North Carolina Sees Dramatic Increase in Fatal Drug Overdoses

Officials say fatal drug overdoses in North Carolina have jumped from 2002 to 2014. The Charlotte Observer reports federal data shows that overdoses killed as many as 16 people per 100,000 residents in the state in 2014 compared to about …

from News – Insurance Journal

Georgia Reports $7M in Claims Settlements Returned to Consumers in 2015

Georgia Insurance Commissioner Ralph Hudgens announced that in 2015 his office mediated thousands of claims disputes between Georgians and insurance companies, resulting in more than $7 million in claim settlements favorable to the consumer. Last year the Georgia Department of …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma’s Workers’ Comp Opt-Out Act Ruled Unconstitutional

The Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission has determined that the opt-out portion of the state’s 2013 workers’ compensation statute is unconstitutional. Ruling on an appeal under the provisions of the Oklahoma Employee Injury Benefit Act, or Opt-Out Act, the three judge panel …

from News – Insurance Journal

Stone Creek Brings on Hansen in California

Lafayette, Calif.-based Stone Creek Insurance Agency has named Maridel Hansen front office manager in its Northern California office. Hansen has more than 10 years of insurance experience ranging in duties from supervision to customer service. Her past positions include claims and …

from News – Insurance Journal

EPIC Adds Hall as P/C Broker in California

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has hired Steve Hall as a property/casualty insurance broker/producer. Hall will be based in EPIC’s Concord, Calif. office and report to Curt Perata, regional director of property/casualty operations. Hall will be responsible for new business …

from News – Insurance Journal

Few Rideshare Drivers Have Insurance, But Interest is Growing

Powered by InsuranceJournal.tv A large portion of rideshare drivers do not have the required insurance – but more are buying it, or seem to be more interested in it. According to a recent survey by the Rideshare Guy, roughly one-in-five …

from News – Insurance Journal

Shiny Sports Car Or Cheap Sedan: How Your Car affects Your Premiums

When it comes to auto insurance, a lot rides on the make, model and age of your car. Some cars are just more expensive to insure. The formula for determining the cost is based on a host of variables. Your car may rate well for being new, for example, b...

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

Self-Driving Car Hits Municipal Bus in Minor California Crash, Google Says

Alphabet Inc.’s Google self-driving car struck a municipal bus in a minor crash, in what may be the first case of one of its autonomous cars hitting another vehicle. In a Feb. 23 report filed with California regulators, Google said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Nevada Insurance Commissioner Approves Workers’ Comp Rate Decrease

Acting Nevada Insurance Commissioner Amy L. Parks approved a filing from the National Council on Compensation Insurance for an average decrease of 5.5 percent for Nevada workers’ compensation voluntary insurance loss costs. An average decrease of 4.2 percent for workers’ …

from News – Insurance Journal

SAN Group Hires Cassell as Regional VP for New Hampshire, Maine

Satellite Agency Network (SAN) Group Inc., an alliance of independent property/casualty insurance agencies in the Northeast, has hired Jim Cassell as regional vice president for New Hampshire and Maine. In this position, Cassell is responsible for membership sales and service, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Insurance, Specialty License Plate Bills Go Forward in Arizona

Bills that would create standard designs for specialty license plates and free auto insurance companies from limits on non-renewals moved in the Arizona Legislature. Senate Bill 1101: Standard designed for specialty license plates Democratic Sen. Steve Farley of Tucson has …

from News – Insurance Journal

Conviction in Fatal Maryland Crash Reversed on Insurance Technicality

A West Virginia woman sentenced to a year in jail for a crash that killed a 5-year-old girl has had her conviction reversed because Maryland has no criminal penalty for drivers of uninsured, out-of-state vehicles. The Herald-Mail reports that Washington …

from News – Insurance Journal

Insurance Council: Ford Truck #1 Target for Auto Thieves in Texas

The Ford pick-up truck is stolen more often than any other vehicle on the roadway in Texas, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. The monthly report from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) lists Ford trucks, GM trucks …

from News – Insurance Journal

Vermont Fines Continental Indemnity for Workers’ Comp Premium Overcharges

Vermont Department of Financial Regulation Commissioner Susan L. Donegan announced on Feb. 26 that Continental Indemnity Co., a subsidiary of Applied Underwriters Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway Company, has paid Vermont $335,000 and owes 16 Vermont businesses an additional $352,000. The …

from News – Insurance Journal

Higginbotham Adds Henyon as Personal Lines Associate

Texas-based Higginbotham hired Bernie Henyon as associate of personal property/casualty insurance in the insurance firm’s Fort Worth headquarters. Henyon provides home, automobile and liability insurance services to high net worth individuals in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. For the past four years, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Security Video Catches Hoverboard Catching Fire in Illinois Home

A security camera inside a suburban Chicago home recorded a hoverboard catching fire shortly after a child left the house, which was extensively damaged by the blaze. Homeowner Dan Perper says the video shows his 11-year-old daughter grabbing her soccer …

from News – Insurance Journal

Pipeline Companies Ordered to Pay $6.5 M in Damages from Oklahoma Wildfire

Two pipelines companies have been ordered to pay more than $6.5 million in damages to more than 70 plaintiffs whose property was destroyed in a 2012 wildfire in Oklahoma. Court documents say a Payne County jury ordered IPS Engineering L.L.C. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Lee Named Head of Regulation and Enforcement at Wisconsin Insurance Department

Wisconsin’s Office of the Commissioner of Insurance announced that Cari Lee has been appointed as division administrator of Regulation and Enforcement. Lee supervises both the Bureau of Market Regulation and the Bureau of Financial Analysis and Examinations. Prior to her …

from News – Insurance Journal

Michigan Insurance Regulators: Consumer Complaints on the Rise

Michigan’s insurance and financial services regulators say the number of consumer complaints is on the rise and that more than 7,400 consumers were assisted during January alone. The Department of Insurance and Financial Services reported that in January of this …

from News – Insurance Journal

Rhode Island Lawmakers Eye Driver’s Licenses for Undocumented Immigrants

Lawmakers in Rhode Island are making another attempt to grant driving privileges to immigrants who are in the country illegally. Similar legislation stalled last year but state Sen. Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat, said he hopes to build on the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Software Provider Vertafore Acquires Canada’s Keal Technology

Vertafore, the Bothell, Wash.-based insurance software provider, announced the acquisition of Keal Technology, a leading provider of broker and commercial management systems in Canada. The move extends Vertafore’s customer base into Canada, further enhancing its international footprint, the company said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Cal Fire Files Lawsuit Against Utility For Cost of Powerhouse Fire

A state agency is suing the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to recover the more than $4 million cost in fighting a wildfire sparked by power lines three years ago. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection …

from News – Insurance Journal

Chubb Appoints Marine Insurance Executive Team for Asia Pacific Region

Chubb has appointed for the Asia Pacific region Christine Aldrich as its marine cargo underwriting manager and Callum Clark as marine hull underwriting manager. Both Aldrich and Clark will report to Anthony O’Brien, regional head of marine for Asia Pacific. Aldrich was previously marine underwriting manager for Australia and New …

from News – Insurance Journal

Best Revises Issuer Credit Rating Outlook for W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe)

A.M. Best has revised the issuer credit rating (ICR) outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A (Excellent) and the ICR of “a+” of W. R. Berkley Insurance (Europe) Ltd. (WRBIEL). The outlook for the …

from News – Insurance Journal

MassMutual Agrees to Pay $300M for MetLife Adviser Network

Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. agreed to buy MetLife Inc.’s adviser-force business and affiliated broker-dealer for about $300 million. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. agreed to buy MetLife Inc.’s adviser-force business and affiliated broker-dealer for about $300 million. As part …

from News – Insurance Journal

G20 Puts ‘Brexit’ on List of Top Global Risks After Push From UK Government

British finance minister George Osborne pushed financial leaders from the top 20 economies to include the risk of Britain leaving the European Union in their list of dangers to the world economy on Saturday, gaining explicit support from the United …

from News – Insurance Journal

XL Group Proposes Moving Domicile to Bermuda from Ireland

XL Group plc announced a proposal to change its parent holding company’s place of incorporation to Bermuda from Ireland. “Establishing our corporate home in Bermuda is a natural step for XL. XL has had a presence in Bermuda since 1986, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Hamilton Re Hires Davis to Lead Entry into Property Direct & Facultative

Hamilton Re, the reinsurance operations of Hamilton Insurance Group, announced that Gavin Davis has joined the Bermuda-based company as senior vice president, head of Property Insurance, Bermuda. Davis will be instrumental in leading the ongoing diversification of Hamilton Re’s portfolio …

from News – Insurance Journal

DUAL Commercial Launches New Online Cyber Program

DUAL Commercial, LLC has developed DUAL CyberSecurity, a new cyber program to be led by Phil Hoyt, director of Cyber Insurance. DUAL CyberSecurity provides coverage in conjunction with DUAL Commercial’s programs, as well as on a stand alone basis. DUAL’s …

from News – Insurance Journal

Breckenridge Insurance Forms New Company for Transactional Liability Market

Breckenridge Insurance Group has formed Vista Insurance Advisors, a new company for the transactional and mergers & acquisitions market offering various coverage options. Vista Insurance Advisors is led by Chief Executive Officer Thomas Dowd based in New York. Dowd has …

from News – Insurance Journal

Buffett Says Pessimism on Economy and America Is ‘Dead Wrong’

Warren Buffett reaches a broad audience with his annual letters to Berkshire Hathaway Inc. shareholders — and, on Saturday, he reached right out to U.S. voters. In sweeping passages, he rejected the economic pessimism dominating the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign …

from News – Insurance Journal

State Farm Reports Investments Overcame Underwriting Loss in 2015

State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., the largest U.S. property/casualty insurer, said 2015 profit rose 48 percent on investment gains tied to pharmaceutical holdings. Net income increased to $6.2 billion from $4.2 billion in 2014, the Bloomington, Illinois-based company said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Presidential Hopeful Trump Vows to Make It Easier to Sue Media

Donald Trump said Friday he will weaken First Amendment protections for reporters as president, making it easier for him to sue them. The celebrity businessman turned Republican presidential front-runner said he wants to “open up” libel laws at a rally …

from News – Insurance Journal

E-Cigarette Explosion Injures Florida Woman, Destroys Car

A Florida woman says an e-cigarette exploded as she took a puff, knocking her teeth loose and catching her rental car on fire. Cassandra Koziol told the Naples Daily News she had parked her car outside a friend’s house Feb. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Citizens: $4.2M in Florida Customer Premiums Recovered in 2015

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. reports that it recovered more than $4.2 million in customer premiums in 2015 by aggressively pursuing third parties responsible for losses and salvaging property involved in a claim, the company said in a statement. Citizens said …

from News – Insurance Journal

FEMA Designates Additional 18K South Carolina Properties in Flood Zone

Thousands of property owners in Horry County are being told they will be required to buy flood insurance. Local media outlets report that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has updated flood plain maps and now an additional 18,000 properties in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill Limiting Citizens’ Take-Out Letters

Florida legislators may try once again give additional protections to customers of Citizens Property Insurance. A Senate panel on Feb. 25 approved a bill that would put a limit on how many times a year a homeowner could be asked …

from News – Insurance Journal

S&P Responds to Swett & Crawford Sale

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services  has removed its ratings on Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford Ltd.  (CGSC) from CreditWatch with developing implications, where S&P initially placed them Nov. 13, 2015. At the same time, S&P has raised its long-term corporate …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida Reports 3 Pregnant Women Test Positive for Zika

