1,000 in 2018

Officials say Michigan traffic deaths dipped below 1,000 in 2018 for the first time since 2015. The Michigan State Police Criminal Justice Information Center announced Wednesday that Michigan traffic deaths totaled 974 in 2018, down 5% from 1,028 in 2017 …

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Insurtech, Cover, Now Selling Its Own Auto Policies in Texas

Cover, a mobile-first insurance brokerage, has begun selling its own auto insurance policies in Texas. The new service — an evolution from the company’s nationally-licensed insurance brokerage — combines a streamlined process for buying policies, using smartphone technology such as …

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Pro Global to Buy UK MGA Incubator, Vibe MGA Management

Pro Global Insurance Solutions, the London-based re/insurance consultant and service provider, announced it will acquire Vibe MGA Management Ltd. (VibeMM), an MGA incubator business. Pro is acquiring VibeMM from Vibe UK Holdings, the owners of Lloyd’s managing agent Vibe Syndicate …

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Train Cars Carrying Ethanol Derail, Catch Fire in Texas

No one was hurt when a Union Pacific train carrying ethanol derailed in a residential area in Fort Worth and caught fire. Union Pacific spokeswoman Kristen South says the train derailed at about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday near Echo Lake in …

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Ohio Hospital Settles 3 Lawsuits Over Excessive Painkiller Doses

The Ohio hospital system where an intensive care doctor is accused of ordering excessive doses of painkillers for dozens of patients who died is settling three resulting wrongful-death cases, while 24 more lawsuits are pending. The family of 78-year-old Lora …

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Seeman Holtz Acquires Schwarz Insurance Agency in Wisconsin

Seeman Holtz Property & Casualty LLC has acquired Schwarz Insurance Agency Inc., headquartered in Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin, with six other offices across the state. Kathy Schwarz, an active employee of the Schwarz Insurance Agency since 1987 and a co-owner …

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Minnesota AG: For-Profit Health Insurers Could Raid State’s Reserves

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has called on lawmakers to reverse a consequence of 2017 law that repealed the state’s ban on for-profit health maintenance organizations, saying for-profit companies could pocket billions in assets now held by the state’s nonprofit …

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Arizona Becomes 48th State with Cellphone-Driving Law

Arizona ended a decade of resistance to restrictions on using a cellphone while driving when Gov. Doug Ducey signed a law this week outlawing holding a phone behind the wheel. It is now the 48th state to ban texting and …

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Bayer Seeks Dismissal of $78M Roundup Glyphosate Verdict or New Trial

Bayer AG on Wednesday asked a California appellate court to throw out a $78 million judgment it was ordered to pay to a school groundskeeper who claimed the company’s weed killers gave him cancer. In a filing in California’s Court …

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Direct-to-Consumer Auto Insurers Grabbing Market Share

Direct-to-consumer auto insurers appear to be gaining serious market traction, according to a report from J.D. Power. The firm reports that auto insurance revenue hit $245 billion in 2018, reflecting industrywide growth of 6.2 percent. But 54 percent of those …

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Upstate New York Prepares as Lake Ontario Water Rises Again

Emergency officials in upstate New York are again preparing for possible flooding along Lake Ontario. Niagara County’s director of emergency services, Jonathan Schultz, says lake levels have risen about five inches in 10 days. Recent heavy rains, seasonal thaw and …

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Indictment Alleges Ex-CEO Ignored Red Flags as Opioid Crisis Raged

The pharmaceutical industry executive hit Tuesday with criminal charges stemming from the opioid crisis doesn’t have his name on a museum wing, and his company isn’t within earshot of Apple or anyone else on the Fortune 500. Even his $1.5 …

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NTSB Cites Poor Planning for Toy Run Crash That Killed Two in Maine

The National Transportation Safety Board faults law enforcement planning in a report on a double fatal crash during the United Bikers of Maine Toy Run in September 2017. The report, released Tuesday, said an unsafe maneuver by a motorcycle rider …

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Board Faults Utility’s Equipment in Fatal 2016 Explosion in Maryland

A gas company’s faulty equipment is the most likely cause of an explosion at a suburban Maryland apartment complex that killed seven people in 2016, according to federal report issued Tuesday. The explosion and fire at the Flower Branch apartments …

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W.R. Berkley Q1 Shows Rate Increases Working

W.R. Berkley Corp. enjoyed solid premium growth in the 2019 first quarter and its reinsurance arm booked encouraging results, with the carrier crediting “further rate improvement” for the positive trend. The insurer said its rate increases appear to be outpacing …

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Cyclone Kenneth Grows Stronger as It Barrels Towards Mozambique

Tropical Cyclone Kenneth continued to grow stronger as it swirled toward the coast of Mozambique, where Anadarko Petroleum Corp. has halted all flights to and from its liquefied natural gas site. Mozambican authorities declared a “red alert” in Cabo Delgado …

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China’s Swine Virus Epidemic Should Be a Global Concern: Opinion

It’s a familiar and ominous story. A deadly pathogen with no known cure begins spreading in China. Rather than acknowledge the problem, officials throughout the Chinese government shut down media coverage, while underreporting infection and mortality rates for fear of …

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Japan Insurers to Invest in Riskier Non-Government Bonds, Seeking Higher Returns

As bond yields evaporate globally, many Japanese insurers are looking to secure higher returns at home and abroad by diversifying into riskier corporate and other non-government bonds in the financial year that began this month. Officials at Japan’s top 10 …

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AXA XL Promotes Wilson to Global Head of Portfolio Solutions

AXA XL announced the promotion of Charlotte Wilson to global head of portfolio solutions, with responsibility for developing and executing the team’s global strategy. Wilson will be part of Philippe Gouraud’s Global Strategic Distribution team and will take up her …

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AXA Confirms It Insured Some Notre-Dame Artworks for Several Million Euros

French insurer AXA said on Wednesday that it had provided insurance coverage for a few artworks from Notre-Dame Cathedral for a maximum amount of a few million euros. The insurer had said last week that it provided insurance for a …

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Keesey Joins Cannasure Insurance Services as Sr. Underwriter in Ohio

Cannasure Insurance Services (Cannasure), a Cleveland, Ohio-based managing general agent and wholesale insurance broker for the cannabis and hemp industries, hired Jenna Keesey as a senior underwriter in its growing MGA practice. Keesey is a package lines specialist with steep …

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Florida Gov to Sign AOB Reform Bill; Citizens Plans Rate Decrease

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled his support of a property insurance reform bill passed by the Florida Senate Wednesday, saying in a statement Wednesday he will sign the legislation that the insurance industry and consumer advocates say will stem …

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Ohio Hospital Settles 3 Excessive Dose Claim Lawsuits

The Ohio hospital system where an intensive care doctor is accused of ordering excessive doses of painkillers for dozens of patients who died is settling three resulting wrongful-death cases, while 24 more lawsuits are pending. The family of 78-year-old Lora …

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Newfront Insurance in California Names Kaneko Head of Carrier Relations

Newfront Insurance in California has named Garett Kaneko head of carrier relations. Kaneko will manage external market relations and partner strategy as well as overall business and growth strategy for Newfront. Kaneko has more than 15 years of experience in …

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Supreme Court Gives Business Another Victory on Arbitration, Class Actions

In a decision that could further help companies limit damages in disputes with workers, the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against a California man who was the victim of an online scam and sought to bring claims against his …

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SAIF in Oregon Names Williams Vice President Of Human Resources

Ian Williams has joined SAIF as vice president of human resources. Williams will oversee all aspects of HR, including compensation and benefits, employee engagement and retention and recruitment. Most recently, he was vice president of human resources at Belden Inc. …

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Workplace Injuries Continue to Decline But Could Rise with Low Unemployment

The number of workplace injury claims continues to decline year after year despite significant changes in workforce demographics that experts thought would increase claims frequency, according to a report by the National Council of Compensation Insurance. The number of workers …

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Privacy Practices Probe Could Cost Facebook Up to $5 Billion

Facebook Inc. estimated that it will cost as much as $5 billion to resolve a U.S. investigation into its privacy practices, as the social-media company moves to put the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal behind it. Facebook said Wednesday …

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Brightway Insurance Opens New Agencies in Florida, Tennessee

