Austin Area Amusement Park to Pay $20K to Settle Disability Discrimination Suit

Austin’s FEC LLC and Austin Entertainment Center, LP d/b/a Austin’s Park N Pizza, a Pflugerville, Texas-based amusement park, has agreed to pay $20,000 and improve its workplace practices to settle a disability discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment …

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GEICO Files RICO Lawsuit in Florida Over Alleged Fraudulent Claims

GEICO has sued five Florida companies and six known individuals engaged in what it said was a complex scheme to submit hundreds of suspected fraudulent glass repair bills for payment. In the case, Government Employees Insurance Company, et al. v. …

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XL Catlin Adds Levesque as Sr. Underwriter for Marine Business in Chicago

Janelle Levesque has joined XL Catlin as a senior marine underwriter. She is based in Chicago. Levesque is responsible for inland marine business in the Midwest region, which includes Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri. She previously …

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XL Catlin Marine Business Unit Adds 3 in San Francisco

XL Catlin hired Frank Basich as senior member of the XL Catlin marine underwriting team in San Francisco. Basich is responsible for inland marine business in the western states, exercising his 25-plus years of experience underwriting many commercial lines of …

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Langenegger Joins XL Catlin in Dallas

Shawn Langenegger has joined XL Catlin’s marine business unit in Dallas. He has 13 years of industry experience and joins from Allianz Global Corporate where he was inland marine team leader for the New Orleans, Houston and Dallas territories. Langenegger will …

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Cleveland’s Insurance Bill for GOP Convention: $9.5M

A city of Cleveland panel has authorized spending nearly $10 million to purchase $50 million in insurance to protect the city against claims during the Republican National Convention after a consultant concluded the city faces a higher risk than previously …

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Data Shows 170 Motor Vehicle Deaths in Iowa 2016, So Far

New data from the Iowa Department of Transportation shows 42 more people have died on Iowa roads in 2016 than at the same time last year. The Des Moines Register reports seven people were killed in traffic accidents over the …

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Class-Action Suit Filed Against South Carolina Town Over Speeding Ordinance

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against the Clarendon County, South Carolina town of Turbeville for its practice of charging speeders under an ordinance that allows the town to keep the fines rather than the state. The State newspaper in …

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Universal Property & Casualty Expands Into Alabama Homeowners Market

Universal Insurance Holdings, Inc. has been approved by the Alabama Department of Insurance to write homeowners insurance in the state through its subsidiary Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Company (UPCIC). The company reported that UPCIC has subsequently written its first …

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Orlando’s Pulse Nightclub Exceeded Required Number of Required Exits

One of the exits at the Pulse nightclub was inoperable weeks before the massacre of 49 patrons by a gunman on June 12, but the gay nightclub had twice the number of exits needed to accommodate its maximum occupancy of …

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Tennessee Reports $436M Economic Impact From Revamped Captive Insurance Act

Tennessee-based captive insurance companies have created an estimated $436 million economic impact through direct and indirect spending related to new jobs, investments, and deposits, according to results of a recent annual survey given by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & …

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Berkley Life Sciences Launches Political Risk Coverage for Life Science Companies

Berkley Life Sciences, a W. R. Berkley Company, has introduced political risk insurance for life science companies to address life science exposures faced by customers with assets or operations overseas. Life science companies of all sizes are increasingly exposed to …

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Oklahoma High Court Validates Workers’ Comp Icy Sidewalk ‘Slip and Fall’ Claim

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has reversed the decision of an Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission administrative law judge (ALJ) and ruled that a workers’ comp claim for a slip and fall on an icy sidewalk next to an employer’s parking lot is …

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Graham Appointed Chief Investment Officer at Nationwide

Ohio-based insurance and financial services organization, Nationwide, named Chris Graham head of investment strategies and chief investment officer. Graham previously was a senior investment professional for Nationwide Investments. Graham will report to Mike Spangler, president of Nationwide Funds. Prior to joining …

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North Dakota Adopts Rules Aimed at Oil Industry Spill Reduction

North Dakota regulators have adopted new rules aimed at reducing spills by the oil industry. The state Industrial Commission approved rules that included bonding and increased inspections on pipelines. Another new rule requires berms to be built around a well …

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95% of Post-Recession Jobs Went to College Educated: Study

Out of the 11.6 million jobs created in the post-recession economy, 11.5 million went to workers with at least some college education, according to newly research from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Of these jobs, 8.4 …

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Worldwide Facilities Hires Begnaud as Sr. VP, Broker in Houston

National wholesale insurance broker and managing general agent, Worldwide Facilities LLC, has added Matthew Begnaud in Houston office as senior vice president and broker. Begnaud has more than 10 years of industry experience. Before joining Worldwide Facilities, Begnaud served as …

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As Texas Train Wreckage Smolders, BNSF Says Technology May Have Prevented Crash

Wreckage from a train collision continued to smolder on June 29 in the Texas Panhandle as workers prepared to remove the charred, twisted box cars from the tracks and renew their search for three missing crew members. Three BNSF Railway …

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Lawn Equipment, Farm Implements Targeted by Thieves in Michigan

Authorities say commercial lawn equipment, farm implements and construction equipment are being targeted by thieves in Michigan. State police Detective Sgt. Todd Petersen tells the Kalamazoo Gazette that dealerships, with large lots and sometime lax security, are frequent targets of …

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Missouri Supreme Court Tosses Officer’s $7.5M Harassment Award on Technicality

The Missouri Supreme Court has thrown out a $7.5 million judgment to a former St. Louis police officer who claimed her supervisor sexually harassed her, and that her complaints about the harassment resulted in retaliation. The ruling sent the case …

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NFP Acquires Utah’s First West Brokerage Services

National insurance broker and consultant, NFP Corp., has acquired First West Brokerage Services Inc. (First West), based in Orem, Utah. Founded in 1987, First West is a full service benefits insurance broker and consultant specializing in group health plans with …

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Sompo Canopius & Mexico’s GNP Form Strategic Partnership

Sompo Canopius AG and Mexico’s Grupo Nacional Provinical SAB formed a strategic partnership. This arrangement will help both parties to develop new business and insurance products for the Mexican market, “capitalizing on GNP’s position as a leading domestic insurer and Sompo …

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Even with Rescue, Puerto Rico Default Likely; Insurers Still at Risk for Millions

Investors in Puerto Rico’s debt-burdened economy still face risks of default on some of the island’s $70 billion in debt even after the U.S. Congress on Wednesday created a powerful federal oversight board to manage credit restructurings. U.S. President Barack …

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Insurance Office of America Acquires Hornung Agency in Delaware

Insurance Office of America (IOA) of Longwood, Florida, has acquired Thomas J. Hornung & Associates, an independent insurance agency in the Wilmington, Delaware area. Thomas J. Hornung, who founded the agency in 1997,  and all employees will join the IOA …

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Hard Hat Saved Life of Construction Worker at Syracuse Site

Police said a worker’s hard hat likely saved his life after he was hit by a falling steel beam at a suburban Syracuse, New York construction site. Officials told  The Post-Standard of Syracuse that officers responded around 11 a.m. Monday …

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New York’s High Court Rules on Joint Duty to Warn of Asbestos Danger

New York’s highest court has upheld court judgments against a steam valve manufacturer, citing its failure to warn of the dangers of using its valves with gaskets and packing that contain asbestos. The Court of Appeals rejected Crane Co.’s argument …

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Judge: Delaware’s Aggressive Abandoned Property Practices Violate Due Process

A federal judge this week blasted Delaware’s practice of collecting abandoned property, issuing a ruling that could have dire budget consequences for the state. U.S. District Court Judge Gregory Sleet said Delaware’s abandoned property, or escheat, practices violate due process …

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How Medical Schools Are Altering Their Training to Address Opioid Epidemic

At first, the woman tried to hide her painkiller problem. She told the doctor that she still had pain from her past pregnancy, and that she just wanted a refill on her pain medication. After a few questions, though, she …

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Uber Using Software to Track Drivers’ Behavior

Using smartphone sensors to peek over its drivers’ shoulders, Uber is promising to keep a closer eye on their behavior — while discouraging speeding or slamming on the brakes. The global ride-hailing company on Wednesday announced an extensive test of …

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73% of U.S. Drivers Welcome Commuting with Robot Behind the Wheel: Survey

Almost three-quarters of U.S. drivers are eager to replace the daily commute’s drudgery with a self-driving car and 80 percent say they would pay extra to have a robot take the wheel, according to a survey that contradicts other recent …

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NJM Elevates Livingston to Executive VP, Counsel; Announces 5 Other Promotions

New Jersey property/casualty insurer NJM Insurance Group announced that Mitchell A. Livingston has been promoted to executive vice president and corporate counsel. Livingston, who is also a member of NJM’s board of directors, is responsible for leading the company’s strategic …

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Zurich Buys MAA Takaful Berhad to Expand in Malaysia Takaful Market

Zurich Insurance Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Zurich Insurance Group has completed the acquisition of MAA Takaful Berhad (MAAT), a leading provider of Takaful products in Malaysia, from MAA Group Berhad and Solidarity Group Holding BSC. The combination of MAAT’s …

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Cooper Gay Appoints Hacker as Group Chief Innovation Officer

Cooper Gay, the global reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced the appointment of Peter Hacker as group chief innovation officer. He takes up his role with immediate effect reporting to Steve Hearn, group CEO. Hacker will develop risk and advisory …

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Legal Expert Assesses 4 Scenarios to Put Brakes on Brexit

As continental powers pressure a nervous Britain to formally apply to exit the European Union, die-hard “remain” supporters are taking on the mission to put the brakes on the so-called Brexit. The challenge is formidable: Britons turned out en masse …

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Allianz Set to Begin $3.3B Asia Property Push over Next 3 Years

Allianz Real Estate is set to make its biggest Asian investment to date, in a first step toward adding as much 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) of real estate in the region within three years. The $150 million pan-Asian fund …

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Brexit, Climate Change and Clean Air

What does the Brexit portend for all those collaborate efforts undertaken by the European Union to battle climate change? It’s a question a number of people were pondering – in Europe and in the U.S. – after last week when U.K. …

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Toyota Recalls 3.37M Cars for Flawed Air Bags, Emissions Control Units

Toyota Motor Corp has recalled 3.37 million cars worldwide over possible defects involving air bags and emissions control units. The automaker on Wednesday said it was recalling 2.87 million cars over a possible fault in emissions control units. That followed …

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Willis Towers Watson CEO Haley Sees ‘Upside’ to Brexit

John Haley, who merged his U.S. consulting firm with an insurance broker this year to form London-based Willis Towers Watson Plc, said the company is well-equipped to deal with disruption from U.K. voters’ decision to leave the European Union. “In …

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West Virginia’s Greenbrier Resort Begins Recovery from Floods, Shelters Victims

At West Virginia’s usually immaculate Greenbrier resort, the grandstands set up for a PGA tournament that was supposed to start the week of July Fourth now look out on a muddy, gouged-out golf course strewn with trash, tires, refrigerators and …

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Religious Extremists, ‘Lone Wolf’ Attacks Changing Political Risk Landscape

In a short period of time, the political risk market has experienced a significant shift in exposures, with new potential threats and different territories now threatened by attacks from religious extremists. Christof Bentele, head of Global Crisis Management at Allianz …

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No Injuries Reported From Explosion at Southern Mississippi BP Plant

A late-night explosion and fire broke out at a natural gas plant in southern Mississippi, but there were no injuries or fatalities reported, police said early Tuesday. Pascagoula Police Capt. Shannon Broom said authorities received a report about the explosion …

