St. Paul, Minnesota, to pay $520K to Woman Attacked by Police Dog

The city of St. Paul, Minnesota, has agreed to pay $520,000 to a woman who was attacked by a police dog last year as she was taking out her trash, one of her attorneys said. The decision to pay Desiree …

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Federal Officials Assessing Wisconsin Flood Damage

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials are touring Wisconsin to assess damage in communities that were hit by flooding and tornadoes in August. Five FEMA teams are assessing damage to public infrastructure and homes in order to determine whether Wisconsin qualifies …

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Study: Texas to See More Frequent 100-Year Rain Events

Decades of additional weather data have led federal officials to reconsider rainfall totals in Texas that define 100-year weather events and caution that extreme rainstorms will strike the state more frequently. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Sept. 27 …

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Admissions Bias Claim Against Harvard Must Go to Bench Trial

Harvard, the nation’s oldest university, must go to trial to defend a lawsuit claiming it discriminates against Asian-American applicants. A Boston federal judge’s rejection Friday of requests by both sides for a win before trial sets up a final showdown …

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Settlement with Tesla’s Musk Reflects SEC Strategy of Targeting Individual Executives

A high-profile settlement with Tesla Inc. Chief Executive Elon Musk exemplifies a recent push by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to go after executives and not just their companies, securities law experts said. In the last week, the SEC …

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Businesses Using Connected Devices Not Concerned About Increased Cyber Risk: Survey

Business that use artificial intelligence, drones, robotics, wearable sensors or other connective technologies can increase their chance of being a cyber attack victim because these technologies give cyber criminals new access points into a company’s IT infrastructure if not properly …

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20 People Arrested in Florida in ‘Operation Hot Water’ Workers’ Comp Fraud Sting

Twenty individuals were arrested in Florida in a workers’ compensation insurance fraud sting operation involving unlicensed contractors in Pasco County in “Operation Hot Water,” according to a statement from Florida Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Jimmy Patronis on Sept. 27. The …

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Fire that Destroyed Mississippi Furniture Plant Ruled Arson

Investigators say a Wednesday fire at a northeast Mississippi furniture plant was arson. Pontotoc Police Chief Randy Tutor told local news outlets Friday that officers worked with the state Fire Marshal and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms …

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Florence Recovery Begins in Carolinas as Flood Waters Finally Recede

Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters were expected to reach their final peak before heading into the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday and weren’t as high as once feared in parts of South Carolina. The Waccamaw River was expected to crest at record levels …

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Maximum Taps Searcy to Open New Office in Jacksonville, Florida

Maximum, an independent excess and surplus lines wholesaler, has opened its second office in Florida which will be run under the the leadership of Anthony Searcy. The new office will be based in Jacksonville. With roots of his own in …

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50 Million Facebook Accounts Exposed to Takeover in Huge Breach

Facebook Inc. said on Friday that hackers stole digital login codes allowing them to take over nearly 50 million user accounts in its worst security breach ever given the unprecedented level of potential access, adding to what has been a …

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2 Insurer Tax Credits Under Scrutiny by Arkansas Task Force

A tax overhaul task force is looking into whether Arkansas should change two tax credits authorized for insurance companies that cost the state about $77 million a year. Members of the Tax Reform and Relief Legislative Task Force on Sept. …

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Death Toll from Indonesia’s 7.5 Magnitude Quake, Tsunami May Reach Thousands

The death toll from a 7.5 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit Indonesia’s island of Sulawesi climbed to more than 800, with casualties expected to reach into the thousands as authorities try to reach those trapped under collapsed buildings. Local …

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Typhoon Trami Hammers Japan, with Flights, Trains Canceled in Tokyo

Typhoon Trami is bringing Tokyo to a halt. East Japan Railway Co. suspended all train service in the Japanese capital on Sunday in preparation for the storm, which is hammering the southwest of the country. Flights were canceled at major …

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Brexit Price Tag for UK Government Is £500 Million per Week: Study

Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has cost the government 500 million pounds ($650 million) a week, wiping out for the moment any future savings from stopping payments to the bloc, according to a study published on Sunday. The …

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New Munich Re Cyber Reinsurance Product Designed for Small, Mid-Sized Businesses

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. (Munich Re) has launched a cyber reinsurance product for regional property/casualty insurance carriers seeking to provide this coverage and associated services to their small and medium-size enterprise (SME) clients. According to Annamaria Landaverde, vice president and …

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Flooding Forecast in Some South Carolina Communities Not as Dire as First Feared

The last community in the way of Hurricane Florence’s floodwaters as they slowly flow to the sea got some good news Wednesday – the predictions aren’t as dire as they once were. And it appears the Waccamaw River won’t top …

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Feds Sues Owner of a Texas McDonald’s Franchise for Sexual Harassment

A Texas company that does business as a McDonald’s franchise has been sued over the alleged sexual harassment of four females in the workplace. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has alleged in a lawsuit that Credle Enterprises LLC, …

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Chicago Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to Federal, State Tax Evasion

A Chicago insurance agent has pleaded guilty to failing to pay federal and state taxes on more than $4.7 million in income earned over a decade, according to federal prosecutors. The office of the United States Attorney for the Northern …

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California Governor Signs Bill to Provide Workers’ Comp to Peace Officers Injured out of State

California Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill into law peace officers can file a claim for workers’ compensation if injured or killed while in the line of duty while out of state. Brown signed Assembly Bill 1749 into law. …

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Family Files $1.27M Wrongful Death Suit Against Oregon Nursing Home

The family of an 86-year-old woman who died following a fall is suing a nursing home for $1.27 million. The Statesman-Journal reported the wrongful death lawsuit, filed this week in Marion County Circuit Court, accuses the staff at Avamere Court …

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Montana Hospital Settles Whistleblower Lawsuit

A federal judge has dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit after a settlement was reached with the Montana hospital accused of paying some of its physicians at above-market rates in exchange for patient referrals to in-house services. The Daily Inter Lake reported …

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Another Cracked Beam Found at $2B San Francisco Transit Terminal

A second beam in San Francisco’s celebrated new $2 billion transit terminal shows signs of cracking, an official said Wednesday, a day after a crack in a nearby support beam shut down the building that opened just last month. The …

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Connecticut Flooding Washes Away Roads, Forces Rescues, School Closures

Connecticut was cleaning up after a storm dumped more than eight inches of rain on parts of the state, causing floods that washed away roads and bridges and trapped people in their vehicles. Schools in East Haddam and Lebanon were …

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After Blasts, Massachusetts Orders Natural Gas Safety Review

Massachusetts regulators are calling for an outside review of the state’s natural gas distribution system in the wake of gas explosions and fires that affected three communities earlier this month. The Department of Public Utilities said Wednesday it would name …

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Mitchell International Enters Merger Agreement with Pennsylvania’s Genex

Mitchell International, a San Diego, Calif.-headquartered provider of technology, connectivity and information to the property and casualty insurance and collision repair industries, and Genex, a provider of clinical solutions to the workers’ compensation, auto and disability insurance markets, have entered …

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Frenkel & Company Hires Ferber as a Principal in New York

Frenkel & Company, an EPIC Company, has hired Joseph Ferber as a principal in New York. Ferber will report to Phil Remig, Northeast region senior vice president of Operations and Sales. In his new role, Ferber will be responsible for …

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Just Like Many British Homes, UK Insurers’ Shares Are Subsiding This Summer

Just like a lot of British houses this summer, U.K. insurance stocks are sinking. The country’s non-life insurers sector had its steepest drop in more than a year-and-a-half on Friday after its biggest constituent, RSA Insurance Group Plc, warned this …

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Everest Insurance Names Presidents of Risk Management Group, Specialty Underwriters

Everest Insurance announced that Mike Karmilowicz has been promoted to president of Everest Specialty Underwriters (ESU) and Dave Sandler has been promoted to president of its Risk Management Group. Karmilowicz joined Everest Insurance in 2015 from Zurich. He previously also …

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Insurance Pros’ Guide to How to Dress, Behave, Speak at Insurtech Connect Conference

It’s billed as the “world’s largest gathering of insurance leaders and innovators.” So, of course, as an insurance leader and/or innovator you will be one of the 6,000 attendees at the ITC—the Insurtech Connect Conference at MGM Grand in Las …

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UK Regulator to Probe Providers (Including Home Insurers) for Overcharging

