Crumbling South Carolina Roads Cost State Nearly $50M in Driver Claims Since 2010

Taxpayers are spending more to settle claims for vehicles damaged and wrecked on South Carolina’s crumbling roads. The State newspaper reports Friday that South Carolina has spent nearly $50 million since 2010 to settle lawsuits and claims for vehicle damage …

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North Carolina Passes Law Limiting Nuisance Lawsuits Against Hog Farmers

North Carolina lawmakers decided Thursday that hog and poultry operations should get added protection from lawsuits by neighbors complaining that swarms of flies and the intense stink of animal waste create a nuisance. The Republican-dominated state House gave final approval …

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Drunk Driver Hits 5 Students At Florida School Bus Stop, Kills 1

A Florida sheriff’s deputy was sleeping Thursday afternoon when his 11-year-old daughter called and asked him to pick her up at her school bus stop. Seconds later, his daughter screamed into the phone. “Dad, help me, help me!” Polk County …

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Appeals Court Blocks Anthem-Cigna Merger Bid

A U.S. appeals court on Friday blocked health insurer Anthem Inc’s bid to merge with Cigna, upholding a lower court’s decision that the $54 billion deal should not be allowed because it would lead to higher prices for healthcare. The …

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Ohio Jury Says American Family Mutual Agents Are Employees

A federal jury in Ohio decided last week determined that thousands of agents with Madison, Wisconsin-based American Family Mutual Insurance (AmFam) are employees, not independent contractors. According to a news release from plaintiff attorneys involved in the case, a jury …

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Chubb’s Schellinkhout Joins Woodruff-Sawyer in Pacific Northwest

Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. has named Melissa Schellinkhout has vice president and Northwest practice director. Schellinkhout will be responsible for oversight of property/casualty operations in the Pacific Northwest, including the firm’s Portland, Ore. and Seattle, Wash. offices. She will also manage …

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Judge: Exxon Must Pay $20M for Emissions from Texas Plant

A judge has ordered Exxon Mobil to pay a penalty of nearly $20 million for releasing 10 million pounds of pollutants into the air over the course of eight years from a complex it operates east of Houston. U.S. District …

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Kansas Community College Wins Don’t Text #Just Drive Contest

Dodge City Community College (DCCC) received the most votes by percentage of students enrolled to win the Kansas community college “Don’t Text #Just Drive” spring contest March 15-April 16, sponsored by the state insurance department. The Kansas Insurance Department announced …

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Ex-Fire Academy Manager Pleads Guilty in Iowa Test Scandal

A former Iowa fire academy administrator has pleaded guilty to falsifying test scores that were used to improperly certify thousands of firefighters. Former Fire Services Training Bureau certification manager John McPhee pleaded guilty to felony misconduct in office. Judge James …

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Storm Damage Assessors Rely on Waffle House’s 24-Hour Service Policy

The emphasis on 24-hour service at Waffle House — hurricane or shine — has earned the company a reputation among professional emergency managers, who make rough estimates of storm damage by looking to the local eatery. There’s even a “Waffle House …

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Oklahoma House OKs Bill Allowing Insurance Sales Across State Lines

A bill that will allow individuals to purchase health insurance from any state participating in a yet-to-be-determined compact has passed Oklahoma House of Representatives by a vote of 80-0. Senate Bill 478, by state Rep. Lewis Moore and Bill Brown of …

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Texas Workers’ Comp Nonsubscriber Reports Due April 30

Texas employers that do not provide workers’ compensation insurance must submit two types of forms to the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC). DWC is offering a temporary grace period for employers that have not previously filed these reports — allowing them …

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Michigan’s Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Agency Joins Keystone Insurers Group

The Meiers Lombardini Lemanski Agency of East Lansing, Michigan, has joined Keystone Insurers Group. The agency becomes Keystone’s seventh partner in the state. The agency, which was established in 1976, is co-owned by Will Lemanski and Lisa Lemanski. Will Lemanski …

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Texas Mutual Names Bentley VP —Marketing, Customer Engagement

Workers’ compensation insurer, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., has named Jeremiah Bentley as vice president of marketing and customer engagement. Bentley will oversee the company’s advertising and public relations efforts, community affairs program, online and social media efforts and customer engagement …

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Unions Remind U.S.: 150 Workers Die Every Day from Job Injuries, Illnesses

In 2015, 150 workers died from preventable work-related injuries and illnesses every day in the United States, on average, according to a report, Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, released by the AFL-CIO. The union said 4,836 workers …

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Munich Re’s Primary Carrier, ERGO, Explores China Digital Business

ERGO, Munich Re’s troubled primary insurance company, is making a digital push in the massive Chinese market. Mark Klein, ERGO’s chief digital officer, recently visited China to explore how the insurer can partner on data with Chinese companies, such as the …

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Oregon Judge Dismisses $4M Suit in Family Drowning

A judge has dismissed a $4 million lawsuit filed by a relative of four people who drowned in a northwest Oregon lake in 2014. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported Judge Andrew Erwin dismissed the suit after Washington County argued it was entitled …

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Asbestos Removal At Nevada Site to Cost $53K

A small city in northern Nevada is moving forward with the demolition of its old police station. The Elko Daily Free Press reported the Elko City Council is considering awarding a $53,000 bid to a company to remove asbestos from …

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Colorado Petroleum Wells Shut Down After Home Explosion

More than 3,000 petroleum wells are being shut down in Colorado as a precaution after a house explosion killed two people, an oil and gas company said. Anadarko Energy said it operated a well about 200 feet (60 meters) from …

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Workers Injured at Facebook Construction Site in California

Authorities say work has halted at a Facebook building under construction after an equipment failure caused part of the structure to collapse, injuring two workers. KNTV reported two construction workers were injured after they fell about 40 feet while assembling …

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The Hartford Reports Improved Q1 Results

The Hartford reported first quarter 2017 net income and core earnings of $378 million compared with net income of $323 million and core earnings of $385 million in first quarter 2016. Net income rose 17 percent to $378 million due …

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London Market Group Re-Appoints Aubert as Chairman

The London Market Group (LMG) announced the re-appointment of Nicolas Aubert, head of Great Britain for Willis Towers Watson, as its chair. The last 12 months has seen progress across all LMG’s workstreams, including market modernization work, including the launch …

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MetLife CEO Says Businesses Must Give Up Tax Breaks for Lower Tax Rate

MetLife Inc. Chief Executive Officer Steve Kandarian said industries must be willing to forfeit some of their advantages in the tax code in order for the U.S. to seize a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to lower corporate rates and simplify the process. …

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Disruptive Tech Dominates 2nd Annual Efma-Accenture Innovation Awards

Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain were prominently featured among the winners of the second annual Efma-Accenture Innovation in Insurance awards. Aimed at showcasing the best examples of insurance technology innovations in multiple categories, …

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Republicans Cancel Vote on Obamacare Replacement Bill

House GOP leaders aren’t ready to hold a vote this week on their stalled health-care bill, despite intense pressure from the White House to deliver on a long-promised repeal of Obamacare. “We’ve been making great progress, and when we have …

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Canada’s Desjardins Aims to Buy P/C Insurers: CEO Cormier

Desjardins Group is looking to acquire insurers, wealth managers and payments firms to expand further outside Quebec and challenge the dominance of Canada’s big financial services firms, Chief Executive Officer Guy Cormier said. Cormier, who oversees North America’s largest financial co-operative, …

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Kenya’s CIC Expects Uganda, Malawi Units to Break Even in 2 Years

Kenyan insurer CIC Group expects its Uganda and Malawi businesses to break even in the next two years, its chief executive officer said on Thursday. The East African nation has a low rate of insurance penetration, with less than 10 percent of …

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Zurich Makes a Difference in the Lives of Philadelphia Families

Zurich North America, a provider of property and casualty insurance and a company dedicated to improving the lives of children and families, has made a $10,000 donation to the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House. Paul Horgan, head of North America Commercial …

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New York’s Brady Risk Management Names Harris to Brady Risk Program Managers

John Harris has joined Sean Brady and Huntington, New York-based Brady Risk Management as managing director of the newly formed Brady Risk Program Managers. Harris has served as the chief underwriting officer for a number of national insurance companies and is an …

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Chubb’s Oldest Active Subsidiary Receives Pennsylvania Historical Marker

Chubb, in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC), has dedicated a Pennsylvania historical marker to the Insurance Company of North America (INA), Chubb’s oldest subsidiary company. The marker was unveiled during a ceremony at Chubb’s office in Philadelphia, Penn., and commemorates INA’s 225-year …

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UK Uber Drivers Can Now Buy Injury & Illness Insurance

  Uber Technologies Inc. will begin offering U.K. drivers the ability to buy injury and illness insurance, a step to provide a safety net for the independent drivers it has long been criticized for treating poorly. The benefit is a …

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Munich Re’s New CEO Wenning to Take ‘Hard-Nosed’ Approach

Joachim Wenning admitted he would not be to everyone’s liking long before taking the helm of Germany’s Munich Re. That hard-nosed approach could prove valuable as the 52-year-old tackles falling profits, disgruntled investors and headwinds beyond his control at the …

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ICC Forms Risk Purchasing Group Offering Admitted Umbrella Coverage to Restaurants

Innovative Coverage Concepts (ICC) has launched a new commercial umbrella insurance offering that will cover a broad range of restaurant and hospitality risks. The coverage will be available to upscale fine dining and casual dining establishments as well as upscale …

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Mine Owned by West Virginia Gov Faces Fines for Safety Violations

A West Virginia mining operation owned by Gov. Jim Justice faces fines of more than $10,000 for six safety violations following a workers’ fatal fall in February. The West Virginia Office of Miners’ Health, Safety and Training says 43-year-old Jason …

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Senate Bill Extends National Flood Insurance Program for 10 Years

U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Kristen Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) have released draft legislation to reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) for 10 years. The NFIP is currently set to expire on Sept. 30, 2017. The legislation, the Flood Insurance …

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How Drivers Dress-Up Old Cars with New Safety Tech

Old cars can learn new tricks. For a few hundred dollars, drivers can add new safety technology — like forward collision warning systems or backup cameras — to older cars. Cars are lasting longer than ever thanks to improving quality. …

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Floods Prompt State of Emergency in North Carolina

A North Carolina county declared a state of emergency Wednesday because flooding closed a number of roads and led to evacuations. Edgecombe County officials announced on Facebook that several roads are impassable and that residents on one road outside the …

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North Carolina Issues Warning Against Taking Pictures on Railroad Tracks

Transportation officials and railroad companies are sounding a warning: Active railroad tracks are a bad backdrop for prom pictures or selfies. With the season for graduations and prom portraits underway, North Carolina’s transportation and public school agencies this month are …

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Florida Peninsula Insurance Launches Online Quoting for Homeowners Coverage

Florida Peninsula Insurance Company, a Florida homeowner insurance carrier, has launched a new online system offering homeowners insurance quotes to consumers. According to Clint Strauch, president of Florida Peninsula system allows Florida consumers to shop and compare coverage and price, …

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tKg Hires Walker to P&C Eastern Division in Charlotte

Surplus lines wholesale brokerage tKg has hired Mark Walker to serve as vice president and broker in the company’s P&C Eastern division, based in Charlotte, N.C. Walker has more than 22 years of experience helping retail agents and brokers place …

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Report: Climate Change Could Cause Mass U.S. Migration