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Assurant Expands Private Flood Insurance to Texas

Assurant, Inc. has expanded its new private flood insurance to Texas homeowners. Assurant Primary Flood Insurance, introduced in Florida last month, offers structural coverage up to $800,000 and up to $250,000 in contents coverage, at competitive rates that include no …

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Alabama Doctor Accused of Trafficking ‘Massive Amounts’ of Pain Meds

Authorities say a doctor in Tuscaloosa, Ala., has been indicted on drug trafficking charges and faces hundreds more after a two-year investigation into his practice. The West Alabama Narcotics Task Force says in a statement Dr. James Fullerton Hooper was …

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Sandelands Appointed Sr. VP, Commercial Underwriting Services at CNA

CNA has appointed Barbara Sandelands as senior vice president, Commercial Underwriting Services. In this newly created role, she is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction and general management of underwriting services. Sandelands joined CNA from Chubb, where she held …

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Trial over Spinal Bone Cement Death Opens Begins in Washington

  The physician who used a non-FDA-approved bone cement during a woman’s spinal surgery and the company that ran an illegal test market to promote the dangerous product should be held accountable for her death, a lawyer for the woman’s …

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San Francisco Sued Over New Short-Term Rentals Rules

Airbnb has sued the city of San Francisco over a new law requiring short-term rental companies to remove unregistered hosts from their websites. The San Francisco Chronicle reports the company’s suit filed in the U.S. District Court of Northern California …

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Deadly Colorado Railroad Crossing Was in Need of Safety Improvements

A railroad crossing in southern Colorado where five family members, including three young girls, were killed when an Amtrak train slammed into their minivan had been targeted for safety improvements for years. The rural crossing near Trinidad, about 15 miles …

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Worker Death at Tennessee M&M Plant Being Investigated

Tennessee state workplace safety investigators are looking into the death of a contract employee at the M&M Mars plant in southeastern Tennessee. Multiple media outlets report that the worker for Cleveland-based Custom Mechanical Contractors died at the plant on June …

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RLI Launches Cyber Liability Insurance for Medium, Large-Sized Firms

RLI Insurance Company’s RLI Executive Products Group has launched a new cyber liability insurance product. RLI’s cyber liability insurance offers both first and third party coverage options to protect medium-to-large sized firms against financial losses and damages resulting from cyber …

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Freight Trains Collide in Texas, Triggering Fireball

Several box cars derailed and were engulfed in flames following a freight train collision in the Texas Panhandle on Tuesday. Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Bryan Witt says the accident occurred in the morning near the town of Panhandle, …

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Detroit Crews Fight String of 17 Suspected Arson Fires

Authorities say the Detroit fire department responded to a string of 17 suspected arson fires that burned over a roughly 12-hour period. Chief of Arson Patrick McNulty tells the Detroit Free Press the first fire was reported about 8 p.m. …

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Citing Health Risks, Oakland City Council Ban Coal Shipments

The Oakland City Council in California voted unanimously to kill a plan to use a proposed marine terminal to transport Utah coal to Asia, calling such shipments public health and safety hazards. Backers argued the project would bring needed jobs …

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Audit Finds State Insurance Program Privatization Saved Louisiana $10M

Former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s privatization of claims processing and loss prevention services for Louisiana’s self-insurance program saved the state money, though less than projected, according to an audit released on June 27. The Jindal administration privatized the Office of Risk …

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Gebhard Named VP, Communications at Minnesota-Based SFM

Bloomington, Minn.-based mutual insurer, SFM, has promoted Andy Gebhard to vice president, communications. Gebhard has been with SFM since 2007 in various roles, and most recently held the position of director of communications and social media. In this position, he …

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MarketScout Adds McGowan Program Administrators as Market Specialist

MarketScout, an insurance distribution and underwriting company headquartered in Dallas, announced that McGowan Program Administrators (MPA) has joined the MarketScout Exchange as a certified market specialist for community associations, hospitality and real estate. The MarketScout Exchange specializes in connecting thousands of …

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National Interstate Rejects Stock Bid from Great American Insurance

National Interstate Corp., Richfield, Ohio, has rejected a verbal proposal from Great American Insurance Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary of American Financial Group Inc., to pay $30.75 per share of common stock of the company for the outstanding shares of the …

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On the Road Again: Get Your Car in Shape Before Your Summer Road Trip

Nothing can sour a road trip more than your car breaking down. Many an otherwise pleasant vacation has been ruined with an unexpected car issue away from home. Do you and your family a favor and have your car checked out before you hit the road th...

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GE Erases ‘Too-Big-to-Fail’ Tag with Sale of Financial Businesses

General Electric Co. won approval to drop its designation as a too-big-to-fail financial institution, capping a transformation that has included the sale of nearly all of its lending business. The decision marks the first time a company has been granted …

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5 Specialty Insurance Coverages Reserved for Municipal Airports

Municipal airports, as well as the authorities and fix-base operators that manage many of their activities, must navigate a wide range of potential liability exposures related to the safety and security of passengers, aircraft, materials and equipment on their premises. …

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NOW Honors Starr Companies’ Marketing Chief Brown as Role Model for Women

Starr Companies’ Chief Marketing Officer Leilani M. Brown was recognized by the National Organization of Women New York City Chapter as a “Woman of Power & Influence” at the group’s annual awards dinner last week. Brown was honored along with …

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The Hartford’s Berner Joins Allied World’s Pubic D&O Team

Allied World Assurance Co. has appointed Marc Berner to its North American Public Directors and Officers (D&O) underwriting team.  Berner will be based in New York in the role of vice president, Public and Private Financial Institutions, D&O. Berner has …

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Global Insurance Premiums up 3.8% in 2015, Despite Trade Slowdown: Swiss Re

Despite a challenging business environment and global trade slowdown in 2015, global direct premiums written grew by 3.8 percent in real terms, up from 3.5 percent in 2014, according to Swiss Re’s latest sigma report. However, in nominal US dollar …

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Chubb’s Sandelands Joins CNA as Senior VP, Commercial Underwriting Services

CNA announced the appointment of Barbara Sandelands as senior vice president, Commercial Underwriting Services. In this newly created role, she is responsible for driving the overall strategic direction and general management of underwriting services. Sandelands reports to Julie Stephenson, Commercial …

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MEMIC Names XL Catlin’s Gonnella VP of Claims for Atlantic, Northeast

Workers’ compensation insurer The MEMIC Group has appointed Gus Gonnella to the position of vice president of Claims for the Atlantic and Northeast regions. In his more than 23 years of experience in the insurance claims industry, Gonnella has been …

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Senate Zika Funding Fails as Democrats Balk at Birth Control, Pesticide, Spending Cut Riders

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked Republicans’ plan to partially fund President Barack Obama’s request for funding to tackle the Zika virus and attach it to other items Democrats dismissed as partisan, setting off a bitter round of sniping ahead of …

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Maine Town Ends Flying of U.S. Flags Due to Insurance Cost

A lack of adequate liability insurance has put an end to a project honoring military veterans by flying American flags on utility poles in Maine’s smallest town. The Kennebec Journal reports Randolph Fire Association fundraised for about a year before …

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Anthem Says It’s Not Walking Away from Cigna Merger

Anthem Inc. said it’s not in discussions with Cigna Corp. to end their $48 billion tie-up, as speculation about the health insurance deal’s fate mounts. The New York Post reported earlier that Anthem may be ready to walk away, citing …

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European Insurers Look to Hoarding Cash After Brexit Vote

Investors will consider hoarding cash in vaults as government bond yields fall deeper into negative territory following the U.K.’s vote to leave the European Union, according to Talanx AG, Germany’s third-biggest insurer. “Storing physical cash as an alternative to paying …

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Cooper Gay Names Prinn as Head of Global Placement

Cooper Gay, the global reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, has appointed Jonathan Prinn as head of global placement. He takes up his new role on Sept. 12 and will report to Steve Hearn, group CEO. Prinn brings over two decades …

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Marine Specialist Latitude Brokers Launches Singapore Office

Latitude Brokers, the Hong Kong-based marine insurance specialist, has opened an office in Singapore, their second in Asia. With the continued growth of the marine markets in Singapore as well as the Lloyd’s platform, the Singapore office is an essential …

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China’s Fosun Looks for UK, Europe Investments on Brexit Volatility

Fosun Group, China’s biggest private conglomerate, will look for more opportunities in the United Kingdom and Europe in the volatile wake of Britain’s referendum vote to leave the European Union, the company’s billionaire co-founder and chairman said at a Reuters …

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Loeb’s Hedge Fund Lowers Fees for Third Point Re

Third Point Reinsurance Ltd. won lower fees on investments overseen by Dan Loeb’s Third Point LLC, the hedge fund manager that helped start the Bermuda-based reinsurer. Third Point Re will pay a 1.5 percent annualized fee in addition to as …

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Terrorist Attack on Istanbul Airport Kills at Least 36; Islamic State Blamed

Coordinated attacks on passengers at Istanbul’s international airport killed at least 36 people on Tuesday as the fallout from Syria’s civil war tore through the terminal at one of the busiest travel times of the year. Islamic State is likely …

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UConn Pilots Gunshot Detection System, a Gift from an Alumnus

A new gunshot detection system developed and donated by a University of Connecticut alumnus is now in place at the school as part of a pilot program. UConn’s police department over the past month installed the computer technology, which includes …

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Baird Joins Southwest Risk Agency Services as Assistant VP, Underwriter

Suzy Baird has joined Dallas-based Southwest Risk Agency Services LLC as assistant vice president/underwriter. Baird is a 35-year veteran of the insurance industry. She previously worked at Atlantic Specialty Lines of Texas as the regional sales manager. Baird relocated to Texas …

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How U.S. and EU Differ in Handling Volkswagen Diesel Scandal

If you own a Volkswagen with a diesel engine in the U.S., the company will buy back your car and give you as much as $10,000. If you drive in Europe, you may only get a piece of pipe. As part …

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Study: Economic Costs of Pandemic in U.S. Could Be $34-45 Billion

A pandemic influenza outbreak in the United States could have economic costs nearly double the total amounts experts have previously calculated, depending on how the public, government and businesses respond to an epidemic, according to policy and risk experts in …

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South Carolina State Trooper Uses Emojis to Curb Drunk Driving

South Carolina is starting a campaign against drinking and driving based on a trooper’s tweets using the little graphic icons called emojis on his smartphone. The Anderson Independent-Mail reports the Highway Patrol already has 130 billboards up and will include …

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Police Searching for 2 Kentucky Men Accused of Stealing, Pawning Guitars

Police are looking for two Lexington, Ky., men charged with stealing guitars from music stores. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports arrest warrants have been issued for 37-year-old Jeremiah Hager and 35-year-old Jerason L. Banks. Police say Hager was charged with several …

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Central California Blaze Considered Most Destructive in County History

A California wildfire that killed two people and destroyed 200 homes in the southern Sierra Nevada burned away from neighborhoods this week, clearing the way for some residents to return to homes that survived the savage flames. The fire grew …

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Stone Creek Names Gracey Personal Lines Account Manager in California

Lafayette, Calif.-based Stone Creek Insurance Agency has named Megan Gracey a personal lines manager for its Northern California office. Gracey specializes in customer service, account management, annual client review and business development. She has 5 years of experience as a …

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As Flood Rages on in West Virginia, 2 Missing Campers Found Alive

Two men who were presumed dead when a camper was swept away in rushing waters during the West Virginia floods have been found alive, officials said Monday as more heavy rain fell on already-soaked parts of the state. The discovery …