Brightway Insurance opened new stores in Florida and Tennessee on April 15. The new franchise owners include: Steve Moser who opened Brightway, The Steve Moser Agency of Belle Meade in Nashville, Tennessee. This is Brightway’s first agency to open in …

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Above Average Year for Tornadoes in Alabama; 53 Confirmed So Far

Alabama already has exceeded its yearly average for tornadoes with more than 50 twisters verified in the state so far in 2019. The National Weather Service tweets that Alabama has had 53 total tornadoes so far this year. That compares …

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Court Rules Wyoming Killer Was Not a ‘Resident’ Under Mother’s Homeowners Policy

A U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th District this week ruled that a Wyoming man convicted of a 2014 murder was not an insured “resident” under his mother’s homeowners insurance policy, and it turns out that finding doesn’t favor …

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Workers’ Comp Claims in Colorado’s Cannabis Industry Not as High as You Think

It’s a safe bet that there are a number of those among us who envision workers in the marijuana industry as mostly a bunch of mellow bud-blazers haphazardly performing the daily tasks of trimming, potting, transporting or selling cannabis. Those …

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Florida Legislature Passes Industry-Backed AOB Reform Bill, Gov Expected to Sign

After seven years of failed attempts, Florida legislators have passed property insurance reform to address the abuse of a policyholder benefit known as assignment of benefits (AOB). The insurance industry and consumers advocates say the abuse has caused higher insurance …

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California Worker’s Compensation Rating Bureau Issues Report on Opioids

The use of opioids has significantly and continuously declined in the California workers’ compensation system since 2012, a trend that may be leading to a shift in the patterns of medical treatments for California’s injured workers as well as more …

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CIC Services Launches Captive Program for Small, Mid-Sized Businesses

CIC Services, LLC, has created a new program help small- to mid-sized companies establish captive programs for their business. The program is designed for companies that would otherwise not be large enough to consider replacing commercial insurance with a captive. …

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New Brightway Insurance Agency Opens in Missouri

Florida-based Brightway Insurance has opened a new store in Missouri. The Grone Agency in Des Peres was established by Brennen Grone, who first worked for Brightway, The Landers Agency in Glendale, Colo. Grone subsequently worked alongside his father in an …

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Oklahoma Supreme Court Tosses Non-Economic Damages Cap

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has struck down a state law that caps damages for pain and suffering in personal injury lawsuits. The state’s highest court ruled Tuesday a civil justice statute limiting non-economic damages in personal injury lawsuits to $350,000 …

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Cars Submerged at Dallas Airport Amid Storm Outbreak

Storms that pummeled North Texas overnight are being blamed for stranding motorists in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and for flooding underground parking lots at a Dallas’ airport. Dozens of vehicles were submerged in nearly four feet of water in the …

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Allianz Weighs Bid for Deutsche Bank’s Asset Management Business: Sources

Allianz and Amundi are considering rival deals to tie up their asset management units with Deutsche Bank’s DWS, sources close to the matter said on Wednesday. Their interest comes as Germany’s biggest bank considers a possible merger with Commerzbank, with …

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Wading Through Coverage Differences in Expanding Private Flood Market

It has been a long-held insurance axiom that flood is not considered an insurable peril due to its potentially catastrophic nature. Here is what the report, “Affordability of National Flood Insurance Program Premiums: Report 1” (National Research Council, 2015) says …

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Medical Marijuana Sales in Arkansas Set to Begin in Mid-May

Medical marijuana sales in Arkansas are set to begin around May 12 as cultivators plan to begin harvesting the plant in the coming days and regulators finish the approval process for the state’s first dispensaries. Department of Finance and Administration …

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AAIS Adds Jonas as Commercial Lines Product Manager in Illinois

The Lisle, Illinois-based national not-for-profit insurance advisory organization, American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS), has named Joseph Jonas as its new commercial lines product manager. Jonas is responsible for AAIS forms, manual rules and rating information in the standard commercial …

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Michigan AG to Target Worker Misclassification

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office will target businesses that cheat their employees of wages, pledging a forceful crackdown on what she called an under-the-radar problem that also lets companies dodge taxes. “Our office intends to be as …

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PG&E Can Pay Employees $350M to Meet Safety Goals After California Wildfires

PG&E Corp. can pay employees up to $350 million in bonuses this year to spur them to help meet the bankrupt California power provider’s safety goals to prevent wildfires, a judge said on Tuesday. PG&E’s management has said the company …

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Total Reinsurance Capital Drops in 2018, but Alternative Capital Keeps Rising: Willis Re

While total dedicated reinsurance capital dropped in 2018, alternative capital continued its steady rise, according to a report published by Willis Re. Total dedicated reinsurance capital – which includes traditional and alternative capital – dropped 5 percent to US$462 billion …

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Services, Intellectual Property on U.S.-China Trade Talk Agenda for Next Week

U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will travel to Beijing for trade talks beginning on April 30, the White House said in a statement on Tuesday. It said Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, who will lead …

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How a Business Can Move from Novice to Expert in Cyber Defense Best Practices

Sixty-one percent of firms surveyed for insurer Hiscox had a cyber attack in the past year, compared to 45% in 2018. Meanwhile, the median cost for cyber incidents losses soared from $229,000 to $369,000. While those numbers are of concern, …

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Contractor Sues Massachusetts City for $1M in Unpaid Work

A contractor alleging breach of contract is suing a Massachusetts city for $1 million. The MetroWest Daily News reports that Lupachino & Salvatore alleges Framingham, Mass., illegally withheld payments related to the renovation of a city ice skating rink. The …

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New York State Senate Launches Vaccination Push Amid Measles Outbreak

Members of the New York state Senate are joining the fight to encourage people to get vaccinated amid an ongoing measles outbreak in the state. Lawmakers in the Democrat-led chamber launched a public awareness campaign on Monday designed to give …

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Paquin Insurance Agency Joins OceanPoint Insurance Agency in Rhode Island

Paquin Insurance Agency has joined OceanPoint Insurance Agency’s organization in Rhode Island. Paquin Agency Principal Rick Paquin has accepted a position as vice president for OceanPoint, and he and his brother, Greg, will continue to serve the local community from …

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Lawyers Expect Wave of Litigation Targeting Popular Heart Drugs

Dozens of lawsuits have been filed against drug makers and sellers over widely prescribed generic heart medications tainted with potential carcinogens, the first claims in what some lawyers expect to be a wave of litigation. Millions of Americans have taken …

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Government, Businesses Must Work Together to Safeguard Internet: British Spy Chief

The head of Britain’s GCHQ spy agency on Wednesday will call on businesses and the finance sector to work with intelligence officials to help secure the internet and protect customers online. In extracts of a speech to be given at …

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Aon Combines Construction & Engineering and Inland Marine Teams into Global Unit

Aon plc announced it has combined its Construction & Engineering and Inland Marine teams into a single, dedicated global unit within its Reinsurance Solutions business. The new Global Construction & Inland Marine practice aligns with the approach of many reinsurance …

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Mozambique Braces for Another Powerful Cyclone, Just One Month After Idai

Tropical Cyclone Kenneth is gathering strength on a track to strike northern Mozambique Friday, less than a month after a storm came ashore further to the south and killed more than 1,000 people. Kenneth has top winds of 52 miles …

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Architect Who Died 140 Years Ago Left Detailed Guide for Rebuilding Notre Dame

Eugene Viollet-le-Duc is still the man to go to when it comes to restoring Notre Dame, even though he died nearly 140 years ago. As a young architect in Paris, Viollet-le-Duc made it his life’s work to preserve the iconic …

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Customers of Florida Spa in Kraft Case File Class Action Suit Against Police

Nearly three dozen men and women have filed a federal class-action lawsuit accusing Florida authorities of unlawfully videotaping them as they received legal massages at a parlor where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and others allegedly paid for sex. …

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Alphabet’s Wing Is First Commercial Drone Unit Certified as Airline

An offshoot of Alphabet Inc.’s Google has become the first drone operator to receive government approval as an airline, an important step that gives it the legal authority to begin dropping products to actual customers. The subsidiary, Wing Aviation LLC, …

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For Specialty Insurance Firm K2, It’s Time for a New Private Equity Firm