Migration to escape sea level rise could radically reshape the U.S. population landscape, and not just in coastal areas, according to a recent study. The author, Mathew Hauer, an applied demographer with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government at the …

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United Airlines Settles with Passenger Dragged from Plane

United Airlines said it has reached a settlement with and Dr. David Dao, the passenger who was dragged from a Chicago flight on April 9 because he did not want to surrender his seat. Video of the violent incident was …

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Marsh Reports 5% Revenue Growth in Q1

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc. (MMC) reported financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, including 5 percent revenue growth at Marsh and 4 percent at Guy Carpenter, its Risk and Insurance divisions.   “With a strong start to the year, we …

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Police: Insurance Fraud Among Charges Against Texas Auto Dealer Employee Crime Ring

Police in El Paso, Texas, say seven current and former employees of an auto dealership have been arrested for running a series of illegal schemes that included taking vehicles from the lot and stealing tires. Authorities said in a news …

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Pipeline Company Investigating 19,000-Gallon Oil Spill in Oklahoma

A Houston-based pipeline company continued cleanup at the site of a nearly 19,000-gallon oil spill in northwest Oklahoma that threatened a local water supply over the weekend. Crews from Plains All American Pipeline were at the site in rural Loyal, …

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Former Willis CEO Casserley Joins Warburg Pincus as Investment Advisor

Private equity firm Warburg Pincus said Dominic Casserley has joined the firm as a senior advisor in its Financial Services Group.  Casserley formerly CEO of Willis Group Holdings, will help evaluate new investment opportunities in the financial services sector, including …

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California Lawmakers Pondering Move to Dump Health Insurers

California lawmakers are considering an audacious proposal that would substantially remake the state’s health care system by eliminating insurance companies and guaranteeing coverage for everyone. The idea known as single-payer healthcare has long been popular on the left. It’s gaining …

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Regulators in California Hit PG&E with $8.3M Fine for Deadly Wildfire

Regulators say they have fined Pacific Gas and Electric Co. $8.3 million for failing to maintain a power line that sparked a massive blaze in Northern California that destroyed 549 homes and killed two people. The California Public Utilities Commission …

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$11.4M Settlement from California Oxygen Equipment Supplier

A company in California’s Bay Area that sells home oxygen equipment has agreed to pay more than $11 million to settle allegations that it profited from filing false reimbursement claims with the government. The San Francisco Chronicle reported the Justice …

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Massachusetts High Court Sides with Norfolk & Dedham in Personal Injury Suit

A Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has upheld a Superior Court decision that defendant, Norfolk & Dedham Mutual Fire Insurance Company (Norfolk & Dedham), did not engage in unfair settlement practices in its handling of a personal injury claim. The …

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House Committee Expected to Advance Overhaul of Dodd-Frank

A U.S. Congressional banking panel is moving to advance legislation that would overhaul how the government regulates the financial sector, although it faces obstacles towards becoming law. Representative Jeb Hensarling, who chairs the House Financial Services Committee, is considering amendments …

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Fire Guts New York Mill Owned by Cooperstown Baseball Bat Maker

A fire has heavily damaged the upstate New York mill owned by a Cooperstown-based wood baseball bat company. Emergency officials in Otsego County say the fire was reported around 6 p.m. Monday at Cooperstown Bat Co.’s mill in the town …

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Appeals Court Upholds $250K in Damages Against Pan Am for Injured Maine Employee

A federal appeals court has upheld $250,000 in damages against Pan Am Railways, saying the company illegally retaliated against a Maine employee. The Portland Press Herald reports conductor Jason Raye told his supervisors about a pile of railroad ties next …

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New York Teen Gets Probation, Psychiatric Care in Friend’s Fire Death

A teenager who has been in and out of the hospital with mental health problems since the death of a friend in a massive fire the boys started was sentenced Tuesday to a year of probation. A Family Court judge …

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Octo Telematics Offers Insurers Distracted Driving Scoring Feature

Octo Telematics is making available a distracted driving scoring and analysis feature within its suite of telematics products used by its more than 60 auto insurer customers. The scoring feature is available for both in-vehicle and mobile solutions that include Octo …

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JPMorgan Not Liable to Madoff Customers, Court Rules

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is not liable to a group of former customers of Bernard Madoff who blamed the bank for being actively involved in his Ponzi scheme and ignoring red flags of fraud, a federal appeals court ruled on …

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MGA Pen Underwriting & Markel Partner to Offer UK Equine Cover

Pen Underwriting has formed a new strategic partnership with specialist insurer Markel International to further consolidate Pen’s presence in the UK equestrian market and drive the company’s product innovation in the sector. Markel is an established and leading name in …

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Willis Updates ‘Unify’ Platform in Response to New Solvency II Challenges

Willis Towers Watson has released an updated version of “Unify,” the systems integration and workflow platform. Unify 2.0 introduces new features in response to the tightening of reporting timescales under Solvency II, which continue to pressure insurers to process vast …

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Eastern Newfoundland Windstorm Costs Insurers US$32.5M

A windstorm that hit eastern Newfoundland on March 11, 2017 has resulted in almost C$45 million (US$32.5 million) in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), quoting statistics from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). Wind gusts of over 180 kilometers per hour (112 …

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Hamilton Re Announces Management Team Appointments

Hamilton Re, the Bermuda platform of Hamilton Insurance Group, announced the following appointment and senior role changes in its management team: Minesh Shah has joined Hamilton Re in the newly created role of senior vice president, Actuary. Shah reports to Chief Risk Officer Pete …

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Hackers’ Ransom Demands Rise as Victims Keep Paying: Symantec

Hackers are demanding increasingly hefty ransoms to free computers paralyzed with viruses, as cyber criminals seek to maximize profits from large numbers of victims willing to pay up, according to cyber security firm Symantec Corp. The average demand embedded in such malicious software, which …

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Political Risk Tops List of Worries for Insurers Across Globe: GS Survey

Political risk is the biggest concern this year for insurers globally, following several shock outcomes in 2016, a survey of insurers managing $10 trillion in assets showed on Thursday. Political events have overtaken issues such as worries about an economic slowdown in …

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Biohazard Cleanups Not Pretty—and Neither Are the Costs to Insurers

If Peter Duncanson is on the scene, it’s probably not pretty. It could be a CSI-like crime scene with spattered blood and skin fragments on the sofa and wall. Or a trauma scene where an injured employee or animal traipsed …

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2 Tornadoes Confirmed in Mississippi From Weekend Weather

The National Weather Service confirms two tornadoes hit Mississippi’s northeast corner on Saturday. A survey shows that a twister with top winds of 90 mph (145 kph) struck Prentiss County around 2:35 p.m. The tornado, rated EF-1 on the enhanced …

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North Carolina Storms Cause Flood Worries

People in North Carolina were paying attention to rising rivers on Tuesday after storms dumped several inches of rain across much of the state – the worst drenching since a damaging hurricane late last year. The state’s heaviest rainfall since …

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Ready-to-Eat Ham Products Made in Tennessee Recalled

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says a Memphis meat packer has recalled some ready-to-eat ham products due to possible bacterial contamination. The USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said in a news release Tuesday that the recall includes ready-to-eat hickory …

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Florida House Advances Bill Targeting Claims Abuse, But Senate Battle Looms

A bill aimed at decreasing insurance claims abuse in Florida has made it through the Florida House, and the industry’s hope for assignment of benefits reform now officially rests with the state Senate. The Florida House of Representatives advanced House …

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Daniels Takes on Marketing Role at Texas-Based ITS

Dallas-based ITS, an insurance consulting and services firm specializing in the design, implementation and utilization of technology to optimize critical business processes and achieve exceptional results, reported it has expanded the responsibilities of Marti Daniels, who already serves as vice president …

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Michigan Hospital to Pay $791K in Settlement over Needless Tests

A Detroit-area hospital has agreed to pay $791,000 to settle allegations that it billed for unnecessary lab tests. The case against Crittenton Hospital Medical Center is linked to Dr. Farid Fata. He’s serving a 45-year prison sentence for putting patients …

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Railway Sued by Family of South Dakota Man Run over by Train

The family of a BNSF Railway employee killed in an accident in western South Dakota is suing the railroad, alleging it failed to protect him from being hit by a train while he was clearing snow and ice from a …

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Brightway Insurance Adds Texas Locations

Florida-based personal Lines independent insurance agency Brightway Insurance has opened two new branches in Texas. Brightway, The Lowry Agency, led by Robert Lowry, is located Spring, Texas. Brightway, The Young Agency, led by Benjamin Young, is located in Abilene, Texas. …

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Indiana High Court Says Wounded Officer Can’t Sue Gun Seller

The Indiana Supreme Court ruled that a wounded police officer can’t sue a sporting goods store that sold a handgun that was later used to shoot him. The Indianapolis Star reported the court has dismissed Indianapolis Officer Dwayne Runnels’ lawsuit …

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‘Bachelor’ Star Soules Arrested, Charged After Deadly Iowa Crash

Chris Soules, an Iowa farmer who starred on “The Bachelor” two years ago, was arrested on April 25 after authorities say he caused a traffic accident that killed a fellow farmer and fled the scene. Soules, who was portrayed as …

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House Republicans Report Progress on Another Health Plan to Replace Obamacare

The conservative House Freedom Caucus that helped derail the GOP’s effort last month to repeal Obamacare has formally endorsed a revised measure, potentiality giving it a new lease on life. “While the revised version still does not fully repeal Obamacare, we …

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Alabama Community Unveils Memorial For 1K Residents in Lost in 2011 Twisters

Overcast skies and a misty rain mirrored the mood of this tiny community as it came together to remember the 14 Lawrence County residents who died in the April 27, 2011, tornadoes. “They will never be forgotten,” an emotional Kristi …

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31 Students Awarded Scholarships from Insurance Council of Texas

The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) Education Foundation recently awarded a total of $34,500 in academic scholarships to 31 students at five Texas universities. The students attend the University of Houston Main campus, the University of Houston Downtown the University …

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Kansas Tightens Amusement Park Regulations after Boy’s Waterslide Death

The death of a colleague’s son has spurred the governor in the often anti-regulation Kansas to toughen the state’s inspection requirements for amusement parks. A new law signed by Republican Gov. Sam Brownback strengthens the state’s amusement park regulations, which …

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Contract for Louisiana Flood Aid Program Administrator to Cost $227M

Louisiana’s contract with disaster recovery firm IEM to administer a homeowner flood aid program is estimated to cost $227 million. The Greater Baton Rouge Business Report says the state has completed its deal with IEM to manage the $1.3 billion …

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Crashes at North Carolina Rail Crossings Down 42% in 2016

A North Carolina rail safety group says collisions at highway crossings dropped by 42 percent in 2016. The report from North Carolina Operation Lifesaver says there were 39 collisions last year, compared with 67 in 2015. Also, the report says …

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Bad: Train Clips Mirror; Worse: Louisiana Driver Opens Door, Loses It

After a train clipped a side mirror off a car, the driver lost his whole door when he pulled up to another intersection and opened it to tell the crew, police in southwest Louisiana said. Nobody was hurt, and 64-year-old …

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Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Oklahoma’s Commercial Insurance Brokers

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired  Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Commercial Insurance Brokers LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Formed in 2012, Commercial Insurance Brokers is a group of insurance producers and service personnel offering a broad range of …

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Uninsured Driver Bill Signed by Oklahoma Governor