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U.S. Supreme Court to Weigh Miami Predatory Lending Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday agreed to decide whether Miami can pursue lawsuits accusing major banks of predatory mortgage lending to black and Hispanic homebuyers resulting in loan defaults that drove down city tax revenues and property values. The …

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2 North Texas-Area Facilities Fined by Federal Safety Regulators

Federal safety regulators have fined two different companies over safety violation in facilities located in North Texas. The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration fined steel fabricator, K-T Galvanizing Company Inc., $53,200 for 13 serious violations found in its facility …

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Ironshore’s Pembroke Agency Adds Cyber Coverage to Financial Institution Crime Policies

Ironshore’s Pembroke Managing Agency Limited has updated its Financial Institutions Crime program to include cyber fraud and cyber extortion. Pembroke’s crime coverage for Financial Institutions indemnifies a company for direct financial loss resulting from internal and external fraud incidents. The …

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Insurer for Nebraska Town Settles Claim Filed in Water Park Death

Grand Island, Neb.’s insurance carrier has settled a claim against the city over the drowning of a 5-year-old girl at the city’s Island Oasis Water Park last summer. The claim for more than $1 million was filed in September by …

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Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill Expanding Gun Rights

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon has vetoed a gun measure that would allow the concealed carry of firearms without a permit and expand residents’ rights to stand and fight against perceived threats — a move that could set up a battle …

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RHSB Adds Galati as Assistant VP

Nick Galati has joined Texas-based independent insurance broker, RHSB, as assistant vice president. He is a sales executive focusing on commercial property/casualty insurance products and services for middle-market companies. Galati comes to RHSB with more than six years’ experience in …

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Texas Workers’ Comp Discount, Interest Rate Set for Q3

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation has set the rate for any interest or discount provided for the third quarter of 2016 at 4.03 percent. This rate is computed by using the treasury constant maturity rate for …

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Aetna’s Purchase of Humana OK’d by Illinois Insurance Regulator, with Condition

The Illinois Department of Insurance has approved Aetna Inc.’s proposed $34 billion acquisition of Humana Inc. provided it is approved by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to an order dated June 23 posted on the department’s website. Aetna announced …

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Nevada Law Requires Nevada Motorists to Replace Plates Every 8 Years

Nevada motorists will have to replace their vehicle license plates every eight years. A bill approved by last year’s Legislature to address law enforcement agencies’ complaints about many plates being unreadable will go into effect July 1. Department of Motor …

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Colorado City Settles Discrimination Claim from Former Employee

The city of Boulder, Colo. has agreed to pay $64,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by a former employee who says she was discriminated against after coming out as a lesbian. The Daily Camera reported that city officials on Friday said …

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U.S., China, EU Vow Crackdown on Unsafe Products Sold Online; Eye Hoverboard Standards

U.S., European and Chinese regulators say they will jointly enforce product safety in online commerce, and an American official said they are making progress on crafting standards for hoverboards. The statement last week by American, European Union and Chinese officials …

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AIG’s Inselberg Joins Starr Companies as Senior VP, Financial Lines

Brian Inselberg has joined Starr Companies as senior vice president, Financial Lines. He will have overall responsibility for the growth and profitability of the portfolio as well as the leadership of the financial lines underwriting team. Inselberg joins Starr with …

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China’s Fosun to List U.S. Insurer Ironshore ‘As Soon as Possible’: Reuters

Fosun Group, China’s biggest private conglomerate, will list U.S. property and casualty insurer Ironshore Inc “as soon as possible” this year, Guo Guangchang, the company’s billionaire co-founder and chairman told Reuters ahead of a Reuters Newsmaker event in Beijing on …

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Narragansett Bay Insurance Names Hutchinson Assistant VP, Territory Manager

Narragansett Bay Insurance Co. has named Peter Hutchinson an assistant vice president and Rhode Island and Massachusetts territory manager.  Hutchinson will be responsible for partnerships with NBIC’s agents and industry associations, profitable growth, and service delivery in Rhode Island and …

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AIR Worldwide Introduces Earthquake Model for India

Catastrophe risk modeler AIR Worldwide, a Verisk Analytics business, has released a new earthquake model for India that estimates losses to residential, commercial and small industrial buildings as well as automobiles. The model’s seismicity analysis covers areas with seismic activity …

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S&P and Fitch Chop Britain’s ‘AAA’ Rating After Brexit Vote

Britain suffered further blows to its economic standing on Monday as two top ratings agencies downgraded its sovereign credit score, judging last week’s vote to leave the European Union would hurt its economy. Standard & Poor’s stripped Britain of its …

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QBE Weighs Brexit-Effect; Marsh Considers Some Brexit Scenarios

QBE Insurance Group announced this week that it will be reviewing its UK-based operations in light of last week’s vote in the UK to leave the European Union. “The referendum outcome may require a revised approach in relation to approximately …

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Britain’s Vote to Leave EU Hikes Concerns over UK Insurers’ Capital Strength

Market falls triggered by Britain’s vote to leave the European Union will hit British insurers’ capital, raising concerns over their ability to pay dividends or hand cash back to investors. New European capital Solvency II rules introduced in January require …

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New Hampshire Woman Withdraws Civil Suit Against Bill Cosby

A 72-year-old New Hampshire woman who says Bill Cosby raped her in 1965 has withdrawn her civil defamation lawsuit against the comedian after a federal judge had allowed the case to move forward. Kristina Ruehli’s lawyer told The Associated Press …

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Ivanka Trump Faces Shoe Design Infringement Claim by Italian Firm

Ivanka Trump is being sued by an Italian shoe company that claims the fashion line carrying her name is selling a knockoff of one of its designs. The suit was filed by Aquazzura in federal court in New York against …

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Out-of-Pocket Hospital Costs Were Rising 6.5% a Year… Before Obamacare

If you have private health insurance, the good news is you may be helping your employer keep its health care spending down. The bad news is it’s coming out of your pocket. The amount that people with private insurance still had …

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New Owner Anbang Insurance to Convert Most Waldorf Astoria Rooms into Condos

New York’s landmark Waldorf Astoria hotel is scheduled to close in spring 2017 so owner Anbang Insurance Group Co. can begin converting most of the more than 1,400 rooms to luxury condominiums, said a person with knowledge of the plans. …

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U.S. Whitewater Center in North Carolina Suspended After Amoeba Detected

The U.S. National Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., announced Friday that it has temporarily suspended its operations after water samples turned up the amoeba believed to have caused the death of an Ohio teenager. A statement released by the center …

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5 Drug Wholesalers to Settle West Virginia Pill Shipment Lawsuit for $4.2M

Five drug wholesalers have agreed to a $4.2 million settlement in a lawsuit alleging that they shipped an excessive number of prescription opioids to West Virginia, the attorney general said June 23. According to a news release, the settlement involves …

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Brentwood Services Administrators Hires Bryant in Tennessee

Brentwood Services Administrators (BSA), headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., has hired Stephanie Bryant as senior claim representative in the Brentwood office, according to Jeff Pettus, president and chief executive officer of Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. In her new position, Bryant’s duties …

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Hawaii Governor Signs Smartphone Proof of Insurance Bill

Hawaii Gov. David Ige approved a bill allowing Hawaii drivers to show proof of insurance with their cellphone in a traffic stop. The decision to sign the bill met with the approval of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. …

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Diesel Fraud Settlement with U.S. Owners, Regulators to Cost Volkswagen $15 Billion

Volkswagen AG’s settlement with nearly 500,000 U.S. diesel owners and government regulators over polluting vehicles is valued at more than $15 billion cash, a source briefed on the matter said on Monday. The settlement, to be announced on Tuesday in …

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Austin Interstate 35 Rock Throwing Suspect Faces Felony Charges

Court documents say a man suspected of throwing rocks at cars along Interstate 35 in Austin is facing three felony charges related to the incidents, one of which left a driver with brain damage. Authorities say 59-year-old Patrick Eugene Johnson …

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Wisconsin Lawmaker Wants to Make Businesses Liable for Gun Injuries

A Republican state lawmaker wants Wisconsin businesses to be held liable for any gun-related injuries that may occur on their premises. State Rep. Bob Gannon, of Slinger, says he plans to introduce the bill for the Legislature to consider in …

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Texas Energy Exec Charged with Defrauding Investors

A Texas energy company CEO dubbed the “frack master” is charged with defrauding investors of about $80 million, including misappropriating at least $30 million for personal expenses, including private jets and gentlemen’s clubs, to “maintain a lifestyle of decadence and …

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Parish Officials Warn of Isolation for Louisiana Flood Buyout Refusal

Rapides Parish officials are warning a handful of holdouts in south Alexandria, La., subdivisions that they could be isolated if they don’t accept federally-financed flood buyouts. Carrie Robinette, grant administrator for the Rapides Area Planning Commission, said officials have purchased …

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Illinois Insurance Co-Op Sues Feds over ACA Payments

A struggling Illinois health insurance co-op is suing the federal government, claiming it is being shortchanged $72.8 million in promised payments under the Affordable Care Act. Chicago-based Land of Lincoln Health filed the lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Federal …

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J.M. Wilson Adds 2 in Underwriting Positions in Illinois

Managing general agency and surplus lines broker, J.M. Wilson, has hired Chance Winke and Tim Frawley in underwriting positions in its Arlington Heights, Ill., office. Winke is an assistant in the transportation underwriting department and will serve independent insurance agents in Illinois, …

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NFP Completes Sale of Majority Stake in Kestra Financial to Stone Point Capital

NFP, an insurance broker and consultant, has completed the sale of a majority stake in Kestra Financial (Kestra) to funds managed by Stone Point Capital LLC (Stone Point), a private equity firm focused on investing in the financial services industry. …

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Firefighters Advance on California Blaze That’s Destroyed 200 Homes

Fire crews are making inroads against a raging wildfire in central California that has claimed two lives and destroyed 200 homes. Roughly 2,000 firefighters were battling the blaze, according to officials. Federal fire officials said Sunday evening that containment on …

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Mother of Oregon Child Strangled by Window Blinds Sues Apartment for $4M

The mother of a 3-year-old girl who died after being strangled by a window blinds cord in a Clackamas County, Ore. apartment has filed a $4 million lawsuit. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Sahrye Imani Hardy had been visiting a resident at …

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Judge Dismisses Group of Lawsuits against Colorado Theater

A federal judge on Friday dismissed a consolidated group of lawsuits brought against the owner of the Colorado movie theater where a gunman killed 12 people and wounded 70 others. Judge R. Brooke Jackson dismissed the lawsuits brought against Cinemark …

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Judge in California Approves Lyft’s $27M Driver Settlement Deal

A U.S. judge granted preliminary approval to ride service Lyft’s $27 million settlement of a class action lawsuit brought by California drivers who claimed they should be deemed employees instead of independent contractors. U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San …

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Wedding Vendors Account for Most Claims: Travelers

Problems with vendors amounted to 30 percent of claim payments for all wedding claims, according to Travelers Companies, Inc. which announced the findings of its recent analysis of wedding insurance claims from 2011–2015. Wedding venues going bankrupt, photographers failing to …

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China Close to Adopting Controversial Cyber Security Rules

China moved closer on Monday to adopting a controversial cyber security law, after parliament held a second reading of the draft rules, which carry significant consequences for domestic and foreign business and threaten greater censorship. China enforces widespread controls over …

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Data Theft by Employees Affects 69% of Businesses: Accenture Survey

As businesses spend billions of dollars a year trying to protect their data from hacking that’s costing trillions, they face another threat closer to home: data theft by their own employees.  That’s one of the findings in a survey to …

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RMS Updates Cat Models for Terrorism, Europe Windstorm & US Flood