Britain’s competition regulator said it would investigate concerns by customers of mobile, broadband, home insurance, mortgages and savings providers that they are being “ripped off” after charity Citizens Advice made a super complaint. Citizens Advice said on Friday that overcharged …

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Australia’s Financial Institutions Put Profit over Customers, Mis-Sold Insurance: Inquiry

Australia’s big banks and wealth managers pursued profit ahead of their customers’ interests and viewed regulatory compliance as a cost rather than a guide to proper conduct, a scathing interim report from a commission of inquiry said on Friday. Australia’s …

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AXA XL Canada Taps Ashall from Aon Reed Stenhouse for Broker & Client Mgmt. Team

AXA XL Canada has added Jonathan Ashall to its Broker & Client Management team. Ashall is based in Toronto and reports to Urs Uhlmann, CEO and country manager AXA XL Canada. Ashall joins AXA XL from Aon Reed Stenhouse where …

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Most UK Firms Unprepared for EU Exit; Hard Brexit Could Bring Investment Cuts: Survey

Most British firms are unprepared for Brexit, but a fifth plan to move all or some of their business to the European Union in the event the U.K. fails to reach a deal with the bloc, according to one of …

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Missouri District to Pay $423K to Settle With Teen Injured in Mud Pit

Springfield Public Schools in Missouri has agreed to pay $423,106 to a settle a lawsuit alleging that a teen was critically injured in a mud pit because staff failed to properly supervise students at a back-to-school event. The Springfield News-Leader …

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New Property Insurer, Journey, to Include Texas in Initial Roll Out

Texas is one of three states in which a new property/casualty insurance company plans its initial roll out. In addition to Texas, Florida-based Journey Insurance Co., formed by United Insurance Holdings Corp. (UPC Insurance) in partnership with Tokio Marine Kiln, …

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Texas’ Harris County Sets Aside $14.5M for New Flood Plain Maps

Harris County has earmarked $14.5 million for updated flood plain maps more than a year after deluges from Hurricane Harvey swamped parts of Houston. The Houston Chronicle reports commissioners accepted $6.5 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency funds. The county …

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Hahn Named President of Westfield’s Small Business Unit

Westfield Center, Ohio-based property/casualty insurer, Westfield, has named Robyn Hahn as president of its Small Business unit. Hahn more than 25 years of diverse experience in the insurance industry and has held senior leadership roles at national and international insurance …

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Puerto Rico’s Small Businesses Were Largely Uninsured for Maria Damages

Only a tiny fraction of small businesses in Puerto Rico was fully insured for losses arising from last year’s Hurricane Maria, which hit revenue or raised costs for more than three-quarters of them, according to a Federal Reserve report on …

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The Hidden Truth About MoviePass

MoviePass. Consumers love it, consumers hate it. Savior of the movie theater, destroyer of the movie theater. It’s one of the most hotly-debated companies of the past five years, particularly as industry analysts try to dissect the business – as …

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Drone Hobbyists May Soon Lose Their Freedom from Regulation

The Wild West days of unregulated recreational drones may be nearing an end. A bill close to passage in Congress would repeal the current exemption for hobbyists from regulations and for the first time require them to take a test …

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What States Have Done, and Not Done, About Guns

Shortly after last year’s shooting massacre on the Las Vegas strip, Ohio Gov. John Kasich convened a panel to explore possible reforms to state gun laws. A Republican, Kasich wanted to be sure its members clearly supported the Second Amendment. …

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Jury Awards $7,500 for Each Body in Tennessee Cemetery Class Action Suit

A Tennessee jury has awarded $7,500 for each body at issue in a class-action lawsuit against several funeral homes and a now-closed cemetery where hundreds of bodies were mishandled. The Commercial Appeal reports the jury’s decision was rendered Tuesday, a …

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Federal Appeals Court Reverses Order Requiring Tennessee Coal Ash Cleanup

A federal appellate panel on Monday overturned an order that would have required the nation’s largest public utility to unearth and remove a massive amount of coal ash at one of its Tennessee power plants. In a 2-1 decision, the …

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Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee Deal with Major Flooding

Flash floods trapped people in homes and vehicles in north Alabama on Wednesday, as heavy rain in Mississippi caused flash flooding that inundated about 100 homes and 25 businesses and one person died and emergency shelters were opened after heavy …

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Stone Creek Expands in Washington with Four New Hires

Stone Creek Insurance Agency is expanding its Spokane, Wash. presence with the addition of four new employees. San Francisco Bay Area-based Stone Creek launched its Spokane office in February. Charles Hook has been named personal lines account manager. He has …

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Businesses Should Prepare for Consequences of Climate Change, Zurich Says

Businesses should prepare for the physical consequences of a warming planet, according to a new report out from Zurich Insurance Group. The report, “Managing the impacts of climate change: risk management responses,” was published at the start of Climate Week …

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Texas OKs Hearing on Windstorm Insurer Rate Increase Filing

The Texas Department of Insurance will hold a public hearing on Oct. 8 on the recent rate increase request by the state’s property insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas coast. In August, the Texas Windstorm …

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AXIS Insurance International Names Cullum to New Role, Head of Business Development

AXIS Insurance, the insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd., announced that Paul Cullum has been appointed to the newly created role of head of Business Development for AXIS Insurance International Division. Cullum will be responsible for helping to …

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Ohio Amusement Park Company Fined $142K for Safety Violations

The parent company for Ohio’s Cedar Point amusement park has been fined over $140,000 for safety violations. The Blade reports the $142,270 fine by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration stems from an April 11 incident where an employee was …

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Worldwide Facilities, Petro Guardian Offer Oil & Gas Lightning Risk Program

National wholesale insurance brokerage and managing general agent, Worldwide Facilities, is teaming up with Petro Guardian, a turnkey lightning and static protection installation service provider for oil and gas facilities, on Enlightning, an exclusive program to reduce the risk of …

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Claims Technology Firm Snapsheet Names PwC’s Yoder as President

Virtual claims technology firm Snapsheet has appointed insurance industry veteran Jamie Yoder as president. Yoder will lead activities across Snapsheet’s business lines, including virtual appraisals, fleet and rental management, Snapsheet Transactions and digital engagement and claims management. Yoder joins Snapsheet …

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Review of Arizona Gas Pipelines Pursued by Corporation Commission

A member of the Arizona Corporation Commission is calling for the state’s natural gas operators to review the safety of their pipelines. Commissioner Andy Tobin said this week that he called an emergency meeting with Southwest Gas and Kinder Morgan. …

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Cracks Close San Francisco Building, Snarl Traffic for Salesforce Event

San Francisco’s financial district, usually jammed with traffic during Salesforce.com Inc.’s annual Dreamforce conference, has been thrown into chaos after a new transportation terminal, named for the software company, was closed through next week. Authorities found cracks in two steel …

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Frenkel Benefits Hires Tunno as a Principal in New York

Frenkel Benefits, an EPIC Company, has hired Nicholas Tunno as a principal in New York. Tunno will report to Phil Remig, Northeast region senior vice president of Operations and Sales. Tunno joins from the New York office of Marsh & …

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Study Says New Haven Leads State in Distracted Driving Crashes

New Haven and Hartford, Conn., lead the state in distracted driving accidents, according to a new study. The Travelers Institute and the Connecticut Safety Research Center say between 2015 and the first half of 2018 there were 1,392 crashes caused …

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Marsh Makes Blockchain Proof of Insurance Accessible Through Salesforce

Insurance broker Marsh is expanding its collaboration with IBM to provide clients with access to the industry’s first commercial blockchain product for proof of insurance through the Salesforce customer management platform. Blockchain technology promises to automate and streamline the proof …

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Dozens of Structures Damaged in Post-Hurricane Florence Storm in Virginia

Officials say more than 70 buildings have been damaged or destroyed during a storm that spawned at least 10 tornadoes in Virginia from the remnants of Hurricane Florence. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports Chesterfield County was hit hardest Sept. 17, with …

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Uber Settles with States for $148M Over Failure to Disclose Data Breach

Uber Technologies Inc. will pay $148 million for failing to disclose a massive data breach in 2016, marking a costly resolution to one of the biggest embarrassments and legal tangles the ride-hailing company has suffered. The settlement with 50 U.S. …

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Court Rules Cryptocurrencies Fall Under Commodities Regulator