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has signed legislation aimed at further reducing the number of uninsured drivers in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 115 transfers oversight of the Compulsory Insurance Online Verification System (OCIVS) for motor vehicle liability policies from the Department of …

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Sealy of Minnesota to Pay $175K in Racial Harassment Case

Sealy of Minnesota has agreed to pay $175,000 to resolve a charge of racial harassment filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. The EEOC said an investigation found that Sealy, a mattress and box …

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Wagenschutz Tapped to Lead Michigan Auto Insurance Placement Facility

The Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility (MAIPF) has named Mark Wagenschutz as executive director. Wagenschutz will oversee the organization’s mission to guarantee that automobile insurance is available to Michigan citizens who are unable to obtain it in the competitive market. …

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Feds Grant Nearly $11M to Indiana to Fight Heroin, Opioid Abuse

A federal agency has awarded Indiana nearly $11 million to fight the state’s opioid abuse crisis. The state’s funding from the Health and Human Services is among $485 million the agency recently awarded to all 50 states and several U.S. …

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SEC Awards $4 Million to Whistleblower

The Securities and Exchange Commission has awarded nearly $4 million to a whistleblower who tipped the agency with about serious misconduct and provided additional assistance during the ensuing investigation, including industry-specific knowledge and expertise. “Not only did this whistleblower step forward …

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Chubb’s Greenberg Clarifies Criticism of Wholesale Brokers

In the London and other wholesale insurance markets, the practice of some brokers bundling similar accounts into high-volume portfolios to be more efficient and attract underwriters while still expecting bigger brokerage commissions has “gone beyond reasonable,” Chubb CEO and President Evan Greenberg …

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Poor Fire Safety at Two-Thirds of Schools in Oregon’s Largest City

Two-thirds of schools in Oregon’s largest district lack sufficient fire safety equipment, according to records obtained by the Oregonian/OregonLive. Portland Public Schools has 60 of 89 schools lacking up-to-date alarm systems, complete fire sensor coverage or other life-saving equipment required …

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Idaho City Assessing Flood Risks Prior to Federal Maps Release

Boise, Idaho officials have expressed concerns with federal maps that propose adding hundreds of acres to a flood plain in the city, which could increase the cost and difficulty of buying or developing nearby property. The city disagrees with the …

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Hippo Launches with Promise of 60-Second Homeowners Insurance Quote

An insuretech company launched in California today with the promise of providing online homeonwers insurance quotes in 60 seconds in what the Mountain View, Calif.-based company is calling “the most fundamental redesign of home insurance in recent times.” Hippo Insurance …

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Despite ‘Difficult’ Environment, Chubb Q1 Profit Tops $1 Billion

Chubb Limited reported net income for the quarter of $1.09 billion, compared with $439 million for the same quarter last year.  Operating income was $1,175 million, compared with $1,019 million, for the same quarter last year. The insurer’s property/casualty (P&C) combined ratio was 87.5 …

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St. Joseph’s University Team Wins Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge

At the Spencer Educational Foundation reception, RIMS board director and director of global risk management and insurance at PayPal Inc., Laura Langone, announced St. Joseph’s University’s student team as the winners of the Spencer-RIMS Risk Management Challenge. The team, comprised …

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Massive Maryland Fire Leads to Estimated $39M Loss

Firefighters were still dousing hot spots Tuesday after a massive fire at a seven-story apartment building under construction near the University of Maryland. News outlets reported that firefighters were working to keep the fire that consumed the roof of the …

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Sheriffs: Raise Massachusetts Pot Tax, Use Money for Addiction Treatment

Sheriffs urged Massachusetts lawmakers Monday to boost the tax consumers will pay on recreational marijuana and earmark the additional revenue for substance abuse prevention and treatment. The proposal was discussed at the final hearing of a special legislative committee that …

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Many Large Investors Tackle Climate Risks with Greener Investments

Most of the world’s largest asset owners have gotten the message that climate change poses a risk to their portfolios and are pivoting toward greener investments. Funds worth $27 trillion that comprise 60 percent of the world’s biggest investors are …

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Ed Names Howden’s Plummer as Chairman of Property & Casualty

Ed, the London-based reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced the appointment of John Plummer as chairman of Property & Casualty. Plummer takes up his role with immediate effect. Plummer brings over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry to …

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Canada’s Economical Strengthens Executive Team, Realigns Operations

Waterloo, Ontario-based Economical Insurance announced two additions to its executive team. Fabian Richenberger will join the company as executive vice president, Commercial Insurance, and Kelley Irwin will join as senior vice president and chief information officer, effective May 1, 2017. …

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ILS Market Continues Growth Trend in Q1 2017: Willis Towers Watson

Non-life insurance-linked securities (ILS) capital grew again in Q1 2017, continuing the trend from 2016, according to the latest ILS Market Update from Willis Towers Watson Securities, the investment banking business of Willis Towers Watson. Following a strong Q4 2016, …

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Global Protectionism Risks Economic Growth: Zurich, Atlantic Council

A rise in global protectionism stemming from a backlash against free trade and globalization could have significant impact on economic growth, poverty levels and the potential for military conflict, according to a new report from the Atlantic Council and Zurich …

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XL Catlin Launches A&H Cover, ‘Protect & Assist,’ for UK Firms

XL Catlin has launched “Protect and Assist,” its accident and health insurance solution designed to help UK businesses protect their people and meet their duty of care in the face of emerging risks and heightened security threats. Protect and Assist …

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FM Global Chooses Luxembourg as Post-Brexit EU HQ

U.S. commercial property insurer FM Global is planning a European hub in Luxembourg following Britain’s decision to leave the bloc, the head of its European division told Reuters. The mutual insurer, which earned $5.5 billion in gross premium last year, …

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Supreme Court Weighs Limiting Where Corporations Can Be Sued

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared poised to clamp down on where corporations can be sued, a potential setback for plaintiffs’ lawyers who strive to bring cases in courts and locales they consider friendly. The nine justices in two …

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Realities of Today’s Commercial Insurance Market: Willis Towers Watson

Fluid capital and ample capacity has kept the commercial insurance sector stable overall and also a buyers’ market. That reality holds despite potential regulatory and monetary policies pending in Washington, D.C. under the fledging Trump presidential administration, Willis Towers Watson …

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Generali Expands U.S. Operations with Chicago, San Francisco Offices

Generali is expanding its U.S. global corporate and commercial operations with the opening of offices in Chicago and San Francisco in a bid to grab more business from U.S. multinational companies. The Italian insurer’s growth comes through its Generali Global …

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Official Says Georgia Wildfire Could Go On For 6 Months

A wildfire in Georgia that has scorched more than 70 square miles (180 square kilometers) of public lands near the Georgia-Florida state line could burn for the next six months unless heavy rains snuff out the flames sooner, fire officials …

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Allianz Sponsorship of Florida Golf Event Ends Amid Holocaust Survivor Protests

Holocaust survivors on Monday celebrated the end of German insurance giant Allianz’s sponsorship of a Florida pro golf tournament, saying it may boost efforts to collect some $2.5 billion in World War II-era policies issued to Jews that they say …

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AP Specialty’s Epstein Named by RIC as Vice President in California

RIC Insurance General Agency has named Michele Epstein as vice president of management and professional lines. She will be based in Chatsworth, Calif. and produce, enhance and expand these product offerings for RIC’s agency partners. Epstein worked as vice president …

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Vertafore Acquires Analytics Firm RiskMatch

Insurance technology firm Vertafore said it has acquired RiskMatch, a Connecticut-based business intelligence and analytics company that provides portfolio management and placement services to insurance brokers and carriers. Founded in 2013, RiskMatch delivers web-based services, analytics, internal and external benchmarking capabilities, …

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Louisiana’s Governor Declares State of Emergency Over Disappearing Coastline

Louisiana’s Gov. John Bel Edwards on April 19 signed an emergency proclamation declaring the Louisiana Coast in a state of crisis and emergency. The emergency proclamation will be sent to President Donald Trump and members of Congress as a necessary …

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XL Catlin Enhances International Liability Policies for U.S.-based Businesses

XL Catlin’s Multinational Casualty business has introduced a new international liability coverage form designed for U.S.-based multinational companies to address their most complex casualty needs. The XL Catlin’s International Liability policy addresses the challenge of coordinating coverage territory between the …

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Texas Surplus lines Stamping Office Names 3 New Board Members

The Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) announced three new members have been appointed to its board of directors. These individuals are part of a nine-member board appointed by the Texas Commissioner of Insurance. Each board member serves a three-year …

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Chubb’s Combined Insurance Moves to Chicago’s Triangle Plaza

Combined Insurance, a provider of individual supplemental accident, disability, health and life insurance products, and a Chubb company, has moved from its Glenview, Ill., office into Chicago’s Triangle Plaza, effective April 10. Approximately 300 Combined Insurance employees are based out …

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American Dental Association to Pay $1.95M in EEOC Discrimination Case

The American Dental Association, which is headquartered in Chicago, has agreed to pay $1.95 million to resolve two charges of discrimination which were investigated by the Chicago District Office of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency …

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Heavy Rains in South Carolina Cause Street Flooding, Power Outages

Heavy rains moving across South Carolina have left street flooding and scattered power outages. Duke Energy reported more than 2,500 customers without electricity Monday morning. Most of those were in Greenville County. South Carolina Electric and Gas Co. reported about …

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EPA Says 3 Injection Wells Source of Contamination in Oklahoma Creek

The Environmental Protection Agency says it has narrowed the source of salt contamination in an Osage County, Oklahoma, creek to three nearby oil and natural gas injection wells. The Tulsa World reports the contamination was first reported in August 2016 …

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10-Year Old Boy Set Fire at Ohio Store with People Inside, Police Say

Police say a 10-year-old boy has been charged as a juvenile with aggravated arson after a fire at an Ohio discount store caused damage estimated at more than $200,000. Middletown police Lt. Jim Cunningham says about 10 people were inside …

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Michigan Lawmaker’s Proposal Would Allow Auto Insurance Options

Michigan state Rep. Jason Sheppard of Temperance has introduced legislation that he says would help drivers and families financially saddled by Michigan’s exorbitant automobile insurance rates. House Bill 4488 will allow consumers to choose a level of coverage, up to …

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MetLife Asks Court to Delay ‘Too Big to Fail’ Challenge as Trump Vows Review

MetLife Inc. is asking a U.S. court to put on pause a case over how the government deems certain companies “too big to fail,” one of the most significant reforms to come out of the financial crisis, while President Donald …

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New Jersey’s York Names Walsh Executive Vice President and Chief Claims Officer

York Risk Services Group (York), a Parsippany, N.J.-based provider of claims management, managed care, specialized loss adjusting, alternative risk programs, pool administration and other insurance services, has named Patrick Walsh as executive vice president and chief claims officer for York …

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Colorado City Agrees to Pay $212K in Racial Profiling Suit

A Colorado city has agreed to pay $212,000 to settle a racial profiling lawsuit over the arrest of two black men that was captured on cellphone video and widely viewed on social media. The Colorado Springs Gazette reported the city …

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Inspectors Find Continuing Safety Issues at Washington Mental Hospital

Inspectors who visited Washington state’s largest psychiatric hospital found that safety problems that thrust the facility into the national spotlight after the escape of two dangerous patients a year ago persist, including neglected patients. And a survey of Western State …

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Small Quake Hits California Coast Near Santa Barbara