Health officials say three pregnant women have tested positive for the Zika virus in Florida. Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong announced the cases Wednesday in his daily Zika update. A news release says all three cases are believed to …

from News – Insurance Journal

New York Classical Pianist Awarded $2.5M for Car Crash Injuries

A classical pianist from New York City who hurt his elbow in a car accident and can no longer play at the level he mastered has been awarded $2.5 million by a New Jersey jury. The award was against a …

from News – Insurance Journal

BHSI Launches Portfolio Product for Nonprofit Organizations

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has launched Executive First Nonprofit Portfolio, a collection of executive and professional lines coverages tailor-made for America’s nonprofit organizations. The Portfolio offers directors & officers liability, EPLI, fiduciary liability, employed lawyers liability and commercial crime …

from News – Insurance Journal

Maryland Issues Bulletin on Minimum Days Notice Requirement

The Maryland Insurance Administration said it has come to regulators’ attention that some insurers and premium finance companies may not be providing the minimum days’ notice as prescribed by the Maryland statutes before companies cancel, non-renew, increase the premium, or …

from News – Insurance Journal

WCRI Report Examines Trends in New York Workers’ Comp System

The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) has published its eight annual report examining the trends in the performance of the New York workers’ compensation system following reforms enacted in 2007. WCRI said the metrics in this report, “Monitoring Trends in …

from News – Insurance Journal

South Carolina Announces Initiative to Prevent, Fight Cybercrime

The South Carolina Revenue Department’s massive 2012 data breach gave Gov. Nikki Haley a firsthand lesson on the need for efforts to counter cybercrime, she said Wednesday. “Today, there is never a day I don’t think about cybersecurity,” Haley told …

from News – Insurance Journal

St. Louis Police Sargeant Prevails in Discrimination Suit; City to Pay $800K

A St. Louis police sergeant who won a racial discrimination case over a police academy promotion will be paid the $620,000 he won in a federal lawsuit, plus $172,000 in attorney’s fees. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a federal …

from News – Insurance Journal

Officials: 10 Tornadoes Recorded in Louisiana on Tuesday

The National Weather Service has updated to 10 the number of tornadoes that hit Louisiana on Feb. 23, including four EF-2 tornadoes that were responsible for the extreme damage in Convent and LaPlace, along with an EF-2 in Livingston Parish …

from News – Insurance Journal

Texas Adopts Rules for Residential Property Dec Pages, TWIA Premium Surcharge

The Texas Department of Insurance reported it has adopted rules pertaining to property insurance changes resulting from legislation passed in 2013 and 2015 Residential Property Declarations Page The new rules include requirements for residential property insurance policy declarations pages and …

from News – Insurance Journal

Indianapolis Man Convicted of Murder, Insurance Fraud in Home Explosion

An Indianapolis man was convicted of murder, arson and insurance fraud on Feb. 24 for his role in a 2012 house explosion that killed two neighbors and devastated a subdivision in the southern part of the city. A northern Indiana …

from News – Insurance Journal

At Least 7 Tornadoes Hit Mississippi as Severe Storms Batter Region

A major storm system hit several Southeast states this week, bringing high winds and tornadoes to multiple regions and killing at least one person in Mississippi. Injuries and damage were also reported in Florida from an apparent tornado. The National …

from News – Insurance Journal

New Jersey Issues Reminder: Certificates Law Will Take Effect in April

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s administration issued a statement this week reminding insurance agents, contractors and other interested parties in the state that the new certificates of insurance law will take effect on April 30. The Certificates of Insurance Act, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Brazil & Samarco Close to Agreeing on Damages from Mining Disaster

Brazil’s government and Samarco Mineracao SA are meeting on Friday to finalize the settlement of a lawsuit for damages caused by a deadly dam spill at a mine in November, with the attorney general’s office saying the accord was 95 percent complete. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Editor Sues Montana Newspaper Over Wrongful Discharge Claim

The former editor of the Missoulian has sued the publisher of the Montana newspaper and its owner, Lee Enterprises Inc., claiming wrongful discharge. Sherry Devlin’s lawsuit says she was demoted in April; her pay was cut nearly in half; she …

from News – Insurance Journal

Zenefits Axes 250 Employees Amid Compliance Investigations

Zenefits said it will cut about 250 jobs as the human resources software startup faces investigations over compliance with state rules. The staff reductions amount to about 17 percent of the San Francisco-based company’s workforce. Government officials in California and …

from News – Insurance Journal

Crystal & Co. Hires Wozencraft as Executive Director in New York City

Crystal & Company has hired Ann L. Wozencraft as executive director. She is based in Crystal & Company’s New York City headquarters office. Wozencraft comes from Aon where she served as managing director since 2007, with a focus on financial …

from News – Insurance Journal

Specialist Lloyd’s Underwriter Marketform to Exit General Liability Business

Specialist Lloyd’s underwriter Marketform announced it will cease to write general liability business. This decision forms part of a broader strategic review of the business, which included an assessment of Marketform’s general liability account. “Alongside its shareholder, American Financial Group, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Program Specialists Targeting Emerging Risks and ‘Doing Old Things Better’

Specialists in the program business segment agree – this is a good market to be in right now. Those specialists also agree that the program business market is poised to handle emerging risks that face the industry, in fact, they …

from News – Insurance Journal

MassMutual Emerges as Potential Buyer of MetLife Retail Group

MetLife Inc., the life insurer that is reshaping its business mix to limit government oversight, is in talks with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. about a possible sale of MetLife Premier Client Group, the company’s U.S. adviser force. The group …

from News – Insurance Journal

Jury Clears BP Manager of Clean Water Act Charge

A former BP manager charged with violating U.S. pollution law over the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill was cleared by a New Orleans jury, thwarting federal prosecutors’ last chance to jail someone over the disaster. Robert Kaluza, a well-site …

from News – Insurance Journal

Why Buyers, Sellers File Claims Under M&A Insurance: AIG Study

Nearly 14 percent of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) insurance policies written globally by American International Group Inc. resulted in a claim, according to a study by the insurer, one of the largest writers of M&A policies in the world. AIG …

from News – Insurance Journal

Israeli Cyber Security Business Foundry, Team8, on Track to Build 5 Firms by 2020

Team8, a cyber security business foundry created by veterans of the Israeli army’s technology and intelligence unit 8200, said it closed a $23 million round of financing. Team8 plans to use the money to develop five companies over the next …

from News – Insurance Journal

As UK Debate Over Brexit Heats Up, Some Suggest Looking at Lessons of History

Cities don’t stay on top forever. Just look at Venice in the 15th century, Philadelphia in the 18th or even Vienna in the 19th. It’s a lesson some Londoners worry is being forgotten when it comes to the U.K.’s membership …

from News – Insurance Journal

XL Catlin Names Brookman Sr. VP, Alternative Capital, in Newly Created Role

XL Catlin has appointed Daniel Brookman as senior vice president, Alternative Capital, a newly created role. Brookman was previously head of Capital Markets at Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. where he developed and managed account investment strategies for major institutional investors. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Third Point Re Reports 2015 Net Loss of $87.4M on Poor Investment Returns

Third Point Reinsurance Ltd., which counts on Dan Loeb to oversee investments, swung to a profit in the fourth-quarter as the hedge fund manager’s results improved before a January slump. Net income was $42.2 million, or 39 cents a share, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Nashville-Based Alternative Service Concepts Makes 2 Promotions

Alternative Service Concepts (ASC), a national workers’ compensation and property and casualty third party claims administrator (TPA), has promoted Tammy Moore and Jeff Logsdon to company assistant vice president. Promoted from the positions of claim manager, Logsdon and Moore will …

from News – Insurance Journal

Appelbaum Joins IRMI as VP, Knowledge Resources

Dallas-based International Risk Management Institute Inc. (IRMI), has appointed Joel A. Appelbaum as vice president of knowledge resources. Appelbaum will serve as a member of the IRMI executive team and is responsible for all strategic and tactical leadership for the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Keystone Insurers Group Adds 3 Missouri Agencies

Keystone Insurers Group announced it has added three new partners in Missouri: Scott Agency of Montgomery City, Harrison Agency of Columbia and Anderson & Green Insurance Agency of Sikeston. Harrison Agency was originally established in 1985 by Don Harrison. Don’s …

from News – Insurance Journal

EPIC Adds Drew to Northern California Construction Practice

EPIC Insurance Brokers & Consultants has added Trish Drew to the firm’s Northern California construction practice. Drew has more than 35 years of experience, and has focused on the risk management and insurance needs of the construction industry, both as …

from News – Insurance Journal

Lockton Adds Winter in Colorado

Lockton’s Mountain West operation in Denver, Colo. named Greg Winter as an employee benefits producer. Prior to Lockton Winter was responsible for developing and maintaining broker relationships in Colorado and New Mexico for Assurant Employee Benefits. He was with Enterprise …

from News – Insurance Journal

After Blizzard, Federal Disaster Loans Offered in 7 New Jersey Counties

Some residents and businesses in seven New Jersey counties affected by last month’s blizzard might be eligible for low-interest federal loans to help with recovery efforts. Eligible homeowners and renters can borrow up to $200,000 for repairs or replacements from …

from News – Insurance Journal

5th Annual National Tornado Summit Turning into an International Event

With registered attendees from as far away as Nepal and as nearby as Canada, the 2016 National Tornado Summit to be held next week in Oklahoma City has become an international event. The Oklahoma Department of Insurance, one of the …

from News – Insurance Journal

2.8M Enroll in New York’s Health Exchange

The New York Health Exchange says more than 2.8 million people have signed up for Medicaid and low-cost insurance through its 2016 open enrollment that ended Jan. 31. According to state health officials, federal data show the number of uninsured …

from News – Insurance Journal

Purdue Univ.: U.S. Grain Bin Entrapments Fall to Lowest Level in Decade

Grain bin entrapments and other confined space accidents on the nation’s farms fell to their lowest level in a decade last year, a Purdue University study has found. The U.S. had 47 accidents in grain bins or other confined spaces …

from News – Insurance Journal

Michigan Says Potholes Make State a Great Place to Test Robot Cars

Michigan and California, vying for control of our driverless future, are each proposing crumbling World War II military sites as ideal locations to test robot cars. Michigan’s secret weapon? Better potholes. The Great Lakes state plans to make a test …

from News – Insurance Journal

Huczek Joins Compass Specialty Risk Assistant VP, Broker

Middleton, Wis.-based wholesale broker and managing general agent, Compass Specialty Risk LLC, has added Matt Huczek as assistant vice president and broker. Based in Middleton and focused on casualty lines with an emphasis on construction and environmental, Huczek will concentrate …

from News – Insurance Journal

Missouri Insurance Director: State Sees Strong Growth in Industry Jobs

The total number of insurance producers operating in Missouri has grown nearly 25 percent since 2009, from 119,064 to 147,688 today, according to Missouri Department of Insurance Director John M. Huff. The state insurance department also reports an upswing in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Organizers of Salt Lake Comic Con Closer to Name Rights Settlement

The organizers of Salt Lake Comic Con and San Diego Comic-Con say they’re getting closer to settling a court battle over naming rights. Attorneys for the two pop-culture conventions say they have been able to resolve many of their disagreements …

from News – Insurance Journal

Alaska Flight Company Ordered to Compensate Whistleblower Pilot

A federal agency has ordered an Alaska flight service company to compensate and rehire a pilot fired after reporting safety concerns four years ago. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration says it’s ordering Homer-based Bald Mountain Air …

from News – Insurance Journal

Aon Announces U.S. Leadership Changes; Mula Named Risk Solutions President

Insurance broker Aon announced several leadership appointments in the U.S. Warren Mula assumes the newly created global role of president of Aon Risk Solutions. He will serve as a strategic advisor across the business. Mula most recently served as chief …

from News – Insurance Journal

With Google Gone, What’s the Future for Online Insurance Shopping?

