New York Man Gets 15 Years for No-Fault Insurance, Stock Fraud Scheme

A Long Island, New York, man was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a $35 million fraud that a judge said wrecked investors’ lives. Mikhail Zemlyansky, 39, was led out of a Manhattan courtroom Thursday, Jan. 28, in shackles …

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Kentucky Stockyard, Other Businesses Destroyed by Massive Fire

A massive fire destroyed a 70-year-old beef cattle auction business in Lexington, Ky., on Saturday, churning up a plume of thick, black smoke that darkened the skies for miles as the wind-whipped flames consumed several nearby businesses. No one was …

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NOAA: Recent Northeast Winter Storm 4th Most Powerful Since 1950

The Jan. 22-24 blizzard was the fourth most powerful snowstorm to hit the Northeast in at least 66 years, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced. The agency gave the storm a rating of 7.66 on the Northeast Snowfall Impact …

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Alabama Family to Sue Disney Park Over Death Related to Snake Bite

An Alabama family says an escaped snake at Disney’s Animal Kingdom dropped from a tree and bit a boy, which led to the death of the boy’s grandmother. The family’s attorney, Matt Morgan, said Jan. 28 that the family plans …

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Tennessee County Granted $60M to Improve Flood Protection

Officials say Shelby County, Tennessee, has received a $60 million grant from the federal government for flood protection projects. County officials announced the disaster resilience grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Jan. 21. Shelby County …

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UCPM Launches Online Environmental Consultants Program

UCPM, Inc., an environmental insurance provider, has entered into an agreement with Rockhill Insurance Co. to offer a comprehensive insurance package for environmental consultants that includes commercial general liability, contractor’s pollution liability, and professional liability coverages. Some highlights include non-owned …

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South Carolina Set Record in December for Gun Purchases, Permits

A record 50,000 South Carolinians sought to either buy guns or carry concealed weapons during December. The statistics came from the FBI criminal background check system, The Post and Courier of Charleston reported. The spike came when President Barack Obama …

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Florida High Court Set to Hear Constitutional Challenge to Workers’ Comp System

The Florida Supreme Court will hear yet another case challenging the constitutionality of the state’s workers’ comp system on April 16, 2016. The case, Daniel Stahl v. Hialeah Hospital, et al., has been making its way through the state courts …

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Texas Company Fined $86K for Trenching Hazards

Federal safety officials have cited a Texas construction company for exposing workers to trenching hazards at a site in Katy. Proposed penalties total $86,240. Five citations were issued by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Jan. 22 to …

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Kansas City Woman Pleads Guilty to Arson-for-Insurance Charges

A Kansas City woman has admitted to helping to burn down one home and plotting to burn another for insurance money. The U.S. attorney’s office says 35-year-old Tina Shonk pleaded guilty to two federal counts. Through her plea, she admitted …

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Oklahoma Seeking Federal Disaster Declaration for December Storm

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin is asking the federal government to declare parts of the state as a disaster area following a winter storm that caused flooding and dropped ice and sleet. Fallin sought a major disaster declaration on Jan. 29 …

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3 Female Chauffeurs Awarded $130K Each in Minnesota Discrimination Case

A federal judge has awarded damages to three Minnesota women who sued after they were dismissed from their chauffeur jobs because a Saudi prince wanted only male drivers. U.S. District Judge Joan Ericksen awarded $130,000 each to Gretchen Cooper, Barbara …

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Oklahoma Governor OKs $1.4M in State Funds for Earthquake Research

Gov. Mary Fallin approved the use of nearly $1.4 million in state emergency funds for state agencies working to reduce the increasing number of earthquakes that have been linked to the disposal of oil and gas wastewater in Oklahoma. Speaking …

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Tompkins Insurance Acquires Shepard, Maxwell & Hale in New York

Tompkins Financial Corporation, a financial services company headquartered in Ithaca, New York, announced that its insurance agency subsidiary, Tompkins Insurance Agencies Inc., has acquired Shepard, Maxwell & Hale Insurance in upstate New York. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. …

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Maryland Officials Confident of Snowstorm Disaster Aid

Last weekend’s brutal snowstorm pummeled Maryland from the Atlantic coast to the West Virginia border, costing government agencies much more than the minimum requirement for a federal disaster declaration, the state’s emergency management chief said. The state aims to submit …

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Wal-Mart Ordered to Pay New Hampshire Pharmacist $31M in Bias Case

Wal-Mart Stores Inc was ordered by a federal jury in New Hampshire to pay $31.22 million to a pharmacist who claimed she was fired because of her gender and in retaliation for complaining about safety conditions. The Concord, New Hampshire, …

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Connecticut Insurance Department Names Grace to Lead Captive Unit

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade has announced that Janet Grace, a veteran risk specialist with more than 20 years of experience, is overseeing the Connecticut Insurance Department’s Captive Insurance Unit. A former consultant for Towers Watson, Grace has done …

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Patriot National Acquires Mid Atlantic Insurance Services in Virginia

Patriot National Inc., a workers’ compensation outsourcing services firm based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, announced that it has acquired Mid Atlantic Insurance Services, a wholesale commercial insurance broker and program administrator in Richmond, Virginia. Terms of the transaction were not …

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Iowa Appeals Court: Farmer May Sue Pipeline Company for Crop Damage

An appeals court said that a northeastern Iowa farmer may pursue a breach of contract lawsuit against a natural gas pipeline company and seek damages for decreased crop productivity on the ground above the pipeline. Roger Tiemessen rents land from …

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Florida State University to Use Boosters to Settle Player’s Rape Case

Florida State University has agreed to pay $950,000 to settle a federal Title IX lawsuit brought by a former student who accused quarterback Jameis Winston of sexually assaulting her in 2012. The school is on the hook for around another …

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Arizona House Leader Wants Another Cut on Insurance Company Taxes

An Arizona House panel has voted to advance a bill accelerating phased-in insurance company tax cuts included in a law passed last year. House Bill 2002 is sponsored by House Republican Majority Whip David Livingston. He also sponsored the bill …

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Louisiana Sees Big Growth in Health Care, Education Employment

Employment in education and health services grew by 2,400 jobs in December 2015 to the highest level since the current employment tracking system began in 1990, while Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell to 6.1 percent, according to seasonally-adjusted data released by …

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Uber’s Bid to Pause Suit by California Drivers Group Rejected

Uber Technologies Inc. lost its bid to pause a lawsuit by California drivers demanding to be treated as employees that has grown dramatically in both size and potential liability. The U.S. Court of Appeals in San Francisco this week rejected …

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JLT Specialty USA Names Taliaferro Senior Vice President in California

JLT Specialty USA has named Brian Taliaferro senior vice president of the entertainment and hospitality practice. Taliaferro, who will be based in JLT’s Los Angeles, Calif., office, will lead the company’s gaming and hospitality practice, in addition to developing and …

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Oklahoma Bill Would Require Use of Hazard Lights in School Zones

Legislation filed by a lawmaker in Oklahoma would increase school safety by requiring the use of hazard lights in school zones. According to the Transportation Research Board, more than 100 children are killed and nearly 25,000 injured every year while …

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Dozens of Dangerous Texas Chemical Plants Operate near Public Centers: Report

Dozens of Texas plants similar to a fertilizer facility that exploded in the town of West in 2013, one of Texas’ worst industrial accidents, are still operating near schools, hospitals and residential neighborhoods, federal regulators say. A report released by …

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EEOC Wants to Collect Worker Pay Data to Battle Wage Bias

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)is proposing it collect pay data from employers, including federal contractors, with more than 100 employees. The agency says this new data will assist the government in identifying possible pay discrimination and assist employers …

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Confusion over Insuring Crop that Produces Jet Fuel Cleared Up

The federal government has finalized procedures to insure a new crop that’s being grown to produce jet fuel. Farmers in North Dakota last year planted 6,000 acres of the mustard seed variety known as carinata, but insurance agents were unclear …

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A Drunk Driving Case Made for TV’s ‘Law & Order’

I can’t be the only one who thinks they should bring back the original “Law & Order.” If NBC did, the show’s first case should be one that went on trial this week in a local court in Mineola, New …

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Officials, Poultry Producers Hope Nationwide Testing Contains Indiana Bird Flu

In the two weeks since bird flu reappeared in Indiana, U.S. veterinarians have swabbed the mouths of chickens and turkeys across the country, racing to uncover any more infections and contain the virus before it causes mass death and damage …

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So, If the Future Arrived in 2015, What About 2016?

Repeatedly, we have described 2015 as the “year the future arrived for insurance.” Across the board, we saw significant changes in how carriers thought about the impact of new technology and innovation. It was the year in which the Millennial …

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Bermuda’s Validus Reports 2015 Net Income of $374.9M, vs. $480M in 2014

Bermuda-based Validus Holdings Ltd. reported net income available to Validus of $69.0 million, or $0.81 per diluted common share, for the three months ended Dec. 31, 2015, compared to $125.9 million, or $1.38 per diluted common share, for the same …

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Talanx Group’s Industrial Insurer Operating with New Name: HDI Global SE

Talanx Group’s industrial lines insurer, formerly called HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG, is now operating under the name HDI Global SE. On Jan. 8, the renaming of HDI-Gerling Industrie Versicherung AG became official, as did the company’s conversion to an SE …

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Willis Towers Watson Appoints New Senior Leadership Team for Great Britain

Willis Towers Watson, the global advisory, broking and solutions company, announced a group of senior leadership appointments within its Great Britain business. Ailsa King will lead the Client Organisation in Great Britain, which will embrace sales, account management, regional development, industry focus and …

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Lloyd’s Underwriter Marketform Appoints Murru as Financial Lines Underwriter

Specialist Lloyd’s underwriter Marketform, which operates Syndicate 2468 at Lloyd’s, announced that Roberto Murru joined the company as an underwriter in its growing financial lines team led by Ian West. Fluent in Italian, Murru began his insurance career in 1985 …

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U.S. Utilities Examine Their Insurance Protection After Ukraine Grid Cyber Attack

U.S. utilities are looking hard at their cyber vulnerabilities and whether they can get insurance to cover what could be a multi-billion dollar loss after hackers cut electric power to more than 80,000 Ukrainians last month. The Dec. 23 incident …

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‘Smart’ Appliances, Ventilation Systems Are New Hacker Targets: Cyber Experts

Hijacking “smart” toasters and refrigerators and hacking corporate ventilation systems are among the new threats envisioned by cyber security experts as an increasing array of items are connected to the internet. The Internet of Things, a movement that seeks to …

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Deadline Announced for Missouri Insurance Education Foundation Scholarships

Missouri insurance regulators say the application deadline for Missouri Insurance Education Foundation (MIEF) scholarships is March 31. High school seniors and college students, who are Missouri residents may apply for the scholarships, according to the Missouri Department of Insurance. Four $1,500 scholarships …

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Tennessee Captive Industry Grew by 37% in 2015

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) announced that 57 new captive insurance companies domiciled in the state 2015, which represents a 37 percent increase over 2014. The new captives are comprised of 47 pure captives, four Risk Retention …

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Carpenter Named VP at Hylant Select – Indiana

Insurance broker Hylant has appointed Kim Carpenter vice president of Hylant Select – Indiana. In her new role, she will manage and lead Hylant’s Select business within Indiana and she will be responsible for client service, growth and retention. Carpenter …

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Florida Tornado Tosses Vehicle Driving on Turnpike