San Diego, Calif.-based K2 Insurance Services LLC is in the process of recapitalizing with a new private equity firm, one of the owners has confirmed. Privately-held K2 is a specialty insurance services holding company with a diverse set of program …

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Pharma Executives Charged with Opioid Distribution Conspiracy

Federal prosecutors unveiled the first criminal charges against pharmaceutical executives for illegally diverting opioids, accusing the former chief executive officer and the head of compliance at a major U.S. drug distributor with a narcotics conspiracy. Laurence F. Doud III, who …

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North Carolina-Based Medical Mutual Rebrands as ‘Curi’

Medical Mutual Holdings, Inc., is rebranding to Curi, a new name and brand that the company says better reflects its mission of helping physicians in medicine, business, and in their personal lives. “The Curi name captures the constant curiosity that …

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Ferber Named CEO of South Carolina-Based Dovetail Insurance

Dovetail Insurance, an insurtech company serving independent agents providing small commercial insurance, has appointed Michael Ferber as chief executive officer, effective immediately. Dovetail is a member of Victor, the global managing general underwriter. Ferber is an industry veteran with experience …

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California State Fund Launching Utilization Review Solution

California State Fund announced the rollout of a solution the worker’s comp carrier says will enable doctors to provide expedited care for injured workers. State Fund’s utilization review technology, called UR Connected, is designed to speed up the approval process …

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California Wildfires Helped Drive Homeowners Premium Volume in Surplus Lines

Wildfires have evidently been driving more Californians into the surplus lines market, pushing up homeowners surplus premium volume to more than $122 billion in 2018, according to the Surplus Line Association of California. “We have seen over the last five …

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Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California Declares $3M Dividend for 2019

Nonprofits Insurance Alliance of California has declared a $3 million dividend in 2019. The group will issue the dividend to its qualifying member-insured 501(c)(3) nonprofits renewing their policies from June 1, 2019, to May 31, 2020. NIAC’s dividend plan issues …

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Southern California Agent Arrested for Bogus Policy Scam

Angel Estrada, 22, a formerly licensed insurance producer and owner of Angel Estrada Agency, swindled a national insurer out of more than $140,000 in commissions by writing bogus commercial insurance policies to earn large commissions, the California Department of Insurance …

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Everest Launches Lawyers Professional Liability Policy

Everest Insurance has released a new lawyers professional liability policy – Everest Elevation – designed to provide law firms with liability coverage for financial loss suffered by third parties arising from acts, errors, and omissions in providing legal services. Everest …

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Duke Energy to Appeal Order to Excavate North Carolina Coal Ash

The country’s largest electric company says it’s challenging an order by North Carolina’s environmental agency to excavate coal ash from all of its power plant sites in the state. Duke Energy Corp. said April 11 it will file an administrative …

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California Insurance Commissioner Rejects Petition to Require Fossil Fuel Underwriting Disclosure

California’s new commissioner wasn’t getting along so well on Earth Day with groups of climate change and consumer activists. California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, who put battling climate change on top of a liberal and consumer friendly platform on his …

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Audit Criticizes Spending Practices of Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance Execs

The governing board of Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance has recommended that its chief executive take a pay cut and lose his long-term job contract in favor of year-to-year probation. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the action follows an audit that criticized …

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Study: $76.4M in Texas Home Values Erased by Flooding Tied to Sea Level Rise

New research shows that increased tidal flooding caused by sea level rise has eroded $76.4 million in relative property values along the Texas coast between 2005 and 2017. That’s according to a peer-reviewed housing market study by data scientists from …

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FEMA Transfers More Flood Risk with $300M Cat Bond

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has again turned to private reinsurance markets to help strengthen the financial framework of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Last week FEMA entered into a three-year reinsurance agreement, effective April 17, 2019, with …

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Swine Virus Causes Panic Among Chinese Farmers as 80% Decide Not to Restock

Most Chinese hog farms are choosing not to replenish herds as a deadly swine virus continues to spread across the world’s top pork market. More than 80 percent of farms are deciding not to restock, according to China’s Agriculture Ministry. …

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U.S Now Probing 12 Million Air Bags for Possible Deadly Electrical Flaw

The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating a possible deadly flaw in some 12.3 million vehicles that could prevent air bags from deploying in a crash. The agency is examining air-bag control units supplied by parts maker ZF-TRW …

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Axon Underwriting Forms Axon Re to Offer Cargo, Stock Throughput Reinsurance in Latin America

Axon Underwriting Services LLC, the Somerville, N.J. based specialty lines program administrator, announced the formation of Axon Re to offer its cargo and stock throughput reinsurance program within the Latin American region. Axon Re will provide facultative and treaty reinsurance …

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Texas Company to Pay $85K to Settle Age Discrimination Suit

Federal officials say a Fort Worth, Texas-based company will pay $85,000 to settle an age discrimination lawsuit. The suit against Atlas Energy Group LLC was brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Under the settlement, Atlas Energy also …

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Oregon Crash Kills Uber Passenger

Portland, Ore. police say a man driving a stolen pickup truck 100 mph crashed into a sport-utility vehicle, killing an Uber passenger. Police believe the pickup truck driver was under the influence of intoxicants when he collided head-on with the …

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Crocker Joins Alliant Insurance Services as VP in Austin

has joined Alliant Insurance Services has added Billy Crocker as vice president in its Austin office. Crocker joins Alliant with an extensive track record of results in the property/casualty insurance arena. He is highly regarded by clients for his ability …

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Weinstein’s Former Companies, Directors, Officers Off the Hook for Sexual Misconduct Claims

Harvey Weinstein’s former companies and their officers and directors were dismissed from a federal lawsuit filed by 10 women, who claim the firms and executives aided the alleged sexual misconduct that led to the movie mogul’s ouster. The women — …

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Municipalities Try to Reassure Investors on Climate Risks in Bond Offerings

When Miami Beach borrowed $162 million from Wall Street this week, it wanted investors to know rising seas and extreme weather are a real risk to the city and that it’s doing something about it. An increasing number of states …

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World Insurance Associates Acquires Connecticut’s Lampe-Batkin Associates

World Insurance Associates LLC, an independent insurance agency headquartered in Tinton Falls, N.J., completed its 40th acquisition with Lampe-Batkin Associates LLC of Greenwich, Conn., on April 1, 2019. Lampe-Batkin Associates LLC is a family-run insurance agency that serves the communities …

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Home Improvement Contractor in Maine Charged with Manslaughter

The owner of a home improvement company charged with manslaughter following the death of a worker is set for a court hearing. The Portland Press Herald reports the arraignment of Saco-based contractor, Shawn D. Purvis, is scheduled for May 20 …

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Cops Draw Blood to Catch Impaired Drivers

It was about 6:30 on a Friday night in January when Phoenix Police Det. Kemp Layden pulled over a white Jeep Cherokee that was speeding and weaving in and out of its lane. The 47-year-old driver spoke slowly, his eyes …

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Marsh, Guy Carpenter and JLT to Merge Latin America Facultative Reinsurance Units

Marsh and Guy Carpenter, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Marsh & McLennan Cos. (MMC), announced that, subject to regulatory approvals, they would combine their Latin American facultative reinsurance operations with those of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT), which was acquired …

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Commuter Train Hits Truck in Massachusetts, Injuring Three

Officials in Bridgewater, Mass., say a pickup truck with three people inside was hit by a commuter rail train after the truck driver apparently went around a railroad crossing gate. The Boston Globe reports the accident happened Saturday morning in …

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Liberty Specialty Markets Promotes Silvestre to Deputy Manager for France

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has promoted Emmanuel Silvestre to deputy general manager of its French operation. He reports to Richard Deguettes, general manager for France. Based in Paris, Silvestre will retain his position as …

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Powerful Earthquake Strikes Philippines, Causing Deaths and Damage

A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Philippines on Tuesday, hitting the central region hours after at least 15 people were killed by a tremor in the main Luzon island. Fourteen of the dead were from Pampanga province, among the hardest hit …

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Notre Dame Fire Should Be Wake-Up Call for State of Other European Monuments

It’s a thin line where the patina of age on Europe’s countless monuments gives way to the onset of neglect. Like with so many loved ones, all is assumed to be fine, until suddenly it’s not. In the wake of …