The demise of Google’s online insurance comparison site Google Compare is being hailed by some in the industry as a victory for the traditional agency system. But agents may want to hold off on breaking out the champagne. Leading online …

from News – Insurance Journal

Supreme Court Justices Signal Flexibility in Patent Infringement Damages

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday signaled a willingness to give federal judges more discretion to boost penalties for patent infringement as the justices heard arguments in cases brought by Stryker Corp. and Halo Electronics Inc. Stryker, a medical device …

from News – Insurance Journal

U.S. Says Coal Mine Companies Should Cover Full Cleanup

The ailing coal industry must face the costs of cleaning up spent mines even as companies get pushed toward bankruptcy, the U.S. Interior Secretary said this week. The mining industry is responsible for restoring old mine sites but a taxpayer …

from News – Insurance Journal

Thawing Arctic Ice Creates New Environmental Risks as Shipping Routes Open

The Arctic is thawing even faster than lawmakers can formulate new rules to prevent the environmental threat of heavy fuel oil pollution from ships plying an increasingly popular trade route. Average Arctic temperatures are rising twice as fast as elsewhere …

from News – Insurance Journal

Marsh Captive Solutions Names Thomas-Ferrand Head of Strategy & Operations

Marsh Captive Solutions announced with immediate effect the appointments of Will Thomas-Ferrand as Strategy & Operations leader, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) and Asia Pacific, and Stephen Portelli as head of office in Malta. Both report to Ian …

from News – Insurance Journal

RSA’s CEO Warns that UK Withdrawal from EU Could Have Negative Impact

RSA chief Stephen Hester said a British exit from the European Union could have a negative impact on the insurer’s business and investment returns, underscoring a warning from top executives about the impact of withdrawal. Hester was one of 36 …

from News – Insurance Journal

AXA’s 2015 Net Income Rises 12% on Life Insurance Sales in Europe, Asia

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, said 2015 profit rose 12 percent, helped by higher life insurance sales in Europe and Asia. Net income climbed to 5.62 billion euros ($6.2 billion) from 5.02 billion euros [$5.5 billion] a year earlier, the …

from News – Insurance Journal

AIA 2015 Net Income Drops 22% on Weak Asian Currencies, Market Volatility

AIA Group Ltd., the third-largest Asia-based insurer by market value, posted a 22 percent decline in full-year profit as weaker regional currencies and stock-market gyrations detracted from business growth. The insurance company announced an unexpected 50 percent increase in its …

from News – Insurance Journal

Georgia Agency Owner Gives Handguns to Office Workers

The owner of a Georgia-based insurance firm is requiring all of his employees to get permits to carry concealed weapons and providing each of them with a handgun. Lance Toland of Lance Toland Associates said Tuesday that the slaying of …

from News – Insurance Journal

5 North Carolinian’s Accused of Staged Accident Ring

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrests of five Wilmington women in connection with an alleged staged auto accident ring. Investigators allege that over the course of three separate vehicle crashes, the women provided false statements to law …

from News – Insurance Journal

Venture Insurance Programs Acquires North Carolina-Based Tidal Solutions

Venture Insurance Programs, a national insurance program administrator, has acquired Tidal Solutions, LLC, a Charlotte, NC-based managing general underwriter serving the North American specialty commercial marine market. Venture will integrate the Tidal Solutions marine products into its portfolio of industry …

from News – Insurance Journal

President of USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group to Retire

Alan Krapf, president of San Antonio-based USAA Property and Casualty Insurance Group, has announced his intention to retire. USAA has begun the process of identifying internal and external candidates for the role. Once a new president is in place, Krapf …

from News – Insurance Journal

Berkley FinSecure Partners with Law Firm to Offer EPL Risk Management Tools

Berkley FinSecure, a W. R. Berkley Company, has partnered with Jackson Lewis P.C. to offer employment practices risk management assistance for their customers. Jackson Lewis, a nationwide employment practices law firm, will provide Berkley FinSecure’s customers with employment practices information …

from News – Insurance Journal

Officials: 45 Died in Rhode Island Vehicle Crashes Last Year

Rhode Island transportation officials say 45 people died on the state’s roadways last year, a steady decline from previous years. Most victims were in a motor vehicle. Nine were riding bicycles and eight were pedestrians. Transportation Director Peter Alviti says …

from News – Insurance Journal

UCA in California Names Stipati President

Cypress, Calif.-based UCA General Insurance Services Inc. has named Frank Stipati president of the firm. He will be responsible for day-to-day operations and the profitability of UCA. Stipati has held various positions within UCA for the past 26 years. UCA …

from News – Insurance Journal

Ramsey Named Commercial Lines Director for State Auto’s Western Region

State Auto Insurance Co. has selected Gayle Ramsey to lead the company’s Western Region as commercial lines regional director. She is based in Austin, Texas. Ramsey joined State Auto in 2013 as an underwriter in State Auto’s practice groups and …

from News – Insurance Journal

BB&T to Buy Swett & Crawford for $500M

Three months after it announced it would sell its North American operations, U.K.-based wholesale and reinsurance broker Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford (CGSC) has a buyer. North Carolina-based BB&T Corp. has agreed to acquire CGSC North America Holdings Corp. for …

from News – Insurance Journal

Gun Maker Seeks Dismissal of Newtown Shooting Lawsuit

Lawyers for a gun maker and families of some Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre victims squared off in a Connecticut courtroom Monday over whether a federal law prevents the families’ wrongful death lawsuit targeting the AR-15 rifle used to kill …

from News – Insurance Journal

CGSC Sells North American Business to BB&T Corp.

Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford Ltd. (CGSC or the Group), the global wholesale and reinsurance broker and underwriting management group, announced that it has reached an agreement to sell CGSC North America Holdings Corporation (Swett & Crawford) to BB&T Corp. for …

from News – Insurance Journal

AmWINS Group Acquires Group Benefit Services in Maryland

AmWINS Group Inc. announced that it has acquired Group Benefit Services Inc. and GBS Payroll Plus Inc., known collectively as Group Benefit Services, in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 1980, Group Benefit Services …

from News – Insurance Journal

UK’s Towergate and Ageas Announce 5-Year Capacity Deal

Towergate and its subsidiary Arista, a Lloyd’s coverholder, have formed a partnership with the insurer Ageas, which will provide capacity of £60 million ($82.9 million), each year for the next five years. The capacity will be used for Arista’s commercial motor, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Louisiana Governor Declares State of Emergency Following Severe Weather

Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in nine parishes following severe weather that hit the state on Feb. 23. More than 100 structures were reported destroyed and two persons killed by a tornado that tore through …

from News – Insurance Journal

The Hilb Group Acquires PriMed Consulting in New Jersey

The Hilb Group, a middle market insurance agency based in Richmond, Virginia, announced that it has acquired PriMed Consulting, an independent agency in Ocean Township, New Jersey. The deal represents The Hilb Group’s first acquisition in New Jersey. Terms of …

from News – Insurance Journal

Creedon Begins Tenure as CEO of Utica Mutual in New York

Utica Mutual Insurance Company in New Hartford, New York, said Richard P. Creedon officially began his tenure as chief executive officer of the company with the retirement of J. Douglas Robinson as CEO. Utica Mutual first provided its CEO succession …

from News – Insurance Journal

Attorney: U. of Oklahoma Settles Suit over Painting Stolen by Nazis

An attorney for a French woman who sued the University of Oklahoma over a painting that the Nazis stole from her family says a settlement has been reached and that the university will return the painting to her. New York …

from News – Insurance Journal

Minnesota AG Says Missouri Auto Company Deceives Customers about Repair Coverage

Minnesota’s attorney general is suing a Missouri company, accusing it of misleading consumers into unnecessarily buying coverage for auto repairs. The lawsuit by Attorney General Lori Swanson was filed in Dakota County against United Auto Defense. The lawsuit alleges that …

from News – Insurance Journal

Turner Tapped as Chairman and CEO; McCormack, President at RT Specialty

The board of directors of Chicago, Ill.-based Ryan Specialty Group has approved the following executive leadership changes at its wholesale brokerage, RT Specialty: Timothy W. Turner – chairman and CEO Edward F.  McCormack – president Michael T. VanAcker – chief …

from News – Insurance Journal

State Auto Names Gritton Commercial Lines Regional Director in Midwest

Rob Gritton will move from a product manager role in homeowners to become the commercial lines regional director in State Auto Insurance Co.’s Midwest Region. He replaces Kevin Kelly. In addition to various leadership roles in commercial and personal lines …

from News – Insurance Journal

San Antonio-Based Quirk Group Announces Executive Leadership Changes

Karen Quirk has been named chairman and chief operating officer of San Antonio-based Quirk Group Inc., and Luis Vázquez has been promoted to president and CEO of the managing general agency and surplus lines broker, Quirk & Company. Quirk began …

from News – Insurance Journal

Texas Tornadoes Trigger Closer Look at Building Construction, Codes

Before the walls shook, before the two-by-fours twisted and the roof began tearing off, Amanda Bose saw news about the tornado on television. “Everybody in the bathroom — right now!” the 36-year-old mother told her 5-year-old and 15-year-old. There was …

from News – Insurance Journal

Wrongful Death Suit Filed Against Washington Nursing Home

A nursing home in Marysville, Wash has again been accused of giving a patient inadequate care that resulted in death. The Daily Herald reported an Edmonds lawyer has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Marysville Care Center in connection to …

from News – Insurance Journal

IronPro Enhances Cyber Policy Risk Management Services

IronPro, the professional liability unit of Ironshore Inc., is introducing a suite of enhanced risk management services for cyber policyholders. IronPro will provide eligible Ironshore Highly Protected Information (HPI) policyholders with cyber monitoring and alert services (CMAS) during the policy period. IronPro …

from News – Insurance Journal

Penn. Fracking Trial Begins; Driller Accused of Contaminating Drinking Water

Cabot Oil & Gas Co contaminated drinking water for two Pennsylvania families in its rush to begin fracking operations during the state’s natural gas boom, a lawyer told a federal jury in Scranton, Pennsylvania, on Tuesday at the start of …

from News – Insurance Journal

LP Insurance Services Taps Morris in Arizona

LP Insurance Services Inc. has named Matthew Morris to its Phoenix, Ariz. team. Morris is responsible for maintaining and servicing existing and new business client relationships. His areas of expertise include professional services, real estate, technology, manufacturing and construction among …

from News – Insurance Journal

SDS General Insurance Services in California Names Bareno Vice President

SDS General Insurance Services Inc. in California has named Pauline Bareno vice president of marketing. Bareno began her career at an insurance carrier, moving to the retail side at John Burnham Insurance, International Facility and most recently Maverick Insurance as …

from News – Insurance Journal

Startup Lemonade Bets Behavioral Science Can Help Insurance Not Suck

A company that openly berates the current insurance industry as one that sucks believes that adding behavioral science to the mix will help fix it. The New York-based startup Lemonade, which is promising to be a revolutionary peer-to-peer insurer, announced …

from News – Insurance Journal

Pennsylvania Reclaimed $185M for Insurance Consumers in 2015

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller announced that the state’s Insurance Department reclaimed $185,055,050 for insurance consumers throughout the state during 2015. The commissioner said that throughout 2015, the state’s Insurance Department helped 12,307 consumers around Pennsylvania receive some form of …

from News – Insurance Journal

New Jersey Issues Bulletin on Web-Based Travel Insurance Sales

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance issued a bulletin stating that the opt-out sales process used for selling travel insurance by some web-based travel services companies would be considered unfair methods of competition. The department issued Bulletin No. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Kalteux, Deich Head New Great American Executive Liability Offices in Atlanta, Denver

Great American Insurance Group’s Executive Liability Division has opened regional offices in Atlanta and Denver. The Atlanta regional office is led by Tim Kalteux, who has been with Great American’s Executive Liability Division for 15 years including a role in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Investors Shunning Once-Hot Cybersecurity Startups

The U.S. cyber security industry, once one of the hottest targets for venture capitalists, is now grappling with a funding slump that has forced some startups to sell themselves or cut spending. Amid widespread concerns about cyber attacks and data …

from News – Insurance Journal

UK’s MGAA Elects New Board Members Birrell and Manchester

The London-based Managing General Agents’ Association (MGAA) announced the election of new board members Mark Birrell, chief executive of Castel Underwriting, and Charles Manchester, chief executive of Manchester Underwriting Management. They join directors Catherine Bell, chairman of inet3, Charles Earle, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Health Insurance Startup Oscar Narrows Hospital Networks to Compete

Oscar Health Insurance Corp. CEO Mario Schlosser has found the strategy he says will build his startup into a million-customer player in the health insurance industry: use tight, exclusive networks with hospitals to sell competitively priced insurance in perhaps 30 …

from News – Insurance Journal

Delta Lloyd Cuts Size of Rights Offer to $715 Million to Placate Investors

Delta Lloyd NV surged as much as 12 percent in Amsterdam trading after the Dutch insurer bowed to investor pressure and cut the size of a rights offer to 650 million euros ($715 million). “Following months of analysis, today’s announcement …

from News – Insurance Journal

Mars Recalls Chocolate Bars Made in Dutch Factory; Plastic Found in Snickers Bar

Mars Inc. has recalled chocolate bars and other products in 55 countries, mainly in Europe, due to choking risk after a piece of plastic was found in a Snickers bar in Germany. All of the recalled products, which include Mars, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Allianz Puts South Korean Life Insurance Unit on Block: Sources

Europe’s largest insurer Allianz has put its South Korean life insurance business on the block as part of a global overhaul in a tough low-interest rate environment, sources with direct knowledge of the matter said. The South Korean asset is attracting …

from News – Insurance Journal

Zurich Insurance Weighs Sale of Hong Kong & Singapore Units: Sources

Zurich Insurance is exploring a sale of its Hong Kong and Singapore operations as it reviews its non-core businesses outside Europe, sources familiar with the matter said. The Swiss insurer has discussed the plan with several investment banks but has yet to …

from News – Insurance Journal

Tennessee Reports Fire Death Rate Reached New Low In 2015

The Tennessee State Fire Marshal (SFMO) reports that for the second consecutive year, Tennessee fire deaths decreased to a new state-record low while the number of lives saved by smoke alarms installed by the state’s fire departments continues to climb. …

from News – Insurance Journal

A.M. Best Upgrades Issuer Credit Rating of Florida-Based Seven Seas Insurance Co.