A tornado picked up a southbound vehicle on Florida’s Turnpike near Fort Lauderdale Wednesday morning and dropped it in the northbound lane as a line of severe storms hit the area, officials said. They said the storms tossed cars and …

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State of Emergency Lifted for Most Parts of West Virginia

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin has lifted a state of emergency in 51 of West Virginia’s 55 counties following cleanup of the recent winter storm. Tomblin says the declaration issued last week will continue until Friday evening in Berkeley, Jefferson, Morgan …

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SIAA Partners with LifeLock to Offer Identity Protection Services

SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance), a nationwide insurance agency alliance, has formed a national partnership with identity protection provider LifeLock. Under the partnership, SIAA member agencies can refer their personal lines clients to LifeLock at a discounted rate, and offer …

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13 Indictments Handed Down in Massive Workers’ Comp Fraud Scam

An investigation into what’s being called one of the largest cases of workers’ compensation health care insurance fraud in California Department of Insurance history led to 13 indictments announced today against seven Southern California-based medical professionals. This is the second …

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Post-Blizzard, N.J. Gov. Apologizes to Official for ‘Crazy’ Comment

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Tuesday that he personally apologized after calling a New Jersey shore official a “crazy mayor” and forcefully rebutted critics who suggested the state hasn’t done enough to help residents dealing with the aftermath of …

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NYC Flood Defense Barrier Remains Years Away

After ocean waters poured into lower Manhattan during Superstorm Sandy, experts began dreaming up a solution: a U-shaped barrier of earthen berms, walls and gates that would keep floods out and the nation’s financial capital dry. Now, more than three …

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Most Dangerous Cities in U.S. Ranked by Crime Data

East St. Louis, Illinois and Camden, New Jersey rank first and second in an annual ranking of the country’s most dangerous cities. New Orleans ((70), Philadelphia (65), Miami (63), Washington, D.C. (35) and Baltimore (19) are on the list but …

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Hot, Wet Air May Cause Southwestern Oregon Flooding

The National Weather Service says warm, moist air from the jet stream could cause flooding in southwestern Oregon. The Mail Tribune reported that meteorologist Charles Smith of the NWS Medford office says the weather system will cause about 1.3 inches …

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Colorado DOT to Post Traffic Death Tally Signs to Boost Safety

The Colorado Department of Transportation will begin using electronic signs along highways across the state to post a weekly tally of year-to-date traffic fatalities. The Denver Post reported the tally, which will be posted each Wednesday, will be paired with …

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Oregon Resident Files Class Action Against DraftKings, FanDuel

An Oregon resident has filed a class-action lawsuit against two daily fantasy sports sites, claiming the businesses are operating illegal online sports betting. The Oregonian reported that Polk County resident Brandon Peck filed the suit in federal court in Portland …

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EPIC Makes Crow Vice President, Hospitality Practice Leader in West

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has named Renee Crow vice president and West region hospitality practice leader. Crow will be responsible for further developing a unified approach to serving hospitality clients across the West region and nationally. Crow will be …

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S&P Issues Negative Outlook for AIG Due to Plan to Sell Part of Mortgage Insurer

American International Group Inc., the insurer being pressured by activist investor Carl Icahn to divest assets, had the outlook on its credit rating changed to negative from stable by Standard & Poor’s after announcing plans to sell a stake in mortgage …

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Kellar Named Workers’ Comp Director at Louisiana Workforce Commission

Sheral Kellar has been appointed director of the Office of Workers’ Compensation Administration at the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Kellar, a licensed attorney with more than 25 years of experience in labor, employment and workers’ compensation law and most recently the …

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California State Fund to Roll out New Medical Provider Network

State Compensation Insurance Fund will soon transition to a new outcomes-based medical provider network following a California Division of Workers’ Compensation approval of the new MPN called the State Fund MPN by Harbor Health. State Fund said it is transitioning …

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Ace Westchester’s Rubel: Future Trends and the Insurance Industry

What will the insurance industry be like in 15 years? The future will arrive whether the industry is ready or not. And while even so-called experts are no better than the average person in predicting it, what’s most important about …

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Virtual Insurance Agent Insurify with License Photo Quote Feature Raises $2 Million

Consumers will soon be able to simplify the buying of auto insurance by snapping a photo of their license plate and texting it to the new site, Insurify.com, which will then generate price quotes. The license plate photo triggers the …

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Record Western U.S. Wildfires Contrasts Quiet Year for Disasters

It was a relatively quiet year for natural disasters – unless you live in the Western U.S. Property data provider CoreLogic today released its annual Natural Hazard Risk Summary and Analysis. The report shows “a continued trend of fewer U.S. …

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Frozen Seafood Distributor Faces $115K for Safety Violations in Texas

Named a “severe violator” by federal safety officials, a frozen seafood distributor operating a plant in Brownsville, Texas, has been hit with $155,000 in fines over workplace safety hazards. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for 11 …

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Lawsuit Seeks Replacement of Lead Pipes in Flint, Michigan

Environmental and civil rights groups are asking a federal judge to order the prompt replacement of all lead pipes in Flint’s water system to ensure residents of the Michigan city have a safe drinking supply. A lawsuit seeks an order …

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Texas Governor Seeks Federal Disaster Help after Tornadoes

Gov. Greg Abbott has requested a federal disaster declaration for some Texas counties after deadly late-December blizzards and tornadoes. Abbott on Jan. 26 announced the request for individual assistance for people in Collin, Dallas, Ellis, Franklin, Rockwall and Van Zandt …

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Bill Would Clarify South Dakota’s Workers’ Comp Law

A bill introduced in the South Dakota House would clarify state law on when part-time employees injured on the job should also receive workers’ compensation benefits for their other part-time positions. The proposed legislation stems from a 2015 state Supreme …

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New Travelers CEO Schnitzer Stresses Continuity, Innovation in Earnings Call Debut

The Travelers Companies held its first earnings call under new CEO Alan Schnitzer on Jan. 21 with the property/casualty carrier’s executives putting forth a message of continuity and normalcy, even in the face of a fast-evolving market. Schnitzer, formerly head …

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Dutch Finance Minister Rules Out Sale of ASR Nederland as Parliament Backs IPO

Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem ruled out a private sale of ASR Nederland NV, the insurer nationalized during the financial crisis, as parliament signaled its support for an initial public offering of the asset. Dijsselbloem reiterated his plan to hold the …

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MetLife CEO Raised Possibility of Breakup in 2014

MetLife Inc., looking to avoid tougher oversight, was examining options for a breakup or restructuring of the firm 14 months before announcing this year that it’s considering a sale, spinoff or public offering for part of the domestic retail business. …

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Liberty Specialty Markets Enters Chinese Market via Lloyd’s China Platform

London-based Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), which is part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has joined the Lloyd’s China platform. LSM’s Underwriting Division of Lloyd’s Insurance Company (China) Ltd. (LICCL) has appointed Eve Li as its first representative in Beijing, China. …

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Allied World Appoints Herron as VP in Australia Professional Liability Team

Allied World Assurance Co. Holdings announced that Michael Herron was appointed vice president, Professional Liability – Allied World Global Markets. Based in Sydney, Australia, Herron will be responsible for the growth and development of the company’s Australian professional liability business. …

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M&A to Intensify as Insurers Hunt for Top-Line Growth: Willis Towers Watson

The competition for attractive assets will intensify in the next three years as the majority of insurers (82 percent) plan to acquire, while only one-third intend to divest, according to a survey of senior insurance executives conducted by Willis Towers …

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Gasoline Imports Easier to Insure than Crude Exports in Post-Sanctions Iran

Major oil firms and trade houses are gradually resuming energy trading with Iran but efforts remain very cautious and often face huge legal obstacles, meaning a post-sanctions return to full-scale activity will take weeks if not months. Trading sources told …

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Chubb CEO Greenberg Blames Brazil’s Leaders for Exacerbating Economic Woes

Evan Greenberg, the chief executive officer of Chubb Ltd., said Brazilians can blame their country’s leaders, and not just a commodities slump, for the nation’s woes. “The economic environment, the political environment, is very tough,” Greenberg said Wednesday in a …

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Norman-Spencer Agency Adds Workers’ Comp Coverage to Ready Mix Program

The Norman-Spencer Agency, Inc., a national insurance provider and program administrator, has added workers’ compensation coverage in selected states to its Ready Mix Program designed for companies that manufacture and transport ready mix concrete to construction job sites. The new …

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Puno Joins Safety National Re Professional Liability Treaty Team

Safety National Re announced it has added Charles Puno as vice president with a specialty in professional liability treaty reinsurance. He is based in Indianapolis, Ind. With over 25 years of industry-related insurance and reinsurance experience, Puno brings an extensive …

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Lockton Adds Canale as Producer in Kansas City

Insurance broker Lockton has hired Rich Canale as a producer in its Kansas City, Mo., office. Canale specializes in employee benefits, bringing a holistic, consultative approach to clients’ programs. He comes to Lockton from Unum, where he spent more than …

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BHSI Launches Life Agent & Broker Dealer Professional Liability Coverage

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has launched life agent & broker dealer professional liability insurance and named Atea Martin as head of claims. Underwriting of the new line is overseen by Paul Humel, AVP, Financial Institutions, Executive & Professional Lines. …

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Alteris to Offerage Cover for Mutual Water Companies in California

Alteris Insurance Services Inc. announced it will serve as insurance administrator for the newly formed CalMutuals Joint Powers Insurance Authority (JPIA) working with nonprofit water systems in California. The new program will work in partnership with the California Association of …

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Survey: Natural Gas Production in West Virginia Surpassing Expectations

A single Ohio County, West Virginia Marcellus Shale well yielded enough natural gas in 2014 to provide electricity for 24,315 homes, according to new numbers released by the West Virginia Geological & Economic Survey. There’s also plenty of what industry …

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FEMA to Provide Additional $10M in Aid to South Carolina Flood Victims

South Carolinians who were originally refused help following last October’s historic floods will be getting about $10 million in aid. The State of Columbia reports that the money became available through a program in which Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster …

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Florida Officer Convicted of Taking Bribes in Illegal Towing Scheme

A former Miami-Dade County police officer has pleaded guilty to accepting bribes in an illegal towing scheme. News outlets report Yuri Millan admitted he took kickbacks from tow-truck operators Oriel Ugardes and Jose Guim in exchange for information on stranded …

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A.M. Best Revises Outlook for South Carolina’s Greenville Casualty

A.M. Best has revised the outlook to stable from negative and affirmed the financial strength rating of B- (Fair) and the issuer credit rating of “bb-” of Greenville Casualty Insurance Company (Greenville) (Greer, SC). A.M. Best said the revised outlook …

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Landy Agency Hires DiPentino as Director of Sales in Massachusetts

Herbert H. Landy Insurance Agency Inc., a national program administrator based in Needham, Massachusetts, has hired Mark DiPentino as director of Sales. DiPentino brings over 13 years of experience providing errors and omissions (E&O) insurance to real estate brokers. He …

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Massachusetts Smokers Sue Philip Morris to Pay for Cancer Screenings

A decade after a group of smokers from Massachusetts sued Philip Morris USA to try to force the cigarette maker to pay for lung cancer screenings, the case will finally be heard by a jury. Smokers in the class-action lawsuit …

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Connecticut Recovered $6M for Policyholders, Taxpayers in 2015

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Katharine L. Wade announced that the Connecticut Insurance Department recovered approximately $6 million for policyholders and taxpayers in 2015, helping individuals and families with their claims and complaints. The Department’s Consumer Affairs Unit (CAU) fielded more than …