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Brown & Riding Adds Katz in Colorado to Environmental Practice Group

Brown & Riding’s environmental practice group has added Tricia Katz to its team of environmental-focused insurance brokers. Katz works out of Denver, Colo. She specializes in assisting contracting risks with the placement of environmental products as well as stand-alone contractors …

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J&J Asks Federal Court to Assume Baby Powder Lawsuits from State Courts

Johnson & Johnson wants a federal judge to take over more than 2,000 baby-powder lawsuits it faces instead of allowing the cases to be heard by state-court juries, where the company has a mixed record. The world’s largest maker of …

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AAIS Gets Insurance Department Approval for CannaBOP in Colorado

The American Association of Insurance Services has received approval for its cannabis businessowners policy (CannaBOP) program from the Colorado Department of Insurance. AAIS announced it filed for approval of the program in Colorado earlier this month. AAIS first introduced CannaBOP …

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Student Sues Apple for $1 Billion, Blames Face-Recognition Tech for False Arrest

Apple is being sued for $1 billion in damages by an 18-year-old college student who blames the company’s facial recognition software for his false arrest and for wrongly tying him to thefts at Apple stores in several states. The plaintiff …

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Florida Contractor Accused of $40K AOB Insurance Fraud Scheme

A restoration contracting company owner was arrested this month in Florida for allegedly stealing more than $40,000 from consumers who assigned their insurance benefits to him through assignment of benefits (AOB) contracts, according to a statement from Florida CFO Jimmy …

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Strong Storms Cause Tornadoes, Deaths Across Southeast

Strong storms roared across the Southeast last week, killing at least two in Mississippi and a woman in Alabama while leaving more than 100,000 people without power across Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. A girl was also killed in Florida …

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North Dakota ‘Marsy’s Law’ Case Questions Whether Insurer Is a ‘Victim’

The North Dakota Supreme Court could soon clarify who is considered a victim under Marsy’s Law, which embedded victim’s rights into the state constitution. The high court is expected to rule in the upcoming months in a case that uses …

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North Dakota Governor Signs Health Reinsurance Bill

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has signed a bill that allows for establishing a reinsurance pool for the individual health insurance market in that state. House Bill 1106, backed by the North Dakota Department of Insurance, was passed unanimously by …

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California Workers’ Comp Medical Dispute Resolution Letters Rose Last Year, Study Shows

After dipping for the first time ever in 2017, the number of workers’ comp medical dispute decision letters rose to an all-time high in 2018, according to a California Workers’ Compensation Institute study on the Independent Medical Review process used …

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ProAg Announces Agreement to Acquire AmTrust Ag in Kansas

Producers Ag Insurance Group Inc. announced an agreement to acquire Leawood, Kan.-based AmTrust Agriculture Insurance Services. The deal, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close by May 1. AmTrust Ag, a subsidiary of AmTrust Financial Services Inc., …

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Brown & Brown Acquires Assets of ALMEA Insurance in Washington

Brown & Brown of Oregon LLC has acquired substantially all of the assets of ALMEA Insurance’s Vancouver, Wash. location. Following the deal, the ALMEA Insurance team will continue doing business from its existing Vancouver location as a branch location of …

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Murder of South Carolina College Student Prompts Uber Safety Changes

Uber Technologies Inc. said it was rolling out new safety features to help riders avoid fake rideshare drivers, two weeks after the murder of a college student who got into her killer’s car mistakenly believing it was her ride. The …

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NOAA Upgrades Hurricane Michael to Category 5

Hurricane Michael, which devastated a swath of the Florida Panhandle last fall, has been upgraded to a Category 5 storm, only the fourth to make recorded landfall in the United States and the first since 1992. The announcement by the …

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Study Shows Wisconsin’s Workforce Population Threaten by Migration

Wisconsin has seen a steep decline in net migration of families with children and this could be problematic for efforts to replace the state’s aging workforce, according to a new report. The Wisconsin Counties Association’s nonpartisan research arm, Forward Analytics, …

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Montana Passes Workers’ Compensation Law for Firefighters

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock has signed a bill to make it easier for firefighters to receive workers’ compensation for cancer and other occupational diseases. The bill signing ends a 20-year fight for firefighters’ workers’ compensation claims to be presumed valid …

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Oklahoma Passes Law Hiking Turnpike, Highway Speeds

Legislation that increases speed limits on Oklahoma turnpikes and some state highways has been signed into law by Gov. Kevin Stitt. The bill signed by Stitt last week increases turnpike speed limits from 75 to 80 mph and from 70 …

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City Council in Hawaii Advances Vacation Rental Bills

The Honolulu City Council has advanced two bills aimed at providing regulations on short-term vacation rentals on Oahu. Both bills now go back to the Council Planning Committee, as interim Council Chairwoman Ann Kobayashi proposes a new draft of Bill …

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California Lawsuit Claims Dispensary Sold Pesticide-Tainted Pot

An unlicensed marijuana dispensary sold cannabis sprayed with a dangerous pesticide, the city of Los Angeles said in a lawsuit that’s part of a wide-ranging crackdown on illegal pot sales. Marijuana sold at Kush Club 20 contained paclobutrazol, a fungicide …

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Oregon County Settles for $100K in Blue Lives Matter Flag Case

An Oregon county has agreed to pay $100,000 to a black employee who sued after a co-worker pinned up a Blue Lives Matter flag in the office. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Karimah Guion-Pledgure alleged in her January lawsuit against Multnomah …

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SCOR Global P&C Grows Reinsurance Premiums by 9.6% During April Renewals

SCOR Global P&C grew its gross written premiums by 9.6 percent, at constant exchange rates, to €548 million ($616 million), during the April 1 reinsurance renewals. In the aftermath of the events in 2018, catastrophe reinsurance treaties “responded rationally” during …

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Supreme Court to Weigh If U.S. Job Bias Law Protects Gay, Transgender Employees

The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether federal law bars employers from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, accepting cases that could let the court’s new conservative majority put its imprint on the American workplace. The …

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Europe’s Storm Dragi-Eberhard Costs Insurers Estimated €740M ($831.8M): PERILS

The initial insured property losses for extratropical cyclone “Dragi-Eberhard,” which hit the British Isles, and Western and Central Europe on March 9-10, 2019, are estimated at €740 million ($831.8 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide …

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Hannover Re Cuts Exposure to Coal-Based Risks, Limiting Investments, Underwriting

Hannover Re announced it is scaling back its exposure to coal-fired power plants and coal mines, joining a growing list of re/insurers that have made similar moves. In addition to excluding coal-based projects from its investment portfolio, Hannover Re said, …

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Everest Insurance Hires Gregg as Vice President in New York City

Everest Insurance has hired Dawn Gregg as a vice president within the Risk Management division. In this role, Gregg will focus on growing the Everest Insurance portfolio of large primary casualty risk management accounts within the Eastern region. She will …

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Rhode Island High Court Vacates Lower Court Decision in Drowning Case

The Rhode Island Supreme Court has vacated a lower court’s decision that ruled in favor of a swimming pool retailer sued by the parents of a 4-year-old boy who drowned in one of their pools. Raymond Oliver and Tiffany Gear …

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New Hampshire Senate Passes Bill to Boost Workplace Safety

The 2016 death of a Northfield Highway Department worker has led to the passage of bill aimed at improving workplace safety for New Hampshire’s public sector employees. The bill, which passed the House last month and won unanimous support Thursday …

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Warmth, Snowmelt, Rain Raise Flood Concerns in New England

A combination of warm weather, rain and melting snow was feeding floodwaters in low-lying areas of Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine on Saturday. No injuries were reported, but in Vermont the Stowe swift water rescue team was staging in the …

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Class Action Defense Costs Rising; Wave of Cyber Actions Predicted

The overall cost to large businesses of defending against class action lawsuits continues to rise even as the number of companies sued falls. This is happening because more companies being sued are facing multiple suits and the cases have become …

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Most Risky Passwords Are Team Names, Fictional Characters, Pop Stars and ‘123456’

British football fans should be wary of rooting for their team by making them a password. Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Everton are all passwords that have been compromised hundreds of thousand of times, according to research published by …

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AI Startup Cytora Raises $32.5M to Expand Commercial Insurance Products, Geographies