Global catastrophe risk management firm RMS has released version 16.0 of its catastrophe modeling platform, which includes updates to both the Europe Windstorm Clustering Model and Terrorism Modeling suite. Also included are the new Marine Cargo & Specie Model and …

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A.M. Best Removes Ironshore from ‘Under Review’ Status

A.M. Best has changed its mind about Ironshore, removing the Bermuda-based specialty insurer from its status as “under review with negative implications.” A year after initially taking action, the ratings agency has affirmed the financial strength ratings of “A” (Excellent) …

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French & German Floods to Hit Insurers’ Earnings but Not Ratings: A.M. Best

The earnings of French and German insurers during the first half of 2016 will be dampened by flood claims following storms Elvira and Friederike, which pounded the countries in quick succession between late May and early June, according to a …

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Brexit or ‘Regrexit’? That Is Still the Question…

To leave, or not to leave: that is the question. Still. After Britain’s historic vote to leave the European Union, there is no indication that a so-called Brexit will happen soon. It maybe never will. Prime Minister David Cameron, who …

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Massachusetts Senate, House Ridesharing Bills Differ Over Airport Access

A bill that would regulate ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft, including requiring drivers undergo criminal background checks and mandate they carry insurance policies of at least $1 million, was unveiled last week by Massachusetts Senate leaders. Unlike a House …

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Putting Drone Deliveries of Disaster Relief to the Test

How to distribute lifesaving supplies quickly and safely after a natural disaster has long been a puzzle for responders. Now, drones might be the lifesaver. That idea was put to the test this week in New Jersey as a drone …

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Pennsylvania Widow Blames Railroad Trestle for Husband’s Death

A northeastern Pennsylvania woman is suing over a railroad trestle she contends is unsafe and led to her husband’s death on a dirt bike last year. Courtney Cruz contends her 29-year-old husband, Daniel, died when his bike fell through a …

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How Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway’ Win Could Affect Music Copyright Liability

Led Zeppelin’s victory over allegations the band stole the opening chords of “Stairway to Heaven” may reverse the swell in copyright infringement lawsuits over pop songs that followed last year’s “Blurred Lines” verdict. “‘Blurred Lines’ left everything wide open,” William …

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Federal Disaster Declared in West Virginia from Historic Flooding, More Rain Expected

  The West Virginia counties of Greenbrier, Kanawha, and Nicholas have been declared federal disaster areas in the wake of severe storms that devastated the state and left 24 people dead and more than 100 homes destroyed, as of Sunday. …

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New Hampshire Ridesharing Law Goes Into Effect

A state law requiring criminal background checks on drivers of ride-hailing companies took effect this week with Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan’s signature. The law also requires ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to provide commercial insurance and have a zero-tolerance …

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All Risks Adds New Classes for Occupational Accident Product

All Risks, Ltd., an independent wholesaler, has added a variety of new classes for its occupational accident product, which is part of the Accident & Health division.  Classes that All Risks can offer occupational accident coverage now includes behavioral healthcare, …

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USG’S Program Division Makes Staff Changes to Jacksonville, Florida Office

Allied American Underwriters, a division of USG Insurance Services, Inc., has hired Valarie MacDonald as producer/broker, and Denise Brown as production assistant. In addition to these new hires, AAU has promoted Dasha Casey to producer/broker. All three will be based …

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Mississippi Tractor Wheel Factory Gutted by Fire

A fire at a factory in Tupelo, Miss., that makes lawn tractor wheels may have caused millions in damage. Local media report no one was injured by the fire at Custom Engineered Wheels, which broke out late Thursday. Officials say …

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Judge Dismisses Distillery’s Trademark Case Against University of Kentucky

A federal judge has dismissed an Appalachian distillery’s lawsuit in a trademark dispute with the University of Kentucky, but the moonshine maker vowed to fight on. The case pits the state’s flagship university against Kentucky Mist Moonshine, a small startup …

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CSAA Insurance Group Financial Leader in California Named to COIN Board

Lincoln Walworth, an investments executive for CSAA Insurance Group, has been appointed to the advisory board of the California Organized Investment Network. Since 1997, COIN has provided insurers with guidance on making investments that benefit underserved and rural communities, as …

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Allianz Names Walter West Zone Farm And Ranch Team Lead

Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty has named Karen Walter team lead for the West zone farm and ranch division. Walter will report through to both Craig Cendak, West zone mid corporation leader, and Atul Kulkarni, global practice group leader for …

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Lockton Names Michon Executive Vice President in Northern California

Lockton has named Alex Michon an executive vice president and leader of client service and business development in its new Sacramento, Calif. office. Michon is a 21-year veteran of Aon, where he was vice president and Sacramento office leader. He …

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Despite Record Rainfall Last Fall, Drought Creeps Into Parts of South Carolina

People might not know it from the lush fields and full lakes in most of South Carolina, but drought is creeping into the northwest corner of the state. A June heat wave combined with weeks of dry weather has a …

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IBHS Receives 2016 IMCA Innovation Torchbearer Award

The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) received the 2016 Innovation Torchbearer Award from the Insurance Marketing & Communications Association. IMCA’s annual Innovation Torchbearer Award recognizes individuals or organizations that have demonstrated innovative ideas or initiatives impacting the …

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Ohio Bill Targets Abusive Practices of Tow Truck Operators

An Ohio insurer trade groups says a bill introduced into the General Assembly would help rein in the predatory practices of some towing business operators in the state. The primary focus of House Bill 341, introduced by Reps. Ron Young …

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Chubb Names P/C Insurance Risk Engineering Leaders for Europe

Chubb announced the leadership of its property & casualty (P/C) risk engineering team in Europe, all effective immediately. Paul Brooke, formerly head of property risk engineering, UK and Ireland for legacy ACE, will serve as head of P/C risk engineering …

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Uber Reaches Deal to Re-Enter Alabama City

An agreement that would bring Uber back to Tuscaloosa has been reached, although the city council still must give final approval next week. The Tuscaloosa News reports that most city councilors support the ride-for-hire amendment that will allow Uber to …

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June 17 North Dakota Storm Damages Adding Up, Regulators Say

The North Dakota Department of Insurance reported that the Bismarck/Mandan-area storm that occurred on June 17 is developing into one of the largest claim events for 2016 in state, which has experienced several severe weather events this spring. So far, …

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Texas State Senator Sues Cowboys Player over Allegedly Trashed House

Dez Bryant faces a lawsuit from his former landlord over allegations of more than $60,000 in damages to a house that the Dallas Cowboys receiver leased. The civil suit was filed last week by Texas state Sen. Royce West, an …

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Settlement Makes Punitive Damages from 2010 Oil Spill Available to Claimants

Nearly $1.24 billion in punitive damages arising from BP’s 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill will become available to property owners and some fishermen affected by the spill under a pending settlement with two corporations that also had a role …

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AFG Rebranding to Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting

Greenbay, Wis.-based Associated Bank has announced that it will rebrand its Associated Financial Group (AFG) subsidiary to Associated Benefits and Risk Consulting (ABRC). The move follows the February 2015 acquisition and subsequent integration of Ahmann & Martin Co., a risk …

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TWFG Honors Top Agents with Awards

The Woodlands, Texas-based The Woodlands Financial Group announced its annual agent awards at the group’s recent national convention. President and CEO Gordy Bunch inducted 20 new members into the Million Dollar Club and welcomed three new members into the TWFG President’s Club. …

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More California Drivers Spotted Using Cellphones, Traffic Report Shows

The number of California drivers using cellphones is rising, as are deaths and injuries blamed on distracted driving. The California Office of Traffic Safety reported this week that nearly 13 percent of drivers were seen using mobile devices in an …

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Unlicensed Agent Nabbed for Stealing More Than $140K in Premiums

Robert Meseer, 63, of Westminster, was arrested by California Department of Insurance investigators on 32 felony counts of grand theft, insurance fraud, and forgery after acting as an insurance agent to allegedly steal more than $140,000 from several business owners. …

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California’s Last Nuke Plant Would Be Closed by 2025 Under Deal

California’s last nuclear power plant will close by 2025 under an accord announced this week, ending three decades of safety debates that helped fuel the national anti-nuclear power movement. The state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas & Electric Co., and environmental …

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Oregon Teen Disfigured During School Trip to Costa Rica Sues For $20M

An Oregon teenager who was disfigured during a school trip in Costa Rica has filed a $20.8 million lawsuit against his former high school. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that Joseph Christopher Johnson filed the suit earlier this week against Salem Academy, …

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California Commissioner Asks National Regulators to Block Aetna-Humana Deal

California’s insurance commissioner on Thursday urged national antitrust regulators to block health insurer Aetna Inc’s proposed $34 billion acquisition of Humana Inc. David Jones, whose state Department of Insurance does not have authority to block the deal, said the acquisition …

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XL Group’s Shareholders Approve Move to Bermuda from Ireland

XL Group plc announced that its ordinary shareholders have approved a scheme of arrangement that will change the place of incorporation of the ultimate parent holding company to Bermuda from Ireland, which is expected to be completed in the third …

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Re/Insurance Business Leaders Comment on Brexit

The UK joined the European Union in January 1973, and yesterday, the UK public voted to leave. After 43 years of marriage, the divorce proceedings will soon begin. No one knows how long it will take for the UK to …

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Prime Property & Casualty Expands into Florida Commercial Auto Market

Prime Property and Casualty Insurance Inc. (PPCI) has expanded into the Florida commercial auto market as an admitted carrier specializing in insurance products for distressed and substandard risks. PPCI is able to insure any commercial auto risk class with adverse …

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Integro Appoints Behrends as CFO

New York-based international broker and risk management firm Integro Insurance Brokers announced the hiring of Andrew Behrends as chief financial officer. Behrends brings 20 years of financial management experience to Integro.  Most recently he had been interim CFO of One …

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Britain Votes to Leave EU; Turmoil Hits World Financial Markets

Britain has voted to leave the European Union, results from Thursday’s referendum showed, a stunning repudiation of the nation’s elites that deals the biggest blow to the European project of greater unity since World War Two. World financial markets plunged …

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Rhode Island Gets New Chief and Associate Workers’ Compensation Judges

Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo this week hosted official swearing-in ceremonies for a new chief judge and an associate judge of the state Workers’ Compensation Court. Judge Robert Ferrieri is the new chief judge of the court.  He will …

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Alliant’s Mondshine Joins USI Insurance as Personal Risk Operations Director

Karen Mondshine has joined the national insurance broker USI Insurance Services as as the national director of personal risk operations. She will be responsible for partnering with USI’s regional and national teams to serve USI personal risk clients from onboarding …

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New York Area Car Wash Workers Awarded Back Pay

Eighteen immigrant car wash employees in New York and New Jersey received more than $91,000 each as part of a federal court settlement for unpaid wages, making it the biggest per-worker recovery in the car wash industry, lawyers said on …

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Authors, Backers of Dodd-Frank Criticize Court for Cutting MetLife ‘Too-Big-To-Fail’ Tag

A federal court’s striking down of the government’s designation of insurer MetLife Inc as “too-big-to-fail” could undermine efforts to head off another financial crisis, authors of the landmark Dodd-Frank Wall Street reform law said. In a brief filed on Thursday …

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For Disney in Florida, Capturing ‘Nuisance’ Alligators Is Normal Part of Business

Walt Disney Co. has had more than 240 “nuisance” alligators captured and killed over the last 10 years at its Florida theme park property, according to state records.  The records reveal the park’s constant struggle to keep alligators away from …

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Cross Insurance Buys Bardwell, Bowlby & Karem Agency in Berkshires