A federal judge said on Wednesday that virtual currencies meet the definition of a commodity and fall within the jurisdiction of the U.S. derivatives regulator, allowing the agency to pursue fraud allegations against My Big Coin Pay Inc. The closely …

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Toyota Eyes Future When People Don’t Buy Cars, Pushing Insurance, Maintenance Services

Toyota Motor Corp., Asia’s biggest carmaker, is preparing for a potential future where people don’t buy cars. That’s behind the hefty investments that the company has made in ride-hailing providers, most prominently the $1 billion that it poured into Southeast …

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Aon Offers Protection Policy to Help Firms Provide Financial Support to Terrorist Victims

Aon has collaborated with Pembroke Managing Agency at Lloyd’s to develop Public Protection Policy (PPP), a solution designed to help businesses across the globe provide financial support to individuals affected by a terrorist attack on a company’s premises or owned …

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AXIS Specialty UK Offers GCHQ-Certified Training at Cyber Center of Excellence

AXIS Specialty UK Holdings Ltd. announced it has been certified as a GCHQ Certified Training provider for its course “Understanding Cybersecurity and Insurance.” The training is offered through the AXIS Cyber Center of Excellence, a global resource that provides mentorship, …

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More Firms Report Climate-Related Risks, but Few Disclose Financial Impact: G20 Report

Climate-related disclosure is becoming mainstream as more firms support and align their financial reporting to recommendations by a global task force though few disclose the financial impact on the company, a survey shows. The Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures …

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Zurich to Acquire 80% Stake in Indonesia’s Adira Insurance for About $414M

Zurich Insurance is acquiring an 80 percent stake in Indonesia’s Adira Insurance from PT Bank Danamon Indonesia and a minority investor for at least around $414 million, the Swiss group said on Thursday. “Zurich has earmarked Asia Pacific to be …

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Walmart Ready to Mandate Blockchain for Certain Food Suppliers

After several years of tests, Walmart Inc. is ready to mandate use of blockchain technology by a swath of its U.S. suppliers, marking one of its biggest commercial uses. Starting in September 2019, Walmart and its Sam’s Club division will …

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Insurers Tell Congress Trump Tariffs Harm Insurance Consumers

As the Trump Administration continues to slap tariffs onto various consumer products, property/casualty insurers are increasingly concerned how some of these actions will affect the cost of auto and home insurance. Auto parts tariffs have drawn the most industry attention. …

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Explosion at Alabama Chemical Plant Kills 1

One person is dead following an explosion at a chemical plant in north Alabama. Arab Fire Chief Ricky Phillips tells WHNT-TV that a contract worker died in a blast that happened Tuesday at Umicore Specialty Chemicals in Arab. The explosion …

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Florence was Second Wettest Storm in U.S., Behind Harvey

Hurricane Florence was the nation’s second rainiest storm in 70 years, a top rainfall meteorologist calculated. Only last year’s Hurricane Harvey rained more over a 14,000 square mile (36,260 square kilometers) area during a four-day time period, said Ken Kunkel, …

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UPC Insurance, Tokio Marine Kiln Form New Florida-Based Property Insurer ‘Journey’

United Insurance Holdings Corp. (UPC Insurance), a property and casualty insurance holding company, has formed Journey Insurance Co. in partnership with Tokio Marine Kiln. The new property and casualty insurer will initially focus on offering homeowners and commercial residential property …

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Florida Auto Shop Suffers $800k in Damage After Car Crashes Into it, Causes Fire

Fire officials say a Florida auto shop erupted in flames when a vehicle crashed into it. Tampa Fire Rescue reports multiple people called 911 early Saturday morning to report the fire at a Havoline Express Lube shop. The Tampa Bay …

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AmWINS Names Downey Chief Administrative Officer

Charlotte, N.C.-based AmWINS Group, Inc., a global distributor of specialty insurance products and services, has appointed Kristin L. Downey as chief administrative officer, effective immediately. Downey will be responsible for leading the firm’s human resources, training & development, marketing, and …

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Illinois’ Venhaus Insurance Joins Valley Insurance Agency Alliance

Venhaus Insurance Agency, in Columbia, Illinois, has joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a network of over 100 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. Venhaus Insurance Agency owner Doug Venhaus has been in the insurance industry for 17 years. …

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Schoenvogel Named President of Employee Benefits Plan, SimplePay Health

Scott Schoenvogel has been tapped as president of SimplePay Health, a subsidiary of healthcare and wellness company ACAP Health. He is based in Dallas. The company describes SimplePay Health as a new model for healthcare insurance plans designed to make …

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Chicago Archdiocese Settles Priest Abuse Suit for $2.9M

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago has settled a lawsuit filed by a man who alleges he was abused when he was a boy by a priest. The man’s attorney said the archdiocese agreed to pay $2.9 million to the …

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Cavignac & Associates in California Names Broussard Account Executive

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has named Paul Broussard an account executive. Broussard will have dual roles serving both in Cavignac & Associates’ professional liability department and as a small business consultant for the firm. Broussard most recently was …

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Insurtech Accelerator Seeks New Director as Hemesath Transitions

The Global Insurance Accelerator (GIA) has begun a search for a new managing director. Brian Hemesath, the current managing director who has taken GIA from concept to a leadership role in insurtech, will become alumni advocate and entrepreneur-in-residence, working in …

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California OKs New Program to Streamline Licensing for Independent Adjusters

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced on Wednesday he had approved a Universal Claims Certification program from Claims and Litigation Management Alliance designed to streamline the licensing process for independent insurance adjusters. The UCC makes the process of licensing independent …

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Fatal Drug Overdoses in Ohio Increase to Record Number

Fatal drug overdoses increased to a record 4,854 last year in Ohio, a 20 percent rise compared with the previous year, according to information reported to the state. Data on unintentional drug deaths provided to the Ohio Department of Health …

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San Antonio Hospital System Sued for Pregnancy Discrimination

A San Antonio-based hospital system has been sued for allegedly discriminating against a pregnant employee when it fired her after denying her request for light duty accommodation for her pregnancy-related medical restrictions, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) reported. …

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1 Hurt When Crane Falls Onto SUV on Interstate 10 in Louisiana

Louisiana State Police say a construction crane working to widen Interstate 10 collapsed onto an SUV, injuring the driver. Trooper Thomas Gossen says the driver’s injuries were moderate. The accident occurred before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday on westbound Interstate 10 near …

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Minnesota Charges Contractor with Workers’ Comp Fraud, Labor Trafficking

A Minnesota construction contractor has been charged with labor trafficking, insurance fraud and theft by swindle for using undocumented workers on his construction crews and threatening to have them deported unless they followed his orders, including working long hours without …

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Brown & Riding Names Scheider Environmental Specialty Broker in Colorado

Brown & Riding has added Harrison Scheider as an environmental specialty broker. Scheider works out of Brown & Riding’s Denver, Colo. office. He primarily handles accounts in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, Wisconsin, and Florida, but is licensed and able to …

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Lawsuit Blaming Schools for Bullying, Suicide Can Proceed in Ohio, Judge Says

A wrongful death lawsuit accusing an Ohio school district of denying and covering up bullying of an 8-year-old boy who killed himself will be allowed to proceed. A federal judge on Sept. 24 denied Cincinnati Public Schools’ request to dismiss …

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Jury: Galveston Must Pay Nearly $15M to Contractor in Ike Housing Dispute

Southeast Texas city has been ordered to pay nearly $15 million to a fired contractor that was overseeing some federally funded housing recovery after Hurricane Ike hit in 2008. The Galveston County Daily News reports jurors on Sept. 25 decided …

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More Rain Expected in Already Soggy South Carolina

The soggy remnants of Florence keep causing chaos in coastal South Carolina long after the hurricane swirled ashore, with rivers still flowing far beyond their banks and a new storm gathering more rain just offshore. Authorities urged up to 8,000 …

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Navigators Group, Being Acquired by The Hartford, Receives No Other Offers

The specialty insurer Navigators Group announced the expiration of a 30-day “go-shop” period provided for under the terms of its merger agreement with The Hartford Financial Services Group. Navigators said it received no other offers during the period, despite having …

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Oregon Rental Company Settles for $105k in Living Conditions Suit

A Portland, Ore. rental management company has agreed to pay $105,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by an ex-tenant who claimed she endured deplorable living conditions. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported the settlement came from A&G Management after they had sent a …