A.M. Best has upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a+” from “a” and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) of Seven Seas Insurance Company, Inc. (Riviera Beach, Fla). The outlook for the ICR has been revised …

from News – Insurance Journal

$50M Suit Challenges Florida’s Suspension of Driver’s Licenses in DUI Cases

A federal lawsuit is challenging the way driver’s licenses are automatically taken away from drunken-driving suspects in Florida. The class-action lawsuit filed Feb. 17 in federal court in Orlando says the current process denies DUI suspects the right to due …

from News – Insurance Journal

Lawsuit Filed Over Death of Former Jackson, Mississippi Mayor

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against St. Dominic Hospital and two doctors who treated the late Jackson Mayor Chokwe Lumumba (SHOW’-kway Lu-MOOM’-bah). The Clarion-Ledger reports at 9 a.m. on Feb. 25, 2014 Lumumba checked into St. Dominic’s emergency …

from News – Insurance Journal

Industry Offers Take on Google’s Failed Online Insurance Experiment

The industry had a lot to say on Tuesday about what Google did wrong, and why it may or may not be back some day, with their Google Compare experiment a day after it was learned it was kaput – …

from News – Insurance Journal

Lockton in California Adds Betterly to Employee Benefits Team

Lockton Pacific has named Suzy R. Betterly as a vice president, and consultant in in San Diego, Calif. She will be responsible for delivering solutions to clients’ benefits programs. Betterly has more than 17 years of experience in in data …

from News – Insurance Journal

California Insurance Agent Faces Felony Charges for Pocketing Auto Premiums

Anthony John Diaz, 35, was arraigned today in the Fresno County Superior Court in California to answer charges that he allegedly stole insurance premiums from policyholders. Diaz was arrested earlier this month by California Department of Insurance detectives and booked …

from News – Insurance Journal

Liberty Hires Quintrell for Global Financial Risks Team in D.C.

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has hired Edith Quintrell as its U.S.-based underwriting development director for its Global Financial Risks division. Quintrell previously was director of operations of the World Bank’s political risk insurance arm, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Maryland County to Pilot State Changes to Drug Treatment Funding

Carroll County, Maryland, is poised to serve as a model for treating substance abuse across the state. The Carroll County Health Department plans to address changes to state funding of outpatient substance abuse services, officials told the Board of Commissioners …

from News – Insurance Journal

Former NYPD Cop Jailed for Filing False Auto Claims

Authorities said a former New York City police officer has been sentenced to two to six years in state prison for a scheme to defraud auto insurance companies. New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman announced the sentencing of Jose …

from News – Insurance Journal

McMahon Brings Life Sciences Industry Expertise to Assurance

Schaumburg, Ill.-based insurance brokerage Assurance, has added Scott McMahon to serve as vice president in the firm’s healthcare and life sciences practice. McMahon has focused his entire insurance and risk management career in the life sciences field, harnessing his expertise from prior …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma Wildfire That Burned Homes, Outbuildings Almost Contained

Oklahoma Forestry Services says firefighters have almost contained a large wildfire east of Okmulgee. Officials say the Pharoah-Nuyaka fire has burned about 34 square miles and is about 60 percent contained. But residents will likely see and smell smoke for …

from News – Insurance Journal

Attacks by Michigan Uber Driver Renew Questions About Vetting Processes

The deaths of six people in Kalamazoo, Michigan, who authorities say were shot by a driver for Uber Technologies Inc., have revived scrutiny over how the ride service vets its drivers, an issue that has plagued it for years. Uber, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Progressive Introduces Coverage for Rideshare Drivers in Texas

Progressive Insurance said it is now offering coverage for drivers of transportation network companies (TNCs) in Texas. The coverage will be a personal policy endorsement that fills most of the coverage gap between a personal auto policy and the commercial …

from News – Insurance Journal

J&J Must Pay $72M Over Powder Tied to Woman’s Cancer

Johnson & Johnson must pay $72 million to the family of a woman who blamed her fatal ovarian cancer on the company’s talcum powder in the first state-court case over the claims to go to trial. Jurors in St. Louis …

from News – Insurance Journal

North Carolina Judge Dismisses Academic ‘Sham’ Lawsuit by UNC Athletes

A North Carolina judge dismissed a lawsuit Friday in which two former University of North Carolina athletes alleged the school failed to provide them and other athletes a quality education by directing them toward sham classes. Mecklenburg County Superior Court …

from News – Insurance Journal

Arkansas Insurance Agent Charged with Fraud Ordered to Repay Nearly $128K

An Arkansas insurance agent has been charged with fraud and ordered to pay $127,748.06 in restitution. The Arkansas Insurance Department revoked the resident producer’s license of Samuel Bowron Phillips of Fort Smith following a Jan. 26 hearing over an October 2015 complaint …

from News – Insurance Journal

BHSI Launches Professional & Pollution Liability Coverage for Contractors

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has launched Contractor’s Protective, Professional and Pollution (CP3) Liability Policy, which is available on a primary and excess basis for practice or project-specific risks in the U.S. Martin Andrejko, head of Contractors Professional, BHSI, said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Homeowners Ask Judge to Rule Against New Jersey in Protective Dune Case

Nine oceanfront homeowners in Bay Head, New Jersey, are asking a judge to declare that the state has no legal right to seize parts of privately owned beaches for a protective dune project. In court papers filed Feb. 19, the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Burnham Benefits Names Feldman Vice President

Burnham Benefits Insurance Services in California has named Denise Feldman vice president. Feldman has experience in the health care industry, regulatory compliance and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Prior to Burnham Feldman spent six years as vice president …

from News – Insurance Journal

Hoverboards Banned on San Francisco State University Campus

Students at San Francisco State University will have to come back from the future now that hoverboards have been banned from campus due to fire concerns. Administrators informed students by email Monday that the two-wheeled, self-balancing devices are prohibited on …

from News – Insurance Journal

Wyoming Man Sentenced to Probation For Workers’ Comp Fraud

A Sheridan, Wyo. man accused of collecting disability payments while working for a tree service company has entered a no contest plea to one count of workers’ compensation fraud. The Sheridan Press reported that Victor Rodriguez recently entered the plea …

from News – Insurance Journal

Seattle Considers Adding More Red Light Cameras

Red light cameras led to nearly 40,000 tickets in Seattle. in 2015. Now Washington’s largest city is considering adding more. KING-TV reported Seattle’s existing red light cameras brought in more than $5 million last year. The Seattle Department of Transportation is …

from News – Insurance Journal

Credit Card Buyers, Sellers Making Out Like Bandits

Cyber thieves who steal credit and debit card numbers are making millions of dollars in profits, fueling a global criminal enterprise marked by the high-profile data breaches of major companies such as Target and Home Depot. On average, a batch …

from News – Insurance Journal

Widow of El Faro Crew Member Calls for More Oversight of Shipping in Bad Weather

The widow of one of the 33 crew members killed when the El Faro sank in a hurricane last fall called on Friday for stricter oversight of decisions by shipping companies and their captains to sail in adverse weather. Rochelle …

from News – Insurance Journal

Bermuda-Based Mt. Logan Re Appoints Burke as Chief Financial Officer

Bermuda-based Mt. Logan Re Ltd. announced the appointment of Martin Burke as its chief financial officer, effective Feb. 22, 2016. Burke has 15 years of experience in senior finance roles in the reinsurance industry and was most recently with Sirius …

from News – Insurance Journal

Brazil’s BB Seguridade Could Deliver Returns Near 60%, Despite Poor Economy

BB Seguridade Participações SA, the insurance unit of state-controlled Banco do Brasil SA, could deliver returns near 60 percent this year even as Brazil’s worst recession in decades hampers growth in underwriting premiums and fans delinquencies, Chief Financial Officer Werner Süffert said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Swiss Re’s 2015 Net Income Rises 31% to $4.6B; Q4 Profit Up to $938M

Swiss Re AG reported fourth-quarter profit that beat estimates after a quiet year for natural catastrophes and announced that Christian Mumenthaler, head of the company’s main reinsurance unit, will take over as chief executive officer on July 1. Net income …

from News – Insurance Journal

Canada’s Fairfax Financial to Raise $536.4M to Fund Larger Stakes in 2 Insurers

Fairfax Financial Holdings said on Monday it plans to raise C$735 million ($536.42 million) through an equity issuance, to fund its acquisition of interests in Eurolife ERB Insurance Group Holdings and ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. The offering of one million shares, which is …

from News – Insurance Journal

Swiss Re Appoints Mumenthaler as Group CEO, Succeeding Liès Who Is Retiring

Swiss Re announced that Christian Mumenthaler, 46, currently CEO of Reinsurance, will become group chief executive officer on July 1, succeeding Michel M. Liès, who is retiring. Since October 2011, Mumenthaler has successfully led the Reinsurance business unit, “maintaining underwriting outperformance …

from News – Insurance Journal

‘Brexit’ Would Risk Economy & Jobs, Caution 200 Executives in Open Letter

The bosses of a third of Britain’s biggest companies warned on Tuesday that an exit from the European Union would put the economy at risk and threaten jobs. In a letter to the Times newspaper, bosses from big employers including …

from News – Insurance Journal

Mississippi City to Sell Abandoned Properties to Homeowners for $10 to $250

Homeowners in Jackson, Miss., will be allowed to purchase blighted properties in their neighborhoods for $10 to $250, under an order passed by a City Council committee. The panel on Feb. 16 approved the Neighbors First Lot Program, which would …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida’s Citizens Rolls Out New Website for Agents, Insureds

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has launched a new website for customers, agents and other stakeholders that, according to the company, offers a more comprehensive gateway into the state’s insurer of last resort. Launched Feb. 1, the new site provides a …

from News – Insurance Journal

GEICO Expands Ridesharing Coverage to South Carolina Drivers

GEICO is now offering a new ridesharing insurance product to drivers in South Carolina. GEICO’s ridesharing product replaces the driver’s personal auto policy and provides coverage for personal, ridesharing and other on-demand services whether the rideshare app is on or …

from News – Insurance Journal

Google Withdrawing from Online Insurance

It appears Google Compare’s grand experiment in online comparison shopping for insurance is dead. One of its major partners was told today that Google Compare is shutting down its massive online shopping comparison undertaking. The partner, Compare.com, heard the news …

from News – Insurance Journal

Donegal Group Reports $7.7M Q4 Net Income

Donegal Group Inc. reported $7.76 million in net income for the 2015 fourth quarter, up 73 percent from $4.49 million during the same period in 2014. The full-year 2015 net income jumped to $26.77 million, an 84 percent increase from …

from News – Insurance Journal

Hub Hires Albert as Security Risk Management Specialist in New York

Hub International Limited has hired Ross Albert as assistant vice president of Organizational Resilience and security risk management specialist for the Risk Services division. In this role, Albert will be responsible for establishing intelligence-led risk management programs for the firm’s …

from News – Insurance Journal

Vermont Republicans Call for Review of State’s Health Exchange

Vermont Lt. Gov. Phil Scott and the state’s legislative Republican leaders are calling for an independent assessment of the Vermont Health Connect state insurance exchange, with an eye toward possibly closing it and shifting to the federal exchange or some …

from News – Insurance Journal

Safety National Forms Safety Specialty Insurance Company

Safety National Casualty Corporation has acquired an excess and surplus company that will begin operations in March 2016 as Safety Specialty Insurance Company (SSIC). Safety Specialty will initially focus on complementing Safety National’s public entity multi-line program, which includes general …

from News – Insurance Journal

Feds Want Circus Operator Fined for Fatal Tent Collapse in N.H.