A small earthquake has rattled parts of the Southern California coast. The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the magnitude-3.6 quake hit just before 11 a.m. Sunday about 3 miles east of Santa Barbara. A sheriff’s dispatcher says there are no immediate …

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Willis Towers Watson Names 6 to Global FINEX Senior Leadership Team

Insurance broker and consultant Willis Towers Watson has made six senior appointments across its Global FINEX business, the company’s financial, executive and professional risk specialty group.   Jeremy Wall has been appointed chairman of Global FINEX and head of FINEX for …

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New York City House Fire Kills 5, Including Children

Investigators are scouring for clues about what sparked a fast-moving New York City house fire that killed five people, including two young boys and two teenage girls. The fire broke out Sunday afternoon, on a street full of single-family homes …

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Swiss Re Economists Win Award for Research on Nat Cat Protection Gap

The Geneva Association and the International Insurance Society (IIS) announced the 2017 winner of their collaborative insurance research program, the Shin Research Excellence Awards. Thomas Holzheu and Ginger Turner of Swiss Re received the award for their paper on “The …

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Schumer Calls for Better Communication After New York Penn Station Stampede

Sen. Charles Schumer says the stampede that injured 16 people at New York’s Penn Station just over a week ago shows a need for better coordination between law enforcement agencies at transportation hubs. The stampede erupted April 14 following false …

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Massachusetts’ Eastern Insurance Hires Gross from Hanover Insurance

Eastern Insurance Group, a Natick, Mass.-headquartered subsidiary of Eastern Bank, has hired William F. Gross as executive vice president of commercial lines. Gross, who works out of the Natick office, brings more than 17 years of insurance and sales experience …

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RIMS 2017: Firms Value Cyber Assets Highly Until Time for Insurance, Finds Ponemon/Aon Report

Despite believing that their plant, property and equipment are now less valuable than their cyber assets, most organization spend four times more on insurance protecting their physical plants, properties and equipment than they do their information-based assets. The 2017 Cyber …

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Large Claims Becoming More Expensive, Complex & Global: Allianz

Large liability claims are becoming more expensive, complex and international, with activity increasing outside the United States, according a report published by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS). “Although recent years have seen a noticeable rise in large environmental liability …

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French Prosecutors Probe Peugeot Parent over Alleged Emissions Fraud

  French prosecutors started a preliminary investigation of alleged fraud at PSA Group, the latest car manufacturer to be targeted over potential violations of emissions rules in the aftermath of Volkswagen AG’s diesel-cheating scandal. The stock fell the most in two …

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Liberty Taps XL Catlin’s McKay for New Distribution & Client Mgmt Role

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM), part of Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, has appointed Kerry McKay to the newly created role of head of Distribution and Client Management for Continental Europe. He will report directly to LSM’s head of Europe, Kadidja Sinz. …

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XL Catlin Participates in Consortium Bringing Driverless Cars to UK

Oxbotica, the Oxford-based artificial intelligence company that is developing driverless cars for the UK, announced it is leading a consortium of companies that plans to trial a fleet of fully autonomous vehicles in urban areas and on motorways, culminating in …

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Demand Rises for Political Risk Cover as Buyers Think the Unthinkable

Rocked by a shakeup in the Western political order, companies are buying more insurance to protect themselves against the threat of rising protectionism and upheaval to their operations in emerging markets. Insurers say demand is being driven by uncertainty over the consequences …

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Authorities Investigating Cause of 16-Car Pileup on Georgia’s I-75

The Georgia State Patrol says 10 people were injured in a 16-car pileup that shut down southbound Interstate 75 for nearly four hours. WSB-TV reports that the accident happened just before 2 p.m. on Sunday along I-75 at Allatoona Lake …

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Bird Flu Restrictions Ended for Georgia Poultry Producers

Officials say they have ended restrictions on poultry producers that were enacted after the first confirmation of avian influenza in commercial birds in Georgia. News outlets report state veterinarian Robert M. Cobb Jr. said in a news release that effective …

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Disney Says Man Died From Pre-Existing Condition After Orlando Ride

A 54-year-old man died after riding Disney’s Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster in February. The man had a pre-existing condition and collapsed and died at a hospital after riding the roller coaster. The Orlando Sentinel said man’s death was …

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Bush Beats Trump! And Other Insurance Political Giving News

Monumental views on insurance and risk in the nation’s capital?  Surely we jest. Well,  we will  take an occasional dip into the Potomac waters to poke fun, but overall we hope this reporting on insurance and risk as seen from the nation’s …

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RIMS 2017: Risk Managers in Denial Over Disruptive Technologies

The 14th annual Excellence in Risk Management report finds an apparent lack of awareness among many risk professionals on existing and emerging technologies including telematics, sensors, the Internet of Things (IoT), smart buildings and robotics, and their associated risks. According to the survey …

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Motorists Mutual, BrickStreet Mutual Finalize Joint Venture

Ohio-based property/casualty insurer Motorists Mutual Insurance Co. and West Virginia-based workers’ compensation insurer BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. Inc., have been granted regulatory approvals to affiliate through a joint venture. This affiliation has created a new super regional carrier ranked in …

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Cavignac & Associates in California Names Delmundo Account Administrator

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has named Doneca Delmundo as an account administrator within the agency’s commercial department. Delmundo will provide support and assistance to the agency’s commercial insurance account managers. Specifically, she is responsible for processing endorsements, policies …

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Feds Grant $5.9M to West Virginia for Drug Addiction Fight

West Virginia will receive $5.9 million from the federal government to help fight drug addiction. U.S. Rep. Evan Jenkins and Sens. Shelley Moore Capito and Joe Manchin announced the grant Thursday from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. …

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Residents in Southwest Florida Evacuated as Brush Fires Spread

Brush fires are threatening more than 2,000 homes in southwest Florida, and the Florida National Guard is helping to evacuate residents. Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement Friday that he deployed the guard and five UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters to …

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1st Farmer Lawsuit Against Syngenta over China Trade Begins in Minnesota

The first of tens of thousands of U.S. lawsuits is about to go to trial against Swiss agribusiness giant Syngenta over its decision to introduce a genetically engineered corn seed variety to the U.S. market before China had approved it …

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Tens of Thousands of Turkeys Killed in Iowa, South Dakota Fires

More than 25,000 turkeys have been killed in separate fires at farms in Iowa and South Dakota A fire at a turkey farm south of Wapello, Iowa, killed about 10,700 juvenile turkeys and caused about $300,000 in damages to the …

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Texas Father, Son Charged in Alleged $16M Insurance Scam

Prosecutors say a Texas father and son have been charged in an alleged $16 million hearing aids insurance scam using American Airlines workers. A federal grand jury in Dallas indicted 66-year-old Terry Lynn Anderson and 36-year-old Rocky Freeland Anderson. They …

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Sherman Named President of Michigan’s Acrisure

Acrisure LLC, a national retail consulting and insurance broker based in Caledonia, Mich., has named D. Michael Sherman as president. Sherman joined Acrisure in January as a strategic advisor, bringing more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry …

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MJ Insurance Adds Parker, Slusser to Risk Management Team in Indianapolis

Indiana-based MJ Insurance, has welcomed two new additions to the risk management department in its Indianapolis headquarters, Aaron Parker and Jon Slusser. Parker joins the MJ team as a client executive, responsible for the overall client experience — creating and …

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Smith Joins Sales, Marketing Team at Crystal & Co. in Houston

Matthew Smith has been named a director within the national sales and marketing team in the Houston office of the national insurance brokerage firm, Crystal & Company. He is responsible for business development and expanding client relationships. Smith previously served …

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Despite Opposition, Controversial Insurance Bill Moving in Legislature

Note: This story originally appeared in the Texas Tribune Texas property owners could face new hurdles when they try to sue their insurer over storm claims under controversial legislation being cheered by groups seeking curbs on lawsuits but jeered by …

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Small Quake Rattles Northwestern Colorado

A minor earthquake rattled homes in northwestern Colorado over the weekend. The University of Utah Seismograph Stations reports the magnitude 3.7 quake hit just before noon Saturday. The epicenter was 2.5 miles northwest of Rangely, a town of about 2,000 …

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Feds Will Use Fires to Lower Washington Wildfire Risks

To reduce the risks of wildfires, federal officials this spring are planning to conduct controlled burns on more than 9,000 acres of land in Washington state forests. The Seattle Times reported the fires planned in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest is …

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Minor Temblor Reported off Bay in Washington

A small earthquake struck near Port Townsend in Admiralty Bay. The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network says the earthquake happened shortly after 10 p.m. Wednesday between Port Townsend and Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island. The 3.1-magnitude quake occurred at a depth of …

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Everest Joins California Workers’ Comp Rating Bureau Governing Committee

The Everest National Insurance Co. has joined the Governing Committee of the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California. The WCIRB Governing Committee is responsible for setting policy and overseeing the management of the affairs of the WCIRB. The WCIRB …

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Supreme Court Rejects GM Use of Bankruptcy to Block Ignition Lawsuits

General Motors Co.’s bid to block hundreds of lawsuits, potentially worth billions of dollars, over a deadly ignition-switch defect broke down on Monday when the Supreme Court refused to hear its appeal claiming the suits were barred by the No. …

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Massachusetts Lawmakers Debate Pot Regulators’ Independence

Recreational marijuana may be legal for adults in Massachusetts but who ultimately will be in charge of regulating and enforcing the new law remains the subject of behind-the-scenes maneuvering on Beacon Hill. A legislative committee created to review and potentially make revisions …

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Uber, Lyft Opposing Vermont Bill with New Requirements

Popular ride sharing companies Uber and Lyft are opposing a Vermont bill that would require the companies to greatly increase their insurance coverage for personal injuries when drivers are between rides. The Burlington Free Press reports that the bill would …

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New York Passes $153B Budget Including Workers’ Comp Reforms

The New York State Senate in April passed its $153 billion 2017-2018 state budget that includes reforms to workers’ compensation in the state. These reforms serve to help businesses, local governments and not-for-profits save money while also enhancing protections for …

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RIMS 2017: Why Cyber Should be Treated as Standalone Insurance

Treating cyber risk as a standalone insurance market holds the promise of unlocking the potential for meaningful coverage for both insurers and buyers, according to a new report by JLT Re and JLT Specialty Limited. According to the report released …

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JLT Specialty USA Hires Beecher Carlson’s Nolan in Massachusetts

JLT Specialty USA, a U.S. subsidiary of Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc. (JLT), has appointed Molly Nolan as senior vice president. Nolan comes to JLT with more than 20 years’ experience in providing insurance services for complex property accounts. She …

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China & India Leading U.S. in Renewable Energy Targets: Allianz

Renewable power investments will need to rapidly grow in the coming two decades to be in line with the Paris Agreement targets, according to the Allianz Climate & Energy Monitor Deep Dive, which aims to inform investors and policymakers on …

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AXIS Re & China’s Renmin University Offer Actuarial Scholarship

Bermuda-based AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced the launch of the “AXIS Re Actuarial Scholarship” in partnership with Renmin University in China. The scholarship fund will provide financial assistance to actuarial students in Renmin’s School of Statistics to help develop their …

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UK’s Aviva Buys Remaining 50% Share in Vietnam Joint Venture

Aviva plc has acquired VietinBank’s entire 50 percent shareholding in its life insurance joint venture VietinBank Aviva Life Insurance Ltd. Aviva also has signed a new distribution agreement with VietinBank to sell life and health insurance products through VietinBank’s network …