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Maryland Urges Insurers to Accommodate Consumers Impacted by Blizzard

The Maryland Insurance Administration issued a bulletin encouraging insurance companies and premium finance companies to accommodate consumers who were impacted by last weekend’s blizzard. Bulletin 16-05 (Re: Cancellations of Insurance Policies) was issued Tuesday to all property and casualty insurers, …

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Takata Discloses 11th Death Linked to Air Bag; Announces New 5 Million Vehicle Recall

U.S. auto safety regulators said Tuesday that air bag maker Takata Corp. declared 5.1 million U.S. vehicles defective, as the company disclosed an 11th death could be linked to a faulty airbag. Most of the vehicles mentioned in numerous previous …

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‘Old’ ACE, Chubb Report Q4, Full Year 2015 Results

Just shy of two weeks after closing on their merger, ACE Ltd. and Chubb Corp. released financial results for their last quarter and year as separate entities. On January 14, 2016, ACE closed on its acquisition of Chubb Corp. creating …

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D.C. to Continue Snow Emergency Until Wednesday Evening

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser says a snow emergency will remain in effect for the nation’s capital until 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. The emergency means parking isn’t allowed on snow emergency routes. Vehicles that park on those roads will be towed. …

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Snowed-Under East Coast Cities Getting Closer to Normal Routines

After more than three days with life at a virtual standstill in the nation’s capital and elsewhere up and down the East Coast, the cities hit hard by a massive snowstorm were getting closer to their normal routines. In the …

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Class Action Follows California Commissioner’s Decision in Applied Dispute

A decision from the California Department of Insurance has workers’ compensation carrier Applied Underwriters and one of its companies on the defensive, and now a class action suit has been filed seeking to recover premiums paid by insureds to one of its large …

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West Virginia Town Begins Recovery From 42-inch Snowfall

It wasn’t quite like winning Powerball, yet the small West Virginia town of Glengary is getting a lot of attention for receiving the most snow from the recent storm: 42 inches. “Yeah, it’s cool. That’s about it,” said Robert Bragg, …

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Narragansett Bay Approved to Write P/C Insurance in Connecticut

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (NBIC), a Rhode Island-based specialty underwriter of homeowners insurance products and services in states along the Eastern Seaboard, announced that the company has been approved by the Connecticut Department of Insurance to write property/casualty insurance in …

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JLT Specialty USA Appoints Robinson as Senior VP in Houston

JLT Specialty USA, a U.S. subsidiary of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. (JLT), has appointed Perry Robinson as senior vice president. He is based in Houston. Robinson will assist JLT’s clients with identification, management and mitigation of complex risks in …

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No Contest Plea from ‘Dancing Hamster’ in California Fraud Case

A man who played a dancing hamster in car commercials and was a backup dancer for Madonna, has pleaded no contest to single counts of insurance fraud and making a false statement. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says …

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Alaska’s M7.1 Quake Puts Focus on State’s Emergency Preparedness

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake in Alaska’s most populous region has renewed focus on the state’s readiness to deal with a natural disaster. And it’s not just earthquakes that pose a danger across the vast state but also wildfires, floods, landslides …

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Hoverboard Bursts into Flames in California Home

A hoverboard burst into flames in a Petaluma, Calif. home, marking the second such fire in Sonoma County in a week. The Santa Rosa Press Democrat reported that the hoverboard was plugged into an electrical outlet Monday to charge when …

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Exxon: Oil & Gas to Will Continue Dominate Energy Sector for Decades

The way Texas-based oil giant Exxon Mobil sees it, the global energy landscape won’t be radically different in 2040 than it is today. Oil and gas will remain king, accounting for an even slightly larger share of the energy supply. …

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Genest Joins Premier Insurance Services in West as President

Rick Genest has joined Premier Insurance Services as the company’s president. Genest joins Premier from Freeway Insurance/Confie Seguros, where he was the Houston, Texas-based president. Prior to Freeway he was associate vice president of Titan Auto (Nationwide) in nine states. …

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Insurer Exits Show U.S. Crop Insurance a Field for Specialists

The U.S. crop insurance market has been abandoned by some of its largest companies as lower agricultural prices crimp revenue, and uncertainty about federal aid clouds the business’s future. Cargill Inc., the largest privately held company in the U.S., last …

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El Faro Cargo Ship Owner Settles Death Claims with Sailors’ Families

The families of 10 sailors aboard a cargo ship that sank in a hurricane last year have settled claims with the vessel’s owner. The Florida Times-Union reports that each of the families will receive $500,000 each in the settlement with …

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Franchises Ask Supreme Court to Hear Seattle Minimum Wage

A business group said on Monday it is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to hear its appeal of a lower-court ruling tossing out its challenge of part of Seattle’s law to increase the minimum wage. The International Franchise Association, which …

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2015 Cat Bond Activity Down Slightly from Record Levels in 2014: GC Securities

While property and casualty catastrophe bond primary issuance levels were “uncharacteristically low” in the fourth quarter of 2015, totals at year-end were only slightly lower than the all-time high levels reported in 2014, according to GC Securities, a division of MMC …

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Lyft’s $12.5M Settlement with Ridesharing Drivers Avoids Employee Classification

Ride-hailing service Lyft has agreed to settle a proposed class action lawsuit in California by giving drivers additional workplace protections but without classifying them as employees, removing a major threat to its business model. The settlement agreement, filed late on …

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RSA Appoints Hancock to Lead Broker Relationships, Heiss as Chief Legal Officer

RSA, announced that Derek Walsh, group general counsel, company secretary and global broker relationship director, has decided to leave RSA at the end of February after five and half years. In response to Walsh’s departure, RSA said that Jon Hancock will …

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Firms Look at New Tools Designed to Foil Hackers as Firewalls Prove Inadequate

With firewalls no longer seen as enough of a defense against security breaches, companies are looking at new tools to foil hackers trying to enter a computer network. U.S. and Israeli startups are leading the way, with new approaches such …

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Marsh Launches Global Excess Cyber Risk Facility Called ‘Cyber ECHO’

Marsh has launched “Cyber ECHO”, a global excess cyber risk facility that provides more reliable insurance coverage for organizations around the world. Following a series of high-profile cyber losses, underwriters have become more selective and may actually reduce the amount …

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Generali Shares Drop on Greco’s Decision to Join Zurich as CEO

Assicurazioni Generali SpA dropped to the lowest since July 2013 after Mario Greco said he was leaving the Italian insurer to join Zurich Insurance Group AG as its chief executive officer. Generali, which has yet to announce an interim CEO, traded 2.3 …

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Insurance Placement Difficulties Delay Iranian Crude Exports to Europe

Efforts by Iran to start exporting oil to Europe are being held up as foreign tanker owners are still struggling to secure insurance for cargoes, leading shipping players said on Tuesday. A nuclear deal between world powers and Iran earlier this month …

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Risk Point Launches RV Dealer Physical Damage & Garage Package

Risk Point LLC, a nationwide dealer open lot program for independent agents, has expanded its offerings to include physical damage and garage package coverage for franchise RV dealers. The Vehicle Inventory Program (VIP) provides dealer open lot physical damage insurance …

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Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance Increases Marine Pollution Liability Capacity

Safe Harbor Pollution Insurance, a provider of vessel pollution liability insurance, has expanded its carrier partnerships to include Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI) and Argonaut Insurance Co. Safe Harbor now has more than tripled its in-house capacity. BHSI and …

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Special Purpose Captive Insurer Approved in Arkansas

Diamond Risk Insurance LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Baptist Health, has been approved as a captive insurer by the Arkansas Insurance Department. Arkansas Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr said Baptist Health is the first entity in Arkansas to create its own …

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Centene Says Missing Hard Drives Hold Information on Nearly 1 Million

Centene Corp., a St. Louis, Mo.-based healthcare enterprise that provides products and services to government sponsored healthcare programs, announced an ongoing comprehensive internal search for six hard drives that are unaccounted for in its inventory of information technology (IT) assets. The …

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Method Insurance Services Adds Richt as Director

Method Insurance Services, a newly formed program administrator for property and casualty insurance located in Omaha, Neb., has hired Julie Richt as director, Sales and Distribution. Richt brings 12 years of insurance experience to the table. Richt has been a …

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Study: More People Killed by Guns in Tennessee than Car Accidents in 2014

More people died from gunshots than car accidents in Tennessee during 2014. The Violence Policy Center, an organization dedicated to informing people about gun violence, has produced a study comparing gun and car deaths across the nation in 2014, the …

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The Main Street America Group Launches Personal Auto Program in South Carolina

The Main Street America Group has introduced Main Street Protection Auto, its new private passenger auto insurance program for the preferred/standard marketplace in South Carolina via its statewide network of independent insurance agents. Product highlights include 20 different types of …

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Brentwood Services Administrators in Tennessee Promotes Brothers

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. (BSA) has promoted Nicole Brothers to the position of claim representative I in the Tennessee Claims Department, according to Jeff Pettus, president and chief executive officer of BSA. In her new position, Brothers’ responsibilities include reviewing, …

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Funding Plan for Arkansas Fire Departments Proposed by Lawmakers

Two Arkansas legislators hope the state finds a way next year to distribute excess state funds to volunteer fire departments that suffer funding shortages, impacting the purchase and repair of equipment. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that state Rep. James Ratliff …

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Iowa-Based Global Insurance Accelerator Names 2016 Class of Startups

Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA), a Des Moines, Iowa-based global business accelerator focused on developing and growing innovative insurance-centric startups, has announced its 2016 portfolio. With a global pool of twice as many applicants compared to the previous year, the five …

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Kaplansky Insurance Acquires Doherty & White Insurance in Massachusetts

Kaplansky Insurance, an independent agency based in Needham, Massachusetts, announced that it has acquired Doherty & White Insurance Agency in Quincy, Massachusetts. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1983, Doherty & White Insurance Agency has been a …

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American Family Insurance Piloting Point-Based Reward System in Illinois

Madison, Wis.-based American Family Insurance is introducing DreamKeep Rewards in Illinois, an insurance loyalty program designed to recognize and reward members every day for making smart decisions that protect their families and property. Customers earn points for completing dozens of …

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Cross Insurance Hires Papanastasiou as Branch Manager in Massachusetts

Cross Insurance, an insurance agency headquartered in Bangor, Maine, has hired John Papanastasiou as branch manager in Peabody, Massachusetts. In this new role, Papanastasiou will assume responsibility for day-to-day operations and business growth of Cross Insurance’s Peabody office. The Peabody …

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Zurich Names Generali’s Greco as CEO, with Task of Driving Turnaround

  Zurich Insurance Group AG hired Assicurazioni Generali SpA’s Mario Greco as chief executive officer, giving him the task of turning around the company, after losses in its general insurance business forced the Swiss insurer to abandon a takeover bid. Greco, 56, will …

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RMS Examines Massive Blizzard That Swept Through East Coast

The massive blizzard that swept through the East Coast over the weekend may result in hundreds of millions of dollars in insured losses. The blizzard, unofficially named “Winter Storm Jonas” by the Weather Channel, brought a combination of freezing rain, …

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South Carolina Moped Deaths Up By 57 Percent in 2015

The number of people who died in moped accidents in South Carolina increased 57 percent in 2015 from the year before, leading a legislative supporter of laws for the vehicles to reissue his call for tighter safety. The Greenville News …