Federal safety officials have proposed more than $33,000 in fines against a Florida-based circus operator for a tent collapse that killed two people and injured dozens in New Hampshire. Robert Young, 41, and his 6-year-old daughter, Annabelle, died Aug. 3 …

from News – Insurance Journal

N.H. Group Gets Update on Substance Abuse Treatment Coverage

An initial review of whether health insurance companies are appropriately covering substance abuse treatment in New Hampshire shows significant differences in how often claims are denied, but experts identified problems with only a handful of cases. The probe comes as …

from News – Insurance Journal

Louisiana Court Rules Flood Board Can Hire Outside Lawyers for Oil Suit

A south Louisiana flood board has won a legal round in its fight against oil and gas companies over coastal wetland damage. A state appeal court ruled last week that the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East legally hired a team …

from News – Insurance Journal

Disaster Recovery Center Opens In Arkansas County

A joint federal/state disaster recovery center opened in Jefferson County Feb. 20 to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds and flooding in December and January, Representatives from the Arkansas Department of Emergency …

from News – Insurance Journal

Construction on Public Safe Rooms Around Joplin Nearly Complete

Thousands of students and residents in the Joplin area will have shelter during the upcoming severe weather season thanks to the construction of safe rooms that began after the deadly May 2011 tornado. The Joplin Globe reported ocal school districts …

from News – Insurance Journal

Medication Errors at Minnesota Hospitals Resulted in 4 Deaths Last Year

A new report shows that despite improvements in how medicine is dispensed at Minnesota hospitals, the risk of injury or death from errors still exists. Hospitals have disclosed four deaths and 10 serious injuries related to medication errors in a …

from News – Insurance Journal

Low Odds of Serious Flooding Throughout North Dakota

The National Weather Service says that the threat of substantial spring flooding in North Dakota is low, including along a river in the eastern part of the state that has caused millions of dollars of damage in the last decade. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Michigan’s Inadvertent Tax Break for Car Insurers Targeted for Repeal

Gov. Rick Snyder and lawmakers inadvertently gave auto insurers a tax break worth $80 million a year. Now, they want to end it _ either to bail out Detroit’s state-managed school district or to address other priorities at a time …

from News – Insurance Journal

Arizona House Passes Accelerated Insurance Company Tax Cut

The Republican-controlled Arizona House has passed a bill accelerating the phase-in of insurance company tax cuts they passed last year. House Bill 2002 is sponsored by House Republican Majority Whip David Livingston. He also sponsored the bill signed by Gov. …

from News – Insurance Journal

New Mexico’s High Court Will Hear Workers’ Comp Case

The New Mexico Supreme Court plans to review a lower court ruling that cleared the way for farm and ranch laborers across the state to receive workers’ compensation benefits. The justices issued a brief order suspending a ruling by the …

from News – Insurance Journal

State Auto Says Corrections Underway After Disappointing 2015

State Auto Financial Corp. ended 2015 with a steep drop in net income and a combined ratio that landed well above 100. Executives blamed a bad year for the insurer’s auto lines but added that they’ve taken corrective steps. Net …

from News – Insurance Journal

Revised CDC Report Claims Higher Cancer Risk for Lumber Liquidators’ Flooring

Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. flooring, tested for formaldehyde, was found to have a three times higher risk of causing cancer than previously stated, U.S. regulators said in reversing their own finding from earlier this month. A report released Feb. 10 used …

from News – Insurance Journal

Hiscox Launches E-Trading System for U.K. Commercial Brokers

After a successful pilot, Hiscox has launched Hiscox Trader, a new e-trading solution for U.K. commercial insurance brokers in partnership with insurance technology specialists Open GI London. The new cloud-based technology enables brokers to give their customers an indication of …

from News – Insurance Journal

British Corporate Leaders Will Likely Vote to Remain in EU: UK Business Groups

British corporate leaders will likely vote for the U.K. to remain a part of the European Union, according to lobby groups for business, manufacturing and financial services. The Institute of Directors said the deal reached by Prime Minister David Cameron …

from News – Insurance Journal

Startup Zenefits Shows How Hard Hitting Revenue Targets Can Be

Zenefits probably couldn’t have predicted it would spend the first two weeks of February dealing with the resignation of its founding chief executive officer under pressure from the board and the loss of its biggest customer—all while facing investigations by authorities …

from News – Insurance Journal

Everest Appoints Downey as Deputy Chief Underwriting Officer

Bermuda-based Everest Re Group Ltd. announced that Christopher Downey has been named deputy chief underwriting officer. Downey joins Everest from Montpelier Reinsurance Ltd. where he served as senior vice president and head of their Global Casualty & Specialty Treaty unit. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Risk Accumulation Aggravated Zurich’s Tianjin Port Explosion Losses: Chairman

Zurich Insurance Group AG is fixing how it detects risks after miscommunication among units aggravated losses from a port explosion in China last year, Chairman and acting Chief Executive Officer Tom de Swaan said. “There was accumulation of risk there, which …

from News – Insurance Journal

North Carolina Insurance Agent Charge with Embezzlement

North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrest of Jacob Christopher Mullins, 28, of Fremont; he is charged with one count each of embezzlement by an insurance agent, financial card fraud and obtaining property by false pretense. Department of …

from News – Insurance Journal

Fiji’s Strongest-Ever Cyclone Flattens Entire Villages; Death Toll Rises

The death toll from the strongest tropical cyclone ever to hit Fiji climbed to at least 20 as aerial surveillance of affected areas showed entire villages were obliterated as the Category-5 storm roared across the South Pacific nation at the weekend. A …

from News – Insurance Journal

NORCAL Mutual to Expand Med Mal Coverage to 5 Additional States

NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company, a nationwide medical professional liability insurance companies, will begin offering coverage this month to physicians in Florida, Georgia, Oklahoma and South Carolina. NORCAL will begin offering coverage in Indiana beginning in March. These five states are …

from News – Insurance Journal

Nashville Police Remind Citizens Not to Help Thieves Steal Cars

Nashville Police say some citizens are unwittingly helping car thieves steal their vehicles. Police say a review of reports of vehicles stolen from the week of Jan. 31 to Feb. 6 showed that 68 percent of the automobiles were easy …

from News – Insurance Journal

Mid-Month Storms Caused 4 Twisters in Alabama

The National Weather Service says four tornadoes touched down throughout south Alabama when severe storms hit the state Feb. 16. Officials say damage surveys after the storms showed that tornadoes ranging between EF0 and EF1 in strength touched down in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Capital Adequacy Is Key Strength of Reinsurers in Difficult Market: S&P

Strength of capital and good enterprise risk management are two of the main reasons the global reinsurance industry will be able to maintain a stable outlook during 2016 from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, despite the many competitive pressures it …

from News – Insurance Journal

Gig Economy Now 6.5% of U.S. Workforce; Provides Extra Income for 10 Million

It’s a job market revolution: an estimated 10.3 million Americans earned income through web-based platforms like Uber and Airbnb between 2012 and 2015. That’s more people than reside in the entire state of Georgia and amounts to 6.5 percent of the total …

from News – Insurance Journal

USI Insurance Services Acquires Florida-Based Best Insurance

USI Insurance Services has acquired Best Insurance, located in Tamarac, Fla. Best Insurance offers a range of personal insurance products, including homeowners, automobile, motorcycle, boat and watercraft, to customers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Terms of the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma Gun Range Sued for Refusing Muslim Man Service

A U.S. Army reservist from Tulsa asked to leave a gun range in eastern Oklahoma after identifying himself as a Muslim sued the owners Wednesday, the latest in a series of cases across the nation alleging anti-Islamic discrimination. The lawsuit …

from News – Insurance Journal

HSBC to Pay Mass. Homeowners $2.7M Over Force-Placed Insurance Practices

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey said national mortgage lender and servicer HSBC has agreed to pay $4 million to resolve allegations involving force-placed insurance practices. The settlement resolves allegations that HSBC received commissions and other “kickbacks” relating to force-placed insurance …

from News – Insurance Journal

RLI to Roll Out New Cyber Liability Unit, Coverage in Q3

RLI Insurance Company and its Executive Products Group have created a new business unit to offer cyber liability insurance. The Cyber Liability Insurance unit will offer protection for exposures arising from adverse cyber events including but not limited to data …

from News – Insurance Journal

S&P Affirms Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Units’ Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has  affirmed its ‘AA+’ financial strength and long-term  counterparty credit ratings on Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s (BRK) operating  insurance subsidiaries. The ratings apply to  National Indemnity Co., Government Employees Insurance  Co., General Reinsurance Corp., all related …

from News – Insurance Journal

Earthquake Response Legislation Passes Oklahoma House Panel

Legislation that reaffirms the Oklahoma Corporation’s Commission’s authority to respond to emergencies involving oil and natural gas production in the state, including drilling-related earthquakes, has been approved by a state House committee. The House Rules Committee this week voted 10-0 …

from News – Insurance Journal

Texas A&M Settle ’12th Man’ Trademark Suit with NFL’s Colts

Texas A&M University says it has reached a settlement agreement with the Indianapolis Colts in the school’s federal lawsuit it says was meant to protect its “12th Man” trademark from infringement. In a statement issued Wednesday, A&M officials said the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Richardson Named Nevada Insurance Commissioner

Barbara Richardson has been appointed as commissioner of the Nevada Division of Insurance. Richardson will join the Division in March. The appointment comes after a long nationwide recruitment to fill the vacancy after the resignation of Scott Kipper in July …

from News – Insurance Journal

3 Examples of How Telematics Can Aid Insurance Claims Handling

While information derived from usage based insurance telematics hasn’t been fully utilized in the claims process, the benefits it can provide – consistency, efficiency and accuracy – offer a way to reduce claims costs. David Lukens, LexisNexis director, says telematics …

from News – Insurance Journal

New Mexico Senate OKs Uber, Lyft Operations

A bill aimed at welcoming and regulating ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft in New Mexico has been approved by state Senate. The Senate passed the legislation Thursday morning. The legal status of the companies has been in limbo in the state …

from News – Insurance Journal

Record Number of Flood Policies Bought by Californians, FEMA Says

Federal emergency officials reported Tuesday a surge in the number of California residents who have purchased flood insurance, most likely in response to a rainy El Niño winter. Officials with the Federal Emergency Management Agency said insurers have written more …

from News – Insurance Journal

Why Robots Replacing Humans at Work Is More Science Fiction Than Fact

Ever since robots emerged from the pages of science-fiction novels into the real world, humans have feared being usurped in the workplace. That worry may be more fictional than scientific. A recent study by the VDMA Robotics and Automation Association shows that …

from News – Insurance Journal

New York Senator Urges USDA to Expand Barley Crop Insurance

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) wrote to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) urging the federal agency to expand crop insurance for barley in all counties in New York where production is possible. Currently, 28 out of 62 counties in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Connecticut Agency Donates $12K to Winter Energy Assistance Program

GoodWorks Insurance, an independent agency based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, donated more than $12,000 to help local families stay warm this winter. The donation was made to Operation Fuel, a nonprofit program that provides emergency energy assistance through its statewide network …

from News – Insurance Journal

UK’s Aviva Beefs Up Fraud Screening in Commercial Motor Business

Aviva detected fraud in almost 2,200 commercial motor policies in 2015 using various anti-fraud tools, the London-based insurer revealed. But the company is taking its fight against fraud to a new level — by screening all commercial motor policies at …

from News – Insurance Journal

Philadelphia Insurance Companies Promotes 2 to Senior VP

Philadelphia Insurance Companies, a commercial property/casualty and professional liability insurance company for niche markets, announced the promotion of two vice presidents to senior vice president. Sam Garro is now senior vice president of Compliance and Patrick Walton assumes the position …

from News – Insurance Journal

What Will ‘Brexit’ Mean for London as Financial Center? Some Questions Answered

The U.K.’s looming in/out referendum on European Union membership, which may come as early as June, has sparked jitters, with analysts predicting declines in everything from London property prices to the pound. But what would so-called Brexit really mean for …

from News – Insurance Journal

Allianz, AXA & Sompo to Distribute Products Across Asia via CIMB Bank Branches

Allianz SE, AXA SA and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Holdings Inc. made final bids for the rights to distribute their general insurance products through CIMB Group Holdings Bhd.’s branches across Asia, people with knowledge of the matter said. CIMB could fetch about $200 …

from News – Insurance Journal

Zurich Insurance Plans to Sell Subsidiaries in South Africa & Morocco: Sources

Zurich Insurance Group AG has started a process to sell its units in South Africa and Morocco as it works toward turning around its money-losing insurance operations, according to people familiar with the matter. Zurich is working with financial advisers on the sale of …

from News – Insurance Journal

What to Know About El Nino, La Nina

If you have never heard the term “El Nino,” you might have been living under a rock. The common informed person is probably somewhat aware that we are amidst a record-setting El Nino, and rumors of a possible switch to …

from News – Insurance Journal

Aegon Reports 20% Rise in Q4 Net Income on Improved Investment Income

Aegon NV, the Dutch owner of U.S. insurer Transamerica Corp., said fourth-quarter profit rose 20 percent on higher investment income and a lower tax bill. Net income grew to 477 million euros [$525 million] from 399 million euros [$439.2 million] …

from News – Insurance Journal

Allianz Q4 2015 Profit Rises to $1.6B on Cat Claims, Lower Than Analyst Estimates