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U.K. Has 1st Day Without Burning Coal for Power Since 1880s

The U.K. had its first full day without burning coal to make electricity since the Industrial Revolution more than a century ago, according to grid operator National Grid Plc. “Friday 21st April 2017 was the first 24-hour period since the …

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Neon Appoints Sirius’ Sethi as Senior D&F Underwriter

Neon has appointed Catherine Sethi as senior underwriter in its Property Direct & Facultative (D&F) team. Based in London, Sethi will report to Sam Yates, who joined Neon recently to lead the expansion and growth of its London property D&F …

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Hamilton Re to Buy Canopius’ Excess Casualty Renewal Rights

Hamilton Re, the Bermuda-based platform of Hamilton Insurance Group, announced it has agreed to acquire the renewal rights to Canopius Underwriting Bermuda Ltd.’s excess casualty insurance book of business. The transaction is expected to close mid-year. In addition, Sompo Canopius …

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Society Must Prepare for Disruptive New Techologies, Warns Alibaba Chairman

Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chairman Jack Ma said society should prepare for decades of pain as the internet disrupts the economy. The world must change education systems and establish how to work with robots to help soften the blow caused by automation …

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At Least 2 Bidders Interested in IDB Unit, Tel-Aviv-Based Clal Insurance

Eduardo Elsztain, the Argentine real estate developer who controls Israeli conglomerate IDB Development Corp., said he has at least two bidders for the company’s insurance unit, Clal Insurance Enterprises Holdings Ltd. Elsztain is fighting a sale of the company in …

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Tesla Pushes Back on Class Action Alleging Its Autopilot Software Is Dangerous

Tesla Inc. is facing its first legal challenge over self-driving technology in a case alleging the electric carmaker sold 47,000 vehicles with Autopilot software that’s “dangerously defective” when engaged. Drivers have “become beta testers of half-baked software that renders Tesla …

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AIG Study Shows How, Why M&A Insurance Claims Frequency Is Rising

The frequency of insurance claims surrounding mergers and acquisitions (M&As) is rising as large deals prove risky and the average payout on the most severe category of claims tops $20 million, according to an American International Group, Inc. study. AIG’s Global …

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States to Get $485 Million for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

The federal government will provide states nearly half a billion dollars for prevention and treatment programs aimed at confronting the opioid epidemic, which Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price described last week as a “crisis.” Price made the announcement …

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Intellectual Property Coverage Presents Challenges in Private D&O

Physical property damage due to natural disasters, weather-related or man-made incidents, can be relatively straightforward to assess, but understanding how a different form of property causes damage can be a little more ambiguous, according to panelists at the recent Professional …

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New Modeling Product From AIR Worldwide Analyzes Client Cyber Risk

Catastrophe modeling firm AIR Worldwide has released a new cyber risk modeling application for the insurance and reinsurance markets. ARC (Analytics of Risk from Cyber) is designed to evaluate any commercial policy (including those vulnerable to silent cyber), measure and …

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Q&A With Florida Commissioner Altmaier, an Agent Turned Regulator

Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier is just about to complete his first full year in the position since taking over for Kevin McCarty last May, and there hasn’t been a dull moment since he took the post. Altmaier, 35, is …

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South Carolina Stripper Shot on Job to Get New Workers’ Comp Hearing

The quibbling continues over how much a South Carolina stripper should be compensated after being shot while on the job, with the state’s highest court on Wednesday ordering a new hearing in the woman’s case. The decision comes two years …

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Willis Towers Watson Names Peiser Head of Broking North America

Global insurance broker and consultant Willis Towers Watson has named Joe Peiser as head of Broking, North America. Peiser will be responsible for the company’s broking strategy in North America, working with the insurance carriers to obtain the best markets, price …

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Allied World to Offer Drone Loss Control Services to Policyholders

Allied World North America has expanded its risk management offerings to policyholders to include access to discounted unmanned aerial systems (UAS) services through DataWing, a UAS service provider led by former U.S. Air Force fighter pilots that provides end-to-end options …

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Wyoming Flood Preparations Follow Flood Predictions

Fremont County, Wyo. residents and disaster response officials are making preparations for spring flooding. Predictions are that the county could see its biggest runoff from the mountain snowpack in decades. National Weather Service hydrologists say the Wind and Little Wind …

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Idaho Governor Issues Warnings over Potential Flood Disasters

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says residents facing possible flooding in some areas of the state aren’t taking what he calls a potential disaster seriously. About a dozen state and federal officials at a news conference Wednesday in Boise described …

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Managers Made Errors in Handling California Dam Crisis

Late in the afternoon of Feb. 12, Sheriff Kory Honea was at the emergency operations center for the tallest dam in America when he overheard someone say something that stopped him in his tracks: “This is not good.” Over six …

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Pennsylvania Says It Busted Up Fraudulent License Plate Ring

Pennsylvania’s attorney general’s office on Wednesday charged a dozen people as part of an organized crime ring that it said had made millions of dollars renting out fraudulently obtained license plates, primarily in New York City. The people who rented …

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Connecticut Insurance Department Launches Licensing Site

The Connecticut Insurance Department has launched a new licensing web site, designed to improve customer service for the nearly 200,000 agents, brokers, adjusters and other licensees who conduct business with the department. The new licensing site features online tools that …

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Texas Roadhouse to Pay $12M to Settle Age Discrimination Suit Filed in Massachusetts

Texas Roadhouse, a national, Kentucky-based restaurant chain, will pay $12 million and furnish other relief to settle an age discrimin­ation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Oppor­tunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. The EEOC had filed suit seeking …

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How Meteorologists View 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season

Most meteorologists forecast the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season will be less active than a year ago, with the number of named storms and hurricanes near average. A few meteorologists, however, expect this season to be more active than normal with one, Global Weather …

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Trump to Order Review of Dodd-Frank Reforms, Taxes for Insurers, Banks

President Donald Trump will order the Treasury on Friday to find and reduce tax burdens and review post-financial crisis reforms that banks and insurance companies have said hinder their ability to do business. A White House official said on Thursday that Trump …

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French Regulator Links Sanofi Epilepsy Drug to Birth Defects

Up to 4,100 children in France suffered major malformations in the womb after their mothers took a treatment against epilepsy and bipolar disorders known as valproate between 1967 and 2016, France’s drug regulator said. Valproate, which has been manufactured in …

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Uber Faces Hike in London License Fees, in Latest Blow for Ride-Hailing Firm

Taxi app Uber could face an increase in operator license fees in London under proposed changes by the city’s transport authority, the latest in a series of moves by regulators to rein in a firm that has disrupted the traditional taxi industry. …

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AXA Taps Telefonica’s Benjamins as CDO, Head of Data Innovation Lab

AXA has appointed Richard Benjamins as chief data officer (CDO) of the AXA Group and head of the Data Innovation Lab (DIL), effective May 2. Benjamins will report to Benoît Claveranne, chief transformation officer (CTO) and a member of the …

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‘Flying Taxi’ Successfully Tested in Germany by Start-Up Lilium Jet

A Bavarian start-up is developing a five-seat “flying taxi” after successful test flights over Germany of a smaller version of the electric jet, the company said on Thursday. Munich-based Lilium, backed by investors who include Skype co-founder Niklas Zennstrom, said the …

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MGA Nirvana Targets Media, Technology & Cyber Risks on Castel Platform

Nirvana Risk Partners has launched as an underwriting cell on Castel Underwriting Agencies’ MGA formation platform, targeting media, technology and cyber liability risks. Nirvana will underwrite risks for small and large enterprises on a global basis with a particular emphasis …

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JLT Under Investigation by UK Regulator in Aviation Insurance Sector Probe

Insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) said on Friday it is under investigation by Britain’s financial watchdog as part of a wider probe in to the aviation insurance sector. The Insurance Insider reported late on Thursday that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) was investigating …

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Global Insurance Industry Set to Grow by 4.5% in 2017-2018: Munich Re

The global insurance industry is set to grow more strongly at 4.5 percent per annum on average (3.0 percent in real terms, or adjusted for inflation) during 2017 and 2018, according to Munich Re. While premium income is likely to …

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Florida Lawmakers Move Toward Repealing PIP Mandate

Florida may change the kinds of auto insurance drivers must purchase. The Florida House on Wednesday voted 89-29 to repeal a requirement that motorists carry a type of auto insurance known as personal injury protection. Under Florida’s no-fault insurance law …

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Coal Mining Company Proposes Turning Kentucky Coal Mine Into Solar Farm

A former strip mine would be converted into a solar farm under a proposal announced Tuesday by an Appalachian coal company that says it wants to place hundreds of thousands of panels in the Kentucky mountains. The Berkeley Energy Group, …

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Private Companies Lose Privacy When Management Liability Battles Reach Courtroom

  “It’s like a Kardashian episode.” That outburst from an unidentified person spoke to the fact that private companies can make their affairs very public in bitter courtroom battles over management liability. The comment came during a panel discussion entitled …

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Battle for Ridesharing Regulations Reaches End of the Road in Florida

After a four-year battle in the Florida Legislature, lawmakers on Wednesday passed statewide regulations for ridesharing companies like Uber and Lyft that would undo a patchwork of local rules across the state. “Florida’s patchwork of ridesharing regulations is finally history,” …

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Research Group Pegs Cost of Memphis Roads to Drivers at $2K a Year

A new report issued by a nonprofit organization says Memphis roads cost drivers more than any other in Tennessee. WMC-TV reports that national transportation research group TRIP evaluated road congestion and bad road conditions leading to car repairs or crashes …

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Main Street America Promotes Frazier to SVP; Appoints 3 New Company Officers

The Main Street America Group has made changes to its personnel, including promoting Tom Frazier, the company’s chief investment officer, to senior vice president. Frazier has been a Main Street America vice president and its chief investment officer since 2011. …

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Houston’s Platform Partners Acquires Voluntary Benefits Firm, Beneplace

Platform Partners LLC (Platform), a private company headquartered in Houston, has completed the acquisition of Beneplace LLC (Beneplace), markets and distributes voluntary employee benefits and employee discount programs serving Fortune 1000 companies, large associations and government agencies. Founded in 1995, Austin-based Beneplace …

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Appeals Court Affirms Texas Physician’s Workers’ Comp Fraud Conviction

The Third Court of Appeals in Austin, Texas, has affirmed a trial court’s 2014 conviction of Howard Douglas, III, M.D., of Frisco on felony fraud charges, according to Texas Mutual Insurance Co. Douglas was convicted and sentenced to five years’ …

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Texas Stamping Office: ‘Industrial Insured’ Bill Passed by House

The Texas House of Representatives has approved House Bill 1559, which creates an exemption for entities classified as an “industrial insured,” the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas reported. The measure has been referred to the Senate Administration Committee. If …

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Report: 90% of Firefighters in Kansas Are Underfunded Volunteers

Volunteer firefighters, who make up 90 percent of the firefighters in Kansas, are seeking additional funding. Kansas spends about $300,000 at the state level on firefighting, less than almost any other state, the Wichita Eagle reported. This resulted in local …

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Iowa’s Grinnell Mutual Launches National Reinsurance Unit

Grinnell Re, a division of Grinnell, Iowa-based Grinnell Mutual, has launched a new team, National Reinsurance. Rick Tjarks, assistant vice president, and Randy Dammeyer, senior account executive, have been chosen to lead the new National Reinsurance team. The newly formed …