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AXIS Healthcare Launches Pandemic Protection for Hospitals

AXIS Healthcare—the division of AXIS Insurance that provides professional liability insurance and associated standard casualty coverages for physician groups, hospitals, allied healthcare facilities and individual physicians—has launched a new medical catastrophe (contagion) business interruption product for hospitals. The coverage protects …

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West Virginia Governor to Introduce Ridesharing Bill

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is on board with letting Uber offer rides in West Virginia. Tomblin spokeswoman Shayna Varner says the governor plans to introduce a bill letting ridesharing companies, including Uber and Lyft, operate in the state. An Uber …

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Southeast States Recovering from Record-Breaking Snowstorm

A massive winter storm that hit the Southeast and East Coast over the weekend set a snowfall record in West Virginia, caused tornadoes in Mississippi and stranded motorists on a cold highway in Kentucky overnight. Thousands were also left without …

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Uber Will Ground Chopper Flights at Utah’s Sundance Film Festival

A Utah county reached an agreement over the weekend with ridesharing company Uber to stop operating helicopter flights at the Sundance Film Festival. Summit County said helicopter companies agreed to cease operating in connection with the festival. The companies have …

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Hoverboards Unwelcomed at More Utah Universities

Several Utah universities are joining colleges around the country in restricting hoverboards on campus as federal officials review dozens of fires tied to the self-balancing scooters. At least two Utah schools, including Brigham Young University, bar riding them on campus, …

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Settlement May be Resolved over Utah Comic Con Naming Rights

The organizers of Salt Lake Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con may be on the verge of resolving an ongoing name-trademark dispute. Attorneys for the two pop-culture conventions asked a federal judge to give them more time to work on …

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QBE’s Wiseley Named Head of Hiscox USA Programs

Specialty insurer Hiscox has appointed QBE’s Rick Wiseley as its head of programs for its Hiscox USA business unit.  Prior to joining Hiscox, Wiseley held senior roles with Hannover Re, Fireman’s Fund and Markel.  Immediately prior to joining Hiscox, he …

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Insurance Department Tally on California Wildfires $1B

Damage from two destructive Northern California wildfires that killed six and sent thousands fleeing their homes topped $1 billion in insured losses, according to a preliminary estimate by the state’s insurance department. The two fires started days apart in September, …

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The Zebra Is Latest Insurance ‘Disrupter’ to Attract Funding

The Zebra, an online auto insurance comparison company, said it has closed $17 million in Series A funding with investment from Mark Cuban, Mike Maples Jr. (of Twitter and Lyft), Simon Nixon (of Moneysupermarket), Silverton Partners, and new investors Daher …

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DeLucchi Succeeds Hauge as President of Cal Insurance

Joseph DeLucchi has succeeded Scott Hauge as the president and owner of CAL Insurance & Associates Inc. Hauge has led CAL for the last 37 years. Hauge will remain on with CAL as a broker and member of the board of …

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Securities Class Action Activity Rose 11% in 2015: Cornerstone

Federal securities class action litigation rose to 189 filings in 2015, an 11 percent increase over 2014 levels, according to new research. “Securities Class Action Filings—2015 Year in Review,” a report issued by Cornerstone Research and the Stanford Law School …

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AIG CEO Says Future Split Possible, But Downplays SIFI Risk; Will ‘Narrow’ P/C Focus

American International Group (AIG)  CEO Peter Hancock, who announced the sale of  the company’s AIG Advisor Group and a partial spin-off of mortgage insurer United Guaranty, said AIG is open to further divestiture, even of its biggest divisions, however it …

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Texas Led Nation in Catastrophic Losses in 2015

Tornadoes, hailstorms and fires took their toll on Texas last year with insured losses well over $3 billion, according to an insurer trade group The state had over three times as many claims and almost three times the dollar amount in losses …

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Texas Flooring Company Fined Nearly $67K After Worker Falls

Federal safety regulators cited a Texas flooring company for workplace hazards after a worker required hospitalization due to workplace injuries. Subfloor Systems Inc. of Hurst, Texas, was fined $66,990 by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration after a worker fell …

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Minnesota Company Settles Transgender Discrimination Suit for $115K

Deluxe Financial Services Corp. (Deluxe), a Shoreview, Minn.-based check-printing and financial services corporation, has agreed to pay $115,000 as part of the settlement of a sex discrimination and harassment lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the …

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AIG to Sell Advisor Group Broker-Dealer to Lightyear

American International Group Inc.  has agreed to sell AIG Advisor Group to investment funds affiliated with Lightyear Capital LLC, a private equity firm specializing in financial services investing, and PSP Investments, one of Canada’s largest pension investment managers. Terms of …

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AIG Rejects Full Split; Will IPO Mortgage Business, Sell Advisory Unit, Reorganize into ‘Modular’ Units

American International Group Inc. announced $3.6 billion in expenses to fill a reserve shortfall after higher-than-expected claims costs and will exit its mortgage insurer and sell an adviser network as Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock seeks to boost returns and …

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RSA Appoints Stewart as Chief Risk Officer for UK and Western Europe

London-based RSA has appointed Doug Stewart to the new role of chief risk officer for the UK and western Europe. Stewart will be responsible for the governance of significant risks to the UK and Western European businesses, including strategic, insurance, reputational, operational …

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Bank of England’s Bailey Is Surprise Choice for Chief of U.K. Regulator, FCA

Bank of England Deputy Governor Andrew Bailey will become the new chief executive officer of the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority, as the Chancellor George Osborne turned to a familiar face following a six-month search for the country’s top markets regulator. …

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Munich Re Raises Shareholding in India’s Apollo Munich Health Insurance

Munich Re will acquire an additional 23.27 percent of shares of Apollo Munich Health Insurance Co. Ltd., from its joint venture partner, the Apollo Hospitals Group, India, increasing its shareholding from 25.5 percent to 48.75 percent. Representatives of both companies …

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XL Catlin Opens Brisbane Office, Continuing Regional Expansion

XL Catlin’s insurance segment announced it has opened its third office in Australia, located in Brisbane. The office will be initially staffed by Geoff Still and Steve Rogers covering property & casualty underwriting, respectively, with expansion planned into other lines …

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EU Security Chiefs Warn that Terrorist Attacks Highly Likely in Europe

Islamic State and other militants are very likely to attempt big new attacks in Europe following those in Paris, the EU’s police agency said on Monday, echoing previous warnings by senior security officials. The assessment was based on discussions concluded …

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Supply Chains Thwart Climate Risk Management for 75 Major Companies: Report

Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Coca-Cola Co. and 73 other companies that together buy more than $2 trillion of goods and services are unprepared for climate shocks because suppliers are ignoring requests for data on their exposure to rising temperatures and climate regulation. Almost half …

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Report: Florida’s Workers’ Comp Market Still Strong but Uncertainty Remains

The latest workers’ compensation report from Florida’s insurance regulator says the state’s workers’ compensation market remained competitive and well capitalized in 2014, but reforms put in place by state lawmakers in 2003 may have reached their maximum effectiveness. Findings and …

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N.Y. Group: Scaffold Law Will Consume Billions From Public Projects Spending

The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York (LRANY) said New York’s “Scaffold Law” continues to drive up the cost of construction in the state and warned that the law would consume billions of dollars from the newly proposed infrastructure projects …

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Texas Stamping Office: Growth in U.S. Surplus Lines Continued in 2015

Collectively, the surplus lines insurance service/stamping offices across the country processed a record-breaking $25 billion in premium in 2015, exhibiting 3.6 percent growth over the $24.2 billion in premium processed during 2014, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLSOT) …

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Inspiring Innovation an Aim of Iowa’s 3rd Global Insurance Symposium

Iowa will hold its third annual Global Insurance Symposium April 26-28, 2016, in downtown Des Moines. This year’s symposium is themed “Inspiring Innovation in the Insurance Industry.” Planners say registration for the event is now open. The symposium is jointly sponsored …

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JLT Specialty USA Appoints Trinkleback as Sr. VP, Casualty Risk Control Leader

JLT Specialty USA, a U.S. subsidiary of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. (JLT), named Robert Trinkleback as its new senior vice president, Casualty Risk Control leader at JLT’s Chicago office. Trinkleback, who most recently served as executive vice president of …

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Cunningham Named Chief Information Officer at Grange Insurance

Grange Insurance, based in Columbus, Ohio, announced that Tim Cunningham has joined the company as vice president, chief information officer. Cunningham will lead major technology investments across all lines of business. With nearly 30 years of experience managing technology systems …

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California Insurance Commissioner Calls for Insurance Divestment from Coal

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Monday asked all insurance companies doing business in California to voluntarily divest from their investments in thermal coal as part of a nationwide call to reduce carbon emissions to do battle with climate change. …

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Sachs Walsh Hires Satrazemis as Commercial Lines Manager in Connecticut

Sachs Walsh Insurance, an independent agency in Westport, Connecticut, has hired Christos Satrazemis to replace Arthur Sachs as Commercial Lines manager. Sachs, who founded the agency in 1978, retired at the end of 2015. In addition to his responsibilities for …

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XL Catlin Expands Architects & Engineers Product to Cover Drones, Technology Risks

XL Catlin’s Design Professional insurance business has enhanced its professional liability insurance for architects and engineers (A&E) as well as other design professionals. XL Catlin’s newest Design Professional insurance enhancements include: Professional liability protection for a firm’s use of drones …

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USI Insurance Services Acquires CBDI in New Jersey

USI Insurance Services announced Monday that it has acquired CBDI Inc., an employee benefits wholesale brokerage operation based in Mount Laurel, New Jersey. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. CBDI will become part of Emerson Reid LLC, USI’s employee …

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Mississippi Cleans up From Snowstorm, Tornado Damage

Call it the tale of two storms: Just as about 2 inches of snow was about to fall in northern Mississippi, two tornadoes tore through parts of south Mississippi. The National Weather Service in Jackson confirmed Friday that at least …

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Group Asking Residents Use Drones to Map El Niño Flooding in California

Forget about selfies. In California, residents are using smartphones and drones to document the coastline’s changing face. Starting this month, The Nature Conservancy is asking tech junkies to capture the flooding and coastal erosion that come with El Niño, a …

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California Gas Leak Follows Years of Lax Regulation of Aging Storage Wells

Long before a natural gas storage well sprung a disastrous leak near Los Angeles, Calif., utilities and national industry groups were raising alarms about the danger of aging underground storage infrastructure. The leaking well’s owner, Southern California Gas Co., warned …

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USI Names Goldman Employee Benefits Leader for Mountain Region

USI Insurance Services has named David Goldman employee benefits leader and producer for its Mountain region. Goldman is responsible for driving new business growth as well as managing a book of clients for USI. Goldman has more than 25 years …

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JLT Specialty Names Hernandez Senior Vice President

JLT Specialty USA has named Cari Hernandez senior vice president for its entertainment and hospitality practice. Hernandez will be based in JLT’s Los Angeles office, where she will manage the needs of clients in gaming, resorts, events, sports and leisure. …

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Doyle Joins Leavitt Group in Central California

Salinas, Calif.-based Leavitt Central Coast Insurance Services has hired Deana Doyle as a personal agent. Doyle focuses on insurance for home and auto and is licensed in property/casualty and life and health. Doyle worked in personal insurance for 1- years …

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Massive Blizzard Brought Flooding to Jersey Shore, Coastal Towns

A massive winter storm that dumped as much as 3 feet of snow on the eastern United States raised flood waters in communities up and down the Atlantic Coast Saturday, closing roads and prompting evacuations. The first round of flooding …