Cytora, the London-based provider of artificial intelligence-powered solutions for the commercial insurance industry, announced it has raised £25 million ($32.5 million) in new financing, which will be used to accelerate expansion of the company’s product suite as well as its …

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Sompo International Appoints Brazil as CEO of SI Insurance (Europe)

Sompo International Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty re/insurance, announced that Thomas Brazil will become chief executive officer of SI Insurance (Europe), SA, the company’s platform for European Economic Area (EEA) insurance business. Brazil has held …

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Why It’s Difficult to Insure Iconic Properties Such as Notre Dame

Rebuilding Notre Dame, the 800-year-old Paris cathedral devastated by fire last week, will cost billions of dollars as architects, historians and artisans work to preserve the medieval landmark. But contrary to what one might think, little of the money will …

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SLTX: Surplus Lines Insurance Bills Advancing in Texas

The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) reported that several bills that would affect the surplus lines insurance industry in the state have advanced in the state Legislature. HB 1940, relating to the eligibility of surplus lines insurers to …

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Louisiana Company to Pay $25K to Settle Federal Disability Lawsuit

Federal regulators say a Louisiana company that operates a fleet of off-shore work boats in the Gulf of Mexico discriminated against and fired employee due to perceived disability. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a disability lawsuit against …

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Wuthrich Named Executive Director of Houston Independent Agents Group

The Independent Insurance Agents of Houston (IIAH) has named David Wuthrich as the group’s new executive director. Wuthrich is a native Houstonian and has worked in the insurance industry for many years. Most recently, Wuthrich has been developing and implementing …

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Suits Against Gun Seller Tied to Kansas Business Shootings Settled for $2M

The families of victims of a mass shooting at a central Kansas business in 2016 have won a $2 million legal settlement from a pawn shop that sold the firearms to the shooter’s girlfriend. The settlement of three lawsuits in …

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Wisconsinites Push for Safeguards in Prescription Drug Step Therapy Process

People struggling with chronic diseases joined doctors and other advocates in making the case on April 17 for a bipartisan proposal in the Wisconsin Legislature designed to make it easier for patients to get needed prescription drugs even when insurance …

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Fitch Keeps Stable Outlook for P/C Insurers After Underwriting Profit in 2018

After two consecutive years of combined ratios above 100, the U.S. property/casualty industry returned to a modest statutory underwriting profit in 2018 as catastrophe losses slowed, premium growth accelerated and several key product segments enjoyed favorable results, according to Fitch …

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NFP Names Wentz Plan Advisor in Utah

NFP has named Brandi Wentz a plan advisor for retirement services. Wentz will work in the Utah market with retirement plan committees and administrators on delivering NFP’s suite of retirement plan advisory, and other investment services. Wentz has with her …

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Fight Against Floods Enlists Supercomputers, Drones, Sonar

An arsenal of new technology is being put to the test fighting floods this year as rivers inundate towns and farm fields across the central United States. Drones, supercomputers and sonar that scans deep under water are helping to maintain …

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Travelers’ Close to Lead Valent Group’s Alabama P&C Brokerage, Service Dept.

Valent Group, the risk consulting and insurance division of EBSCO Industries (EBSCO), has hired Kurt Close to lead its Birmingham, Ala.-based property and casualty broking and service departments. Close comes to Valent Group after from Travelers Insurance, where he oversaw …

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AssuredPartners Acquires Premier Insurance Corp. of Florida

AssuredPartners, Inc. is has acquired Premier Insurance Corporation, Inc. of Cape Coral, Fla. Premier specializes in property and casualty insurance, workers compensation, employee benefits, and life insurance. Premier and their team of seven employees will continue to be managed and …

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Lower Catastrophe Losses Help Boost Q1 Profit for Travelers

Insurer Travelers Companies Inc.’s quarterly profit beat analysts’ estimates on Thursday, as improved underwriting and lower catastrophe losses offset a decline in net investment income, sending its shares to a more than one-year high. Shares of the Dow-component rose as …

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Car Sharing Lobbyists Battle Car Renting Lobbyists, Driving State Lawmakers Crazy

The bill that turned Illinois into the focal point of a bitter debate over car-sharing last year started as a proposal about what happens when a rental car is stolen. The legislation, which would allow rental companies to punish customers …

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Official ESG Evaluations from S&P Coming to Insurance Sector in Near Future

If you’re among those who regard “Environmental, social and governance” as just another in a long line of trendy buzz-phrases, then you may have to rethink your thinking. ESG standards, which companies use to highlight operations that interest socially conscious …

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Island Insurance in Hawaii Names Tanoue Vice President, General Counsel

Island Insurance Company Ltd. in Hawaii has named Michael Tanoue vice president and general counsel. In this Tanoue is responsible for strategic initiatives, policy management, legal strategy, compliance and regulatory filings. He has nearly 35 years of legal experience, most …

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Oklahoma Prescription Drug ‘Step Therapy’ Bill Signed Into Law

A bill intended to protect patients from a harmful insurance practice known as ‘step therapy’ has been signed into law by Governor Kevin Stitt. Senate Bill 509, authored by Rep. Cyndi Munson (D-OKC) and Sen. Dave Rader (R-Tulsa), requires any …

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Oklahoma Bill Increasing Highway Speed Limits Signed by Governor

Gov. Kevin Stitt today signed a bill into law that will increase the speed limit on Oklahoma turnpikes from 75 to 80 miles per hour and on certain state highways from 70 to 75 miles per hour. Rep. Daniel Pae, …

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U.S. Senate Hearing Focuses on Missouri River Flood Prevention

The federal agency that manages dams along the Missouri River received stern criticism from several U.S. senators Wednesday during a hearing held in Iowa to examine the massive spring flooding this year that caused more than $3 billion in damage …

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Waco Surf Park Hit with Suit Over Man’s Death From ‘Brain-Eating Amoeba’

The mother of a New Jersey man who died of a rare “brain-eating amoeba” after visiting a Texas surf resort has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the water park. Health officials say testing found evidence of the rare but …

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ASSP Names Ballman Director of Professional Development

The American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP), based in Park Ridge, Illinois, has named Chris Ballman director of professional development. Ballman will oversee the Society’s comprehensive educational offerings that advance the careers of occupational safety and health professionals worldwide. He …

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Stolen High-End Cars Recovered in Chicago Car-Sharing Fraud

Daimler AG and BMW AG’s joint car-sharing and mobility business has suspended service in Chicago after a fraud incident. Some vehicles may have been rented using deceptive means through Share Now’s mobile app, according to the Chicago Police Department. Multiple …

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LA Archdiocese to Pay $8M Payment in Sex Abuse Case

The Archdiocese of Los Angeles has agreed to pay $8 million to a teenager who was sexually abused by the athletic director at her Catholic high school who had continued to work despite prior allegations of misconduct, it was announced …

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AIG Settles Another Claim Against Cosby, Who Again Blasts Insurer

Bill Cosby’s insurance company has settled another lawsuit filed by a female accuser a week before the imprisoned comedian was set to give a deposition in the case, prompting Cosby to call the insurer “complicit” in a scheme to destroy …

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FAA Board Says Boeing 737 Max Software Fix Won’t Require Added Training

A board of pilot experts appointed by U.S. aviation regulators has reviewed Boeing Co.’s proposed software fix for the grounded 737 Max aircraft and concluded that pilots won’t need additional simulator training once the plane is returned to service. The …

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Investors Sue Lyft, Alleging IPO ‘Overhyped’

Lyft Inc. was sued by investors who claim the ride-sharing company overstated its market position when it went public last month, leading to a dramatic plunge in its stock price. Two separate class-action complaints against Lyft, as well as its …

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Tsunami-Wrecked Fukushima Nuclear Plant Begins Fuel Removal in Melted Reactor

The operator of the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant began removing fuel Monday [April 15] from a cooling pool at one of three reactors that melted down in the 2011 disaster, a milestone in what will be a decades-long process to …

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Driving Truck in Georgia While Sitting in California; Remote Control Driving Beats Autonomy

For four days in February, Ben Shukman showed up to his office at Phantom Auto in Mountain View, California, sat down in front of a bank of computer screens with a steering wheel in a darkened room, and began driving. …