Allianz SE missed analyst estimates for fourth-quarter profit on claims from natural catastrophes. Net income at Europe’s biggest insurer increased to 1.42 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in the quarter from 1.22 billion euros a year earlier, the Munich-based company said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma Senate Approves Uninsured Motorist Bill

The Oklahoma Senate approved has approved a bill that requires drivers whose licenses have been suspended due to lack of auto insurance to show proof of insurance to the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in order to have their lack-of-insurance …

from News – Insurance Journal

International Insurance Agency Services Names Boisvert as New CEO

International Insurance Agency (IIS), a Chicago, Ill.-based managing general underwriter, announced that Daniel G. Boisvert has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer. Boisvert is a seasoned veteran with 25 years of experience in the global insurance and reinsurance markets with …

from News – Insurance Journal

Robertson Ryan & Associates Promotes Bott to VP, Shareholder

Robertson Ryan & Associates Inc. in Milwaukee, Wis., promoted Jason Bott to vice president and shareholder. Bott handles standard and non-standard insurance policies. He specializes in real estate risk management solutions and has developed a national reputation for insuring real …

from News – Insurance Journal

ProHost Adds EPLI Coverage to Restaurant Program

Restaurant insurance program administrator ProHost USA has added employment practices liability insurance coverage as an option in its packaged insurance program specifically designed for restaurants. According to Heidi Strommen, president of ProHost USA, the endorsement covers third‐party violations including actual …

from News – Insurance Journal

Schwan’s Global Supply Chain Fined $172K for Machine Hazards

A supplier of frozen specialty foods is facing more than $172,000 in fines after two workers at its Salina, Kan., facility suffered amputations in separate incidents and a third suffered lacerations and burns. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma Agency Gets Grant for Well-Tracking System

The state is trying to make it easier for the Oklahoma Corporation Commission to gather data on wastewater disposal wells with a new digital system. Gov. Mary Fallin’s office announced a research grant from the Oklahoma Energy Resources Board will …

from News – Insurance Journal

Unlicensed Georgia Agent Arrested for Stealing Premiums From Florida Seniors

The Florida Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), which operates under the direction of Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, announced the arrest of William David Rodeffer III of Folkston, Ga. Rodeffer allegedly accepted insurance premium payments from two clients for insurance …

from News – Insurance Journal

Tennessee High Court Rules to Make it Easier to Arrest, Convict Drunk Drivers

In two unanimous decisions, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled Feb. 11 that police have the right to stop motorists if their vehicles cross roadway markings, even if briefly, essentially making it easier to arrest and convict people driving under the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida State Troopers Report 186 Deaths from Hit-and-Run Crashes in 2015

State troopers say 186 people died in hit-and-run crashes in Florida last year. According to statistics released Monday by the Florida Highway Patrol, more than half the fatalities last year were pedestrians. Officials say hit-and-run crashes also caused over 19,000 …

from News – Insurance Journal

Ex-Freedom President Gets 1 Month in Prison for West Virginia Chemical Spill

An executive who appeared unsympathetic when he spoke to the public after a chemical spill sullied tap water for 300,000 people in West Virginia was sentenced to one month in federal prison Wednesday. Ex-Freedom Industries President Gary Southern, who told …

from News – Insurance Journal

Report: Most California Workers’ Comp Medical Review Decisions Upheld

An examination of California workers’ compensation independent medical review decisions shows roughly nine-in-10 of disputed medical service requests reviewed by an IMR physician agree with the utilization review determination that the service is not medically necessary. The IMR and UR …

from News – Insurance Journal

Climate Change’s No Justice, No Pancake No Fly Zone

A conceivable diminishment in my pancake experience is what I’ll take away from the last two weeks of weird headlines tied to the topic of climate change. However, it was the rancor over the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia …

from News – Insurance Journal

AssuredPartners Acquires Encompass Risk Solutions in Pennsylvania

AssuredPartners Inc. announced Thursday that it has acquired Encompass Risk Solutions Inc., an independent agency based in Warminster, Pennsylvania, with two additional offices in York, Pennsylvania, and Marietta, Georgia. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2011, Encompass …

from News – Insurance Journal

Alliant Hires Harper for Employee Benefits Group in Pennsylvania

Specialty insurance broker Alliant Insurance Services has hired Craig Harper as first vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. He will be based in Alliant’s King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, office. In his role, Harper will service a diverse client base …

from News – Insurance Journal

Vermont City Approves Rules for Taxi, Ride-Hailing Services

Burlington, Vermont, officials have approved new rules for ride-hailing services and taxi companies in the city. The Burlington Free Press reports city councilors on Tuesday adopted a proposed ordinance that permits traditional taxi companies and ride-hailing services such as Uber …

from News – Insurance Journal

Surprise Fees Often Follow Medical Emergencies

Recovering from a medical procedure is always a challenge, but getting hit with unexpected insurance fees can add financial hardship to the process. As health insurance plans become increasingly complicated, more patients are facing unexpected fees when they step outside …

from News – Insurance Journal

How Employer Joint Liability Is Changing

Businesses known for their uniforms are worried about lawyers in business suits in the wake of a change in the nation’s labor laws affecting their liability for employment practices. The change could unravel the franchise business and wreak havoc for …

from News – Insurance Journal

Trial of Ex-BP Rig Supervisor Begins in New Orleans

Federal prosecutors and lawyers for a Deepwater Horizon rig supervisor are ready to tell jurors what they expect to prove as 65-year-old Robert Kaluza is tried on a misdemeanor pollution charge from the BP oil spill. A jury was chosen …

from News – Insurance Journal

Tornadoes Batter Multiple Southeast States

Weather service experts are assessing damage from storms that caused problems in several Southeast states. At least six south Alabama counties suffered damage from storms on Monday. The Johnsonville Volunteer Fire Department was heavily damaged in Conecuh County near Castleberry. …

from News – Insurance Journal

California Bay Area Town Bans Short-term Rentals

A picturesque town in the San Ramon Valley, Calif. has banned residents from operating short-term rentals. The Contra Costa Times reported that Danville’s town council voted 4-to-1 Tuesday to prohibit rentals of fewer than 30 days. The town’s attorney said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Southland Woman Charged in Bogus Insurance Policy Commission Scam

Teresa Marie Davis, 52, of Pomona Calif., was arrested at her home by California Department of Insurance investigators and booked on multiple counts of identity theft and grand theft in an alleged bogus life insurance scam that netted her over …

from News – Insurance Journal

Wyoming Acknowledges Coal Mine Cleanup Insurance Policy is Flawed

A program that has allowed U.S. coal companies to forego cleanup insurance on massive western mines is flawed and needs to be fixed, Wyoming officials have told federal regulators. Coal companies must restore the land around spent mines, but roughly …

from News – Insurance Journal

Southern California Gas Co. Pleads Innocent in Methane Leak

Southern California Gas Co pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to criminal charges it waited three days to report a huge methane leak that has forced thousands of Los Angeles residents from their homes, officials for the company and prosecutors said. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Amazon Plan Would Expand Its Uber-Like Delivery Service

Amazon.com Inc is quietly inviting drivers for its new “on-demand” delivery service to handle its standard packages, as the online retailer known for low prices and razor-thin profit margins looks to speed up delivery times and tamp down its growing …

from News – Insurance Journal

UK-Based Towergate Names Barnard as Chief Transformation & Change Director

Towergate has announced the appointment of James Barnard as chief transformation and change director. Barnard will play a key role in driving the change programs needed to transform Towergate, the Maidstone, England-based independently owned insurance intermediary, which has been restructuring …

from News – Insurance Journal

Law Enforcement, Private Firms Look to Evolving Drone Defense Industry for Protection

The drone intruder was roaming around the Rose Bowl Stadium as 94,000 fans cheered, oblivious to the threat. But scientists testing a new security device at the game knew: they detected its radio signals and seized control of the gatecrasher. This …

from News – Insurance Journal

Efma & Accenture Launch Global ‘Innovation in Insurance’ Award Program

Efma, a Paris-based association of 3,300 financial services companies from more than 130 countries, and Accenture have launched “Innovation in Insurance,” a program that aims to identify and award the most innovative insurance initiatives and projects around the world. The …

from News – Insurance Journal

A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of China’s Hyundai Insurance After Tianjin Blast

A.M. Best has downgraded the financial strength rating to B++ (Good) from A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating to “bbb” from “a-” of Hyundai Insurance (China) Co. Ltd., or HIC. Following these actions, the ratings remain under review with negative implications. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Kentucky Stockyard Fire Ruled Accidental

Investigators in Kentucky say a preliminary investigation has found that a construction worker accidentally started a massive fire that destroyed a beef cattle auction business in Lexington. Media cited a statement released Feb. 12 by the Lexington Fire Department that …

from News – Insurance Journal

Location, Inc. Launches Structure Fire Risk Index for Insurers

Location, Inc., a provider of location-based data and tools used by corporations for risk analysis, has introduced a new risk index to help insurers address structure fire losses due to human negligence. Insurers often associate structure fires with catastrophic events, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida-Based Anchor Insurance Appoints Wortman as President, Pawlowski as COO

Anchor Insurance appointed John Wortman as its new president and Kevin Pawlowski as its chief operating officer, effective February 9, 2016. Wortman most recently served on Florida’s Citizens Insurance Corp.’s Board of Governors where he sat on numerous committees. Prior …

from News – Insurance Journal

Global Aerospace Launches Online Aviation Insurance Platform

Global Aerospace, a provider of aerospace insurance, has launched Aeroinsure, an online aviation underwriting and policy management system. Through Aeroinsure, brokers can instantly access insurance products for their light aircraft customers. Aeroinsure will operate across multiple product lines anywhere in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Reinsurers’ Loss Reserves Dwindle While Rates Continue to Drop: Allianz Re CEO

Reinsurers are running out of claims reserves that they can release to boost profits as pricing continues to fall, according to the head of Allianz SE’s reinsurance unit. “I don’t think there are too many loss reserves left and the natural-catastrophe …

from News – Insurance Journal

Allianz Transfers $1.1B of Policy Obligations to Reinsurer Enstar, Limiting US Risks