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Browning-Ferris Files Appeal of NLRB’s Joint Employer Liability Ruling

A California waste management company has launched a legal challenge to a new U.S. labor board standard for “joint employment” that could make it easier for unions and regulators to hold companies accountable for the practices of staffing agencies, contractors …

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Report: East Coast Blizzard to Cause Multi-Billion Dollar Economic Losses

Massive blizzards that paralyzed much of the U.S. East Coast in the past few days are likely to cause “multi-billion” dollar economic losses in one of the worst storms in the region in over a century, reinsurance broker Aon Benfield …

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Gleason Tapped to Head Global Energy Industry Practice at Ironshore

Ironshore Inc. has named Ronald A. Gleason as Global Energy Industry practice leader. A senior vice president based in Houston, Gleason currently serves as Ironshore’s regional executive for South Central. He will continue in that role. Gleason will be responsible for …

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Snowy East Coast Digs Out After Massive Weekend Blizzard

Millions of Americans started digging themselves out Sunday after a mammoth blizzard with hurricane-force winds and record-setting snowfall brought much of the East Coast to an icy standstill. New York and Baltimore began lifting travel restrictions and hearty souls ventured …

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Vullo Nomination Signals Shift at N.Y. Dept. of Financial Services

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signaled a shift in New York’s oversight of Wall Street, tapping a longtime corporate lawyer to run the state banking regulator previously overseen by an aggressive career law enforcer. Cuomo on Jan. 21 nominated Maria …

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KBW Analyst Dismisses AIG Mortgage Business Spinoff

American International Group Inc.’s plan to spin off a portion of its mortgage insurance unit is “almost pointless” given the challenges that Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock faces to fix the much larger property/casualty business, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette …

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Oklahoma to Host 5th Annual Tornado Summit

The 2016 National Tornado Summit, the 5th annual event, will be held Feb. 29-March 2 in Oklahoma City, the Oklahoma Insurance Department announced. The National Tornado Summit is an educational forum that provides attendees with the knowledge they need to …

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Vaidyan Appointed to Lead GIC Re as India’s 1st Insurer Chairwoman

Alice Vaidyan has been appointed as chair and managing director of General Insurance Corp. of India (GIC Re), the national reinsurer.  She is the first woman to be appointed as chair in the history of Indian insurance industry. Vaidyan previously …

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Keane, O’Brien Join Agency Alliance SIAA

The nationwide agency alliance SIAA  (Strategic  Insurance  Agency  Alliance) reports  that  James  Keane has  joined  the  company  as  vice  president  of  MarketFinder  and  Aimee  O’Brien  is the new  director  of  Member  Services  and  Public  Relations. Keane  will  be  responsible  for …

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GM Avoids Showdown in First Ignition Trial But Faces Many More Ahead

General Motors Co. just watched the first big court case over an admitted deadly defect in its cars melt down as an Oklahoma postman who claimed GM ruined his life dropped his suit, accused of lying. The case was the …

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Zurich’s Ratings Remain Unchanged Despite Projected Q4 2015 Losses: A.M. Best

The financial strength rating of A+ (Superior) and the issuer credit rating of “aa-” of Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd. (ZIC) and its rated affiliates are unchanged, following Zurich Insurance Group’s preliminary update on the performance of its general insurance business, …

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China’s Insurers Received Premium Income of $365 Billion in 2015

The premium income received by China’s insurance firms hit 2.4 trillion yuan ($364.85 billion) in 2015, the industry regulator said on Monday. This means insurance premium income rose 20 percent last year from 2014, Chen Yingdong, a spokesman for the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, told a …

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XL Catlin Appoints 2 P&C Underwriters in Brazil to Help with Strategic Expansion

XL Catlin announced it has strengthened its Brazilian team with two appointments. Patricia Britto has joined as property underwriter and Luiz Carlos Dos Santos as senior casualty underwriter – both based in Sao Paulo. These two appointments are part of …

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Gene Creating Antibiotic-Resistant Superbug Detected in at Least 19 Countries

Just two months ago, researchers in China identified a gene that can make bacteria resistant to a last-resort antibiotic called colistin. It was a bombshell discovery for people who follow superbugs. Now that gene has been detected in at least 19 …

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Global Insurers Explore Opportunities in Iran, Market Worth Premiums of $7.4B

Global insurance firms are circling Iran for business opportunities following the lifting of sanctions – and the first test of their appetite could come in March when some Iranian companies seek new cover. Insurers, the reinsurers that share their risk and the …

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Citizens Releases Analysis of Increasing Florida Water Loss Costs

Water loss claims, exacerbated by assignment of benefits, are driving higher rates in South Florida and increasingly across the state, according to a just released analysis conducted by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for state insurance regulators. The insurer says the …

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Two Florida Clinic Owners Charged With Defrauding Insurers

The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF) announced the arrest of two unlicensed clinic owners from Miami-Dade County. Noel Ruiz of Miami and Alberto B Franco of Hialeah were accused of being involved in a “straw owner” scheme …

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AIG Eyes Partial Spinoff of Mortgage Insurance Unit: Reuters

American International Group Inc. has decided to pursue a spin-off of its mortgage insurance business, according to people familiar with the matter, in a move that would come as the U.S. insurer fends off activist investor Carl Icahn. The spin-off …

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Texas Man Gets Life for 10th Drunk Driving Conviction

A judge concerned about public safety sentenced a 62-year-old North Texas man to life in prison for his 10th drunken driving conviction since the 1980s. Ivy Ray Eberhardt, of Weatherford, Texas, would be eligible for parole after serving 15 years. …

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Flood-Prone Louisiana to Get $234M to Move Village, Control Stormwater

In a nod to the threat Louisiana faces from flooding, the federal government is sending $233.8 million in grants to Louisiana to relocate a coastal American-Indian village, prevent damage from hurricanes and make a suburban slice of New Orleans better …

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Federal Disaster Declaration Approved for Missouri

President Barack Obama approved a major disaster declaration for 33 Missouri counties damaged by severe weather and flooding in late December and early January. The declaration makes assistance programs available to eligible residents for such things as temporary housing and …

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Michigan Firm to Pay $31K to Settle Discrimination Suit

Michigan-based Downriver Community Services will pay $31,000 and provide equitable relief to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the agency announced. According to EEOC’s suit, Downriver refused to extend additional unpaid leave …

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POWERS Insurance and Benefits Adds Dowd, Walgren

Clayton, Mo.-based independent insurance agency POWERS Insurance and Benefits hired Meaghan Dowd as personal account manager and Barb Walgren as insurance advisor. Dowd will assist producers in procuring new business. She also will handle risk management and day-to-day service for …

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BHSI Launches Executive First Portfolio for Private Companies

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI)  has expanded its executive & professional lines appetite to private companies in the U.S., launching the Executive First Private Company Portfolio. The portfolio offers directors & officers liability, employment practices liability (EPL), fiduciary liability, employed …

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Beware of These 5 Car Insurance Scams

It’s bad enough that there are bad guys out there pulling off insurance fraud. What adds insult to injury is that the good guys end up footing the bill. The Insurance Information Institute estimates that property/casualty insurance fraud costs th...

from EINSURANCE.(com): EInsurance Journal Auto Insurance Articles

Starkweather & Shepley Announces Leadership Succession Plan

Starkweather & Shepley Insurance Brokerage Inc., the largest independent insurance agency in Rhode Island, has announced a leadership succession plan. The agency said Nat Calamis, president and chief executive officer, and William McGillivray, chairman and chief financial officer, will be …

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Extreme Winter Weather Hits the Southeast

States across the Southeast, including Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, were hit by extreme winter weather this week and forecasters say it isn’t finished yet. Another two feet of snow is still expected across some of the Southeast …

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Maryland AG, Lawmakers Look to Improve Structured Settlement Law

Maryland’s attorney general and lawmakers are looking at ways to protect the public from bad deals offered by businesses that have bought legal settlements from lead poisoning victims, such as Baltimore’s Freddie Gray, at a steep discount. David Nitkin, a …

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Risk Strategies Hires Landry as Loss-Control Engineer in Boston

Risk Strategies Company, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has hired Amy M. Landry as a property loss-control engineer. Landry is based in Risk Strategies’ Boston headquarters office. Landry is a certified fire protection specialist (CFPS) …

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Coal Miner Killed in Kentucky, 3rd Industry Fatality in 2016

A coal miner in western Kentucky died after being pinned against a wall by a mobile digging machine in an underground mine, the first coal mining death in the state this year and the third nationally. The death prompted a …

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Insurance Noodle Expands Quoting to Homeowners Insurance Market

Insurance Noodle, a membership-based online platform for insurance agents, has rolled out its new homeowner’s insurance quoting capabilities. Agents who join Insurance Noodle can now access homeowner’s quotes for standard, difficult-to-insure, and high-value homes, as well as for renter’s and …

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New York Vehicular Homicide Case Tests Limits of Criminal Blame

A New York man is about to go on trial in vehicular homicide case that tests the limits of criminal consequences. He wasn’t behind the wheel when a police officer was struck and killed — he was leaning against the …

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Haylor, Freyer & Coon Adds 3 Managers in New York

Haylor, Freyer & Coon Inc., an independent agency based in Syracuse, New York, announced the addition of three new managers for its newly launched Private Client Division. The agency hired Craig Van Epps as operations and sales development manager, and …

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Blizzard Heads Toward U.S. East; Airlines Cancel Flights

A dangerous winter storm will bring snow by the foot to the U.S. mid-Atlantic, including Washington, threatening at least 50 million people in its path while canceling thousands of flights and closing schools and government offices. Washington and Baltimore may …

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Plaintiff in First ‘Bellwether’ GM Ignition Switch Trial Drops Case

The Oklahoma mail carrier at the center of the first trial over General Motors Co.’s deadly ignition-switch defect is dropping his claims after being accused of lying to the court. Robert Scheuer, 49, will walk away from the case empty- …

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Judge Hits Plaintffs’ Lawyers in GM Ignition Switch Trial

General Motors Co. got a boost in the first trial over a deadly ignition-switch defect as a judge slammed plaintiffs’ lawyers for failing to vet their client, an Oklahoma mail carrier accused by the carmaker of lying to the court. …

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Axa Buying France’s Tallest Building, Tour First

Axa Investment Managers Real Assets, the property unit of the French insurer, agreed to buy France’s tallest skyscraper from affiliates of Beacon Capital Partners. Axa is buying Tour First on behalf of a group of investors, the asset manager said …

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Property Crimes Down, Violent Crime Up: FBI

The overall number of property crimes declined in the U.S. while the number of violent crimes rose for the first six months of 2015 compared to 2014. The FBI report — Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report— is based on information …

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Bond Insurers’ Lawsuits Against Puerto Rico to Be Combined

A second lawsuit over Puerto Rico’s debt default will be joined with a similar suit in order to save time and money and avoid inconsistent rulings, a U.S. federal judge said on Thursday. Financial Guaranty Insurance Co., or FGIC, sued …

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Auto Recalls in U.S. Passed 51 Million in 2015

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Thursday that automakers recalled 51.3 million vehicles in the United States last year, the second-highest ever, in 868 separate campaigns. NHTSA and automakers have come under harsh criticism on auto safety issues …

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Allianz to Buy Aegon’s Commercial P&C Portfolio in the Netherlands