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Hamilton’s Duperreault Among Candidates Being Considered as AIG CEO

American International Group Inc. is weighing a plan to hire Brian Duperreault as the company’s seventh chief executive officer since 2005, according to people familiar with the board’s deliberations. Other candidates are still being considered as the board seeks a …

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Wisconsin Company Resolves Federal Wellness, Retaliation Case for $100K

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported it has resolved a lawsuit against Orion Energy Systems, a Manitowoc, Wis., lighting company. The EEOC had challenged the company’s wellness program under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and alleged that …

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Ford Joins Texas Agents Group as Continuous Improvement Director

The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) announced that Angela Ford has joined IIAT as the director of continuous improvement. Ford has more than 25 years of experience in the insurance industry, managing all aspects of technology implementation, consulting independent …

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Jury Awards $350K to Mother of Teen Killed by Chicago Police

The mother of a black teenager killed by Chicago police in July 2013 has been awarded $350,000. The Chicago Tribune reports that a jury awarded the damages after finding that the shooting of 17-year-old Christian Green was unjustified. Attorney Victor …

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$40M Workers’ Comp Medical Kickback Operation in California Shut Down

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones and Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas on Thursday announced a shutdown of a $40 million fraudulent medical billing and kickback operation and the filing of charges against more than two dozen doctors, pharmacists and …

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Chubb Names Merna COO of North America Major Accounts

Chubb announced that Matt Merna has been appointed chief operating officer of its North America Major Accounts division, which serves large U.S. and Canadian-based companies with complex global risks. In this newly-expanded role, Merna will assist in overseeing the day-to-day operations for Major …

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BP Oil Spill Caused $17.2 Billion in Natural Resource Damage: Virginia Tech Scientists

The 2010 BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill did $17.2 billion in damage to the natural resources in the Gulf of Mexico, a team of scientists recently found after a six-year study of the impact of the largest oil spill in …

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Amerisure Names Erie’s Ishwar as Chief Underwriting Officer

Amerisure Mutual Insurance Co. announced that Jayashree Ishwar has joined the company as chief underwriting officer. Ishwar will be accountable for corporate underwriting, loss control, advanced analytics and product divisions, and is the newest member of the company’s strategic leadership …

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Warburg Seeks to Buy Minority Stake in India’s ICICI Lombard from Fairfax

Warburg Pincus is the frontrunner to acquire a minority stake in Indian insurer ICICI Lombard General Insurance Co. from Prem Watsa’s Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd., according to people familiar with the matter. Toronto-based Fairfax, which owns 35 percent of ICICI …

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Texas ‘Hailstorm’ Bill Passed by Senate Committee

Texas’ so-called “hailstorm” bill has passed out of the Texas Senate Business & Commerce Committee, its author reports. Senate Bill 10 by committee Chairman Kelly Hancock, R-North Richland Hills, is lawsuit reform legislation aimed at stemming the problem of storm-chasing, …

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Number of Indiana Deer-Vehicle Collisions Down in 2016

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources says the number of deer struck by motor vehicles in the state fell last year. The number of deer harvested in 2016 fell as well. The agency says deer-vehicle collisions across Indiana numbered more …

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Teen Charged in Fire that Destroyed Iconic Madison County Covered Bridge

Officials say a West Des Moines teenager has been charged with first-degree arson in a fire that destroyed an iconic covered bridge featured in the best-selling novel “The Bridges of Madison County.” Des Moines television station KCCI reports that the …

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Munich Re, Beazley Partner to Provide Enhanced Cover for Large Cyber Risks

Building on their existing collaboration, Beazley and Munich Re’s Corporate Insurance Partner announced the creation of “Vector,” a partnership that aims “to bring innovation and capacity to the large cyber market.” Vector cements a relationship the two insurers forged a …

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Climate Change And The Nightmare Scenario for Florida’s Coastal Homeowners

On a predictably gorgeous South Florida afternoon, Coral Gables Mayor Jim Cason sat in his office overlooking the white-linen restaurants of this affluent seaside community and wondered when climate change would bring it all to an end. He figured it would involve a boat. …

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Michigan Supreme Court Tosses Suit over Icy Slip-and-Fall

A traumatic fall in a dark, icy parking lot wasn’t enough to sway the Michigan Supreme Court. The justices last week reversed a decision by the state appeals court and said the conditions should have been “open and obvious” to …

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Noecker Joins Worldwide Facilities Lawyers Professional Team in Chicago

National wholesale insurance brokerage and managing general agent, Worldwide Facilities, has hired Kirsten Noecker as an internal broker in its lawyers professional unit. She is based in Chicago. In this position, Noecker will focus on both placement of coverage and …

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Texas Mutual Board OKs $260M Policyholder Dividend

Texas Mutual Insurance Co. announced that its board of directors voted unanimously to approve a company-record $260 million dividend distribution in 2017. Qualifying policyholder owners across Texas will share the dividend, which will be distributed beginning in June. Texas Mutual …

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Mired in Sex Assault Scandal, Baylor Hires 1st Female President

Baylor University selected a new president to guide the nation’s largest Baptist school, picking the first female leader in its 172-year history as the campus wades through a sexual assault scandal that chased out her predecessor and led to several …

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Allstate’s Catastrophe Losses Topped $780 Million in Q1

The Allstate Corp. announced estimated catastrophe losses for the month of March 2017 of $516 million, pre-tax ($335 million after-tax), and an estimated $781 million, pre-tax ($508 million after-tax), for first quarter 2017. Catastrophe losses occurring in the first quarter of 2017 comprised 28 events at …

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Cyber Thieves Hit 1,200 U.S. Hotels in InterContinental Chain

Global hotel chain InterContinental Hotels Group Plc said 1,200 of its franchised hotels in the United States, including Holiday Inn and Crowne Plaza, were victims of a three-month cyber attack that sought to steal customer payment card data. The company …

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Tornado, Hail Losses Hurt Travelers in Q1

Travelers Cos. was burned again by Mother Nature. Alan Schnitzer has been contending with volatile weather since becoming chief executive officer in late 2015, extending a trend of recent years in which storm seasons last longer than usual and strike …

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Wyoming County February Storm Caused $2.8M in Damage

Officials estimate a February storm that cut power to thousands of homes in Teton County, Wyo. and prompted a disaster declaration caused nearly $3 million in damages. The Jackson Hole News and Guide reported Nancy Casper with the Federal Emergency …

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Family Sues Mental Health Contractor in Oregon Bridge Suicide

The family of a woman who jumped off the Astoria Bridge in northwestern Oregon seeks nearly $1 million in a lawsuit filed against a county mental health contractor. The lawsuit filed Saturday alleges Clatsop Behavioral Healthcare was negligent in not …

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$1M Settlement in Police Shooting in Colorado Capital

City councilors in Denver, Colo. have approved a nearly $1 million settlement with the family of a teenager who was shot and killed by police while driving a stolen car toward an officer in 2015. The proposed settlement in the …

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Arizona Lawmakers to Take up Texting While Driving Ban for Teens

The Arizona House is planning to debate legislation banning texting or other cellphone use by drivers with only a learners permit or during the first six months teenagers have a regular license. The debate comes two days after Speaker J.D. …

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California University Settles Law School Dean Harassment Suit for $1.7M

The University of California’s governing board has agreed to a $1.7 million settlement that will be paid out over the next decade to an employee who accused the former dean of UC Berkeley’s law school of sexual harassment. Under terms …

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W.R. Berkley Adds Insurance Technology Analyst from Goldman to Investment Team

W.R. Berkley Corp. has hired a former Goldman, Sachs & Co. analyst to evaluate potential investments in emerging insurance technology companies. The executive, Michael Nannizzi, will be part of Berkley’s corporate investment team. In taking on the job, he’s assuming …

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Better Data, Models Expand Private Flood Insurance Opportunities: Actuaries

As Congress considers reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), it should take into account specific insurance market, technological advances and other developments in weighing its options, according to the nation’s actuaries. A new report, “National Flood Insurance Program: …

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Pioneer Expands Miscellaneous E&O Division with 2 Pennsylvania Appointments

Pioneer Underwriters (Pioneer) has appointed Milan Devetak as senior underwriter and Andrew Nowlan as underwriter in the Miscellaneous E&O, Technology & Cyber division of its U.S. underwriting platform, Pioneer Special Risk (PSR). Devetak and Nowlan will be based in Exton, Penn., …

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Insurer Fined More Than $200K in Delaware for Unfair Practices

The Delaware Department of Insurance, along with insurance regulators for forty-eight other jurisdictions, have reached a multi-million dollar settlement with Assurant Inc. regarding the company’s writing of force-placed property insurance, of which Assurant is the nation’s largest writer. Force-placed property …

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Maryland Policyholders Affected by Penn Treaty, American Network Liquidation

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer, Jr. has announced that more than 1,700 Marylanders have been affected by the Penn Treaty liquidation that occurred in Pennsylvania. However, the Maryland guaranty association system has assumed responsibility for Maryland policyholders’ claims, subject to …

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State Regulators Scrutinizing Use of Premium Caps in Insurance Rating

Concerns over price optimization are leading regulators to think carefully about the implications of longstanding practices in insurance rating, including premium “caps” on policy renewals for individuals, households and small businesses, according to one regulator. Charles Angell, deputy commissioner and …

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CoverHound Launches Online Rideshare Insurance Offering

CoverHound is getting into the rideshare insurance business. The online insurance comparison shopping platform has partnered with several large carriers to offer auto insurance quotes in 24 states for people who drive for rideshare services like Uber and Lyft. The …

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AXA Group Names Ariss as Head of Public Affairs & Corporate Responsibility

AXA announced that Jad Ariss, currently CEO of AXA Middle East & Africa, has been appointed group head of Public Affairs & Corporate Responsibility. He will report in his new role to George Stansfield, group general secretary and a member …

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Slow Computers & Internet, Outdated Systems Demoralize Workers: Survey

It was the third hour of doing nothing that broke James Scott. The 25-year-old researcher was sitting at his desk at an insurance firm in northern England when the internet went down. And with it went access to all of his files, …

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Future Tech to Create Lower Claims Frequency, New Threats: Allianz Report

Technology is expected to be a major driver of liability claims in the years ahead – cutting frequency and increasing new threats such as cyber, product liability and recall risk, according a report published by Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty …

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XL Catlin Boosts Terrorism Insurance Limits to $250M

XL Catlin has raised its available terrorism insurance coverage limits to $250 million from $200 million, a 25 percent increase. XL Catlin’s standalone terrorism insurance policy helps U.S. businesses address potential insurance coverage gaps provided by the federal Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization …

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North Carolina Appeals Court Refuses to Revive UNC Academic Sham Suit

A North Carolina appeals court won’t revive a lawsuit by two former athletes who say they were harmed by sham classes at the University of North Carolina. The North Carolina Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that a Charlotte-area judge properly …

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Velocity Risk Underwriters Launches Landlords Policy in Florida

Velocity Risk Underwriters has expanded its Florida products to include a landlords policy for rental properties (DP-3) for annual, seasonal, and vacation rentals. Velocity’s homeowners programs in Florida utilizes Texas-based State National Insurance Company. Velocity offers statewide coverage with a …

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Florida’s New Tactic to Fight Zika: Release of 20K Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes

Thousands of bacteria-infected mosquitoes were released in the wild Tuesday near Key West, testing a new way to kill mosquitoes that carry Zika and other viruses. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District released 20,000 male mosquitoes infected by the Kentucky-based …

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Specialty Brokers AmWINS and Partners Specialty Group to Merge

Specialty insurance brokerages AmWINS Group Inc. and Partners Specialty Group LLC  have agreed to merge. Partners will become part of the AmWINS Brokerage Division, bringing an expanded geographic presence that complements the existing AmWINS platform. The combined firm will place …

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Texas Woman Awarded $760K for Oklahoma Skydiving Injury

Texas woman has been awarded $760,000 after she was badly injured in a skydiving accident in Oklahoma. Mackenzie Wethington was 16 in January 2014 when her parachute malfunctioned and she fell more than 3,000 feet to the ground in Chickasha. …

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Critics: DuPont Spent More on Legal Fees than Chemical Tests in Teflon Case

Critics say DuPont has spent too little on testing Ohio and West Virginia residents for contamination from a chemical used to make Teflon, while paying millions to a lawyer overseeing the testing program. The Columbus Dispatch DuPont spent about $860,000 …

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North Dakota Passes Law Regulating Air Ambulance Bills

Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread praised the signing of Senate Bill 2231, regarding the regulation of how insurance companies pay for air ambulance services in North Dakota. The bill also requires hospitals to notify patients in non-emergency situations which air ambulance …

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Surplus Lines Insurance Bills Advance in Texas Legislature

The Texas legislature has pushed several bills related to the excess and surplus lines industry out of committee, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office announced. The Senate Business and Commerce Committee voted on April 18 to recommend that Senate Bill 1491, …

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Haughawout Named Deputy Commissioner at Ohio Department of Insurance

Carrie Haughawout, who joined the Ohio Department of Insurance (ODI) in 2011, has been appointed deputy director of the department, ODI Director Jillian Froment announced. Froment, who had held the deputy director position prior to her appointment to director by …

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Funeral service arrangements for Texas Insurance Commissioner David Mattax, who passed away on April 13, will begin Thursday, April 20, 2017, the Texas Department of Insurance announced. Mattax, who had served as insurance commissioner since January 2015, passed away after …

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Officials Warn of Possible Evacuations in Georgia as Okefenokee Wildfire Spreads

Georgia residents on the western edge of the Okefenokee Swamp have been warned to prepare for potential evacuations from an approaching wildfire that has burned more than 30 square miles (80 square kilometers) of public lands nearby. A lightning strike …

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Jury Will Decide if Colorado Resort Operators Was at Fault in Avalanche Death

A Colorado jury will decide if Vail Resorts properly closed an expert ski run where a teenager was killed in an avalanche. District Judge Fred Gannett ruled last week that jurors must decide if signs on the run called Prima …

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Calexit Supporters End 2018 Bid for California Independence

Supporters of a long-shot bid to make California an independent nation have ended their effort to put it to a statewide vote next year, despite the extra interest it drew after last year’s election of Republican Donald Trump as president. …

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California Awards Contractor $275M Contract to Fix Troubled Dam

California water officials say they have awarded a contract to repair Oroville Dam’s two damaged spillways to a Nebraska construction company. The Department of Water Resources announced that Kiewit Corp. of Omaha was awarded a $275 million contract to repair …

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Reports Describe How Pennsylvania Firefighter Died, Oxygen Hose Burned

Investigators say a Philadelphia, Penn., firefighter died because a hose supplying her with oxygen had burned through and they found problems with how her colleagues responded to her seven emergency distress signals. The fire department and the National Institute for …

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Total Cost of Risk Drops for 3d Year: RIMS Benchmark

Despite rising uncertainty and increasingly more complex risk profiles, businesses saw a decline in the total cost of risk (TCOR) for the third year in a row, according to the 2017 RIMS Benchmark Survey. The Benchmark Survey, produced with Advisen, defines TCOR …

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Allianz Expands North American Crisis Management Team

Specialist corporate insurer Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS) announced several personnel appointments to its North American Crisis Management Team. Alex Pittignano has been named executive underwriter, and both Randy Esposito and Jillian Shelby have joined as underwriting specialists.  All will report to Marcos Garcia …

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Maryland Insurance Commissioner Named to Board of Directors of the NIPR

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) announced that its Executive Committee recently selected Maryland Insurance Commissioner, Al Redmer, Jr., as a board member for its non-profit affiliate, the National Insurance Producer Registry (NIPR). The NAIC is the U.S. standard-setting …

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Connecticut’s Business Risk Partners Hires Stein and Rathore

Specialty underwriter and program administrator Business Risk Partners (BRP), headquartered in Windsor, Conn., has added two new members to its Professional Liability (E&O) and Operations team. Jennifer Stein was named professional liability underwriter for the firm’s insurance agents and brokers …

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Insured Damage for Southern Ontario Windstorm Estimated at US$73.4M

A windstorm that hit parts of southern Ontario on March 8, 2017 has caused almost C$100 million (US$73.4 million) in insured damage, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), which quoted a report from Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ). …

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New Jersey’s World Insurance Associates Merges with Mark Lauria Associates

World Insurance Associates LLC, an independent insurance agency headquartered in Tinton Falls, N.J., has merged with Mark Lauria Associates Inc., an independent insurance agency with offices in Staten Island, N.Y. and Red Bank, N.J. The transaction went into effect April …

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Insurers Push to Keep Industry Expert on U.S. Regulatory Council

With no sign of a replacement in the works, the U.S. insurance industry is pushing to prevent the departure of a key figure on the federal body that determines how large insurance companies are regulated. Roy Woodall, the sole independent voting member …

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Insurers Increasingly Embrace Robots over Humans for Customer Service

Frustrated with automated answering machines before you finally get to speak with a customer service representative? When it comes to insurance, you’ll probably end up dealing with a robot rather than a human within three years, according to a survey …

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Hiscox Group Names Barclay’s Penny as Chief Information Officer

Specialist global insurer Hiscox announced the appointment of Ian Penny as chief information officer (CIO) for the Hiscox Group. An experienced IT professional with a wealth of global, blue-chip experience, Penny brings expertise in leading all aspects of IT including …

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Sen. Grassley Raises Concerns About Conduct at Hospital Operator UHS

A Republican senator said on Tuesday he had written to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) raising questions about reports of “troubling conduct” by psychiatric hospital operator Universal Health Services Inc. The inquiry, by Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley, …

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China’s Baidu Plans July Launch of Self-Driving Car Technology

Baidu Inc. said on Tuesday it would launch its self-driving car technology for restricted environment in July before gradually introducing fully autonomous driving capabilities on highways and open city roads by 2020. The project is named Apollo after the lunar …

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Uber Sees EU Growth Despite Impending EU Court Ruling, Denmark Setback

Uber Technologies sees opportunities to expand in the Europe Union, despite withdrawing its ride-hailing service from Denmark and facing the possibility of an EU court ruling that could mean tougher rules for the firm, an Uber executive said. Danes hailed …

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Big ‘I’ Advantage Promotes Pierson to Assistant Vice President

The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (Big “I”) Advantage unit has promoted Virginia “Ginny” Blake Pierson to assistant vice president. Pierson will lead the department’s marketing initiative with emphasis on Big “I” state association relationships and the Big …

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Tennessee to Replace Guardrails Involved in Fatal Crashes

Tennessee is preparing to replace numerous guardrail parts after the state determined that a certain model of end piece didn’t work as intended in at least two fatal crashes. The Knoxville News Sentinel reported that Tennessee plans to remove and …

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Florida Wildfires Burn More Than 126K Acres So Far in 2017

At least 126,000 acres have burned in wildfires across Florida since January, surpassing the five-year average of acreage burned in a typical year, officials said. Florida’s fire season peaks this month, during the driest part of the year in the …

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U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Appeal by Florida Floating Home Owner

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected a Florida man’s latest appeal in a landmark case involving the seizure and destruction of his floating home. The justices denied without comment Fane Lozman’s petition asking them to enforce their 2013 ruling …

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North Carolina Investigating 250K Gallon Sewage Spill

North Carolina officials are investigating after a sewage spill of about 250,000 gallons in Johnston County. The county said in a news release that the spill occurred Sunday. The Johnston County Public Utilities Department said a break in a pipeline …

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UnitedHealth Prices 2018 Insurance Plans to Include Obamacare Tax

UnitedHealth Group Inc. reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday and said it was coping with uncertainty in U.S. healthcare laws by pricing its 2018 insurance plans to include a costly Obamacare tax. President Donald Trump and other Republicans have vowed …

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Apple Soon Will Begin Road-Testing Self-Driving Car Software: Source

Apple Inc. will soon take its self-driving car software platform to public streets for the first time, a major step that gets the world’s largest technology company into a crowded race to reshape transportation. The California Department of Motor Vehicles …

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Louisiana Law Firms Could get $87M Each For 2010 Oil Spill Litigation

A committee of attorneys involved in litigation arising from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill has made its recommendation for dividing some $700 million in fees among 122 law firms involved in years of complex legal work. Two Louisiana …

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Warrant Issued For Illinois Man Accused of Burning Down Business for Insurance

Authorities in central Illinois have issued an arrest warrant for a businessman they allege burned down his auto and tire shop last year. The State Journal-Register in Springfield reported the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department has issued an arrest warrant on …

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California Company Recalls Vegetarian Snacks over Unlisted Peanuts

A Los Angeles-area company is voluntarily recalling one of its vegetarian snacks because it may contain trace amounts of unlisted peanuts. The firm, Beyond Meat, said in a release that peanuts were detected in some of its Feisty Crumbles snacks …

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Washington Nightclub Claims Racial Prejudice in $22.5M Suit

The city of Vancouver and others successfully conspired to close a nightclub because of racial prejudice, the owners of the club say in a $22.5 million lawsuit. The owners of Q Nightclub and Lounge say efforts by the city and …

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Lifeguard Liability Protections Set for Vote in Hawaii Legislature

Hawaii officials are looking over two bills that would either keep or end liability protection for cities and counties during drowning incidents. Kauai, Maui and Honolulu officials held a news conference this week to urge lawmakers to extend liability protections …

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Concord Adds Grayer to Reps & Warranty Insurance Practice in New York

Concord Specialty Risk (Concord) has announced that James A. Grayer, Esq. has joined the firm as executive vice president, Reps & Warranty Insurance, after resigning as a partner at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. Grayer is based in New …

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Markel Int’l Singapore Taps Munich Re’s Fordham as Marine Liability U/W

Markel International Singapore, the specialist insurer, has appointed Colin Fordham as a senior marine liability underwriter based in Singapore. Fordham joins from the Munich Re syndicate on the Lloyd’s Asia Platform, where he held the same position, and brings with …

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Capacity Group of NY Hires Jeanne Braun to Health Care Strategy Group

Capacity Group of NY LLC (CGNY), a division of Mahwah, N.J.-headquartered The Capacity Group – an EPIC Company, has hired Jeanne Braun as president of CGNY’s newly established Health Care Strategy Group. Braun will be responsible for new business development, …

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Police, Advocates Clash Over New Hampshire Pot Decriminalization Bill

With Republican Gov. Chris Sununu on board, advocates for marijuana decriminalization hope this is the year New Hampshire joins its New England neighbors in removing criminal penalties for possessing pot. But the measure is facing challenges in the Senate, where …

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Insurance Waivers in Pennsylvania and Other States Sometimes Missed Violations