Cross Insurance has expanded its presence in western Massachusetts, New York and southern Vermont with the purchase of Pittsfield, Massachusetts-based independent insurance agency Bardwell, Bowlby & Karam, which has been serving the Berkshire area for 100 years. Terms of the acquisition are …

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Hanover Stone Partners, USA Risk Group to Offer Captive Management Services

Hanover Stone Partners, a risk management services firm, and USA Risk Group, an independent captive management firm, have collaborated to offer captive management, governance and related services to businesses and other commercial entities. The two firms will provide a full …

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Jury Backs Led Zeppelin in ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Copyright Trial

Led Zeppelin won’t have to share royalties from one of rock-and-roll’s masterpieces after a jury found guitarist Jimmy Page and singer Robert Plant didn’t steal the opening chords of “Stairway to Heaven” from an obscure 1968 instrumental. Thursday’s verdict followed …

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Selective Insurance Enhances Personal Watercraft Coverage

Selective Insurance Company of America, a subsidiary of Selective Insurance Group, Inc., has launched new insurance coverage for personal watercraft and watercraft equipment, including discounts and options for enhancements. Selective’s expanded watercraft coverage offers the foundational liability, medical payments and …

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OSHA: Crane Accident Kills North Dakota Oil Worker

A worker was killed in a crane accident at an oil well site in western North Dakota, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration said. The incident, which happened late on June 20 near Ross in Mountrail County, was the second …

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ERMI Launches Pollution Protection Product for M&A Transactions

Environmental Risk Managers, Inc. (ERMI) has announced a new product to address exposures related to business & property transactions. The Mergers, Acquisitions, and Pollution Protection (MAPP) product combines representations & warranties (R&W) insurance with pollution liability insurance. R&W insurance is …

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Michigan AG Sues 2 Engineering Companies over Flint Water Problems

Michigan’s attorney general filed a civil lawsuit on June 22 against two water engineering companies, saying they caused and exacerbated Flint’s lead-tainted water crisis and demanding hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Attorney General Bill Schuette sued Veolia North …

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Louisiana Bill Lowers Citizens Insurance Assessment Tax Break

Legislation awaiting the signature of Louisiana’s governor would significantly lower the amount of rebate property insurance policyholders would receive for assessments to cover the debts of the state’s property insurer of last resort. House Bill 25 was passed by Louisiana …

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Missouri Woman Ordered to Pay $243K in Arson-for-Insurance Scheme

An Independence, Mo., woman was sentenced to 31/2 years in prison without parole for an arson and insurance fraud scheme. Tina Shonk was also ordered to pay $242,717 in restitution to her victims and $62,364 to the government. Shonk pleaded …

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Arkansas Woman Charged with Filing Nearly $250K in False Insurance Claims

A Pulaski County, Ark., employee who processed insurance claims has been fired after being arrested and charged with filing false insurance claims for nearly $250,000. Authorities say 60-year-old Wanda Wyatt was a fleet records clerk who processed insurance claims for …

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Judge Allows Bulk of Starbucks Suit in California over Lattes to Proceed

A federal judge is allowing the bulk of a lawsuit accusing Starbucks of systematically under-filling lattes to move forward. Two California residents are suing the Seattle-based coffee chain, claiming that Starbucks lattes are only filled to about 75 percent of …

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Abuse Survivors in New Mexico Approve Diocese Settlement

Victims of clergy sexual abuse have approved of a plan for the Gallup Diocese in New Mexico to dole out millions of dollars in compensation. The Albuquerque Journal reported that an attorney for 57 abuse survivors told a federal judge …

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New Twist in Colorado Marijuana Debate: Why Not Allow Pot Clubs?

Legal marijuana is giving Colorado a stinky conundrum. Visitors can buy the drug, but they can’t use it in public. Or in a rental car. Or in most hotel rooms. The result is something marijuana advocates and opponents feared – …

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Worker Dies in Catwalk Fall at Amazon’s Arizona Facility

Authorities say a worker who died last week after falling from a catwalk at the Amazon distribution center in Phoenix, Ariz. had a preexisting medical condition. Phoenix police say the incident occurred about 1:15 a.m. Friday. The woman was pronounced …

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Munich Re U.S. Names Hochburger and Paul Ludwig to Reinsurance Posts

Munich Re U.S. has appointed Stephan Hochburger and Paul Ludwig as senior vice presidents and client executives for the Reinsurance Division. They will report to Steven Levy, president of the Reinsurance Division (RD), and serve on the RD executive leadership …

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Massachusetts’ Rogers & Gray Acquires Albert Brock Co. on Nantucket

Cape Cod, Massachusetts-based Rogers & Gray Insurance has acquired the independent insurance agency, Albert G. Brock Co., located on Nantucket Island. The newly formed entity will now be known as Brock Insurance, a division of Rogers & Gray. The Brock …

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Insurers, Agents Together Need to Lower Distribution Costs: Berkley

Partnership and greater efficiency will help lead the way to continued profitability for the property/casualty insurance industry despite a new level of uncertainty globally, according to William Berkley, executive chairman of the W.R. Berkley Corp. Economic and social trends are …

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Lockton Names Spencer to Succeed Lumelleau as CEO in 2017

Global insurance broker Lockton has chosen insider Glenn A. Spencer as its next president and chief executive officer, effective May 1, 2017. Spencer will succeed John L. Lumelleau, who has led Lockton as president and CEO since 2002 and through …

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Meeting with Antitrust Official Key Moment for Anthem-Cigna Merger

Anthem Inc. and Cigna Corp. are preparing for a showdown with senior Justice Department officials this week in their effort to persuade the government to allow the health insurers to combine, lest they wind up dueling in court over a …

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Democratic Senators Oppose Health Insurer Mergers

Seven Democratic senators urged the U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday to block two mergers of major health insurance companies, saying that the proposed deals would mean higher premiums and lower-quality healthcare for consumers. The department is reviewing Aetna Inc.’s $33 …

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World Awaits Outcome of UK’s EU Referendum

Britons were voting on Thursday on whether to stay in the European Union in a referendum that could change the face of Europe and is being nervously watched by financial markets and politicians across the world. A British exit, or Brexit, would …

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Neon Names Dolonen as Marine & Offshore Construction U/W

Specialist Lloyd’s insurer Neon, formerly known as Marketform, has appointed Mireille Dolonen as Marine & Offshore Construction underwriter. With over 20 years of experience in the Marine & Offshore Construction space, Dolonen “will bring a wealth of expertise to Neon and …

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‘Systemically Important’ Label Can Be Avoided: Fitch

Fitch Ratings said that newly established transparency about the designation process for globally systemically important insurers (G-SIIs) could help more to proactively stay off the list in the first place. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors, a global standard setting …

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Channel Syndicate Launches Innovation Division, Names Tech Head

Channel Syndicate 2015 at Lloyd’s is launching an Innovation Division, which will further structure Channel’s activities and organization to explore new classes and opportunities outside its traditional portfolio. The Innovation Division will support Channel’s commitment to new technologies and its ambition …

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Factbox: Weighing Value of Financial Services in UK Economy on Day of Brexit Vote

Britain, Europe’s biggest financial hub, votes today on whether to stay in or leave the European Union. The country’s financial and professional services industries are considered as the most vulnerable to an exit from the 28-nation bloc although much depends …

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Zurich Offers Post Cyber Attack Response Service in APAC

Zurich Insurance has launched DigitalResolve, a coordinated incident response service to help businesses in Asia Pacific (APAC) mitigate and recover from cyber attacks. Offered through Zurich’s partner Crawford & Co., DigitalResolve helps organizations coordinate and manage resources so they can …

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3K Cases of Beer Stolen from Atlanta Brewery

A mystery is brewing in Atlanta, where someone stole an ocean of beer. A brewery in the city says nearly 3,300 cases of beer went missing when two of its refrigerated trailers were stolen. SweetWater Brewing Co. said the trailers …

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Florida Workers’ Comp Fraud Sting Ends with 8 Arrests

A multi-agency undercover workers’ compensation sting in Polk County, Fla., led by the Florida Department of Financial Services’ (DFS) Division of Insurance Fraud (DIF), led to the arrests of eight individuals, according to a statement from DFS. The eight individuals …

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Sisters’ Lawsuit Against Pennsylvania Diocese Claims Sex Abuse by Priest

Two sisters have sued a Catholic priest, his central Pennsylvania diocese and two ex-bishops who supervised him, saying the cleric molested them repeatedly as girls — including one at her first Communion party. The younger sister, who is now 47, …

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Family Alleges Maryland Security Guards Chased Shoplifter to Death

The family of a suspected shoplifter who drowned after running from Arundel Mills mall security officers is suing the shopping center’s security staff for allegedly chasing him to his death. The Capital reports Tavon Talley’s family filed the lawsuit against …

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For Alper Services, Insurance Is Just the Beginning

Though insurance is a major component of what it does, Chicago-based Alper Services doesn’t have the word “insurance” in its name for a reason. That’s because from the very beginning the company has aimed to be more than simply an …

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Pass Ridesharing, Drone Bills

Rhode Island’s legislature has passed a bill to legalize and regulate ride-hailing app companies such as Uber. The legislation was among hundreds of bills passed during an all-night session that ended Saturday. It would put Uber, Lyft and similar companies …

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Florida’s Citizens Says AOB Abuse to Blame for Statewide Rate Increase of 6.8%

Citizens Board of Governors has approved recommended rates for 2017 that equal an average rate increase of nearly 7 percent statewide. The company said the increase is a necessary response to rising non-weather water losses and assignment of benefit (AOB) …

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McGhee Elected President of Arkansas Independent Agents Insurance Group

 Bill McGhee, of McGhee Insurance Inc., in Little Rock, Ark., has been elected president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Arkansas. McGhee previously served on the IIAA executive committee and board of directors. Other elected officers include: President-Elect Mike Luttrell …

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Wisconsin Commissioner Approved for IAIS Leadership Role

Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel was approved as a member of the Executive Committee of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). Tennessee Insurance Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak was elected vice-chair of the Executive Committee. Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax …

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B&H Risk Services Adds Abbate in Houston

B&H Risk Services has hired Kate Abbate to focus on business development in Houston and San Antonio. Experienced in insurance underwriting and brokering, Abbate joined B&H Risk Services from Burns & Wilcox. Abbate is based in Houston. Source: B&H Risk Services

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Led Zeppelin ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Copyright Case Goes to Jury

The recollections of Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page and Robert Plant about events 45 years ago were questioned a final time before jurors were asked to decide who to believe about the genesis of the band’s classic “Stairway to Heaven.” Plant …

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Crawford & Co. Names Agadi President and CEO

Atlanta-based international claims management firm Crawford & Co. has named Harsha V. Agadi president and CEO. He has served as interim president and CEO since August 2015. Agadi was named interim CEO last August when Jeffrey Bowman agreed to step …

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AXIS’ Pesce Joins Navigators to Launch Surety Unit

Navigators Management Co., a division of the specialty insurance holding company The Navigators Group, has hired David Pesce to launch a new Contract and Commercial Surety department. Based in Iselin, New Jersey, Pesce will initially focus on contract and commercial …

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Ohio Insurance Agent’s License Revoked after $800K in Client Losses

Ohio Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor has revoked the license of insurance agent Brian Willms, of Dublin, for misrepresenting life insurance policies as an investment. The misrepresentations contributed to two clients losing a combined $800,000. The Ohio Department of Insurance found Willms, …

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Minnesota Company Recalls 27 Tons of Chicken