Allianz has agreed to acquire the commercial P&C portfolio of Aegon in the Netherlands. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. Allianz’s P&C market share in the Netherlands will rise from 4.4 percent to 5.0 percent with this transaction, said …

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Addeo Joins Worldwide Facilities Board

National wholesale broker Worldwide Facilities said that John Addeo, the founder of three national insurance brokerage companies, will be joining its board of directors. In 2008, Addeo partnered with private equity firm Genstar to found Confie Seguros, a nationwide insurance …

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Swiss Re & Partners Unveil Initiative to Speed Economic Recovery After Cat Event

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Ltd. and Veolia have joined forces, under the auspices of The Rockefeller Foundation, to launch an infrastructure recovery initiative to speed up economic recovery in the aftermath of catastrophic events for cities across the globe. The …

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Stephenson to Join JLT Re’s Marine & Energy Division in London

JLT Re announced that Martin Stephenson will join its Marine and Energy Division subject to the fulfillment of his existing contractual obligations. Stephenson will work closely with the division’s head, Nick Jay, and its senior leadership, chairing the division’s management …

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Experts Doubt Involuntary Flight Claim Would Help Texas ‘Affluenza’ Teen

An argument raised by lawyers for a Texas teenager known for using an “affluenza” defense in a fatal drunken-driving wreck — that he may have been taken to Mexico against his will — is unlikely to help his case, outside …

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$142.5K Settlement Reached in Lawsuit over North Dakota Traffic Stop

The North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund will pay $142,500 to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Richland County Sheriff’s Office. The three men who filed the lawsuit alleged they were injured when two deputies, Dan Wise and Steve …

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Oklahoma City Man Charged with Insurance Fraud

Insurance fraud charges have been filed against an Oklahoma City man, the state attorney general’s office announced. Adam Lee McHolland is accused of filing a false insurance claim stating his motorcycle had been stolen. After submitting a proof of loss statement …

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Clark Tapped to Lead Nationwide’s Excess and Surplus Lines Business

Columbus, Ohio-based property/casualty insurer, Nationwide, announced that Tom Clark has been elected president of Nationwide’s Excess & Surplus lines business. In a planned leadership transition the company announced in 2014, Clark succeeds Mike Miller, who remains with Nationwide. Prior to …

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Florida Group Calls for Transparency in McCarty Replacement Search

The Florida Association of Insurance Reform has asked Gov. Rick Scott and his Cabinet, which consists of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, State Attorney General Pam Bondi, and State Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, to allow for input on the search …

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Hiscox Adds Property Damage Protection to Terrorism Insurance Product

Hiscox has enhanced its stand-alone terrorism portfolio by adding new products covering property damage from malicious attacks utilizing nuclear, chemical, biological and radiological (NCBR) devices. Hiscox NCBR policies offer coverage of up to $25 million for blast damage, decontamination and …

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Texas Supreme Court: Loss-of-Use Damages Allowed in Total Loss Cases

Are loss-of-use damages, such as lost profits, allowed in Texas when an insured has recovered fair market value on a commercial vehicle that is deemed a total loss after an accident? The Texas Supreme Court thinks so, despite an insurer’s …

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Survey of Economists Shows Climate Change Impact Sooner, More Severe

The impact from climate change is more imminent than most believe, and it’s going to take a big economic chunk out of a lot of bottom-lines. That’s according to a recent report from the Institute for Policy Integrity, a non-partisan …

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Ironshore Opens Seattle Branch Office to be Led by Sonon

Ironshore Inc. has announced the opening of a branch office in Seattle, Wash., to be led by Daniel Sonon as branch executive. Sonon will be responsible for marketing across all Ironshore business lines, reporting to Jeremy Frumkin, branch executive based …

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Alliant Taps Hostelley in Colorado for Aviation Practice

Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has hired aviation industry specialist Darwin Hostelley as first vice president. Hostelley will be based in Denver, Colo. Hostelley is a certified pilot. Prior to Alliant he was a senior vice president with a global insurance …

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California Commissioner OKs New insurance Products to Fill Ridesharing Gap

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones approved a new insurance product by USAA designed to close the gap in insurance coverage for drivers driving for all ridesharing companies. The product is now available to USAA’s California drivers for all ridesharing companies, …

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Northern Mid-Atlantic Region Braces for Big Storm, Significant Snowfall

The South and East are bracing for a nor’easter at week’s end with the potential for significant snowfall. The National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warns of heavy, “perhaps crippling” snow across the northern mid-Atlantic region, including Baltimore, Washington and …

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Sandridge Energy Agrees to Reduce Wastewater Volume in Oklahoma Wells

Sandridge Energy has agreed to a plan from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission’s Oil and Gas Conservation Division (OGCD) that will both reduce the volume of wastewater being injected in the Medford and Cherokee/Byron areas, and convert some wells from disposal …

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Mass. Senate to Consider Ban on Using Handheld Cellphones While Driving

Motorists in Massachusetts may soon have to put down their cellphones when they’re on the road. A bill prohibiting the use of hand-held mobile electronic devices while driving would also make it illegal to enter information by hand into a …

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NYC Mayor de Blasio Says City’s Streets Have Never Been Safer

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says the city’s streets have never been safer. The Democratic mayor on Tuesday said traffic and pedestrian fatalities dropped to their lowest level in 2015, ever since they began record keeping in 1910. …

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N.Y. Gov. Cuomo Nominates Vullo to Head Department of Financial Services

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo today nominated Maria Vullo, an attorney and former staffer, as superintendent of the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). The nomination comes eight months after the May 2015 departure of former superintendent Benjamin …

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Additional $5.1M Recovered for Louisiana Insurance Policyholders in 2015

The Louisiana Department of Insurance (LDI) announced that in 2015 an additional $5.1 million in insurance claim payments was recovered on behalf of policyholders. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says these funds are the result of LDI staff working with company …

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NFP Names Savage as COO of Midwest P/C Division

Global insurance broker NFP Corp. has appointed Patrick Savage as chief operating officer (COO) for NFP Property & Casualty, Midwest. Savage will lead operations and finance for NFP Property & Casualty, Midwest and will use his expertise in the P/C …

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Bike Lobby Seeks Lower Speed Limits in Minnesota Cities

Minnesota’s bike lobby is hoping to get state legislators to lower speed limits on city streets around the state, arguing it would make cyclists and pedestrians safer. A speed limit of 25 mph is being sought by the state’s bike …

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U.S. gov’t signals more businesses liable as joint employers (Updates to add detail, comment from lawyer) By Robert Iafolla Jan 20 (Reuters) – More U.S. companies could be classified as “joint employers” of workers employed by a staffing agency or …

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Utah Man Nabbed after Staging 23 Auto Accidents over 5 Years

Utah-man Navid Monjazeb faces 22 counts of insurance fraud, reckless endangerment, and other crimes spanning five years and at least 23 known accidents – with the same three vehicles. Charges resulting from a months-long investigation conducted by Utah’s Insurance Fraud …

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California Commissioner Orders Changes to FAIR Plan

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued an order directing the California Fair Access to Insurance Requirements Plan to make several changes in the wake of last year’s severe fire season. The order includes enhanced coverage options, it eliminates the requirement …

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Britton Gallagher Expands Life Sciences Division in California with Wright

Britton Gallagher has named Tina Wright an account manager on its life sciences team. Wright will be based in San Diego, Calif. and will focus on developing solutions for issues facing life science clients. Wright has a background in commercial …

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Plan to Burn off Leaking Methane in California Scrapped

Air quality regulators agreed on Wednesday to scrap a proposal to capture and burn off some of the methane spewing into the air from a subterranean pipeline rupture that has forced thousands of Los Angeles residents from their homes since …

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Liberty International Underwriters Names C&F’s Cosetti as Head of U.S. Casualty

Liberty International Underwriters (LIU) has named Diana Cossetti as senior vice president of LIU’s U.S. Casualty operation, newly-created underwriting leadership role overseeing Primary Casualty, Excess Casualty, Environmental, Railroad and Crisis Management.  S Cosetti will be based in New York and …

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UK’s Aviva to Buy Royal Bank of Canada Unit for North America Expansion

Aviva Plc, the U.K.’s second-biggest insurer by market value, agreed to buy a home and auto insurer from Royal Bank of Canada for C$582 million ($402 million) to expand in North America. The purchase will increase Aviva’s policy sales in …

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Why Regulation Is Good for Driverless Cars

You don’t often hear a libertarian praising a federal regulator when it starts offering “guidance” and “coordination” for some innovative industry. Well, mark your calendars, folks, because here goes: The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is preparing to get deeper …

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Travelers’ Q4 Profit Takes Hit

Travelers Cos., the only property/casualty insurer in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, said fourth-quarter profit fell 17 percent as investment income declined on low bond yields and valuations for energy-related holdings. Net income dropped to $866 billion, or $2.83 a …

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Icahn Activism Not AIG’s First Test Under Pressure

American International Group Inc. knows what it’s like to be circled by hawks. American International Group Inc. knows what it’s like to be circled by hawks. Under pressure in 2009 to repay the insurer’s bailout, company executives were in a …

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XL Catlin Applies for License to Open Reinsurance Branch in India

XL Catlin announced it has begun the licensing process to establish a reinsurance branch in India. The decision to pursue market entry into India aligns with XL Catlin’s strategy of establishing a presence in emerging and developing markets where economic …

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Artificial Intelligence to Help Reduce Insurance Risks: Baidu President

It was hard to tell whether hope or fear was the predominant sentiment about the future of artificial intelligence, according to a panel discussing the state of the field at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Wednesday. A.I. systems …

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A.M. Best Appoints Ribeiro and Sutherland to Its Asia-Pacific Operations

A.M. Best announced the appointment of Jose Ribeiro as managing director – Asia-Pacific, and James Sutherland as commercial director – Asia-Pacific. As managing director, Asia-Pacific, Ribeiro will be responsible for raising the profile of A.M. Best’s brand in the region …

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National Iran Tanker Co. Close to Obtaining Insurance for Crude Oil Exports

The National Iranian Tanker Co. is close to obtaining new insurance needed to boost crude exports and resume trade with old customers after four years of sanctions. NITC has been negotiating with foreign organizations for the past six months to get its …

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Tokio Solution Appoints Agnew as Vice President, ILS Portfolio Management

Bermuda-based Tokio Solution Management Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Tokio Millennium Re AG, has appointed Butch Agnew as vice president, ILS Portfolio Management. Agnew has over 15 years of experience in capital markets, captive management, broking, business development and …

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OneBeacon Launches Coverage for Community Health Centers

OneBeacon Healthcare Group, a member of OneBeacon Insurance Group, has launched a new federally qualified community health clinics and providers policy, which provides additional protection for potential gaps in the coverage afforded to community health centers and providers under the …

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Florida’s Citizens Policy Count Reaches Lowest Level on Record

Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation announced Jan. 20 that it has reduced its policy count to under 500,000. The company said in a statement that its policy count on Jan. 19 was 484,788, the lowest level recorded since Citizens was …

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Radner Named VP, Human Resources Business Partner at CNA

Chicago-based property/casualty insurer CNA appointed Sean Radford to vice president, Human Resources Business partner. Radner joined CNA in 2014 as director in HR’s Talent and Leadership Development team, where he was responsible for developing and driving CNA’s talent and leadership …

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Lloyd’s Appoints Regional Director for South Central U.S.