Waivers granted in Pennsylvania and many other states to allow convicted felons to become insurance agents have sometimes missed ongoing violations, a newspaper reported. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that since 2004 the state Insurance Department has issued 111 waivers to …

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IRobot Sues Hoover, Other Competitors over Robotic Vacuum Patents

IRobot, the maker of the popular Roomba robotic vacuum, brought a string of lawsuits on Monday accusing rivals including The Hoover Co and Black & Decker Corp of using its patented technology without permission. Bedford, Massachusetts-based iRobot filed lawsuits in …

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UK Prime Minister May Seeks Early Election to End Brexit Divisions

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said she will seek an early election on June 8, in an unexpected gamble aimed at strengthening her hand going into talks on leaving the European Union. The surprise statement came less than a month …

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Hackers Target Japan’s Mobile Gamers to Access Their Employers’ Data

Gamers beware: hackers offering free virtual trinkets don’t care about your passwords or personal data, but your employer’s most closely guarded secrets. An employee at a Japanese high-tech company learned this the hard way, duped by a fake giveaway for …

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Obamacare Insurers Struggle to Set Plans Amid Threats to Program

Obamacare is stuck in limbo, and insurers and state regulators are struggling to set their plans for what’s increasingly shaping up as a chaotic year for the health-care program. After the failure of Republicans’ first attempt to repeal and replace …

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Singapore Ranks Highest in Asia in Attracting Talent; No. 2 in Global Index

Singapore ranks the highest in Asia in attracting and developing talent, reflecting not only its world-class education system but how it’s adapting skills in the digital era. The city-state took the No. 2 spot behind Switzerland on the Global Talent Competitiveness …

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Swiss Re Gears Up to Launch Subsidiary in Singapore in 2018

Swiss Re plans to launch in 2018 a subsidiary in Singapore, which will become the company’s regional headquarters for its reinsurance operations in Asia. The company, Swiss Re Asia, will be wholly owned by its Zurich-based global parent, Swiss Re …

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FGL Pulls $1.6B Deal with China’s Anbang; Other Suitors Interested

Fidelity & Guaranty Life terminated its $1.6 billion agreement to be purchased by China’s Anbang Insurance Group Co. and said it will weigh other possible deals. FGL’s board “is continuing to evaluate strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value and has …

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Houston Manufacturer to Pay $150K to Settle Discrimination, Retaliation Suit

A Houston manufacturing facility has agreed to pay $150,000 and to provide other significant relief to settle a religious discrimination and retaliation lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). EEOC charged in its suit that U.S. Steel …

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Texas Mutual Insurance Awards $1M in Safety Grants to Community Colleges

Workers’ compensation insurer, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., has awarded a combined $1 million in grants to 10 community colleges across Texas. The grants fund workplace safety courses for employers, workers and the general public through the risk management programs at each college. Since …

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Chicago Airport Police Scrutinized after United Passenger Dragging Incident

The video of a passenger being dragged by an officer from a United Express flight shined an unwanted spotlight on the little-known police force that guards Chicago’s two main airports and could threaten the agency’s future. Chicago’s aviation officers are …

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Woman Injured by Discus at Nebraska Track Meet Awarded $350K

A woman who was struck in the head by a discus at a 2014 state track meet in Nebraska has been awarded $350,000 in a settlement. The Omaha World-Herald reports that 83-year-old Bernice Gorecki filed a lawsuit in 2015 after being hit …

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Airbnb Sues City of Miami Over Violation of Hosts’ First Amendment Rights

The homesharing platform Airbnb is suing the city of Miami, where officials threatened to crack down on hosts who publicly protested regulations prohibiting short-term rentals. According to the lawsuit filed Friday in Miami-Dade County by Airbnb and five individual hosts, …

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All Risks Launches Commercial Earthquake Program

All Risks, Ltd. has introduced a new Specialty Property Earthquake Program with an exclusive A.M. Best “A” rated carrier. The Specialty Property Earthquake Program provides difference in conditions insurance, including earthquake, earthquake sprinkler leakage and flood to commercial entities. Eligible …

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10K Florida Personal Lines Policies Approved for Citizens Takeouts

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved one company to participate in the June Citizens Property Insurance Corporation take-out period. For the June 20, 2017 Personal Residential Take-Out Period: Weston Insurance Co:  – approved to remove up to …

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New Mississippi Law Requires Back-Seat Passengers to Buckle Up

Mississippi will require back-seat passengers to buckle up in most vehicles, starting this summer. Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed Senate Bill 2724 on April 5, and it becomes law July 1. Mississippi already has a law requiring seat belts for …

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Floodplain Changes Approved for North Carolina Beach Community

North Carolina’s floodplain mapping officials have approved an appeal of severe flood zone restrictions for a beach town, meaning property owners may save some money. The StarNews of Wilmington reports the N.C. Floodplain Mapping Program approved the appeal from New …

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UC Berkeley Settles Law Dean Sexual Harassment Allegations Lawsuit

A legal settlement has been reached between the University of California, Berkeley, the former dean of its law school, and his former assistant, who said he sexually harassed her. The settlement between the school, former dean Sujit Choudhry and the assistant Tyann …

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Father in Oregon Seeks $5M For Son’s Accidental-Overdose Death

The father of a 2-year-old Oregon boy who died of morphine poisoning seeks $5 million in a lawsuit filed against the boy’s mother, grandmother, aunt and an insurance company. Jesse deVos’ lawsuit alleges the adults failed to ensure a childproof …

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Former Mayor of San Diego Files Suit over Wife’s Ruptured Implants

Former San Diego Mayor Roger Hedgecock is suing the city, claiming a sidewalk fall ruptured his wife’s breast implants. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Hedgecock and his wife contend the city was careless and negligent for failing to repair sidewalk …

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Museum in Indiana Exhibit Explains Why Natural Disasters Occur

Natural disasters can strike at any time, often without warning, and devastate cities, regions, states and countries. Nature Unleashed, a new exhibit at the Indiana State Museum, aims to help Hoosiers understand why tornadoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions …

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How to Shop for High Risk Auto Insurance

As a driver, somewhere along the line you’ll no doubt have an “oops” moment, whether it’s serious (DUI) or less dangerous (driving without insurance). Reasons big to small can cause you to be considered a high risk driver,...

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Billionaire Investor John Paulson Planning AIG Board Exit: Source

Billionaire John Paulson is planning to step down from American International Group Inc.’s board after his hedge fund sold shares in the insurer, according to a person familiar with the plan. The move is expected to be announced in the …

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Trump Aims to Raise Insurer Participation in Obamacare with New Rules

The Trump administration finalized a set of rules that it says will help bolster insurer participation in Obamacare’s markets, even as the president presses for repeal of the law itself. The rules, published Thursday [March 13] by the Department of …

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5-Year-Old Killed at Atlanta Rotating Restaurant

Officials say a 5-year-old boy has died after getting caught in the rotating wall of an Atlanta restaurant. Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford tells The Atlanta Journal-Constitution the little boy got his head stuck between two tables and …

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AIG Board Refuses CEO Hancock’s 2016 Cash Bonus after Poor Earnings

  American International Group Inc.’s board of directors declined to award Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock a cash bonus for his work last year, after the company’s dismal financial performance roiled shareholders, according to a proxy filing on Thursday [April …

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Oklahoma Commissioner to Host Healthcare Innovation Summit

Mobile apps, wearable heart monitors and high-tech shoe soles could help solve some of America’s healthcare problems. These cutting-edge products are among the topics up for discussion at the Healthcare Innovation Summit hosted by Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak. …

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Cayman Islands Issues 39 Insurer Licenses in 2016

The Cayman Islands Insurance Industry saw a “buoyant” start to 2017, with eight new insurer licenses issued in the first quarter, which followed a strong year in 2016 when 39 insurer licenses were issued, said the Insurance Managers Association of Cayman (IMAC). …

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Miller Leaves Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement

The Michigan Automobile Insurance Placement Facility has announced that Terri A. Miller, its executive director, is leaving after nearly 20 years in that role. Karyn Spaude, MAIPF’s controller, was named interim director as the organization seeks to fill the position. …

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Average to Below-Average Wildfire Season Expected for Colorado

Colorado is in store for an average to slightly below-average wildfire season this year, despite dry conditions and early outbreaks on the eastern plains, officials said. “But the fires will occur,” said Michael Morgan, the director of state Division of …

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Washington Commissioner Fines Insurance Professionals over Violations

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler recently took disciplinary action and issued fines totaling $3,650 against insurance companies, agents and a continuing education provider who violated state insurance regulations. Janet Pack, Tacoma; fined $1,500 Pack reportedly sold an annuity to a …

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Report Shows California Workers’ Comp Written Premium up in 2016

California’s Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau has completed its report on statewide workers’ comp insurer loss and premium experience through Dec. 31, 2016. The major findings of the WCIRB report include: California written premium for 2016 was roughly $18.1 billion, …

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Southern California That Charged Police with Racism Arrested For Fraud

A Southern California couple that had filed an official complaint accusing police officers of racism, has been arrested for insurance fraud and filing a false police report. Lamont Goodwin, 33, and Sylvia Camarillo, 31, were arrested last week by California …

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Grand Theft Auto Video Game Teaches Autonomous Cars How to Drive

In the race to the autonomous revolution, developers have realized there aren’t enough hours in a day to clock the real-world miles needed to teach cars how to drive themselves. Which is why Grand Theft Auto V is in the …

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Worldwide Broker Network Add Members in Germany, Croatia

Worldwide Broker Network (WBN)* announced the addition of two members in Germany and Croatia, bringing the network of independent insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firms to 109 in 101 countries. Based on combined annual member revenues, WBN said it …

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Caution Urged as Wildfire Season Starts in New Jersey

The New Jersey Forest Fire Service is urging residents to be cautious as the spring wildfire season starts in the state. The agency says this year’s season is starting a little earlier than usual because winter conditions became drier and …

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New Jersey Transit Train Stuck in Tunnel Three Hours, Stun Gun Sparks Stampede

A train with about 1,200 passengers became stuck in a tunnel between New York and New Jersey for nearly three hours on Friday, and the chaotic scene escalated to pandemonium when Amtrak police used a stun gun to subdue a …

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Rolling Stone Settles, but Fight Over University of Virginia Rape Story Isn’t Over

Rolling Stone magazine settled a University of Virginia administrator’s lawsuit over its discredited story about a rape on campus, but its legal fights over the botched article aren’t over. Attorneys for Rolling Stone and Nicole Eramo announced this week that …

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Sompo International Taps QBE’s Sordillo as Sr. VP, Loss Control Leader

Sompo International, the Bermuda-based specialty provider of property and casualty insurance and reinsurance, announced that Victor Sordillo has joined the company as senior vice president, loss control leader. Sordillo is responsible for directing the company’s loss control team in the …

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Rideshare Drivers Take ‘Huge Risk’ with Personal Auto Coverage: GEICO

You are a driver for a transportation network company and then the unfortunate happens. Someone sideswipes your vehicle. In the chaotic moments after the accident, a question about your personal auto insurance coverage arises. Are you fully covered or not …

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China’s Ant Financial Sweetens MoneyGram Bid by 36%

China’s Ant Financial has sweetened its bid for MoneyGram International Inc by 36 percent, beating a rival offer to gain approval from the U.S. electronic payment firm’s board, although it still faces regulatory hurdles. Ant, the finance affiliate of Alibaba …

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