Minnesota-based GNP Company is recalling more than 27 tons of chicken after contaminants were detected. The company sells products under the Just BARE and Gold’n Plump brands. But it says the only affected product in grocery stores is the Just …

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Ohio Bookstore Loses $1M in Inventory in Fire; 3 Injured

Authorities say an estimated $1 million in inventory was lost in a bookstore fire that broke out twice within a few hours and injured three people in southwestern Ohio. Firefighters say a firefighter and two people inside the building in …

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Global Indemnity to Redomicile from Ireland to Caymans

Global Indemnity plc announced that its board of directors unanimously approved a plan to redomicile from Ireland to the Cayman Islands. Shareholders will be asked to vote in favor of completing the reorganization proposal at a special shareholders meeting. If …

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Day and Mann Named to Board of Topa in California

Michael Day and Judy Mann have been named to the board of Directors for Topa Insurance Group in California. Day was the chief financial officer for CSAA Insurance Group, a AAA Insurer, until his retirement in 2015. Mann was a …

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Escobedo Named USI’s Senior Sales Executive in Utah

USI Insurance Services has named Mark Escobedo its Salt Lake City, Utah, senior sales executive. Escobedo is responsible for managing the costs and coverages of property/casualty portfolios for a range of Utah companies. Escobedo was with Leavitt Group Insurance Advisors …

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Foo Fighters Suing Lloyd’s in California over Concert Canceled after Paris Attacks

The Foo Fighters are suing insurers for failing to reimburse them for European shows they cancelled following the Paris terrorist attacks in November. The suit, filed Monday in federal court in Los Angeles against underwriters with Lloyd’s of London and loss adjuster …

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Following Two Days of Broken Western Heat Records Comes a Respite

Residents of Southern California and the Southwest were looking for a break after some of the hottest weather in decades had utilities warning of power failures and cities opening pools and cooling centers. At least four hikers died in Arizona, …

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California Commissioner Rules Against Applied Underwriters

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has again ruled in favor of a small business pitted against a Berkshire Hathaway-owned workers’ compensation insurer that allegedly used a complex insurance scheme to circumvent regulatory review of its rates and policy terms to …

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New U.S. Rules Seen ‘Major Step’ for Drone Industry; Rules on Deliveries Still to Come

The Obama administration is opening U.S. skies to more commercial drones with long-awaited regulations that the government hopes will spawn new businesses inspecting bridges, monitoring crops and taking aerial photography. In the most comprehensive set of rules yet for the …

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U.S. Issues Final Commercial Drone Regulations

The Federal Aviation Administration has finalized the first operational rules for routine commercial use of small unmanned aircraft systems or drones opening pathways towards fully integrating UAS into the nation’s airspace. The rule promises to generate more than $82 billion for …

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Bank Selling Hiscox Cyber Insurance to Its Business Customers

Los Angeles-based Grandpoint Bank is now selling cyber insurance policies to its business customers to provide coverage for wire-transfer and cyber fraud. Grandpoint, which does business in California, Arizona and Washington, says it is the first bank to market policies …

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Russian Cyberthief Pleads Guilty in $1.6M Heist of Broadway, Yankee Tickets

A Russian ringleader of a group that fraudulently bought some of the hottest tickets in music, sports and theater by sneaking into StubHub users’ accounts pleaded guilty this week in a scheme involving over $1 million worth of tickets. Vadim …

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Opioid Alternatives Can Be Hard to Find and Costly

Ken Manning’s head is held up by two metal rods, four plates, and 17 screws in his neck. Since falling off a frame at a carpentry job in the early 2000s, he has had four surgeries, leaving his tanned neck …

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Pittsburgh Newscaster Sues Station Over Firing for Facebook Comments

A Pittsburgh newscaster fired after her comments in a Facebook post about a shooting were deemed racially insensitive sued her former employer on Monday, saying the television station let her go because she is white. Wendy Bell said her federal …

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Uber Supports Having New Jersey AG Decide Driver Background Checks

Ride-hailing company Uber says it supports allowing New Jersey’s attorney general to decide what type of background checks its drivers should have to use. Company spokesman Matt Wing told The Associated Press that the San Francisco-based company supports an amended …

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Financial Watchdogs Caution on Risks of Marketplace Lending

Hedge funds, banks and insurance companies have recently jumped into “marketplace lending,” drawing the attention of U.S. regulators, who said on Tuesday they are concerned that borrowing by consumers and small businesses through online platforms may pose risks to U.S. …

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Energi of Canada Offers P/C Energy Programs in West & Atlantic Canada

Energi of Canada has launched property & casualty programs for energy business in parts of Western and Atlantic Canada. The new energy programs provide risk management solutions and insurance offerings for energy related risks in the following segments: Fuel distribution …

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UK’s Insurance Act May Lead to More Intense Rate Competition: Fitch Wire

A new U.K. law, designed to make it harder for insurers to dispute commercial insurance claims, could lead to more intense price competition and slimmer margins for the sector, according to Fitch Ratings. The Insurance Act, due to take effect …

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Older Drivers Favor High-Tech Auto Features

High-tech safety features have jumped to a high priority for older U.S. car-shoppers, who want to keep their freedom of mobility, a study released Tuesday reports. Among Americans 50 and up who plan to shop for a car in the …

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Antares Launches Casualty Treaty Division with Appointment of Jarman

London-based Antares, a member of the QIC Group, has launched a casualty treaty offering with the appointment of Neil Jarman as casualty treaty manager. Jarman takes up his new role with immediate effect, reporting to Kieran Oliver, non marine underwriting …

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Brexit Would Create Extra Burden for Reinsurers, Caution CEOs

While insurers and reinsurers will be able to deal with the aftermath of an exit of the U.K. from the European Union, the time and cost involved are unwelcome intrusions to the business, executives suggested here. Plan B might be …

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Travelers to Offer Small Business Insurance in UK via Online Platform

The Travelers Cos. Inc. announced it will offer insurance directly to UK small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and less than £2.5 million ($3.7 million) in revenues. The online platform will initially be available for office businesses, such as …

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North Carolina Mother, Daughter Accused of Car Insurance Fraud

The North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) has accused a mother and daughter of insurance fraud, according to a statement from the department. Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin announced the arrests June 15 of Paige Marie Alexander, 18, and Taiwanna Marshell …

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Vertafore Expands Comparative Rating System Into Florida Property Market

Vertafore, a provider of insurance technology, has added several new homeowner carriers to their flagship comparative rating system PL Rating, expanding the company’s reach into the Florida property market. Since its acquisition of QQSolutions, a Florida-based agency management system and …

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Integro Acquires Equine Broker Jerry Parks Insurance Group in Florida

International broker and risk management firm Integro Insurance Brokers has added to its livestock coverage capabilities with the acquisition of Ocala, Florida-based corporations Jerry Parks Equine Insurance, Inc. and Parks Insurance Corporation. Financial details of the transactions have not been …

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Trial Begins over 2012 Fire, Explosion that Killed 3 Off Louisiana Coast

Jury selection began on June 20 for what’s expected to be a lengthy and complex trial arising from lawsuits over an offshore oil platform explosion and fire that killed three workers off Louisiana’s coast in November 2012. The case combines nine …

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Lawsuit Alleges Baylor Fostered ‘Hunting Ground’ for Sexual Assault

A federal lawsuit filed against Waco, Texas-based Baylor University accuses the nation’s largest Baptist school of creating a “hunting ground for sexual predators.” The lawsuit, brought by a former Baylor student, is the third in recent months to claim the …

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Souissi Joins Alliant Brokerage Team in Bay Area

Alliant Insurance Services Inc., headquartered in Newport Beach, Calif., announced that veteran underwriter, Amy Souissi, has joined the company as vice president. She is based in the San Francisco Bay area, and will serve a diverse portfolio of real estate and …

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Texas Insurers Hope Court Decisions Will Curtail Hail-Related Lawsuits

Following a severe hailstorm in south Texas in 2012, insurers were beset with homeowner property lawsuits — sometimes after claims were paid and repairs were completed — even though data from the Texas Department of Insurance show few complaints were …

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Zielke Named Senior VP, General Counsel at Michigan’s AF Group

Lansing, Mich.-based insurance holding company, AF Group, has appointed Kevin Zielke as senior vice president and general counsel. Prior to joining AF Group, Zielke was a member of the litigation department in the Detroit office of Dykema Gossett. Founded in 1912, AF Group is …

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IMS/London American Adds Davis as Underwriter in San Antonio

Houston-based managing general agent (MGA), IMS/London American, has hired Faith Davis as a commercial underwriter in its San Antonio office. Davis has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance marketplace. Most recently she was the commercial underwriting manager …

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Gas Leak Causes Oil Rig Blast in North Dakota, 4 Hurt

Authorities say four people were injured in an oil rig explosion in western North Dakota. State environmental scientist Bill Suess (sees) says it happened Saturday morning near Watford City at a well site operated by XTO Energy Inc. Suess says …

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More State Flood Protection Money Sought for Minot, N.D., Region

Minot, N.D.-area officials will ask the state for another $119 million in the next two-year budget period for work on a flood protection project. Officials say completing the first four phases of the project will protect 60 percent of the …

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Austin City Council Member Sues Over Ride-Hailing Fingerprint Rule

An Austin City Council member who is a supporter of ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft has filed a lawsuit to overturn a requirement for their drivers to undergo fingerprint criminal background checks left standing in a May municipal vote. Donald …

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General Star Adds Artisan Contractor Coverage in Select States

General Star Management Company has added artisan contractor coverage to its delegated authority product offerings. Consisting of 25 artisan contracting classes, the new coverage will be available in Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Vermont. This primary CGL …

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Aetna-Humana Deal Approved in California, with Conditions

The California Department of Managed Health Care approved Aetna Inc.’s acquisition of Humana Inc. with conditions including the insurer’s commitment to keeping premium increases at a minimum in the small group HMO business and to making about $50 million in …

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Applied Underwriters Faulted by California Regulator

California’s insurance commissioner said a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. insurance business evaded a state law designed to protect small businesses from unexpected workers’ compensation costs. Commissioner Dave Jones faulted Berkshire’s Applied Underwriters Inc. and California Insurance Co. units over the sale …

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QBE North America Names Nationwide’s Bleich as VP for Agriculture Underwriting

QBE North America said that Nathan Bleich has joined the organization as vice president, Commercial Agriculture underwriting. Bleich joins QBE from Nationwide where he spent the past 12 years working in the agribusiness division, most recently as agribusiness underwriting director  …

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Boston Municipal Pension Fund Files First Bondholder Class Action Against VW For Diesel Scandal

Boston Retirement System, the public pension fund for Boston municipal employees, filed the first bondholders proposed class action against Volkswagen AG related to the company’s diesel emissions scandal, law firm Labaton Sucharow LLP said. The lawsuit, which also names as …

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Why Customer Satisfaction Is Falling for Large Auto Insurers, Rising for Small: J.D. Power

After climbing in each of the past two years, customer satisfaction is falling among the nation’s largest auto insurers, while satisfaction is actually up a tad for small insurers. This rising dissatisfaction with large carriers is in turn driving overall …

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Vermont Family Sues Exterminator for Allegedly Using Banned Pesticide

A Vermont family who said their home was made unlivable by an exterminator who used a banned pesticide has filed a civil suit against a New York pest control business. The Rutland Herald reports that Neil and Patricia Whitney filed …

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Google, Facebook, Twitter Sued by Father of Victim of Paris Terrorist Attack

The father of a young woman killed in the Paris massacre last November is suing Google, Facebook and Twitter, claiming that the companies provided “material support” to extremists in violation of the law. Reynaldo Gonzalez, whose daughter Nohemi was among …