Specialist (re)insurer, Lloyd’s, has appointed Enya He as regional director for its newly-established South Central United States region. She will be based in Dallas and be responsible for market development activities in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Prior to joining Lloyd’s, …

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Alabama Debates Banning Criminal History on Job Applications

As policies that limit when employers may ask applicants about their criminal histories gain popularity nationwide, advocates are pushing similar measures in Alabama, which has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country. Nineteen states and the District of …

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West Virginia Tackling Underage Drinking, Driving Through ‘NO School Spirits’ Contest

The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration has received a record 78 entries from high school students for a contest discussing the dangers of drinking and driving and underage alcohol consumption. Sixteen high schools submitted essays or videos for the …

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Allegiance Insurance Services Promotes Strehmann, Petrocelli

Burr Ridge, Ill.-based Allegiance Insurance Services Inc. (AIS) appointed Barbara M. Strehmann as chief financial officer of the Allegiance Group of Companies. Strehmann has over 30 years’ experience in the accounting field, and has worked as the accounting manager and …

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Brian Maynard Appointed Insurance Commissioner of Kentucky

Brian Maynard of Louisville was appointed commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Insurance on Jan. 12. He takes over for Sharon P. Clark, who had been in the position since first being appointed in 2008. Republican Gov. Matt Bevin, who …

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Robbers Crash Minivan into Dallas Chanel Boutique

Police have detained seven robbery suspects, two of whom are juveniles, after a minivan smashed into a Dallas-area Chanel boutique and about 50 pricey purses were stolen. Some of the high-end bags, known for selling at thousands of dollars apiece, …

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Bicycle Fatalities Jumped in New Jersey in 2015

Preliminary state police figures indicate that cycling and passenger deaths ballooned, while motorcycle deaths and pedestrian fatalities fell last year in New Jersey. The Record reports cycling deaths jumped 64 percent to 18 last year. That’s the most since 2008. …

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Maine Obtained $1.5M in Recoveries for Consumers, Businesses in 2015

Cases filed with the Maine Bureau of Insurance in 2015 resulted in nearly $1.5 million in recovered funds for Maine residents, according to Maine Insurance Superintendent Eric Cioppa. More than $1.2 million was recovered by the Bureau’s Consumer Health Care …

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GE’s Move Leaves Many Unsettled in Connecticut Communities

It’s not just the loss of loyal customers that worries jeweler Howard Diamond, or the extra tax burden that businesses like his may have to carry as General Electric pulls the plug on Fairfield, Connecticut. As he approaches retirement and …

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EPIC Taps Rappleye as Producer in California

Edgewood Partners Insurance Center has hired Cameron Rappleye as a property/casualty insurance broker/producer in the Sacramento, Calif. office. Rappleye will be responsible for new business development and the design and management of insurance and risk management programs for clients across …

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First GM Ignition Switch Trial Sidetracked by Check Fraud Allegation

An Oklahoma family’s eviction from their “dream house” following allegations of check fraud is threatening to derail the first trial over General Motors Co.’s deadly ignition-switch flaw. Robert Scheuer, a mail carrier who claims the defect disabled his air bag …

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Supreme Court Rules Monetary Offer Doesn’t End Class Action

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled against advertising firm Campbell-Ewald in a class action case, saying the lawsuit can proceed over claims the company violated a federal consumer law by sending unsolicited text messages on behalf of the U.S. …

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Aspen Acquires Crop Insurer AgriLogic

Specialty insurer Aspen Insurance has acquired AgriLogic Insurance Services and certain affiliates for cash in a transaction that further diversifies Aspens’s specialty insurance business. AgriLogic, headquartered in Overland, Kansas, is a specialist U.S. crop insurer and agricultural consultant that reported …

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Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Challenge to U.S. Patent Review Process

 The U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether a federal agency’s procedures have made it too easy to successfully cancel patents after agreeing last Friday to decide a case involving a vehicle speedometer that alerts drivers if they are speeding. The …

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When Are Employee Wellness Programs No Longer Voluntary?

Dale Arnold, who worked for Wisconsin plastics maker Flambeau, chose not to take his work-sponsored health assessment and biometric screening. The company responded by pulling his insurance coverage. Like many employers, Flambeau uses a wellness program to cut insurance costs by encouraging healthy employee habits. In …

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Supreme Court Declines Another Challenge to Affordable Care Act

The U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up a new constitutional challenge to the Affordable Care Act, turning away an appeal that said lawmakers used flawed legislative procedures to pass the measure. Opponents of President Barack Obama’s healthcare law were …

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Grants Now Available to Strengthen Older California Homes

California homeowners have until Feb. 20 to apply for up to $3,000 in funding for retrofits to protect their homes from catastrophic earthquake damage. The Earthquake Brace + Bolt program today opened the registration period for $4.8 million in seismic …

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What to Expect in U.S. Casualty Markets in 2016: Marsh

The sharing economy, expanded litigation, surplus capital, custom account underwriting and further consolidation are likely to challenge the U.S. casualty insurance marketplace in 2016, according to broker Marsh. Marsh expects that the new year will also see wider use of …

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Armour Group Invests in Cobalt, Shariah Compliant Re/Insurance Provider

Cobalt Insurance Holdings Ltd., the London-based provider of Shariah compliant insurance and reinsurance has announced a strategic investment by Armour Group Holdings Ltd., the Bermuda-based diversified insurance group. Financial considerations were not disclosed. The strategy of Bermuda-based Armour focuses on niche …

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Carpenter Appoints Miller-van der Schild as Managing Director of Benelux Unit

Guy Carpenter & Co. has appointed Susanne Miller-van der Schild as managing director, Guy Carpenter Benelux, effective 1 February. Miller-van der Schild will be responsible for further developing Guy Carpenter’s platform in the region, and in particular strengthening its position …

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ILS Market Hits New Record of $70B in 2015: Willis Capital Markets & Advisory

Total non-life insurance linked securities (ILS) capital reached a record $70 billion at year-end 2015 – topping the previous record of $65 billion at year-end 2014, according to the latest ILS market update from Willis Capital Markets & Advisory, the …

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Poland’s Largest Insurer, PZU, Appoints Executive at Bank of America as CEO

PZU SA appointed Michal Krupinski, an executive at Bank of America Inc. and former deputy treasury minister, as chief executive officer of Poland’s largest insurer, in the latest change as Poland’s new government extends its influence over the economy. Krupinski, 34, …

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Intact Insurance Launches Commercial Drone Insurance in Canada

Canadian insurer Intact Insurance has launched drone insurance for its commercial lines customers. This Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) coverage caters specifically to small and medium-sized businesses in Canada that currently use or plan to use drones to complement their business …

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NFIB, Markel to Offer Workers’ Comp Coverage to Small Businesses

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Markel FirstComp, a division of Markel Service, Inc., have formed a new relationship through which eligible small business owners across the country can qualify for workers’ compensation insurance at competitive rates. NFIB, …

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Zurich Insurance Group Expects Q4 2015 Loss in General Insurance

Zurich Insurance Group AG expects its biggest unit to record a second straight quarterly loss after estimating it will pay out $275 million to cover damage claims from storms in the U.K and Ireland. The general insurance unit is expected to post an operating …

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39 Alabama Counties Impacted by Christmas Storms to Receive Aid

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley has requested federal disaster assistance for counties impacted by the severe storms last month. Bentley announced Jan. 14 that 39 counties will receive assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The governor declared a state of …

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Tennessee City Seeking Solutions to Flash Flooding Problem

South Pittsburg, Tenn., officials are hoping to find a way to end flash flooding in the town after a Christmas morning storm damaged property and killed one resident. Marion County Mayor David Jackson says it is the second flash flood …

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Florida-Based BKS-Partners Promotes Desmarais to Benefits Director

Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners (BKS-Partners) has promoted Kristy Desmarais to Benefits director.   As Benefit’s director, Desmarais is responsible for the strategic planning and execution of employee benefits programs for some of the firm’s largest clients. In her new role, …

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Kentucky Health Cooperative Placed in Liquidation

Citing the need to preserve remaining assets, the Kentucky Health Cooperative (KYHC) was placed in liquidation Jan. 15 at the request of the Kentucky Department of Insurance. The order was signed by Franklin Circuit Judge Phillip J. Shepherd. KYHC was …

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Former NAIC President, California’s First Insurance Commissioner Dies

Richards D. Barger, California’s first insurance commissioner and a former president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, died on Sunday. The cause is not yet known. He was 87. Barger, who went by the name Dick, devoted his practice …

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LIU’s Rokicki Joins Aspen as U.S. Head of Onshore Energy, Construction

Aspen Insurance announced the appointment of Robert Rokicki as senior vice president and head of Onshore Energy and Construction for the Americas.  Reporting to Tim Kania, global head of Energy and Construction, Rokicki will be based in New York and …

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Farmers Ex-Executive DeSantis Named CEO of Program Manager Wright

Ironshore has named Anthony J. DeSantis as chief executive officer of Wright & Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary in its U.S. Holdings Group  He will be responsible for Wright’s existing direct to consumer platform, as well as building upon the small …

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Ironshore Expands Builders Risk Coverage to Wood Frame Commercial Construction

                                       Ironshore Global Property has expanded its builders’ risk coverage to include wood frame commercial construction projects in the U.S. and Canada.  The stand-alone policy offering will protect against property risks of large scale, commercial wood frame structures during the …

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AIG Increases Global Commercial Property Limits to $2.5B

American International Group, Inc. (AIG) has significantly raised available global commercial property limits to $2.5 billion per occurrence. According to the company, the move responds to the growing demand for capacity and services by clients managing more complex global risks …

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Hub Acquires Assets of North Carolina-Based RPG Solutions

Hub International Limited (Hub), a global insurance brokerage, has acquired the assets of RPG Solutions, Inc. (RPG) of North Carolina.  Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed. Based in Raleigh, RPG specializes in providing employee benefits, HR Services and training …

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Florida Tornadoes Leave 2 Dead, Several Injured

Florida officials say two adults have been killed and four children have been injured after two tornadoes swept through central Florida. Manatee County EMS officials tell WFLA-TV that several people were injured as severe weather pushed through Duette and Siesta …

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N.Y. Aims to Improve Storm Forecasts With Automated Weather Stations

Counting every raindrop or measuring every gust of wind is impossible, but New York is getting closer with a uniquely extensive statewide system of automated weather stations that should paint a dramatically clearer picture of developing storms. Described as the …

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Icahn Renews Attack on AIG CEO Hancock; Insists ‘Drastic Shift’ Needed

Activist investor Carl Icahn has again called for American International Group (AIG)  to be divided into three separate companies and expressed doubt that AIG CEO Peter Hancock’s planned strategy presentation next week will satisfy his demand. He said that if …

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AssuredPartners Acquires Roehrs & Co. in Pennsylvania

AssuredPartners Inc. announced that it has acquired Roehrs & Company Inc., an independent agency based in Exton, Pennsylvania. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Roehrs & Company was founded in 1923 by Walter E. Roehrs Sr., and current operations …

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Quake Widely Felt in Anchorage Area, Officials Say

Officials say a moderate earthquake was widely felt as it rumbled beneath the Anchorage, Alaska area, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says the magnitude-4.8 temblor struck at 7:05 p.m. Sunday and was …

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Earthquake Rattled Hawaii’s Big Island

An early morning earthquake rattled Hawaii’s Big Island, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The USGS reported the magnitude 3.9 struck at 1:52 a.m. on Monday and was centered about 35 miles southwest of Hilo, near the Mauna Loa Observatory. Only …

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Washington Refinery Fined Nearly $325K for Workplace Violations

Washington’s Department of Labor & Industries has fined Phillips 66 Refinery $324,000 for failing to correct serious workplace safety and health violations. An L&I inspection of the Ferndale facility found the violations put refinery workers at great risk in case …

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Leavitt Hires Robertson in Idaho for Employee Benefits Team

Leavitt Group Benefits Services of Boise has named Shane Robertson to its employee group benefits team in Idaho. Robertson will advise employers in developing customized employee benefits plans and navigating the complexities of the Affordable Care Act. He has eight …

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Alliant in California Names Novotnaj Director of Health Informatics

Alliant Insurance Services Inc. has named Kryz Novotnaj vice president and national director of health informatics in its employee benefits group. Novotnaj will be based in the Walnut Creek, Calif. office, and he will lead the expansion of Alliant’s health …

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Marine Insurers Cautious About Re-Entering Iran, Despite Lifting of Many Sanctions

Foreign oil tanker owners are expected to make a slow return to Iran despite the lifting of many sanctions as insurers tread carefully, leaving shipping players unwilling to pick up cargoes as quickly as Tehran has wanted. A nuclear deal between …

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Argo Names AIG’s Mike-Mayer Chief Underwriter, NYWCB’s Wade Chief of Claims for U.S.