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Rural Nevada Areas Not as High on Recreational Marijuana

Despite more marijuana licenses available from the state, parts of rural Nevada continue to shun the business. But in other parts of rural Nevada, seeds of industry might be sprouting. Las Vegas dispensary Acres Cannabis has a dispensary under development …

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China’s Debt-Ridden Anbang Insurance Aims to Sell $200M of Japan Real Estate: Sources

Anbang Insurance Group Co. Ltd. aims to sell $200 million worth of Japanese real estate to bidders including Blackstone Group LP, about two years after buying them from the U.S. investment firm, two people with knowledge of the matter said. …

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Construction Company Cited in Connecticut for Safety Hazards, Faces $146K in Penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited L.L.E. Construction LLC for exposing employees to fall and other hazards at a construction worksite in Bridgeport, Conn. The company faces $146,554 in proposed penalties. OSHA inspectors …

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Delaware Governor Nominates Two for State’s Corporate Court

Delaware Governor John Carney on Thursday nominated a corporate lawyer and a court official to fill two newly created openings on the state’s influential Court of Chancery, which is a major venue for major shareholder disputes. Kathaleen McCormick, an attorney …

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Massachusetts’ Clearsurance Partners with CoverHound

Clearsurance, an online publisher of insurance consumer data, has announced its partnership with CoverHound, an online property and casualty insurance comparison platform. Based just outside of Boston, Mass., and founded in 2016 by Michael Crowe and Todd Kozikowski, Clearsurance seeks …

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Police Say More Than $75K in Equipment Stolen from Connecticut Business

Police in Connecticut are searching for a suspect they say stole thousands of dollars’ worth of construction equipment from a business. WVIT-TV reports Watertown, Conn., police were called Monday when a business discovered equipment had been stolen from a tractor-trailer. …

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Slice Labs Raises $20M for Its On-Demand Platform for Insurers

Cloud services provider Slice Labs has raised an additional $20 million that it will use to expand its cloud services for on-demand insurance products globally. The Series A funding round was led by The Co-operators with participation from XL Innovate, …

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SME Law Firms in England & Wales May See Rise in Professional Indemnity Rates: Marsh

Some professional indemnity (PI) insurers are applying greater rigor, are being increasingly selective, or are repricing risks, for small and mid-sized law firms in England and Wales, warned Marsh in a market update. As Oct. 1 approaches – the most …

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KPMG Loses More Staff & Clients in Continuing Fallout From S. Africa Gupta Scandal

KPMG LLP is continuing to lose staff and clients in South Africa more than a year after issuing a public apology for some of the work it did in the country, according to people familiar with the matter. A team …

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Berlin-Based Insurtech Firm Coya Launches with Home Content Insurance – as a Start

Insurtech startup Coya has launched home content insurance cover, designed to be “affordable, transparent and easily accessible.” But Berlin-based Coya said home insurance is just the start and many other forms of insurance are planned. Coya’s flexible contracts can be …

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Insured Losses from China’s Typhoon Mangkhut Estimated at US$1B-US$2B: AIR

Industry insured losses from Typhoon Mangkhut in mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau will be between US$1 billion and US$2 billion, according to catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide. After making landfall in the Philippines, Typhoon Mangkhut doused a less …

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AXA XL Names Moniz & Scully to Lead Excess Casualty Teams in Bermuda, Dublin, Respectively

AXA XL announced two senior promotions within its Excess Casualty Insurance business. Effective immediately Vivienne Moniz and Elaine Scully have been appointed as head of Excess Casualty, Bermuda, and head of Excess Casualty, Dublin, respectively. Their responsibilities will include driving …

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UK Financial Firms Expect 5,766 Jobs to Move in Event of Hard Brexit: Reuters Factbox

As few as 630 UK-based finance jobs have been shifted or created overseas so far ahead of Brexit, while the number of jobs that UK-based financial institutions said they expected to move in the event of a “hard” Brexit is …

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As Brexit Day Nears, 630 UK Financial Services Jobs Have Shifted to EU, Reuters Finds

As few as 630 UK-based finance jobs have been shifted or created overseas with just six months to go before Brexit, a far lower total than banks said could move after Britain’s surprise vote to leave the European Union, according …

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Congress on Track to Double Size of U.S. Overseas Investment Agency

The head of the main U.S. agency for aiding developing country infrastructure projects said on Monday the ability to extend funding for such investments is expected to double if new legislation is approved by the U.S. Congress. Ray Washburne, president …

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NAMIC Honors Rochman with Chairman’s Award

The insurance trade group National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies presented its Chairman’s Award to Julie Rochman, former president and CEO of the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, at the association’s annual convention in San Antonio. “Through her …

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Workers Overdose On the Job and Employers Struggle to Respond

PORTLAND, Ore. — Jimmy Sullivan prepared for his job as a bricklayer the same way every morning for years: injecting a shot of heroin before leaving his car. The first time he overdosed on the job, in 2013 at a …

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U.S. Safety Agency Targets Pilot Fatigue with Technology, Stricter Work Rules

U.S. accident investigators probing a San Francisco incident last year in which a jetliner was mere feet from landing on top of at least one other plane are poised to recommend new automated safety warnings and better pilot-fatigue protections. An …

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Georgia Jury Awards Family $31M Over Boy’s Botched Circumcision

A law firm says a Georgia jury has awarded $31 million to a boy for a botched circumcision he received as a newborn. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the award was handed down Friday in northern Georgia’s Clayton County. A lawsuit …

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Tennessee Drug Overdose Deaths Rise Again in 2017

The number of Tennessee residents who died of drug overdoses has risen more than 8 percent, setting another record in 2017. The state Health Department said 1,776 Tennesseans died from overdoses last year, the most since reporting began. The number …

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NutraRisk Adds Program for Recreational, Medicinal Cannabis Operations

NutraRisk, a division of Worldwide Facilities, has expanded its cannabis offering to include an exclusive cannabis program providing general and product liability for medicinal and recreational operations. NutraRisk can also place risks in the eight states where recreational cannabis is …

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Orlando Wants Pulse Nightclub Civil Rights Lawsuit Dismissed

The city of Orlando has asked a federal judge to dismiss a civil rights lawsuit that was filed on behalf of victims and survivors of the Pulse nightclub shooting. The Orlando Sentinel reports the lawsuit accuses Orlando police Det. Adam …

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Industry Vet Collins Opens Brightway Agency in Florida

Insurance industry veteran Ryan Collins, opened Brightway, The Ryan Collins Agency on Sept. 25, in Sunrise, Fla. Collins comes to Brightway with 15 years of industry experience at Progressive, Liberty Mutual, Safeco and Windhaven, where he rose through the ranks …

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Decision in Uber Employee Vs. Contractor Suit Cuts Driver Bargaining Power

Uber drivers seeking pay and benefits like those employees get were handed a big defeat by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday. A panel of court justices ruled that drivers must go through arbitration and could not continue …

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Uber Drivers Benefits Lose Key Ruling in Pay and Benefits Suit

Uber Technologies Inc. drivers suffered a major defeat in one of the gig economy’s most closely watched labor fights with a ruling barring hundreds of thousands of drivers from suing as a group for better pay and benefits. Tuesday’s decision …

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Maxwell Joins Insurance Office of America in South Carolina

Insurance Office of America (IOA) has added Leroy Maxwell to its Charleston, S.C., location as a risk management specialist. Before joining IOA, Maxwell served as a commercial producer with Turbeville Insurance Agency, where he primarily focused on contractors. Additionally, Maxwell …

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New Paladin Cyber Product for Small, Mid-Sized Businesses Launches in Arizona

Paladin Cyber, a cyber protection and remediation firm, has developed a cyber insurance product tailored for small and mid-sized businesses. Along with its existing software products and services, the new product will enable Paladin to offer a comprehensive cyber-risk assessment, …

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Iowa Pulls Florida Man’s Non-Resident Producer License for ‘Bait, Switch’ Tactics

The Iowa Insurance Division has ordered Covals Douze, of Coconut Creek, Florida, to pay administrative fines and fees totaling $43,895 and revoked his non-resident insurance producer license in a “bait and switch” scheme. The division has also prohibited Douze from …

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Report: Dozens of Texas Gas Leak Explosions Since 2006

More than two dozen homes in north and central Texas have blown up since 2006 along a network of pipelines operated by one of the largest natural gas companies in the U.S, leading to nine deaths and badly injuring at …