Allianz SE, Europe’s biggest insurer, struck a deal to limit risks in the U.S. by transferring policy obligations to reinsurer Enstar Group Ltd. Enstar will assume net reinsurance reserves of about $1.1 billion and cover half of a book of business …

from News – Insurance Journal

Oklahoma Agency Calls for Cuts in Wastewater Well Volumes to Stem Quakes

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC), which regulates oil and gas production activity in the state, has come up with a volume reduction plan for oil and gas disposal wells in response to the surge in earthquakes in Oklahoma. The OCC …

from News – Insurance Journal

Williams Joins J.M. Wilson as Public & Business Auto Underwriter

J.M. Wilson has added Robin Williams as public and business auto underwriter in Portage, Mich. Williams is responsible for quoting new and renewal public and business auto accounts, working with company underwriters, and serving independent insurance agents in Michigan. Prior to …

from News – Insurance Journal

Kentucky Commish Green Lights Aetna-Humana Acquisition, Florida Approves Deal

Louisville, Ky.-based Humana has been approved for takeover by Aetna by Kentucky regulators, according to a statement from the Kentucky Department of Insurance Commissioner Brian Maynard. The order approving the request from Aetna to acquire Kentucky domestic insurers CHA HMO …

from News – Insurance Journal

Kansas Lawmakers Consider Increasing Speed Limit to 80 MPH

Legislative committees are considering bills that would allow the Kansas Department of Transportation to raise the state’s highest speed limit on separated, multiple-lane highways from 75 to 80 miles per hour. The Wichita Eagle reports that lawmakers could decide next …

from News – Insurance Journal

New North Dakota Oil and Gas Rules Would Require Pipeline Bonds

North Dakota regulators are proposing new rules aimed at the oil industry. A slate of proposed rules were unveiled on Feb. 16, including a requirement that would require bonding for all crude and saltwater pipelines. Another new rule would require …

from News – Insurance Journal

Texas to Insurers: 2015 Policy Count Data Due March 1

The date for licensed insurance carriers, surplus lines companies and health maintenance organizations to submit policy count data for 2015 is approaching. Texas Department of Insurance is required by the state insurance code to provide consumers with complaint ratios. The ratios …

from News – Insurance Journal

Lawsuit Says N.J.’s Post-Sandy Coastal Zone Rules ‘Don’t Make Sense’

Some New Jersey residents and environmental groups are suing to try to block the state’s new rules governing coastal development in the wake of Superstorm Sandy, saying they allow too many people and buildings to be put in harm’s way …

from News – Insurance Journal

United Community Financial Corp. Acquires James & Sons Insurance

United Community Financial Corp., holding company of The Home Savings and Loan Co., has completed its acquisition of James & Sons Insurance in Youngstown, Ohio. This transaction marks the initial step in the formation of The Home Savings Insurance Group. …

from News – Insurance Journal

6 Appointed to Texas FAIR Plan Governing Committee

Texas Commissioner of Insurance David Mattax made six appointments to the state’s Fair Access to Insurance Requirements (FAIR) Plan governing committee. The FAIR plan provides residential property insurance in underserved areas where it’s not readily available through the private market. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Demotech Affirms Ratings of Midwest Public Entity Pools

Ohio-based Demotech Inc. recently affirmed the financial stability ratings (FSRs) assigned to six self-funded public entity pools in the Midwest. Demotech reviews and rates more than 415 insurers, writing every line of property/casualty insurance in the US, District of Columbia, …

from News – Insurance Journal

LevelFirst Names Moeser as EVP; Adds Sherman as Services Manager

Dallas-based wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent, LevelFirst, announced that April Moeser has been named executive vice president. With more than 25 years of experience in commercial insurance sales, marketing, underwriting and claims, Moeser is charged with the primary …

from News – Insurance Journal

Degner Named Marketing Director at Robertson Ryan & Associates

Milwaukee, Wis.-based independent insurance agency, Robertson Ryan & Associates Inc., has hired Allan Degner as marketing director, responsible for corporate marketing operations, branding, advertising and public relations. Degner has nine years of marketing experience and formerly handled marketing operations, branding, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Former Citigroup Head, Weill, Steps Down as Chairman of Hamilton Insurance

Sanford “Sandy” Weill, the former head of Citigroup Inc., has stepped down as chairman of Hamilton Insurance Group, the Bermuda-based company backed by quantitative hedge fund firm Two Sigma Investments. Weill, 82, is retiring effective immediately, and will be replaced …

from News – Insurance Journal

Propel Insurance Acquires United Risk Solutions in Oregon

Propel Insurance has acquired Medford, Ore.-based United Risk Solutions. United Risk specializes in complex accounts, including the timber and trucking industries, commercial insurance, workers’ compensation, employee benefits and bonding. Propel provides property/casualty, risk management, workers’ comp, employee benefits, personal insurance …

from News – Insurance Journal

California Commissioner, Allstate Agree to Homeowner Rate Reduction

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has reached an agreement with Allstate Insurance Co. and Allstate Indemnity Insurance to reduce the carrier’s homeowner insurance rates statewide by an average of 12.6 percent. The average annual decrease is roughly $230. The rate …

from News – Insurance Journal

PCI Hails Consumer Benefit of Alaska’s Proposed Insurance Law

Alaska consumers will benefit from a proposed law that will enable insurers to use insurance scoring when a homeowner or auto policy is renewed, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. SB 127 was passed out of the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Montana Jury Rules against Woman’s Wrongful-Birth Suit

A Montana jury has ruled against a woman who sought millions of dollars from health care providers that she said failed to diagnose her unborn daughter’s cystic fibrosis. Kerrie Evans of Gardiner had testified that she would have had an …

from News – Insurance Journal

California: 49M Records Breached in 4 Years

More than 49 million personal information records of California residents were compromised in 657 data breaches from 2012 to 2015, state Attorney General Kamala Harris said in a report citing tips on how people and businesses can protect themselves. Harris …

from News – Insurance Journal

Aon Model Offers Insurers 7.5 Million U.S. Thunderstorm Scenarios for Loss Estimating

Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development team, Impact Forecasting, has launched a U.S. severe thunderstorm (STS) scenario model that it says can help insurers more accurately estimate annual losses based on historical data. Severe thunderstorms can produce damaging winds in excess …

from News – Insurance Journal

Gridiron Insurance Releases Nationwide Small Business Program Platform

Gridiron Insurance Underwriters, Inc., a program manager that specializes in program business on a regional and national basis, has launched a new platform product designed for small businesses. Gridiron Insurance Underwriters’ Gridiron Package Select (GPS) is a fully automated program …

from News – Insurance Journal

Ridesharing Bill Makes it Through West Virginia House

West Virginia is a step closer to letting Uber and similar companies offer rides in the state. The bill passed the House of Delegates by a 94-4 margin Monday. It next moves to the Senate. The proposal would apply to …

from News – Insurance Journal

Farmers Insurance Launches Rideshare Coverage in Tennessee

Farmers Insurance has introduced rideshare insurance coverage for ride-hailing drivers in Tennessee. Mariel Devesa, head of product innovation for Farmers Insurance said Farmers has developed this Rideshare Insurance Coverage to offer Tennessee ride-hail drivers coverage options as part of their …

from News – Insurance Journal

FACTBOX: What Will a British Exit – ‘Brexit’ – From the EU Look Like?

As Britons debate whether to stay in or leave the European Union at a membership referendum, one of the key arguments is what a British exit, or “Brexit,” would look like? Below is an outline of the process which would …

from News – Insurance Journal

Canada’s Intact Financial Corp. Invests in Metromile, Pay-Per-Mile Insurer

Intact Financial Corp. has made a strategic investment in Metromile, a San Francisco-based provider of pay-per-mile car insurance. Toronto-based IFC, which is the largest provider of property & casualty insurance in Canada, said the venture is in line with its long-term …

from News – Insurance Journal

Chubb Global Markets Names Wadhams as Chief Underwriting Officer, Aviation

Chubb Global Markets, the London-based wholesale insurance division of Chubb, announced the promotion of John Wadhams, currently senior underwriter, Aviation, to the role of chief underwriting officer, Aviation, with immediate effect. In his new role, Wadhams will work on the management and …

from News – Insurance Journal

China’s Fosun Scraps Plan to Buy Israel’s Phoenix, Vowing More Prudent Strategy

Chinese conglomerate Fosun International Ltd.’s plan to acquire Israeli insurer Phoenix Holdings Ltd. has unraveled, the firm’s second withdrawn overseas purchase in the past two months as it pledges a more prudent investment strategy. Fosun, headed by billionaire Chairman Guo Guangchang, said …

from News – Insurance Journal

FEMA Responds to Florida’s Flood Rate Request, Sort Of

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has responded to Florida’s request to review the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rates and it may not be as forthcoming and helpful as Florida lawmakers had hoped. In a letter dated Dec. 29, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Ex-Freedom Industries Exec Sentenced to 1 Month for West Virginia Chemical Spill

A former Freedom Industries executive was sentenced Feb. 11 to one month in federal prison for a chemical spill that fouled the drinking water supply of 300,000 West Virginians. Dennis Farrell also was fined $20,000 in U.S. District Court. “I’m …

from News – Insurance Journal

Coast Guard Panel Questions If Captain Responsible for El Faro’s Sinking

The captain of the U.S. cargo ship that sank off the Bahamas in a hurricane last fall, killing all 33 people on board, was responsible for decisions that put the vessel in the path of the storm, the company that …

from News – Insurance Journal

FAA Open to Discussing Turning Over Air Traffic Safety to Nonprofit

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing a House Republican plan to spin off the nation’s air- traffic control system to a nonprofit corporation and hasn’t rejected the idea. FAA Administrator Michael Huerta, speaking Tuesday at the Singapore Airshow, said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting to Air Live on Yahoo

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. plans to webcast its annual meeting for the first time, allowing the largest U.S. shareholder gathering to reach a global audience through Yahoo Inc.’s finance page. Viewers will be able to watch Buffett, Berkshire’s 85-year-old …

from News – Insurance Journal

Sierra Club Lawsuit Claims Fracking Contributing to Oklahoma Earthquakes

Sierra Club weighed into the controversy over fracking and increased earthquake risk with a lawsuit accusing a Chesapeake Energy Corp. unit, Devon Energy Production Co. and New Dominion LLC of triggering tremors in Oklahoma and Kansas. The environmental group said …

from News – Insurance Journal

Massachusetts Bill Aims to Open Up Home Rate Filings for Discussion

The Massachusetts Senate recently passed a legislative amendment that would open up home insurers’ rate filings for public discussion. The amendment was proposed by Massachusetts State Senator Mike Barrett, D-Lexington. The lawmaker said the measure would benefit homeowners who are …

from News – Insurance Journal

U.S. Risk Hires Guadagno as EVP of Binding Operations in New York

U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc. has hired John L. Guadagno as executive vice president of Binding Operations for its affiliate company, U.S. Risk Underwriters. At U.S. Risk, Guadagno’s focus will primarily be Contract Binding Operations. He will be based in …

from News – Insurance Journal

Narragansett Bay Hires McLaughlin as Connecticut Territory Manager

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (NBIC) has hired Brendan McLaughlin as the company’s assistant vice president – Connecticut territory manager. In this position, McLaughlin will be responsible for developing and maintaining strong partnerships with NBIC’s agents and industry associations, driving profitable …

from News – Insurance Journal

Midwest Group Challenges Peabody Energy’s Plan to Self-Bond Mines

A Midwestern environmental group has followed through on its promise to formally challenge Peabody Energy’s ability to guarantee it has enough money for future cleanup of its Illinois and Indiana coal mines. The Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago …

from News – Insurance Journal

Penn. Intergovernmental Risk Management Association’s Rating Affirmed

Demotech Inc. has affirmed the “AAA” Financial Stability Rating (FSR) assigned to Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association (PIRMA), a self-funded public entity pool. Demotech said PIRMA is a local government risk pool that offers comprehensive liability and property coverages specially …

from News – Insurance Journal

Multi-State License Bill Aims to Ease Nursing Shortage in Oklahoma

Some nurses would be able to cross the border into or out of Oklahoma without getting a new professional license under legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Health. House Bill 2482, by state …

from News – Insurance Journal

MJ Insurance Hires Bell as Employee Benefits Communication Specialist

Indianapolis-based MJ Insurance has added Kirsten Bell as an employee benefits communications specialist, a newly created position. Bell will be responsible for expanding the Benefits Consulting communication offering and client Learning Center. Prior to joining MJ, Bell served as an …

from News – Insurance Journal

Minnesota: Exams of 16 Life Insurers Find $174M in Unpaid Benefits So Far

Minnesota Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman announced that his department has reached settlement agreements with three more life insurance companies that owed money to Minnesotans for unpaid insurance policies, annuity contracts and retained asset accounts. The settlements bring to $174 million …

from News – Insurance Journal

5.1M Quake Among Latest Swarm of Temblors in Oklahoma

A 5.1 magnitude earthquake shook northwest Oklahoma and was felt in seven other states on Feb. 13, the U.S. Geological Survey said, the third-strongest temblor ever recorded in the state where the power and frequency of earthquakes has dramatically increased …

from News – Insurance Journal

Arkansas Commissioner: Cuts Mean Military Members Should Buy Renter’s Insurance

The state’s insurance commissioner says members of the military stationed in Arkansas should consider buying renter’s insurance because the Basic Allowance for Housing no longer covers it. Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr said that last year, Congress reduced rates for the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Starr Companies Expand Travel Insurance Services to Cuba