Specialty insurance and reinsurance carrier Argo Group International Holdings, Ltd. announced the appointments of Frank Mike-Mayer as chief underwriting officer and Mark Wade as chief claims officer, both serving as key executives for the company’s U.S. operations. As chief underwriting …

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Lloyd’s Develops Standardized Data Requirements for Cyber Risks

Lloyd’s of London announced that a set of common core data requirements for cyber risks has been agreed by collaborating with modeling firms AIR Worldwide and RMS, along with RMS’ partner, the Cambridge Centre of Risk Studies. Both AIR and …

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Drone Viewpoint: Let U.S. Protect Airspace, While States Protect Privacy

In October, a Kentucky judge dismissed criminal charges against a man who had shot down a drone flying over his property. Now the drone’s owner has brought a federal civil suit against the shooter, William Merideth, arguing that the Federal Aviation …

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Insurance to Offset Merck’s $830M Settlement with Investors Over Vioxx

More than 11 years after pulling its Vioxx painkiller from the market, Merck & Co. agreed to pay another $830 million to settle litigation, raising its total payouts in lawsuits and government investigations to more than $8.5 billion. The settlement …

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Everest Re Announces Senior Leadership Changes at Bermuda, Europe Operations

Bermuda-based Everest Re Group Ltd. announced that Mark de Saram, managing director and chief executive officer of Everest Reinsurance (Bermuda) Ltd., has notified the company of his decision to retire effective April 6, 2016. Sanjoy Mukherjee will succeed de Saram …

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Factbox – International Firms Rush to Establish Position in Iran as Sanctions Lift

Major international companies are rushing to establish a position in Iran as the Islamic Republic re-opens for business after the lifting of international sanctions. Up for grabs is access to a market with 80 million people and annual output of …

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Obama Nominates South Carolina Insurance Head to NARAB Board of Directors

President Barack Obama has nominated South Carolina Department of Insurance Director Raymond G. Farmer to serve as a member on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB) for a period of one year. …

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BHSI Launches D&O & PI Cover in Australia, Expands Team

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company (BHSI) has launched four new executive and professional lines policies in Australia and named Sami Jaghbir as senior underwriting manager, Executive & Professional Lines, in Brisbane, and Richard Johnson as senior underwriting manager, Executive & …

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1 Worker Dead, 3 Hurt in Explosion at Texas Chemical Plant

Officials say an explosion at a Houston-area chemical plant has left one worker dead and three hurt. Pasadena police say the tank accident happened Saturday afternoon at the PeroxyChem Bayport Plant. A statement from Philadelphia-based PeroxyChem says the workers were …

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Bird Flu Found in Indiana Turkey Flock

The U.S. government confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic H7N8 avian influenza in a commercial turkey flock in Indiana, the country’s first case since the end of last year’s outbreak that led to the destruction of 50 million animals. The …

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Louisiana Citizens Property Insurer Plans Rate Changes

Almost all of the Orleans Parish homeowners who buy coverage from the state insurer of last resort could see their rates drop 6.3 percent if the Louisiana Insurance Department approves proposed rate reductions. The Advocate reports a mix of rate …

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Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Leads to Federal Emergency Order

President Barack Obama signed an emergency declaration Saturday that clears the way for federal aid for Flint, Michigan, which is undergoing a drinking water crisis. The White House also said the Federal Emergency Management Agency will coordinate all disaster relief …

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Hundreds of Oklahomans Turn Out for Earthquake Hearing

Oklahoma residents concerned with a dramatic increase in the number of earthquakes called for more regulations on the oil and gas industry on Jan. 15 and urged state leaders to take action to stop the quakes. About 200 people tried …

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Kentucky Drone Suit Challenges Airspace Rules, Privacy Expectations

A lawsuit filed against a man who shot down a drone over his Hillview, Ky., home last summer seeks to resolve what expectations homeowners have to privacy as their property is seen from the air. The Courier-Journal reports a local …

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U.S., 17 Automakers Reach Agreement on Cybersecurity, Safety

The U.S. Transportation Department and 17 automakers have reached agreement on efforts to enhance safety, including sharing information to thwart cyber-attacks on their increasingly wired vehicles. Automakers including General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. also agreed to …

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Officials Believe Latest Midwest Bird Flu Contained by Rapid Response

A move to quickly quarantine and destroy Indiana turkey flocks infected with avian influenza may help prevent a repeat of last year’s outbreak that cost the industry $3.3 billion, according to officials. “We’ve not found any additional cases since Saturday,” …

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United Fire Group Recognizes Agents, Employee for Community Service

Cedar Rapids-based United Fire Group (UFG) has honored two agents and one employee with its Scotty McIntyre, Jr. “Go Beyond” award that recognizes individuals for their exemplary community service efforts. Property/casualty agent Garrett Jerue is the co-founder of Hope Lives Foundation, …

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Report Cites Failure to Prevent Unsafe Medical Devices That Spread Superbugs

America’s system for ensuring that medical devices are safe failed at every turn when dirty endoscopes began spreading deadly superbugs, according to a Senate investigation released today. The report, from Senator Patty Murray, a Washington Democrat, blames device manufacturers, hospitals, and …

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Connecticut Launches New Website to Help Fight Fraud

The state of Connecticut is launching a new website to help fight fraud, waste and abuse in state government. Officials say the website, located at FightFraud.ct.gov, will make it easier for the public to report suspicious conduct. It will also …

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All Risks Hires Davis as Underwriting Manager in Maryland

All Risks Ltd., an independent wholesaler based in Hunt Valley, Maryland, has hired Steve Davis as underwriting manager in the National Specialty Programs unit. In this role, Davis will continue to grow the existing programs, as well as share responsibility …

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Mass. Association of Insurance Agents CEO Mancini to Retire at End of 2016

The Massachusetts Association of Insurance Agents (MAIA) announced Thursday that its longtime president and chief executive officer, Francis A. Mancini, will retire from the association at the end of 2016. MAIA said it has formed a search committee to oversee …

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New Hampshire’s Raffle Law Takes Effect

New Hampshire’s new law removing the monetary cap on prize values at promotional raffles and other similar events conducted by insurance producers went into effect this month. H.B.171 (“An Act relative to rebating”), which was signed by New Hampshire Gov. …

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U.S. Reports on Cyber Attacks on Manufacturing, Other Industries

U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigations of cyber attacks on the nation’s critical manufacturing sector nearly doubled in the year ended Sept. 30, according to the agency. The Department of Homeland Security’s Industrial Control Systems Cybersecurity Emergency Response Team, or …

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Groups File Lawsuit Over North Carolina ‘Anti-Whistleblower’ Law

Animal-rights, food-safety and other groups sued this week to stop a new North Carolina law that helps employers punish people who get hired to steal company secrets or dig up dirt. The federal lawsuit was filed by People for the …

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Connecticut Cops Consider ‘Angel’ Program to Combat Heroin Scourge

A growing chorus of law enforcement leaders, drug addiction experts and parents of addicts say arresting and jailing heroin users will not stem the surge in deaths and overdoses. “We realize we’re not going to arrest our way out of …

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Cleary Named Managing Sales Director for ARAG in Midwest

Legal insurance provider, ARAG, named Patrick Cleary as managing director of Sales for the Midwest region of the United States. He is based in Chicago. Cleary will partner with insurance brokers, consultants, employers and other organizations to offer ARAG legal …

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General Star Expands Architects & Engineers Program to Maryland, Virginia

General Star has expanded its admitted architects and engineers professional liability coverage to Maryland and Virginia. Entering the eighth year of the A&E program, Maryland and Virginia join New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia as …

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Texas-Based American Underwriting Managers Acquired by U.S. Risk

U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc., has acquired Southlake, Texas-based managing general agency and wholesale insurance broker, American Underwriting Managers (AUM). For 17 years AUM has served the needs of retail insurance agents and insureds alike primarily in Texas and surrounding …

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Farmers Insurance Estimates Loss from South Central Storms at $90M

Farmers Insurance has estimated an overall loss of $90 million resulting from severe weather that moved through portions of Texas, Oklahoma and Missouri at the end of December. The region experienced heavy rain, strong winds and hail. Multiple tornadoes in …

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USI Insurance Acquires Healthcare Liability Solutions in Houston

USI Insurance Services (USI) has acquired Healthcare Liability Solutions LLC (HLS), located in Houston, Texas. HLS is a property and casualty brokerage firm dedicated to customizing insurance programs for healthcare organizations and providers specializing in professional liability insurance. Terms of …

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Validus Appoints Halsey Vice President, Atlanta Property Manager

Validus Holdings, Ltd., has appointed Rob Halsey as vice president, Atlanta Property manager. In this new position, Halsey will be responsible for building and maintaining the Validus Underwriters Excess & Surplus property business in the Southeast United States and write …

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After Call Center Delays MNsure Officials Vow to Hire Staff

Officials at Minnesota’s health insurance exchange, MNsure, vowed to beef up call center staff for the final weeks of open enrollment, hoping to reverse lengthy call delays in late December 2015 that hearken back to the exchange’s disastrous first year rollout. …

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Workplace Deaths Down in North Dakota Oil Patch

The number of work-related deaths in the North Dakota oil patch in 2015 dropped from the previous year. Occupational Safety and Health Administration data show three such fatalities last year, down from seven in 2014 and 10 in 2013. Eric …

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South Carolina Extends Data Call from October Storm

The South Carolina Department of Insurance (SCDOI) has advised insurers to continue to report P&C claims as per the data call issued for the October 2015 flood event and its aftermath. The data call was originally issued Oct. 13, 2015 …

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Burnham Benefits in California Names Bergsto Account Manager

Irvine, Calif.-based Burnham Benefits Insurance Services has named Alicia Bergsto an account manager. Prior to Burnham Bergsto was an associate consultant with Health Net Inc., where she worked in partnership with senior consultants developing and maintaining client partnerships with large …

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Weather Service: Tornado Hit Southern California in Last Week’s El Niño Storms

The National Weather Service says a small tornado touched down in Ventura County, Calif. during last week’s powerful El Niño-driven storms. Meteorologists conducting a storms survey determined the tornado swept through a half-mile swath of Fillmore during the morning of …

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