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Munich Re Syndicate Singapore Partners with Lloyd’s Coverholder Nectar Specialty Risk

Munich Re Syndicate Singapore (MRSS) has formed a partnership with Nectar Specialty Risk Pte Ltd. (Nectar), a Singapore incorporated limited liability company and Lloyd’s coverholder that provides tailor-made re/insurance solutions. Nectar’s professional line products are offered under the trading name …

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New York Contractors Arrested in Workers’ Compensation Fraud Scheme

Two New York state contractors were arrested on charges they filed fraudulent applications for a roofing project in Amsterdam, N.Y., as part of a workers’ compensation fraud scheme. Jose A. Sanchez, owner of Sanchez Partners Construction, was charged with offering …

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Vermont Officials Assess Spring Flood Damage

Vermont state and local officials are assessing damage from flooding caused by heavy rains and snowmelt that led to road closures, some evacuations and a rescue from a flooded parking lot. Some roads remained closed Tuesday, but most of the …

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Some Connecticut Condo Associations Can Seek Crumbling Foundation Help

Some Connecticut condominium associations with crumbling foundations can seek financial help from the captive insurance company that’s been helping owners of stand-alone homes. Michael Maglaras, superintendent of the Connecticut Foundation Solutions Indemnity Company Inc., announced Monday that associations can apply …

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New Crop of Satellites Will Identify Biggest Contributors to Climate Change

A wave of satellites set to orbit the Earth will be able to pinpoint producers of greenhouse gases, right down to an individual leak at an oil rig. More than a dozen governments and companies have or are planning to …

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Canopius Signs Agreement to Purchase AmTrust at Lloyd’s

Canopius AG announced it has signed a definitive sale and purchase agreement to purchase AmTrust at Lloyd’s, a division of AmTrust Financial, subject to regulatory approval. Upon completion, which is expected in Q3 2019, the deal will result in the …

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Everest Insurance Ireland Opens UK Branch

Everest Insurance Ireland, dac (EIID), a part of the Everest Insurance international platform, has opened a branch office in the United Kingdom. EIID was established in 2017 and is led by CEO Linda Ryan, who manages the strategy and operational …

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Best Downgrades Credit Ratings of Alabama-Based Alfa Insurance Group Members

AM Best has downgraded the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a” from “a+” and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of the members of Alfa Insurance Group. In addition, AM Best has downgraded the Long-Term …

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Increase in Accidents on Scenic Tennessee Road Prompts Officials to Take Action

Officials with scenic Natchez Trace Parkway are reminding motorists that the roadway is designed for leisurely drives and not interstate-style speeds. Chief Ranger Sarah Davis says in a news release that actions are being taken to decrease accidents on the …

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States Warn of DNA Testing Fraudsters Stealing Personal Information

Authorities in several states are warning about an alleged scam in which people visit senior-living communities and low-income neighborhoods, offering to perform DNA tests and collecting information from people in government health programs. The alleged DNA-testing scams appear to be …

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30 Central Banks, Minus U.S., Call for More Green Financing, Better Climate Risk Assessment

With insurers shouldering a record $160 billion in climate-related losses from last year alone, a group including 30 central banks called for measures to spur green finance and better assessment of the risks from higher global temperatures. The move led …

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Facebook Opposes Release of Privacy Reports Used to Settle Litigation

Facebook Inc. will seek to block disclosures from years’ worth of privacy reports it submitted to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, according to filings in a lawsuit seeking the release of information in the documents. Facebook plans to intervene in …

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Sells Appointed Chief Information Officer for SUNZ Holdings of Florida

SUNZ Holdings, LLC, based in Bradenton, Fla., has appointed John Sells to the position of chief information officer. Sells will be in charge of IT initiatives and enterprise systems with a focus on digital transformation and deep usage of data …

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Florida AOB Reform Bill Passes Final Committee, Heads to Full Senate

A bill the Florida insurance industry says will help reign in assignment of benefits abuse that is plaguing the state and raising insurance costs has passed its final committee in the Florida Senate and is now headed to the full …

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Insurance Adjuster Reports 90% of Notre Dame Cathedral Treasure Saved from Fire

Some 90 percent of the priceless relics and art works housed within the Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral were saved from Monday’s devastating fire as contingency plans to evacuate the treasures worked, a leading insurance adjuster said on Wednesday. Insurance adjuster …

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PCF Insurance Services Acquires Grosslight Insurance in California

PCF Insurance Services has completed the acquisition of Grosslight Insurance Inc., headquartered in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, Calif. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Grosslight Insurance, with offices in Westwood and Rancho Cucamonga, was founded in 1950 …

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Palomar in California Announces IPO Pricing, Shares Rise 1st Day of Trading

La Jolla, Calif.-based Palomar Holdings Inc. this week announced the pricing of its initial public offering of its common stock at a price of $15 per share and in its first day of trading on Wednesday it had at one …

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Dodson Named NetVu Executive Director

The Vertafore technology users network, NetVU, has named Linda Dodson as executive director. Dodson’s career has included work in an insurance agency and with agency carriers. She began her insurance career with Rand Insurance Inc. in Riverside, Connecticut, in roles …

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Everest Enhances Multinational Product with Combined Coverage Offering

Everest Insurance has launched Everest Alpine Insurance – an enhanced version of its Multinational coverage form. Everest Alpine Insurance offers clients with international exposures a combination of the following six lines of coverage: general liability, contingent auto liability, business travel …

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Missouri Department Receives 8K Complaints Against Insurers in 3-Year Span

Over a three-year period between 2016 and 2018, the Missouri Department of Insurance received almost 8,000 complaints against companies providing selected lines of insurance, according to a report recently released by the department. Seven lines of business are covered in …

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Report: Insurance Industry Contributes $38B-Plus to Michigan’s Economy

A new report shows that in 2017, Michigan’s insurance industry made an economic contribution of more than $38 billion to the state’s economy. The report released by Insuring More for Michigan also shows that more than 80,000 individuals were directly …

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Texas Medical Providers to Pay $30K to Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

Tyler, Texas-based medical providers, Pulmonary Specialists of Tyler and Sleep Health, will pay $30,000 to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit brought by federal regulators. According to the lawsuit filed by U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Sleep Health required employees …

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Minnesota’s ProHost USA Acquired by Distinguished Programs

Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager headquartered in New York, has acquired Minneapolis, Minnesota-based ProHost USA, a specialty insurance program for restaurants and related risks. Distinguished currently offers umbrella coverage for the restaurant industry, and adding ProHost’s customized restaurant …

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Experts Give Texas Mixed Reviews on Disaster Preparedness

More than a year and a half after Hurricane Harvey slammed into Texas, killing dozens, the state is still waiting on billions in federal recovery dollars. In the meantime, Texas lawmakers are looking to prepare the state — the most …

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Cyber Insurance Demand, Supply, Awareness Continue to Grow: Marsh

The message about the need to take cyber risk and insurance seriously is getting through to companies and boardrooms. “As risk awareness has grown, more organizations, particularly those focused on their business interruption risk, are turning to the cyber insurance …

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Pennsylvania Insurance Department to Hold NextGen Academy for College Students

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Jessica Altman has announced that her department, along with a working group of stakeholders, will this summer hold the Pennsylvania NextGen Insurance Academy to provide college students with an up-close look at various careers in the insurance …

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Alliant Hires Walsh as Executive Vice President in New York

Alliant has hired Pat Walsh as executive vice president. In this role, the White Plains, N.Y.-based industry veteran will service a portfolio of clients that includes regional, national and international corporations. Walsh has a concentration in global property and casualty …

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Montana Senate Committee Brings Back Proposal for Tough DUI Laws

A Montana Senate committee has revived a bill to strengthen DUI laws by including it in a budget companion bill. The DUI bill, requested by Attorney General Tim Fox, was tabled by a House committee. Republican Sen. Keith Regier earlier …

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California Regulators Skeptical of PG&E’s Promise to Improve Safety

California regulators expressed skepticism that Pacific Gas & Electric Corp.’s new leaders have enough professional experience to instill the deep corporate culture of safety they say the company has lacked. The utility has been blamed for more than a dozen …

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New Jersey’s Meeker Sharkey & Hurley Appoints Crockett as VP of Personal Lines

Meeker Sharkey & Hurley has appointed Carrie-Ann Crockett as vice president of Personal Lines to lead the insurance agency’s team of personal line professionals providing home, auto and additional specialized coverage. The agency is a provider of employee benefits, risk …

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So You Comply with New York Reg. 500: Now What?