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AXA Awaits Result of Brexit Vote Before Building London’s Tallest Tower

AXA SA’s real estate unit is awaiting the outcome of the Brexit referendum before deciding whether to proceed with a plan to build the tallest tower approved in the City of London. “We have not launched the project because we …

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Supreme Court Has Made Healthcare Liability Murkier, Not Clearer

The Supreme Court is supposed to take appellate cases to make the law clearer. Last week’s opinion on healthcare fraud had the opposite effect. Instead of spelling out exactly when a misrepresentation in healthcare billing counts as a legal violation, …

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Gunmakers Say Federal Law Sheilds Them from Sandy Hook Negligence Claims

A 2005 federal law was designed specifically to prevent gunmakers from being sued for mass killings like the one at Sandy Hook Elementary School, lawyers for the maker of the AR-15 assault weapon used in the attack told a Connecticut …

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Don’t Expect Surge of Private Flood Insurance Products: S&P

Opening U.S. flood insurance to private insurers won’t lead to a surge of new market entrants, Standard & Poor’s asserts in a new report. Even if Congress passes legislation to make the change as it is widely expected to do, …

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Environmentalists Warn of Spill Risk from Increasing Oil Shipments on Hudson River

The Hudson River may still become a major corridor for the shipment of thick, tar sands oil from Canada despite moves last year by New York officials that many thought stopped those efforts. At issue is a key air permit …

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Aon Benfield Names Foord-Kelcey as Co-Head of Cyber Practice Group

Aon plc has appointed Luke Foord-Kelcey to co-head Aon Benfield’s Global Cyber Practice Group, reinforcing the firm’s commitment to cyber risk management and transfer. Based in London, Foord-Kelcey will be responsible for spearheading cyber – an emerging line of business …

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‘Brexit’ Would Damage UK’s Leadership Position in Insurance: Aon

  Aon Plc Chief Executive Officer Greg Case, who moved the insurance broker to London from Chicago four years ago, said the U.K.’s centuries-long leadership in the industry would be damaged if voters choose to leave the European Union. “The …

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AXA Plans $2.4B in Cost Cuts by 2020; Acquisitions Eyed for Growth

AXA SA, France’s largest insurer, plans to increase profitability through 2020 by seeking 2.1 billion euros ($2.4 billion) of cost cuts and growing digital investments to tap rising demand for policies protecting savings and health. The firm may also seek …

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Specialist Lloyd’s Insurer Neon Opens Bermuda Office with Fisher as CEO

The specialist Lloyd’s insurer Neon, formerly known as Marketform, announced it has opened an office in Bermuda as it grows its international footprint with greater access to both the Bermudian and U.S. markets. Located at 29 Victoria Street, Hamilton, the …

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BHSI Enters A&H Market in Asia, Brain Named to Lead A&H in Region

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI) announced it is entering the accident & health (A&H) market in Asia, and appointed Phillip Brain as head of A&H in the region. Brain comes to BHSI with nearly two decades of industry experience. …

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Tennessee-Based Brentwood Services Administrators Promotes Knick

Brentwood Services Administrators Inc. (BSA), headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn., has promoted Daniel Knick to the position of senior claim representative in its Occupational Injury Unit. Knick’s new responsibilities include increased oversight of reviewing, processing and handling occupational accident claims, and …

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Risk Strategies Acquires Dallas-Based McLaughlin Brunson Agency

National insurance brokerage and risk management firm, Risk Strategies Company, has acquired Dallas-based McLaughlin Brunson Insurance Agency. McLaughlin Brunson provides insurance products and services to architects, engineers and certified professional accountants in Texas and Oklahoma. The firm will be known …

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North Carolina Man Sentenced to Prison for Staging, Filming Accidents

A North Carolina man will spend at least a year in prison after prosecutors said he intentionally caused 12 wrecks, filming many of them on a dashboard camera and uploading the footage to the internet. District Attorney Todd Williams said …

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Tennessee Sets Sights on Being ‘Captive Leader’ Through Updates to Captive Law

Tennessee has stepped up its efforts to establish the state as a captive insurance industry leader with enhancements to the state’s captive insurance laws just passed by the Tennessee Legislature. The changes to the 2011 captive law were signed into …

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Missouri-Based Agency, Bull Insurance, Promotes Ayres

Bull Insurance Agency, based in Lamar, Mo., has promoted Liane Ayres to customer service producer (CSP). Ayres, who recently earned her property/casualty insurance license, was previously a customer service representative (CSR) at the company. Bull Insurance Agency is a full-service …

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USI Appoints Escobedo Senior Sales Executive in Salt Lake City

USI Insurance Services (USI) named Mark Escobedo as senior sales executive in its Salt Lake City office. In this role, Escobedo is responsible for managing the costs and coverages of property/casualty portfolios for a wide range of Utah companies. He …

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PEMCO Poll: Nearly Half of Northwest Drivers Use Phones Behind the Wheel

Seattle-based PEMCO Insurance announced that nearly half of Northwest drivers admit they illegally use their phones while driving – and a majority do it because they don’t think it’s “too dangerous.” That’s according to a poll the insurer commissioned in late …

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Court Affirms Corruption Conviction of Connecticut Ex-Gov. Rowland

A federal appeals court has upheld the political corruption conviction of former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City on Friday rejected Rowland’s appeal. Rowland, 59, a former …

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Supreme Court Dismisses South Africans’ Apartheid Claims Against IBM, Ford

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a group of black South Africans seeking to revive human rights litigation aiming to hold Ford Motor Co. and IBM Corp. liable for allegedly conducting business that helped perpetuate racial …

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Houston-Based The Stevenson Group Acquired by Digital Benefit Advisors

National employee benefits firm, Digital Benefit Advisors (DBA), has acquired its second Houston-based firm, The Stevenson Group. Principals Brian and Audrey Stevenson, along with their 16-member team will continue servicing clients of the firm which has been providing professional services …

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States Faced with Massive Well Cleanup from Oil Bust

The worst oil bust since the 1980s is putting Texas and other oil producing states on the hook for thousands of newly abandoned drilling sites at a time when they have little money to plug wells and seal off environmental …

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Prosecutor: In Cost Cutting, Pacific Gas Ignored Safety Regulations

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. ignored pipeline safety regulations to cut costs and tried to cover up its illegal practices by misleading federal officials investigating a deadly explosion of one of its natural gas pipelines in the San Francisco Bay …

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Wildfire in Southern Arizona Grows

Firefighters say a wildfire not far from the Arizona-Mexico border has grown but is not threatening any homes, so far. Carrie Dennett, of the Arizona State Forestry, said on June 18 that the blaze is burning about 20 miles north …

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Michigan Governor Says Auto Repair Legislation ‘Overreaches,’ Vetoes Bill

Gov. Rick Snyder has vetoed legislation that he says would have increased the cost of auto repairs in Michigan and possibly car insurance, too. The bill won overwhelmingly approval in the Legislature. It would have amended the law to state …

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Concerns Raised about Coverage with Ohio Insurer’s Demise

Health care advocates and a U.S. senator are raising concerns that nearly 22,000 Ohioans could end up paying much more for health care as their struggling insurer winds down its operations. Republican Sen. Rob Portman has asked federal officials whether …

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Insurer to Pay $750K over Fatal Shooting in Texas County

A $750,000 settlement has been reached with relatives of an unarmed motorist fatally shot by an off-duty South Texas sheriff’s deputy. The family of Mathew Jackson has agreed to settle the civil lawsuit. The money will be paid by Bexar …

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San Francisco Fire Burns 6 Buildings, Displaces 40 People

A fire that burned six buildings and displaced 40 people on the edge of San Francisco’s Mission District has been contained. The fire broke out Saturday afternoon, sending thick, dark smoke into the air and forcing dozens of residents in …

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U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Illinois Decision on $10.1 Tobacco Judgement

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place the top Illinois court’s ruling throwing out a huge $10.1 billion verdict against Philip Morris USA, rejecting an appeal focusing on accusations that a judge in the case was biased in …

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Supreme Court Upholds Quick Patent Cancellation Process in Speedometer Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled against Cuozzo Speed Technologies Corp. in its challenge to a federal agency’s procedures for canceling patents in a case involving a vehicle speedometer that tells drivers when they are speeding. The justices’ 8-0 …

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AIR Expands Earthquake, Typhoon Models for Southeast Asia

Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide (AIR) said it has “significantly expanded”  its earthquake and typhoon models for Southeast Asia. The new earthquake model features the ability to account for the tsunami and liquefaction subperils for Indonesia, the Philippines, and …

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International Law Key to Mitigating South China, Other Maritime Risks: Allen

With non-military actors like coast guards increasingly active in the disputed South China Sea, former U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Thad Allen said international law was becoming even more important to keeping a lid on tensions. Describing the region, including the Strait …

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Orlando Victims Watching Sandy Hook Gun Manufacturer Liability Case Opening Today

A case in Connecticut state court could help victims from mass shootings — including the recent massacre in Orlando — sue manufacturers of military style assault rifles used in the attacks, despite state and federal laws granting them immunity. On …

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Talking Cadillac Tries to be Heard Over Silicon Valley on Airwaves

General Motors Co. is rolling out a sedan laden with gadgets that track other cars on the road and can automatically brake to avoid collisions, fulfilling a safety vision decades in the making. Yet the 2017 Cadillac CTS arrives to …

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Craze for Asian Bancassurance Deals Fits Definition of Insanity: Opinion

Among all financial products, bancassurance perhaps comes closest to fitting Einstein’s theory of insanity: Insurers have been conducting the same sorry experiment again and again, expecting different results. Right now, it’s Asia’s turn to be gripped by madness as firms …

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U.S. Says Judge Nixing MetLife Too-Big-to-Fail Tag ‘Profoundly Mistaken’

The U.S. properly labeled MetLife Inc. as “too big to fail,” the government said, arguing to overturn a ruling that dealt a major blow to efforts to rein in risk in the financial system. A federal judge “was profoundly mistaken” …

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Swiss Re Appoints Arora as Global Head of Casualty

Swiss Re has appointed Steve Arora as its new global head of Casualty. In this capacity he will also be joining the Reinsurance Executive Committee. Arora, currently head of Japan, will move with his wife and three children to Zurich …

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U.S. Targets Internet Sites Selling Illegal Prescription Medicines

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in partnership with international regulatory and law enforcement agencies, said that it took action last week against 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. This effort was part …

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OSHA to Investigate Death of Pennsylvania Steel Worker

Federal authorities are investigating the death of a worker killed in an accident at a steel fabricating company in eastern Pennsylvania last week. The Lehigh County coroner’s office said 53-year-old Robert Schoenberger was struck by an object while operating a …

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New Hampshire Man Recalls Being Attacked by Disney Alligator in ’86

The death of a 2-year-old boy at a Walt Disney World resort in an alligator attack has brought back some frightening memories for a New Hampshire man who was grabbed by a gator at a Disney campground in 1986, when …

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Connecticut Ethics Board to Weigh Possible Insurance Commissioner Conflict in Cigna-Anthem Oversight

Connecticut’s Citizens Ethics Advisory Board has agreed to review whether the state’s insurance commissioner should recuse herself from overseeing Anthem Inc.’s proposed merger with Bloomfield-based Cigna. Connecticut Common Cause is among the several advocacy groups and state legislators that want …

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13 Alabama Families Displaced After Severe Weather Damages Homes

Storms moving through Huntsville, Ala., damaged three apartment buildings severely enough to displace residents. Winter Park Apartments property manager Alejandra Chavez tells WHNT-TV that 13 families couldn’t stay in their homes because of roof damage that buildings sustained from storms …