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Texas Company Recalls 690 Pounds of Beef Jerky

A South Texas company has recalled nearly 700 pounds (317.52 kilograms) of beef jerky after regulators say a consumer reporting finding hard metal in a product. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday announced Junior’s Smokehouse Processing Plant in El …

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Risk Strategies Expands Private Client Capabilities with Texas Acquisitions

Risk Strategies, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has acquired Texas-based firms, Select Insurance Markets LLP (SIM) and Preferred Personal Insurance Agency LLP (PPIA). Terms of the deal were not disclosed. SIM, founded in 2001 by …

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NW Iowa Derailment Dumps Sand, Railcars, into River

No injuries have been reported after a train derailed in northwest Iowa and 20 cars carrying soybean oil and sand fell into the flooded Floyd River. The Des Moines Register reports the bridge beneath the Union Pacific train collapsed as …

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New Flood Maps Show Reduced Risks Around Dubuque, Iowa

New federal maps show that fewer buildings in Dubuque are at risk of flooding. The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently updated flood insurance maps for the area that were last changed in 2011. The …

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13% Percent Increase in Fatal Crashes on Oregon Roads

The number of people killed in fatal crashes in Oregon has gone up by 13 percent from last year. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that the total number of deaths on city streets, freeways and county highways was driven up this summer …

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Idaho’s High Court Considering Defamation by Inference Suit

The Idaho Supreme Court has heard arguments in a case that could determine whether individuals have the right to sue if they think someone implied, but didn’t outright say, something defamatory. The issue arose in a lawsuit brought last year …

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Major Oil and Gas Firms Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gases to Fight Climate Change

A group of the world’s top oil and gas companies pledged on Monday to slash emissions of a potent greenhouse gas by a fifth by 2025 in an effort to battle climate change. The Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), …

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Majesco Appoints Elster as CEO; Mehta Becomes Chairman

Insurance software and consulting firm Majesco has appointed Adam Elster as chief executive officer, effective October 1, 2018. The company said that Ketan Mehta, Majesco co-founder and current CEO, has decided to retire from the operational role after 36 years …

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Chubb Appoints Konz as EVP, Reinsurance Officer, Overseas General Insurance

Chubb has named Jeremiah Konz as executive vice president, reinsurance officer for Chubb Overseas General Insurance, the company’s international general insurance business in over 50 countries and territories. Konz is currently senior vice president, Ceded Reinsurance for Chubb’s North American …

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Judge Declares Mistrial in California J&J Talcum Cancer Case

Johnson & Johnson’s latest trial over claims that its baby powder causes cancer ended in a stalemate when jurors couldn’t agree on a verdict. A state judge in Pasadena, California, declared a mistrial Monday after jurors deadlocked on Carolyn Weirick’s …

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Singapore’s Changi Airport Tests Terminal Run by Robots, Not Humans

Imagine landing at a major airport and the only human official you meet on your way through the terminal is a customs officer. Singapore’s Changi Airport, voted the world’s best for the past six years by Skytrax, is pursuing that …

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UK Labour Party Sees 2nd Referendum as Way to Avoid Chaotic No-Deal Brexit

The U.K. opposition Labour Party plans to vote down Theresa May’s divorce agreement with the European Union, and sees a second referendum as a way of avoiding a chaotic no-deal Brexit. Labour’s Brexit spokesman Keir Starmer set out what he …

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Global Insurers Realize Innovation Is Critical for Future Success: A.M. Best Survey

A significant majority of global insurers understand that innovation is increasingly becoming a competitive differentiator in the global marketplace, according to the results of an A.M. Best survey of its rated entities. More than 80 percent of survey respondents said …

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Alliant Hires Potts to Its Employee Benefits Group in Virginia

Alliant has hired Arlene Potts as vice president within its Employee Benefits Group. Potts is based in Suffolk, Va., and will work with a portfolio of clients to provide strategic employee benefits services that aim to reduce healthcare costs and …

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Mass. Medical Transportation Business Cited $460K for Wage Law Violations

A Massachusetts medical transportation business and its managers has been cited $460,945 in restitution and penalties for violating workers’ rights and state wage laws. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s office began investigating Watertown, Mass.-based Quantum Transportation LLC and its managers, …

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Pioneer Taps XL Catlin’s McMellin as CEO; Douetil Becomes Chairman, as Taylor Retires

Pioneer Underwriters appointed Andrew McMellin as chief executive officer, effective Oct. 8, 2018 and pending regulatory approval. Dane Douetil, CEO of Pioneer’s parent company, Minova Insurance Holdings Ltd., and currently CEO at Pioneer, will become chairman of the business. Max …

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Florence Impact on Insurers Tempered by Mostly Uninsured Flood Losses

Insurance industry losses from Hurricane Florence, which hit the Carolinas mid-September as a Category 1 storm, will be manageable and not have a severe impact on insurers, according to experts. As the storm turned out to be less of a …

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Chubb Appoints Barziza to Lead North American Property Claims

Chubb has appointed Tim Barziza as head of its North American Property Claims. In this role, Barziza will be responsible for leading the technical and administrative operations of the Property Claim Service, including the recovery and the special investigations units …

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Employers Providing Paid Family Leave Qualify for Tax Credit

The Treasury Department announced that as part of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, eligible employers who provide paid family and medical leave to their employees during tax years 2018 and 2019 may qualify for a new business credit. …

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Massachusetts Insurance Agents, Carriers Helping Their Towns Get Back to Normal After Gas Explosions

As three Massachusetts towns continue to face the after effects of a series of natural gas explosions, finding some normalcy may seem nearly impossible. However, this is something MAPFRE Insurance was seeking to offer as it reached out to the …

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Judge Signals Trump’s Tweet Over Stormy Daniels Is Free Speech, Not Libel

Stormy Daniels’s libel lawsuit over a tweet by Donald Trump looks to be doomed after a judge said the president was engaging in free speech. The adult film star, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she was threatened by …

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NBA Chief Urges Teams to Adopt New Workplace Policies for Women

National Basketball Association (NBA) Commissioner Adam Silver wants all teams to hire more women, especially in leadership and supervisory positions, and is urging them to take some of the mandates that the Dallas Mavericks must now adhere to as an …

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HIIG Acquires Creative Risk Underwriters of Georgia

Houston International Insurance Group (HIIG) has agreed to purchase the remaining shares it did not own of Creative Risk Underwriters (CRU), a managing general underwriting agency (MGU) based in Marietta, Ga., specializing in Medical Stop Loss (MSL). Following completion of …

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Thousands in South Carolina Brace for Post-Florence Flooding

Thousands of people in and around the city of Georgetown, South Carolina, were urged to evacuate on Monday as two rivers gorged with rain from long-departed Hurricane Florence will flood the area this week. More than 10 days after the …

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Pacific Health Care in California Begins Strategic Acquisition Search

Newport Beach, Calif.-based Pacific Health Care Organization Inc. today announced the launch of a strategic acquisition search for an insurance company to add to its suite of comprehensive workers’ comp solutions. The acquisition strategy in the state of California for …

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AXIS Insurance, DUAL North America Partner on Multi-Product Environmental Risk Program

AXIS Insurance, the insurance business segment of AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, has partnered with DUAL North America, the underwriting arm of the Hyperion Insurance Group, to provide environmental risk product offerings for contractors, consultants and engineers in the United States. …

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Former AIG, Ironshore Executive Mitrovic Joins Cooper Levenson Law Firm

Veteran insurance executive Michael Mitrovic has joined the Cooper Levenson law firm in its insurance defense litigation practice. Mitrovic’s career spans nearly 40 years in the insurance industry. He served as president of Global Claims for Ironshore Inc., where he …

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Mississippi Urges Drivers to Watch for Road Workers After Multiple Incidents

State transportation officials are urging drivers to be more careful in work zones after six road workers were hit on job sites last week. WLBT-TV reports three workers were treated for injuries after a produce truck rear-ended a Mississippi Department …

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Carolinas Still Facing Major Flooding More Than a Week After Florence

Major flooding remains in eastern North Carolina more than a week after Hurricane Florence made landfall. Gov. Roy Cooper said Saturday that nine of the state’s river gauges are at major flood stage and four others are at moderate stage, …

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Texas Sets Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit Rates for Coming Year