In March of 2017, the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS) implemented 23 NYCRR §500 (NY Reg. 500). In doing so, it became the first state regulatory authority to impose regulations that address cybersecurity concerns applicable to insurance-related entities …

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Supreme Court Justices Politely Debate Offensive Trademark

U.S. Supreme Court justices tiptoed around the offensive word at the center of a free speech case on Monday as they considered a challenge to a federal law that restricts trademarks on “immoral” and “scandalous” words and symbols. The nine …

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South Africa Food Producer Tiger Brands Faces Class Action Over Listeria Outbreak

South Africa’s leading food producer Tiger Brands said on Wednesday it will fight a class action lawsuit over its role in the world’s largest ever listeria outbreak. The listeriosis outbreak, the infection caused by the bacteria, killed more than 200 …

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Britain’s Financial Regulator to Review Its Rules for Post-Brexit Landscape

Britain’s markets watchdog will review its rules as the country readies to leave the European Union, the source of its financial regulation for decades. “Post-Brexit, we need to consider the future of regulation to ensure the regulatory landscape is fit …

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U.S. Firms in China Say Trade Deal Must Address Unequal Treatment

Frustrated U.S. businesses can no longer be counted on as a “positive anchor” in U.S.-China relations, a top U.S. business lobby said on Wednesday, arguing any deal to end trade tensions must address structural problems in China’s economic system. Long …

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Partner Re Names Colello to Lead P/C Business in U.S., Canada, Latin America

PartnerRe announced that Jonathan Colello will join the company effective July 1, 2019, as chief executive officer for P&C Americas, and president of Partner Reinsurance Co. of the U.S. In his new role, Colello will have executive responsibility for leading …

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Trump Clears Way for U.S. Suits Against Foreign Firms Operating in Cuba

The Trump administration will allow lawsuits in U.S. courts for the first time against foreign companies that use properties Communist-ruled Cuba confiscated after Fidel Castro’s revolution in the 1950s, a senior U.S. official said on Tuesday. The move, which will …

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Digital or Plastic? Or Both? States Experiment with Driver’s Licenses

Millions of people may be able to show their smartphones rather than a plastic card to prove they’re legit to drive, vote or buy a beer in coming years. Louisiana in July became the first state to make digital licenses …

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FDA Halts Sales of Surgical Mesh by 2 Firms Over Injury Claims

U.S. health regulators ordered two medical device companies to stop selling a surgical mesh used in pelvic repair surgeries, after thousands of claims by women that they were injured by the products. The Food and Drug Administration said it had …

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Hanover Offers Agents Small Business Platform Using CoverWallet Technology

The Hanover Insurance Group is debuting a digital platform to help independent agents acquire new small business customers including freelancers, contractors and other self-employed professionals. Calleed Insurago, the platform runs on technology from the digital agency CoverWallet, using analytics to …

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Miami Agent Accused of Pocketing $476K in Homeowners Insurance Scheme

A licensed Miami insurance agent has been arrested after she allegedly obtained and transferred more than 300 homeowner insurance policies without homeowners’ knowledge or consent and pocketed nearly $476,000 from the policy premium differences in this scheme, according to a …

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ProAssurance of Alabama Makes Management Changes, Taps Francis to Lead Healthcare PL

ProAssurance Corporation has revised its management structure for its newly formed Specialty P&C operating division. As previously announced, Michael L. Boguski will assume the presidency of Specialty P&C on May 13, 2019. In addition, industry veteran Robert D. Francis will …

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Mississippi Nuclear Plant Cited for 2 Low-Level Violations

A special inspection of a nuclear power plant in Mississippi has resulted in two low-level citations, as its operator says it has continued trying to make improvements. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission, in a March 29 report , says Entergy Corp. …

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Weekend Tornadoes Damaged More Than 250 Buildings Across Mississippi

Early assessments show Saturday’s tornado outbreak damaged more than 250 homes, businesses and public buildings across Mississippi. The National Weather Service has counted at least 10 tornadoes in Mississippi on Saturday, ranging from Escatawpa on the Gulf Coast as far …

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Suspect in Multiple Louisiana Church Fires Faces Hate Crime Charges

The white man suspected in the burning of three African American churches in Louisiana will remain in jail, denied bond Monday by a judge, as state prosecutors added new charges declaring the arsons a hate crime. Twenty-one-year-old Holden Matthews, the …

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France’s AXA Insures 2 Notre-Dame Contractors, Some Religious Artworks

French insurance firm AXA said on Tuesday it provided insurance coverage for two of the contracting firms that were working on Notre-Dame’s restoration prior to the blaze that devastated the cathedral. The fire ripped through the cathedral’s roof, where workers …

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Washington Commissioner Fines Pet Insurer $25K

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines in March totaling $158,000 against insurance companies, agents and brokers for violating state insurance regulations, including one fine of $25,000 levied against a pet insurer. Fines issued last month from Kreidler’s office included: …

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Cal/OSHA Cites Food Manufacturer, Staffing Agency $300K for Amputation of Worker’s Fingers

Cal/OSHA has cited two employers more than $300,000 after a temporary worker lost two fingers cleaning machinery at a food manufacturing facility in Los Angeles, Calif. On Oct. 2, 2018, the employee for Priority Workforce Inc. was reportedly assigned to …

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Insurance Office of America Adds Oliver to Western Region Team

Insurance Office of America has named Michael Oliver to its Western region team as a commercial insurance risk manager. He works out of Las Vegas, Nev. He was previously a commercial producer at NFP Property & Casualty Services Inc. IOA …

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Investor’s World-Famous Porsche Collection Damaged in N.C. Gas Explosion

The gas explosion that killed one person and injured 25 others in North Carolina also damaged a building that houses a rarely seen but world famous collection of Porsches. The Ingram Collection is housed next to the building in Durham …

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Oklahoma Judge: No Jury Trial in Case Against Drugmakers

An Oklahoma judge has ruled that he, not a jury, will decide the state’s case against several drug manufacturers for their alleged role in the nation’s deadly opioid crisis. The attorney general’s office says Cleveland County District Judge Thad Balkman …

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AAdvantage Insurance Group Adds Hutt, Reyes in Illinois

AAdvantage Insurance Group in Glen Carbon, Illinois, has hired Alexis Hutt as an account executive and Ana Reyes as a sales agent. Hutt will assist agents in procuring new business, as well as serving existing clients, while maintaining accuracy and …

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Georgia Gov. Blasts Congress for Inaction on Hurricane Aid Package

Georgia’s governor and other state leaders are blasting Congress over its failure to approve a package of disaster relief measures. The $14 billion aid package is desperately needed by farmers and others who suffered losses when Hurricane Michael swept across …

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Future of Insurance Firms Owned by Indicted N.C. Campaign Donor Uncertain

Insurance companies owned by a big-money donor accused of trying to bribe North Carolina’s top insurance regulator for easy treatment are on the sales block and under review by at least one rating agency. Entrepreneur Greg Lindberg was indicted earlier …

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Alleging Shoddy Stadium Work, University of Akron Sues Companies

The University of Akron in Ohio is suing several companies over the condition of railings in the school’s stadium, saying shoddy construction and design led to $1 million in needed repairs. The university lawsuit included photographs that show railings at …

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Costs Adding Up for Texas Fuels Storage Operator After Fire, Chemical Spill

The costs of a massive fire and chemical spill at a Houston petrochemical facility in March have begun trickling out, with a local official on Monday estimating emergency response costs at $800,000 for the first two weeks of the disaster …

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Hilb Group Expands Into Arkansas with Walker Brothers Insurance Acquisition

The Hilb Group LLC (THG) has acquired Arkansas-based Walker Brothers Insurance Inc. (WBI), effective April 1, 2019. Formed in 1932, WBI is a full-service retail agency primarily focused on commercial property/casualty insurance for small to medium sized businesses. WBI’s employees, …