Starr Companies has expanded the availability of its travel insurance and assistance services for travel to Cuba. These plans provide trip cancellation and trip interruption insurance as well as accident and sickness benefits. In addition, the plans provide the coordination …

from News – Insurance Journal

IDT911 Enhances Data Breach Services for Commercial Insureds

IDT911 has enhanced its DataRiskStages data breach mitigation and remediation service for insurance companies and their commercial policyholders. The DataRiskStages platform has been enriched with three new features: Ins.breachresponse.com to help avoid and manage a breach, CyberClaims911  for more efficient …

from News – Insurance Journal

Baltimore Businesses OK’d for $165K in Riot Recovery Loans

The U.S. Small Business Administration has approved more than $165,000 in economic injury loans to help 38 Baltimore, Maryland-area small businesses and nonprofits recover from civil unrest related to the death of Freddie Gray. The numbers released on Feb. 12 …

from News – Insurance Journal

Rural Oregon Area Suspends Fire Service Due to Insurance Lapse

The Lakeside Rural Fire Protection District in Oregon has suspended emergency operations because of a lapse in its insurance policy. Acting fire district chairman Ralph Dotson tells The World newspaper of Coos Bay that the station has been closed and …

from News – Insurance Journal

Colorado Town Sees Flood Cleanup Nearing An End

One by one, homes at in a flood-ravaged foothills town near Boulder are being demolished. Two and a half years after the flood, some Lyons residents are finally getting the federal buyouts they applied for, reported The Daily Camera. But …

from News – Insurance Journal

M4.1 Earthquake Hits Hawaii’s Big Island

A magnitude-4.1 earthquake jolted the southern flank of Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano. The U.S. Geological Survey the quake last week was centered about 26 miles south of Hilo on the Big Island. It hit at 9:23 a.m. There were no reports …

from News – Insurance Journal

Florida Reaches 20 Reported Cases of Zika Virus

Health officials say 20 cases of the Zika virus have been reported in Florida. The Florida Department of Health announced the new total Friday afternoon. Seven cases were reported in Miami-Dade County, and three each were reported in Broward, Hillsborough …

from News – Insurance Journal

Should Google’s Parent Buy AIG?

It’s an “audacious” idea, and Citigroup Inc. acknowledges as much. Google’s parent, Alphabet Inc., should buy American International Group Inc. to expand into financial services, and turn the insurer into a laboratory for innovation, the New York- based bank’s analysts …

from News – Insurance Journal

Fire Destroys 184-Year-Old Landmark General Store in Kentucky

A fire has destroyed a northern Kentucky landmark – the 184-year-old Rabbit Hash General Store in Boone County. Media outlets report the fire was reported at 9:15 p.m. Saturday. No one was injured. Bellevue-McVille Fire Chief Jeff Herms said the …

from News – Insurance Journal

LP Insurance Services Hires Krauser in Nevada

LP Insurance Services Inc. has hired Ryan Krauser on its Northern Nevada sales team. Krauser is responsible for developing new business relationships as well as retaining and servicing existing clients. Krauser, formerly of Edgewood Partners Insurance Center in Reno, has …

from News – Insurance Journal

Takata Engineer Pleads 5th Amendment in Florida Air Bag Lawsuit

A Takata Corp. engineer involved in testing the company’s air bags invoked his constitutional right against self-incrimination in declining to testify in a lawsuit brought by a woman left paralyzed in a 2014 accident. Lawyers for accident victims claim Takata …

from News – Insurance Journal

Insurance Marketing Awards Show Now Accepting Submissions

The Insurance Marketing and Communications Association (IMCA) announced its 2016 Showcase Awards program is open for submissions through March 31, 2016. IMCA’s Showcase Awards recognize the “most effective and innovative work” from insurance marketing and communications professionals, according to Mark …

from News – Insurance Journal

Coast Guard Probe Into Sinking of El Faro Cargo Ship Gets Underway

The U.S. Coast Guard begins hearings on Tuesday to investigate whether misconduct or negligence were factors in the sinking of the cargo ship El Faro during a hurricane last fall, an accident that left the vessel’s 33 crew members dead. …

from News – Insurance Journal

AIG Takes More Off Top: Schreiber, Maag Out

American International Group Inc. veteran Brian Schreiber, who shepherded multibillion-dollar deals that expanded the company and then shrank it after the 2008 credit crisis, is departing as the insurer overhauls management. Seraina Maag, who rose to oversee regional operations after …

from News – Insurance Journal

British Departure from EU Would Put at Risk $670 Billion of U.K. Trade: Study

A British departure from the European Union would put at risk 466 billion pounds ($670 billion) of U.K. trade with nations in Europe and beyond, according to a report published by the Centre for Economic and Business Research. Britain’s membership …

from News – Insurance Journal

Airplane Bomb Targeted Western Intelligence Officials: Al-Shabaab Statement

Al-Shabaab militants claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Daallo Airlines airplane, saying in a statement the attack was part of an operation aimed at dozens of Western intelligence officials and Turkish NATO forces flying to Djibouti. An English-language release posted …

from News – Insurance Journal

Top 10 Workplace Discrimination Claims in 2015

Retaliation charges increased by nearly five percent in 2015 and continue to be the leading concern raised by workers across the country.  Disability charges increased by six percent from last year and are the third largest category of charges filed. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Hiscox Hires Mackey as Energy Underwriter, Completing Energy Team

Lorraine Mackey has joined Hiscox’s London market energy team as an energy underwriter. Mackey’s appointment completes the team led by Charles Rawlins, energy line underwriter, and also includes Louis Cozon. Previously at AXIS Capital, Mackey has six years’ underwriting experience …

from News – Insurance Journal

The Villages Insurance Expands Into Florida’s Lake County

The Villages Insurance has expanded into Lake County, Fla. The Villages Insurance Lake County Division will extend its offerings already available to the residents of The Villages community including the services of its 24/7 emergency response team to the residents …

from News – Insurance Journal

A.M. Best Revises Outlook to Negative for West Virginia Mutual Insurance Co.

A.M. Best has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of A- (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating of “a-” of West Virginia Mutual Insurance Company (WVMIC) (Charleston, W.Va.). The revision of the outlook …

from News – Insurance Journal

Howard Succeeds Boyle as International Editor for Wells Media

L.S. Howard has been appointed international editor for Insurance Journal and Carrier Management. She is based in London. Howard succeeds Charles E. Boyle, who retired at the end of 2015 after 17 years with the company. Insurance Journal and Carrier …

from News – Insurance Journal

Battered by Long-Term Insurance Losses, Genworth Eyes Asset Sales

Genworth Financial Inc., the insurer battered by losses on long-term care coverage, has said it could pursue more divestitures to help pay down more than $500 million in debt maturing in 2018 as turmoil in the bond market shuts out …

from News – Insurance Journal

AIG Ex-CEO Greenberg Agrees with Current CEO Hancock, Not Icahn

American International Group Inc. Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock won short-term relief at the risk of longer-term challenges by striking an accord with activist investors who want to shrink the company, former CEO Maurice “Hank” Greenberg said. “By doing that, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Henderson Brothers Announces 3 New Hires in Pittsburgh

Henderson Brothers Inc., an independent insurance agency based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently announced following three new hires: Angela DeSimone has joined Henderson Brothers as accountant in the finance department. With eight years of experience in finance, DeSimone will manage general …

from News – Insurance Journal

Delaware Licensed 189 Captive Entities in 2015

Delaware Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart said 2015 marked another record year of captive insurance formations in Delaware. Stewart said Delaware last year licensed 74 pure captive insurers, three special purpose captive insurers and 112 series captive insurers, for a …

from News – Insurance Journal

Pacific Specialty in California Promotes Guthrie, Kaufman

William Guthrie was named chief risk officer, and Melissa Kaufman was named vice president of product development of Menlo Park, Calif.-based Pacific Specialty Insurance Co. Pacific Specialty is part of the McGraw Group of Cos. Guthrie is responsible for the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Pennsylvania OKs Average Worker’ Comp Loss Cost Decrease of 0.9%

The Pennsylvania Compensation Rating Bureau (PCRB) said the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has approved PCRB’s filing which calls for an overall average workers’ compensation loss cost decrease of 0.90 percent from existing loss costs. Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller approved PCRB’s …

from News – Insurance Journal

California Workers’ Comp Institute Names Langille General Counsel

Ellen Sims Langille was named general counsel of the California Workers’ Compensation Institute. Langille will manage the CWCI’s internal and external legal affairs. She will also serve as staff liaison to the legal committee, which directs CWCI’s amicus activities, analyze regulatory …

from News – Insurance Journal

New York-Based Insurer Says U.S. Has Lifted Sanctions for Iranian Oil Cargoes

A U.S.-based insurer to the global shipping industry said it got government authorization to cover non-American companies transporting oil from Iran, potentially helping the Persian Gulf country to revive exports of crude and petroleum products following the lifting of sanctions …

from News – Insurance Journal

Tennessee Warns of Hoverboard Dangers After 2 Nashville Home Fires

  The Tennessee State Fire Marshal’s Office (SFMO) has renewed a consumer alert about the potential fire hazards of so-called “hoverboard” toys after two fires were caused by these devices in the past three months in Nashville. One of the …

from News – Insurance Journal

Everest’s Crop Insurance Unit Partners with Global Ag Risk Solutions

Everest Re Group, Ltd. has formed a strategic alliance between its U.S. crop insurance unit, Heartland Crop Insurance, Inc., and Global Ag Risk Solutions (GARS). The new partnership will deliver GARS Production Cost Insurance to farms across the U.S. through …

from News – Insurance Journal

Self-Employed Who Are Ineligible for ACA Subsidies Worry About Costs

George Banyas is self-employed, having run a successful optometry business in Richland, Pennsylvania, for the past 15 years. He and his wife have two children, both in their early 20s and attending college. While his business has afforded his family …

from News – Insurance Journal

Missouri Senators Debate Government Role in Road Safety

Bills governing seat belt use, texting while driving and helmet requirements for motorcyclists prompted debate in a Missouri Senate committee over whether the government should play a larger role in road safety. Two bills — one sponsored by Republican Sen. …

from News – Insurance Journal

Louisiana Using New Way to Collect Fines for Auto Insurance Lapses

Louisiana has implemented new ways of collecting fines from people the state believes are driving without insurance. The Advocate reports the recently formed Office of Debt Recovery has the authority to extract money from bank accounts, intercept tax refunds and …

from News – Insurance Journal

Buildings, Tractors Burn in Louisiana Wildfires

Louisiana state forestry officials reported another wildfire in Natchitoches Parish, along Louisiana Highway 117 southwest of Natchitoches. Firefighters were dispatched to the scene after a building fire spread into a wooded area. Earlier this week about 871 acres, four buildings, …

from News – Insurance Journal

Connecticut Announces Its 10th Captive Insurer

The Connecticut Insurance Department announced that a Syosset, New York-based construction services firm, RC Structures, is establishing its captive insurance operations in Connecticut. The new captive, called RCX Insurance Company, is the 10th licensed captive insurer in Connecticut. “RC Structures …

from News – Insurance Journal

Houston Jury Awards Family $53M for Kyle Field Demolition Fatality

Relatives of a demolition worker have been awarded $53 million over his 2013 death after falling four stories during renovation of Texas A&M’s Kyle Field. Jurors in Houston on decided on damages in the negligence lawsuit filed on behalf of …

from News – Insurance Journal

Chicago Taxis Aim to Counter Ride-Hailing Industry with Apps

Chicago’s taxicab industry has rolled out two official ride-hailing apps to compete with the likes of Uber and Lyft. The department that regulates Chicago’s taxi industry announced a marketing campaign to publicize the apps, Arro and Curb. The city chose …

from News – Insurance Journal

Jury Awards $600K to 3 Ohio Women in Chipotle Discrimination Suit

Three Ohio women who filed a federal lawsuit accusing Chipotle Mexican Grill of gender discrimination have been awarded a total of about $600,000 in damages. A U.S. District Court jury in Cincinnati found the Denver-based chain liable after determining it …

from News – Insurance Journal