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Florida Theme Parks Review Safety Policies After Fatal Alligator Attack

It’s an unwritten rule for Florida residents: Keep your kids away from ponds and lakes because alligators are everywhere. But after a gator killed a 2-year-old Nebraska boy at a Walt Disney World resort, attention soon turned to tourists. In …

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Tennessee Commish McPeak Elected Vice Chair of Global Insurance Committee

Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Julie Mix McPeak has been elected by her fellow members of the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) to serve as vice chair of the group’s Executive Committee (ExCo). Comprised of insurance …

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North Carolina Assembly Confirms Governor’s Picks for Industrial Commission

The General Assembly has confirmed Pat McCrory’s two appointments to the North Carolina Industrial Commission, including a former Cabinet secretary. The Senate gave unanimous approval June 16 to Bill Daughtridge and Linda Cheatham. The House previously backed their appointments to …

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SIAA Helping Smaller Agents Become ‘Instantly Big’

SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance) announced in March that it has reached a milestone — its members recorded $6 billion of in-force written premium in 2015. This was achieved as SIAA celebrated its 20th year. During 2015, for the seventh …

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Blue Moon ‘Craft Beer’ Suit in California against MillerCoors Tossed

MillerCoors LLC won the dismissal of a proposed class action lawsuit by a self-described beer aficionado who said the brewing giant tricked consumers into paying premium prices for Blue Moon by falsely portraying it as “craft beer.” U.S. District Judge …

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Philadelphia Insurance Renews Campaign to Plant 80K Trees

Philadelphia Insurance Companies (PHLY) in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, announced that it is continuing its partnership this year with the Arbor Day Foundation with a goal of planting 80,000 trees for the second year in a row. PHLY reached its 2015 …

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Number of Prescription Drugs Dispensed in West Virginia Expected to Decrease

The number of prescription drugs being dispensed in West Virginia is on pace to drop to its lowest amount in five years. The number of controlled substances being dispensed is expected to fall to 268 million by the end of …

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CAMICO to Offer Enhanced Coverage for CPA Firms Through New Berkley Company

CAMICO, a CPA-directed program of insurance and risk management for the accounting profession, and Berkley Alliance Managers (BAM), a W. R. Berkley Company, have announced new insurance policies with enhanced coverage. Policies are issued by W. R. Berkley Insurance Group …

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Louisiana Governor Signs Bill Hiking Max Fines for Texting While Driving

Maximum penalties will be higher for violating state laws in Louisiana that ban texting or posting to social media sites while driving and that restrict cell phone use for young drivers. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced this week he had …

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More Women Sue Baylor University over Handling of Rape Allegations

Three more women filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Baylor University on June 15, saying the school did nothing to help them after they reported being sexually assaulted on or near campus. The Baptist school in Waco, Texas, has …

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13-Vehicle Pile Up, 1 Fatality in Texas Panhandle Dust Storm

Authorities say one traveler was killed and several were hurt in a 13-vehicle pileup during a dust storm in the Texas Panhandle. The Texas Department of Public Safety says the accident Wednesday night closed Interstate 40 near Conway, 30 miles …

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EPIC Hires EY’s Millard as Risk Solutions Principal in New Jersey

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property/casualty brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has hired Mark Millard as principal and senior producer for the EPIC Risk Solutions team. Millard will be based in EPIC’s Morristown, New Jersey, office and report …

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Despite Losses, North Dakota Political Subdivision Insurance Fund Pays Off

A 30-year-old self-insurance pool has been paying off well for North Dakota political subdivisions, despite large claim losses in 2015. “It’s worked extremely well,” said Steve Spilde, chief executive officer of the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund. “We instituted a …

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American Family Insurance Seeks Change in Corporate Structure

American Family Mutual Insurance Co., headquartered in Madison, Wis., has filed a plan to create a mutual holding company that it says would provide more flexibility to pursue customer-driven initiatives while preserving the company’s founding principle of policyholder ownership. The …

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Lockton Combines D.C., Northeast Operations

Insurance broker Lockton announced that it will add its Washington, D.C., operations to a newly combined Lockton Northeast team. Michael Calabrese will remain as chairman and CEO of the expanded Lockton operations in the Northeast. Bob Connolly will continue as …

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Trucking Company, Driver Face Criminal Charges in Georgia Crash that Killed 5

A grand jury has indicted a tractor-trailer driver and his employer accused of causing a fiery interstate crash that killed five Georgia Southern University nursing students. The Bryan County grand jury on Wednesday indicted John Wayne Johnson of Shreveport, Louisiana, …

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Church Mutual, Insight Worldwide Partner on Pre-Employment Screening

Merrill, Wis.-based Church Mutual Insurance Co. announced it has partnered with Insight Worldwide to offer access to pre-employment screening for those who hire employees at senior living communities. Pre-screening applicants before engaging in an employment agreement helps ensure that new …

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Swiss Re Hikes Corporate Debt Holdings, Cuts Risky Government Bonds

The European Central Bank has turned government bonds into one of the riskiest asset classes, prompting Swiss Re AG to move more of its investments into corporate debt, according to the reinsurer’s chief investment officer. “If you’re looking for a …

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Massachusetts Considers New Rules for Duck Boats After Fatal Crash

The parents of a woman who died in a crash involving a duck boat urged state officials on Wednesday to require new safety rules for the amphibious sightseeing vessels. Ivan and Martha Warmuth joined several lawmakers at the Statehouse to …

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Anheuser-Busch Sued by North Carolina Tribe for Using its Logo on Beer Coolers

A Native American tribe in North Carolina is suing Anheuser-Busch, saying the beer company is illegally using the tribe’s logo. Media outlets reported the lawsuit was filed by the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina this week in federal court. The …

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California’s Commissioner is Asking U.S. to Stop Anthem-Cigna Deal

California’s insurance commissioner wants the U.S. Department of Justice to block health insurer Anthem Inc.’s acquisition of Cigna Corp, saying he is concerned it will raise premiums in the state. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones, who does not have authority to …

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Video-Sharing Site Vimeo Wins Appeal of Copyright Infringement Claim

Video-sharing website Vimeo LLC cannot be held liable for copyright infringement for unknowingly hosting older music uploaded by its users, a U.S. appeals court ruled on Thursday, dealing a blow to record labels seeking broader protections. In a victory for …

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AmTrust Acquires Total Program Management in New York

AmTrust Financial Services Inc. announced that it has acquired Total Program Management LLC in Ronkonkoma, New York, for cash. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2005, Total Program Management is a managing general agency focused on programs …

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Viewpoint: Fiduciary Rule Fight Isn’t About the ‘Little Guy’

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce wants you to believe it is looking out for the little guy in its fight against new government regulation of the retirement investment advice industry. But that is a facade – as one consumer advocacy …

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Allianz’ PIMCO Axes Jobs in Response to Fall in Assets after Gross’ Exit

Pacific Investment Management Co. cut its workforce by 68 people, or about 3 percent, and is offering buyouts as assets under management have fallen in recent years, according to a memo obtained by Bloomberg. “Like any responsible business, PIMCO constantly …

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Pacific Gas in California Set to Face Jury over Pipeline Blast

One of the country’s largest utility companies is set to face a jury in a criminal trial accusing it of obstructing investigators in the wake of a deadly pipeline explosion in the San Francisco Bay Area. The September 2010 blast …

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Oregon Shakespeare Festival Insurer Breached Contract: Judge

The Oregon Shakespeare Festival can go to trial or pursue a settlement under a judge’s ruling that an insurer should have covered damage and cancellations related to wildfire smoke. The Mail Tribune reported Judge Mark Clarke dismissed the festival’s claim …

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52 Workers at Washington Nuke Facility Checked for Vapor Exposure

Two more workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation have received medical evaluations for possible vapor exposure at the former nuclear weapons production site. The Tri-City Herald reported that the workers said they had symptoms after smelling suspicious odors near the …

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Allianz Plans to Purchase Zurich’s Moroccan Division for $275M

Allianz Group plans to pay more than $275 million for Zurich Insurance’s Moroccan subsidiary. The deal for Zurich Assurances Maroc is expected to close at the end of 2016, pending regulatory approvals. Zurich’s sale of its Moroccan division follows a …

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Oregon Glass Company Sued by Woman with Lung Cancer

A 63-year-old woman has filed a lawsuit against a Portland, Ore. glass company, saying it caused her terminal lung cancer. Valerie Silva filed the lawsuit this week in U.S. District Court. Documents say she lives in Washington but works at a …

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California Wildfire Grows, Fires Threaten Communities around West

Hundreds of firefighters battled a 1,400-acre fire moving through coastal canyons in California on Thursday. Hot, dry weather across the Western U.S. challenged firefighters with blazes in Arizona and New Mexico. In California firefighters were forced to do battle with the …

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Zurich to Sell General Insurance Operations in Taiwan to Hotai Motor

Zurich Insurance will sell its general insurance operations in Taiwan to Hotai Motor Co. Ltd., with the business to become part of the Hotai Group, subject to approvals and conditions from the supervisory regulator. Hotai Motor Co. Ltd. has become …

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Cockpit Voice Recorder Retrieved from Doomed EgyptAir Flight

Search teams retrieved the cockpit voice recorder from EgyptAir flight MS804 on Thursday in a breakthrough for investigators seeking to explain what caused the plane to plunge into the sea, killing all 66 people on board. The Airbus A320 crashed into …

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Supreme Court Limits Fraud Claims Against Federal Contractors

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday imposed some limits on the kind of fraud claims that can be brought against federal contractors in a case involving a suit against one of America’s largest hospital operators over a woman’s death at …

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CGSC Appoints Kilminster as Head of Strategy and Change

Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford (CGSC), the London-based reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced the appointment of Wendy Kilminster as head of strategy and change. She takes up her role in September and will report to Andy Wallin, group commercial …

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Legal Experts Expect Disney to Settle If Family Sues Over Alligator Attack

June was supposed to have been a triumphant month for Walt Disney Co theme parks, with the flashy opening of a long-planned resort in Shanghai and a new Florida attraction based on its wildly popular animated movie “Frozen.” Instead, the …

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Insurers Ignore FinTech Revolution at Their Long-Term Peril: PwC

While 90 percent of insurers fear they will lose business to a FinTech start-up, only 43 percent say they have put FinTech at the heart of their corporate strategies, according to report published by PwC. As customers demand personalized insurance …

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Smart Choice Agency Network Tops 5,000 Members

The Smart Choice Agents Program, which provides independent insurance agencies with access to personal and commercial lines markets in 41 states, said it has added nearly 400 new agency partners already this year, bringing the total number of agencies in …

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Florida Insurer Security First Promotes DeVriese to Chief Administrative Officer

Florida-based homeowners insurance provider, Security First Insurance Co., has promoted Melissa Burt DeVriese to chief administrative officer. DeVriese will also retain her title of general counsel. With this promotion, DeVriese is responsible for administrative and corporate governance matters, real estate …

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Judge Skeptical of Widow’s Claim Twitter Aided Terrorist Group ISIS

A federal judge said he’ll probably dismiss a lawsuit against Twitter Inc. by the widow of a man killed at a police training center in Jordan that accused the social network of knowingly allowing the Islamic State to spread its …

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Texas-Based RiskPro Partners Names Davis as VP, Risk Management

RiskPro Partners, a privately held insurance brokerage firm headquartered in Dallas, has hired Julie Davis as vice president, Risk Management Services, in RiskPro Partner’s Austin office. Davis joins RiskPro Partners following a rich career in insurance and risk management. While …

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