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Ohio Freight Hauler Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud, Must Repay $144K

The owner of a Mansfield, Ohio, freight hauling and trucking company convicted on four felony charges related to workers’ compensation fraud, has been ordered to pay the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) $144,400 in restitution. The BWC reported that …

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Massachusetts Construction Company, Owner to Pay $123K for Wage Law Violations

A Massachusetts construction company and its owner will pay $123,430 in restitution and penalties to settle allegations that it violated Massachusetts wage and hour laws, Attorney General Maura Healey announced. The AG’s Office issued two citations against WCP Construction Corp. …

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Government and Benefactors, Not Insurers, Expected to Bear Cost of Notre-Dame Fire, Rebuilding

Major European insurers expect France to bear the bulk of the cost of rebuilding the Notre-Dame Cathedral after a fire tore through the eight-centuries-old Paris landmark on Monday. The cost of a likely multi-year restoration project could itself take a …

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Corporate, Individual Donations Pour In for Effort to Restore Notre Dame

France’s luxury-goods tycoons are among the country’s wealthiest individuals and companies to pledge at least 600 million euros ($678 million) to help in the reconstruction of Notre-Dame cathedral a day after the Paris landmark was ravaged by fire. Kicking off …

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Sutter Health in California Settling Medicare Allegations for $30M

A Northern California health care provider has agreed to pay $30 million to settle allegations that it overcharged the federal government for Medicare patient reimbursements. Sutter Health didn’t acknowledge any liability in the settlement announced Friday by the U.S. Department …

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Montana Regulator Warns of Bad Insurance Policies Being Peddled

Montana’s insurance commissioner says a Tennessee man is peddling unauthorized car insurance policies. Commissioner Matthew Rosendale sent a cease-and-desist letter last week to Mervin Graber of Whiteville, Tenn., after about 20 people bought policies, most of them in the Flathead …

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Family Man Who Died Outside Oregon Denny’s Sues Killer, Security Firm For $10M

The family of a man shot to death by a security guard outside a Salem, Ore. restaurant is suing his attacker, and the security company that employed him, for $10 million. The Statesman Journal reported the negligence of Homefront Security …

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Amenity Analytics Raises $18 Million from Starr, Allstate, Others for Text Analysis Tool

Starr Companies and Allstate have contributed to an $18 million financing round for Amenity Analytics, a startup developing cloud-based analytics designed to help businesses analyze text on a massive scale. The New York-based startup said that both Starr and Starr …

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Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Partners with Connecticut’s Wilson Agency

Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc. (S&S) has partnered with The Wilson Agency Inc. of Shelton, Conn. The Wilson Agency is a third generation, family owned and operated agency serving Fairfield County and the Naugatuck Valley for more than 65 …

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World Insurance Associates Merges with New Jersey’s Professional Insurance Associates

World Insurance Associates LLC, an independent insurance agency headquartered in Tinton Falls, N.J., merged with Professional Insurance Associates Inc. (PIA) of Carlstadt, N.J., on March 1, 2019. Professional Insurance Associates has been meeting the insurance needs of both commercial and …

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Royer Named Head of Liability for Zurich Canada

Marco Royer has been named head of Liability for Zurich Canada. Royer will be responsible for leading the underwriting teams in Zurich Canada’s liability portfolio, including casualty, energy casualty, construction liability, environmental liability and commercial automobile. Royer will also oversee …

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EU Parliament Approves Law Establishing Basic Rights for Gig Workers

The European Parliament on Tuesday approved a law setting minimum rights for workers in the “gig economy,” a move that may benefit Uber drivers, Deliveroo and Just Eat food couriers and others. Gig workers are usually treated as independent contractors …

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Argo Urges Shareholders to Reject Voce’s Claims at Annual Meeting

Argo Group is urging shareholders to reject allegations of “reckless behavior” and “poorly researched claims” from activist stockholder Voce Capital Management when the company’s annual shareholder meeting takes place on May 24. Those rebuttals are part of a letter that …

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Ruling on Stabbing Prompts Calls for National Workplace Violence Prevention Standard

A federal commission decision that an employer had a duty to protect a social services worker who was stabbed to death by a client, even though the company did not violate any specific safety standard, reinvigorated advocates who are calling …

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Farmers Grow to Like Crop of Technologies Helping Them Manage Weather Risk

When surprise hailstorms hit the 6,000 acres Trevor Scherman plants each year with peas, wheat, canola and lentils, his first move isn’t to his truck to assess the damage. These days, it’s to his iPad. Nine mini-weather stations from the …

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Supreme Court Denies Drug Maker’s Use of Native American Tribe to Shield Patents

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday cast aside pharmaceutical company Allergan Plc’s unorthodox bid to shield patents from a federal administrative court’s review by transferring them to a Native American tribe. The justices left in place a lower court ruling …

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Strong Tower in Arizona Names Anderson Vice President of Personal Lines

Strong Tower Insurance Group in Arizona has named Aaron A. Anderson vice president of personal lines. He was previously with American National as an agency development manager. He was a district sales manager for American Family Insurance before that. Strong …

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Vienna Insurance Discloses Previously Unreported S Immo Stake

Vienna Insurance Group AG disclosed a previously unreported stake in Austrian commercial property firm S Immo AG after Bloomberg reported last week that it’s trying to sell the shares. The insurer currently owns 6.64 million shares in S Immo, about …

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California Earthquake Governing Board Votes to Sponsor Resilient Homes Initiative

The California Earthquake Authority’s governing board has voted to sponsor and support the Resilient Homes Initiative, a bill aimed at helping Californians prepare for earthquakes by restructuring the CEA to strengthen its long-term financial sustainability and increase the number and …

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Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris Hit by Major Fire

A major fire ripped through Notre-Dame cathedral in central Paris late Monday, forcing the evacuation of thousands of visitors and causing French President Emmanuel Macron to postpone a planned speech to the nation. Live television footage showed flames engulfing the …

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Proposed Bill Would End Texas’ Controversial Driver Responsibility Program

Texas’ Driver Responsibility Program (DRP) would be repealed under a bill considered by the Senate Finance Committee, the state Senate reported. The program has been heavily criticized for the financial burden it places on those affected, according to the Senate’s …

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Louisiana Diocese Releases List of Priests Accused of Sex Abuse

The U.S. Catholic diocese where the first widely reported case of clergy sex abuse became public in the 1980s released a list Friday of 33 priests and four deacons credibly accused of sexually abusing a minor or vulnerable adult. The …

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Indiana Bill Would Allow Money for School Alert Systems Statewide

Gov. Eric Holcomb is expected to sign a bill that would allow Indiana school districts to seek state money for alert systems to warn students and staff about emergencies. The bill would permit all 92 counties to request grants from …

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Motorists File Suits over Damage from Potholes on I-69 in Indiana

Dozens of drivers have filed tort claims seeking money from the state of Indiana after their cars were damaged while driving on a 15-mile (24 kilometers), pothole-afflicted section of Interstate 69. The problematic stretch of highway extends between mile markers …

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Census: Number of Kansas Farms Drops 5% in 5 Years

The government’s latest Census of Agriculture for Kansas shows the number of farms in the state has dropped 5% from the count taken five years earlier. The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Thursday that there were 58,569 farms in Kansas …

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Indiana Company Recalls Melon Products Linked to Salmonella

An Indianapolis-based company has issued a recall for melon products sold in 16 states after being linked to a salmonella outbreak. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said Friday that the recall includes cut watermelon, honeydew and cantaloupe produced by …

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California State Fund Reports Increase in Net Income in 2018

California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund reported an increase of net income and written premium in its just-released annual report for 2018. Financial highlights of the 2018 annual report include: Net income of $187 million, up from $40 million the previous …

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Deadly Storms Sweep Through Texas, Southern States

Powerful storms that rolled across the South over the weekend spawned tornadoes, damaged homes and killed at least four in Texas, including two children, authorities said. The Angelina County Sheriff’s Office said an 8-year-old and a 3-year-old died when strong …

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Washington Official Wants to Raise Insurance Tax to Help Fight Wildfires

With an increasing number of forest fires scorching portions of Washington each year, the Legislature is considering a proposal to create a fund dedicated to preventing and battling wildfires. In March, Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and state Senate …

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