The workers’ compensation state average weekly wage for dates of injury from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019, has been set at $937.70, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation reports. The maximum weekly benefit rates for …

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High Winds, Tornadoes Damage Homes, Businesses in Southern Minnesota

Several tornadoes struck southern Minnesota as severe storms packing powerful winds and heavy rain left a trail of destruction overnight, the National Weather Service said Friday. The extreme weather late Thursday damaged homes and businesses, and turned a small airport …

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Brad Pitt’s Foundation Sues Architect Over Defects in Katrina Houses

Actor Brad Pitt’s foundation has sued a New Orleans architect, saying defective design work led to leaks and other flaws in homes built for residents of an area that was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. The lawsuit says …

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Residents Call for Changes to Prevent Flooding North Chicago Suburbs

Residents are pushing for Illinois officials to change how they run a dam to prevent flooding in several lakes that flow into the Fox River in Chicago’s northern suburbs. Property owners are petitioning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to …

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Review: Deadly Drunken Crash Rate High in Northwest Indiana

A newspaper review has found that three northwestern Indiana counties have a higher percentage of fatal drunken-driving crashes than the rest of the state and the U.S. because of the region’s heavy traffic, weather and other factors. The (Northwest Indiana) …

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1 Dead as Record Rain Swamps Texas and Oklahoma

A storm system dumped record amounts of rain in parts of Oklahoma and caused flooding in Texas, including in the Dallas area, where floodwaters swept a man from a bridge to his death near the University of Texas’ campus in …

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Montana School District Suit Says Trainer Sexually Abused Student Athletes

An athletic trainer at a Montana high school sexually abused at least 18 student athletes decades ago under the guise of boosting their athletic performance, according to a newly filed lawsuit. The deception was aided by the team winning five …

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Costs to Fight Wildfires in Utah Double This Year

Costs to fight wildfires in Utah are increasing by about $1 million a day right now and authorities expect the season to last throughout October. State Forester Brian Cottam says on average, there are roughly 1,100 fire starts in Utah …

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U.S. Lawsuit Accuses Walmart of Bias Against Pregnant Employees

Walmart is again being accused of violating federal law by failing to accommodate workers’ pregnancy-related medical restrictions. According to a lawsuit brought by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Alyssa Gilliam and a class of pregnant employees at Walmart’s …

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Lawnmower Injuries Remain Source of Serious Injury and High Costs

Lawnmower injuries persists at a rate of close to 6,400 a year, most of them requiring surgery and hospitalization, and costing an average of $37,000 per patient. In what Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers call an unusually comprehensive analysis of nationwide …

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AXA XL Names Greensmith CEO of Catlin Underwriting Agencies, XL Catlin Insurance Co. UK, Succeeding Jardine

AXA XL announced that Paul Greensmith has been appointed CEO of legal entities: Catlin Underwriting Agencies Ltd. and XL Catlin Insurance Co. UK Ltd., subject to regulatory approvals. He replaces Paul Jardine, who, as previously announced, will be leaving XL …

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Holdout Bondholders Agree to Support Puerto Rico Restructuring Deal

Two major holders of Puerto Rico bonds that opposed a restructuring deal for the bankrupt U.S. commonwealth’s Sales Tax Financing Corporation (COFINA) revenue bonds are now part of the agreement, the island’s federally appointed oversight board announced on Friday. The …

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Actress Judd’s Harassment Suit Against Weinstein Faces ‘Professional’ Relationship Law

Ashley Judd’s lawsuit accusing Harvey Weinstein of sabotaging her career after she spurned his sexual advances can move ahead, but a judge balked at her sexual harassment claim because the actress and the producer didn’t have a “professional” relationship. Weinstein …

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Geopolitical Tensions Cause Rise in Political Risk Losses: Willis Towers Watson Report

Increasing geopolitical concerns are causing a rise in political risk exposures with 55 percent of global organizations with revenues greater than $1 billion experiencing at least one political risk loss exceeding a value of $100 million, according to a survey …

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Alcohol Abuse Caused 3 Million Deaths in 2016 – and Most Were Men: WHO

More than 3 million people died in 2016 due to drinking too much alcohol, meaning one in 20 deaths worldwide was linked to harmful drinking, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday [Sept. 21]. More than three-quarters of these …

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Death of New Jersey Ship Worker Killed by Falling Planks Was Accident

New Jersey state police say the death of a ship worker killed when two steel planks fell on him has been ruled an accident. Basim Gilliard was hit around 9:15 a.m. Sunday while he was unloading cargo from the hold …

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Annual Global Festival for Diversity & Inclusion, Dive In, Begins This Week

The fourth annual global festival for diversity and inclusion (D&I), Dive In, begins this week in a record number of 27 countries across the globe. Dive In began in 2015 in London, growing to 10 countries in 2016, 17 in …

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SageSure Insurance Managers Hires dos Santos in Connecticut

SageSure Insurance Managers, an independent residential property managing general underwriter and subsidiary of Insight Catastrophe Group (ICG), has appointed Victor dos Santos as president of Commercial Insurance. Dos Santos and his team will work from SageSure’s Cheshire, Conn., office. SageSure …

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Ex-Bookkeeper for New York Tourism Agency Admits to $220K Theft

The former longtime bookkeeper for an upstate New York tourism agency has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $200,000 from the organization. Kathryn Price pleaded guilty to grand larceny and criminal tax fraud Wednesday in a Saratoga County court. The …

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Swiss Re Taps Berger From Allianz as CEO Corporate Solutions, Replacing Galvagni

Swiss Re announced that Andreas Berger, currently chief regions & markets officer and member of the board of management of Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE, has been appointed CEO Corporate Solutions and member of the group executive committee with …

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Judge Slams Lawyer, Throws Out Ex-Pro Wrestlers’ Lawsuit Over Concussions

A federal judge in Connecticut has dismissed a lawsuit by 60 former professional wrestlers, many of them stars in the 1980s and 1990s, who claimed World Wrestling Entertainment failed to protect them from repeated head trauma including concussions that led …

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FEMA Chief Long to Keep Job, Repay Government for Car Misuse

The head of the federal disaster response agency used government vehicles without proper authorization, but will not lose his job over it, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Friday. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator William “Brock” Long had been under …

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Gas Company Will Cover Losses from Deadly Massachusetts Explosions

Authorities say Columbia Gas has agreed to compensate its customers for all losses related to a series of gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts’ Merrimack Valley. Town officials in Andover announced Saturday that the utility company will pay claims related …

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Brown & Brown Acquires Vandroff Insurance Agency of Florida

Brown & Brown of Florida, Inc., a subsidiary of Brown & Brown, Inc., has acquired substantially all of the assets of Vandroff Insurance Agency, Inc., according to J. Scott Penny, chief acquisitions officer of Brown & Brown, Inc., and David …

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Dam Breach at N.C. Power Plant Causes Coal Ash Spill into Cape Fear River

Gray muck is flowing into the Cape Fear River from the site of a dam breach at a Wilmington power plant where an old coal ash dump had been covered over by Florence’s floodwaters. Forecasters predicted the water would continue …

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Florence Crop Damage to Farms in the Carolinas Could Cost Billions

Hurricane Florence is testing the resolve of farmers in the Carolinas, who could face billions of dollars in agricultural damage while still feeling the sting from Hurricane Matthew almost two years ago. After last weekend’s high winds and rain that …

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California Passes Handful Bills Aimed at Protecting Wildfire Survivors

Five bills that their proponents say will protect wildfire survivors were signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday. The bills are aimed at addressing critical issues facing wildfire survivors including underinsurance, rebuilding, and recovery, those who authored them say. …

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Court Upholds California Commissioner’s Regulatory Actions Against PacifiCare

A three-justice panel of the California Court of Appeal, 4th Appellate District, gas upheld Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones’ Fair Claims Settlement Practices Regulations, which prescribe how insurance companies must process insurance claims. The regulations are also the foundation in determining …

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California Governor Signs Bill Giving Wildfire Victims Options for Rebuilding

Homeowners who lose their houses to wildfire will be able to use their insurance to rebuild somewhere else under an urgency bill signed by California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday. Assembly Bill 1800, authored by by Assemblyman Marc Levine, D-San …

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Starr Insurance Cos. Launch Monoline GL Construction Wrap-Up Coverage

Starr Insurance Companies has introduced Starr CIP Enterprise, a monoline general liability construction wrap-up insurance policy. The new product is designed for property owners and contractors who need tailored primary and excess general liability coverage for single large construction projects. …

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Manhattan, Kansas, Labor Day Flood Caused $17.2M in Damage

Manhattan City Manager Ron Fehr says a flood over the Labor Day holiday weekend caused $17.2 million in structural damages in the city. Fehr told the Manhattan City Commission on Sept. 18 that four commercial and eight residential properties suffered …

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North Carolina Power Plant Inundated by Flood Waters

Duke Energy activated a high-level emergency alert at a retired coal-fired power plant in North Carolina as floodwaters from the nearby Cape Fear River overtopped an earthen dike at the facility and inundated a large lake. Duke spokeswoman Paige Sheehan …

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The Longest Week: Carolinas Worn Out by Florence

Hurricane Florence is still wearing out the Carolinas, where residents have endured an agonizing week of violent winds, torrential rain, widespread flooding, power outages and death. Frustration and sheer exhaustion are building as thousands of people wait to go home …

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Lockton’s Lumelleau Joins EPIC Insurance Brokers in Houston

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has added Matt Lumelleau as a principal in the firm’s property/casualty practice. Based in Houston, Lumelleau will be responsible for new business development, the design, placement and management of property/casualty insurance programs; and providing risk …

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Following July Tornado, 60 Iowa Buildings Deemed Unsafe

Officials in central Iowa have designated about 60 structures as unsafe following a July tornado that damaged about 2,000 buildings. The Times-Republican reports that the properties in Marshalltown now have small red posters that say “Dangerous building — do not …

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5 Years and $100M Later, Huge North Dakota Oil Spill Finally Cleaned Up

Five years and almost $100 million later, cleanup is complete on a massive oil pipeline leak in North Dakota that has been called one of the biggest onshore spills in U.S. history, industry and state officials said. The spill by …

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Texas Workers’ Comp Study Finds Improvement in Worker Access to Medical Care

The Texas Division of Workers’ Compensation reported in a newly released study that access to medical care for injured workers has improved slightly and that a high rate of doctors who treat workers’ comp patients has remained steady. A September …

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Austin Drops Workers’ Comp Lawsuit Against Firefighter with Cancer

The city of Austin, Texas, has dropped a lawsuit challenging the determination by state workers’ compensation officials and an appeals panel that a firefighter diagnosed with cancer is eligible for workers’ comp benefits. According to the Austin Firefighters Association, Lt. …

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LISI Partners Acquires Western Health Advantage in California

General agency LISI has acquired Western Health Advantage in Sacramento, Calif. WHA is a non-profit HMO that offers benefit plans for employer group health coverage. LISI serves more than 8,000 affiliated brokers who offer medical, dental, vision and specialty coverage …

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Small Temblor Shakes Inland Southern California Area

Some inland Southern California communities received an early morning jolt from a minor earthquake, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The USGS says the magnitude-3.4 tremor occurred at 5:44 a.m. Thursday. The quake was centered 2 miles southwest of San Bernardino …

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Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker in Oregon Names Beelar Marketing Manager

Portland, Ore.-based Elliott, Powell, Baden & Baker Insurance agency has named Heather Beelar the firm’s marketing manager. The new position will include identifying and analyzing market trends, and creating strategies to meet evolving needs. She will also be in charge …

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AIG to Acquire Program Manager Glatfelter Insurance Group

American International Group has agreed to acquire Glatfelter Insurance Group, a prominent specialty insurance broker and program manager headquartered in York, Pennsylvania. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. It is expected to close in the fourth quarter of …

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$1.5M Yacht Likely a Total Loss After Connecticut Barge Strike

Maritime officials say a 50-foot, custom-built yacht worth $1.5 million is likely a total loss after it was struck by a barge laden with sand and gravel in a Connecticut harbor. Capt. Eric Knott, Stamford’s harbormaster, tells the Stamford Advocate …

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Remnants of Florence Spawned Six Tornadoes in Virginia

The National Weather Service has confirmed that the remnants of Hurricane Florence spawned a total of six tornadoes in Virginia earlier this week. Five of the tornadoes on Monday were spread across the Richmond metro area. A sixth tornado hit …

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Court Rules for Archdiocese in Connecticut in Priest Abuse Insurance Case

A federal appeals court says an insurance company must reimburse the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford nearly $1 million for payments the archdiocese made to settle sexual misconduct cases involving priests and minors. A three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. …

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Allstate Reports $186 Million in Hail, Other Catastrophe Losses in August

The Allstate Corporation said estimated catastrophe losses for the month of August were $186 million, pre-tax ($147 million after-tax). Catastrophe losses occurring in August comprised 16 events at an estimated cost of $137 million, pre-tax, plus unfavorable reserve re-estimates of …

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Being Nice to Employees Pays Off

Want the best results out of your employees? Then be nice to them. New research from Binghamton University, State University at New York finds that showing compassion to employees almost always pays off, especially when combined with the enforcement of …

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IBM Being Sued for Age Discrimination

Shannon Liss-Riordan has been compared to “a pit bull with a Chihuahua in its mouth.” In a career spanning almost 20 years, the Boston-based lawyer has gone after corporations that have either harmed consumers or their own employees. She’s represented …

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State Farm Gets OK to Deploy Drones to Inspect Florence Damage

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently granted a waiver to State Farm to allow the insurer the ability to inspect damage caused by Hurricane Florence. The approval, received just last week, allows State Farm to operate an unmanned aircraft system …

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Space Junk: Emerging Global Risk Threatens Satellite Communications – Opinion

Last Saturday, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration launched the Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite-2, which will monitor Earth’s ice sheets, recording changes in ice thickness as small as half a centimeter. The satellite will allow us to see …

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Brexit Divorce Stalemate: EU Leaders Reject UK Blueprint as Deadline Looms

Theresa May promised fresh plans to break the stalemate in Brexit negotiations after European Union leaders bluntly rejected her blueprint and warned that time is running out for striking a deal. A two-day summit in Salzburg, Austria, broke up without …

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Tokio Marine Kiln Appoints Patel, Formerly with AXIS/Novae, as CFO

Tokio Marine Kiln (TMK) has appointed of Reeken Patel as chief financial officer (CFO). He joins TMK on Oct. 1, when he takes over from James Dover who has chosen to leave the business after 12 years at TMK and …

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Fidelis Takes Equity Stake, Provides Capacity, for Energy Market MGA, Kersey Specialty

Fidelis Insurance announced it has taken an equity stake in a new managing general agent, Kersey Specialty Ltd., and will be providing underwriting capacity. London-based Kersey will focus on the upstream energy subscription market insurance and will be managed through …

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Lloyd’s Returns to Pre-Tax Profits, Reporting £600M ($793.1M) During 1st Half

Lloyd’s reported a return to profits during the first half, in a welcome recovery after its big losses of 2017. Pre-tax profits during the half were £600 million ($793.1 million), compared to £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in the first six …

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Pilots Forget to Pressurize Cabin of Jet Airways India Flight, Injuring Some Passengers

Pilots operating a Jet Airways India Ltd. flight on Thursday forgot to turn on a switch that maintains optimal pressure in the cabin during ascent, causing injuries to some aboard. About 30 of the 166 passengers aboard the Boeing Co. …

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Restaurants Must Pay Minimum Wage for Work Unrelated to Serving

Restaurants must pay waiters and bartenders minimum wage when they are engaged in tasks such as cleaning toilets that are unrelated to their main jobs and do not offer tips, a divided U.S. appeals court ruled this week. At issue …

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The State of NAIC’s Data Security Model Law

Most states have yet to adopt a cyber security model law for the insurance industry like the one approved by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners in 2017, but one expert believes the industry should be prepared for what he …

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Florence Raises Questions About Rebuilding Along North Carolina’s Coast

When Florence was raging last Friday on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, the hurricane tore a 40-foot (12-meter) chunk from a fishing pier that juts into the ocean at the state’s most popular tourist destination. The privately owned Rodanthe pier has …

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XL Catlin Names Snyder Lead Underwriter for Construction Excess Casualty in Southeast

XL Catlin’s North America Construction insurance business has appointed Ann Marie Snyder, senior underwriter, to lead its Construction Excess Casualty business in its Southeast region. Snyder joined XL Catlin in 2012 from Ironshore Insurance Services where she served as a …

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BKS-Partners Forms Partnership with Montoya & Associates of Florida

Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners (BKS-Partners), an insurance brokerage and risk management firm headquartered in Tampa, Fla., has partnered with Montoya & Associates of Jacksonville, Fla. The partnership finalized on Thursday, Aug. 2, 2018. The advisors at Montoya & Associates will …

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Washington Employers May See Big Drop in 2019 Workers’ Comp Rates

The price of workers’ compensation insurance in Washington could drop significantly in 2019. The Washington Department of Labor & Industries this week proposed a 5 percent decrease in the average premium employers pay for the coverage. If approved, the rate …

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Willis Towers Watson Launches Property Loss Modeling Platform

Willis Towers Watson has launched a new technology platform to help organizations analyze potential property losses across a global portfolio with the aim of optimizing risk transfer and insurance strategies. The new Property Quantified product models multiple perils in a …

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Jacobs Named Next CEO at Illinois’ COUNTRY Financial

Insurer COUNTRY Financial, headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, has named Jim Jacobs as its next chief executive officer (CEO), effective early next year. He succeeds Kurt Bock, who is retiring Jan. 31, 2019, after serving as CEO for seven years. Jacobs …

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Florence Death Toll Climbs to 37; Trump Visits Stricken Area

The death toll from Hurricane Florence climbed to at least 37, including two mental health patients who drowned when a sheriff’s van was swept away by floodwaters, and North Carolina’s governor pleaded with thousands of evacuees not to return home …

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Former Insurance Company Exec Named Chief Actuary at Oklahoma Insurance Department

Andrew Schallhorn has been appointed as chief actuary at the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID), effective Sept. 24. Schallhorn formerly was president of Reserve National Insurance Co. In a departmental press announcement, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak called the position …

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North Dakota Regulators Mull Relaxing Oil Train Shipment Rules

North Dakota regulators are considering relaxing rules that require shippers to remove the most volatile gases from oil before it’s loaded onto train cars. The rules, which were fought by the energy industry, took effect in 2015 and are aimed …

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Donelon: Louisiana Auto Insurance Rate Hikes Lower This Year

Louisiana’s insurance commissioner says the state’s auto insurance market may be stabilizing, with a smaller rise in premiums expected this year compared with prior years. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana’s auto market has seen a 2.1 percent average increase …

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Parents Appealing Rulings in Colorado Ski Resort Death Case

The parents of a teenager who was killed in a 2012 avalanche at a Vail Resort property are appealing a judge and jury’s decision in their son’s death case. Dr. Louise Ingalls and Dr. Steve Conlin, the parents of Taft …

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Arizona Uber Driver Suing NFL Quarter Back in Groping Incident

A female Uber driver in Arizona is suing Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston, accusing him of sexual assault. Court documents say the woman filed the suit in Arizona this week and is seeking more than $75,000 in damages. She …

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Cavignac & Associates in California Names Carrillo Account Executive at

San Diego, Calif.-based Cavignac & Associates has named Fauntelle Carrillo an account executive within its personal lines department. Carrillo is charged with maintaining existing client relationships, educating clients on preventative risk measures and recommending appropriate levels of insurance coverage. She …

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Bayer’s Monsanto Wants Judge to Nix $289M Roundup Verdict

Bayer AG unit Monsanto on Tuesday asked a California judge to throw out a $289 million jury verdict awarded to a man who alleged the company’s glyphosate-based weed-killers, including Roundup, gave him cancer. The company said in motions filed in …

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Feds Say Maryland Man Stole Hurricane Victim’s IDs as Part of $8M Scam

A Maryland man is accused of stealing hurricane victim’s identities as part what the Secret Service describes as an $8 million effort to scam a Federal Emergency Management Agency program. News outlets reported Tuesday that 30-year-old Tare Stanley Okirika is …

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Pennsylvania Catholic Dioceses Sued Over Disclosure of Abuse Allegations

Parents of children in the Roman Catholic Church and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy filed a lawsuit Monday against Pennsylvania’s eight dioceses and their bishops asking a judge to compel them to release information about abuse allegations. The lawsuit …

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Foundation Being Set Up for Victims of Massachusetts Gas Explosions

A relief fund will be established to help Massachusetts residents whose lives were disrupted by a series of natural gas fires and explosions. The announcement was made Monday by Republican Governor Charlie Baker and leaders of the three affected communities. …

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McDonald’s Workers in Several Cities Rally Against Sex Harassment

McDonald’s workers staged protests in several cities Tuesday in what organizers billed as the first multistate strike seeking to combat sexual harassment in the workplace. In Chicago, one of the targeted cities, several dozen protesters rallied in front of McDonald’s …

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International Olympic Committee Signs Allianz as Sponsor from 2021 to 2028

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) says insurance company Allianz signed as a worldwide sponsor from 2021 through the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The value of the deal, which includes becoming a partner of the Paralympics, was not given. The IOC …

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India Oil Refinery Cancels Iran Oil Imports to Keep Insurance Cover as Sanctions Loom

India’s Chennai Petroleum will stop processing Iranian crude oil from October to keep its insurance coverage once new sanctions by the United States against Iran go into effect, three sources familiar with the issue said. Iran’s Naftiran Intertrade Co. Ltd., …

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Marsh Names Fraser as CEO, UK Corporate; Grogan Becomes Chairman of Marsh Ireland

Marsh announced the appointment of Alistair Fraser as CEO of its UK Corporate division. Fraser succeeds Joe Grogan, who Marsh has named as chairman of Marsh Ireland. Both appointments, which are subject to regulatory approval, are expected to take effect …

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AXIS Capital Names O’Sullivan as CEO of AXIS Specialty Europe and AXIS Re

AXIS Capital Holdings Ltd. announced the appointment of Helen O’Sullivan as CEO of AXIS Specialty Europe SE and AXIS Re SE. In this role, she will oversee the company’s Irish subsidiaries and their branches. O’Sullivan also will join the board …

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Members of Assn. of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers Provide $840M to Local Economy

Members of the Association of Bermuda Insurers & Reinsurers (ABIR) made a direct economic contribution to Bermuda of more than $840 million in 2017, according to the group’s 13th annual member survey results. Data reported for calendar year 2017 from …

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Will Robots Take Your Job? It Depends on Where You Live: OECD

Will robots take your job? The answer depends on where you live. The threat varies “strikingly” between countries and regions, with as many as 40 percent of jobs at “high risk” in Western Slovakia and just 4 percent in the …

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Equifax Slapped with $658,000 Fine for Privacy Lapses After UK Cyber Attack

Credit reporting company Equifax Inc. was slapped with a maximum 500,000 pound ($658,000) fine by the U.K.’s privacy watchdog for failing to protect the personal information of as many as 15 million British citizens during a cyber attack on its …

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Ayala Joins Alliant Employee Benefits Group in Oklahoma City

Alliant Insurance Services has added Brady Ayala as senior vice president in its Employee Benefits Group in Oklahoma City. Ayala will service a growing portfolio of regional clients, deploying a full range of benefits consulting solutions focused on strengthening operations …

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Banks and Insurers Have Improved Their Cyber Defenses

Despite the volume of cyberattacks doubling in 2017, banks and insurance firm firms are closing the gap on cyber attacks, having stopped four in five of all breach attempts last year. According to a study by Accenture, financial services firms …

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U.S. Home Price Appreciation in Highest-Risk Areas Outpaced Overall Rate Over Last Decade

Natural hazards are good at grabbing headlines, but they aren’t as good as dissuading people from buying homes in high-risk areas, a new report shows. Median home prices in areas that are in the top 80 percentile for risk of …

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Assurant Invests in Connected Car Services Startup

Niche market specialty insurer Assurant has invested in a technology startup focused on connected car services. The New York-based company declined to disclose the level of investment in Mojio, a technology platform and software-as-a-service (SaaS) provider with offices in Silicon …

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Government Ends Criminal Case Over GM Handling of Ignition Switch Defect

A federal judge in New York on Wednesday dismissed a criminal case brought against General Motors Co. in 2015 over the largest U.S. automaker’s handling of an ignition-switch defect linked to 124 deaths. U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan approved a …

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Florida Appeals Court Deals Insurers a Win in AOB Fight with Policy Language Ruling

In a significant turn of events in the insurance industry’s fight against Florida assignment of benefits (AOB) abuse, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal (DCA) has ruled that an insurer’s anti-assignment provision was not prohibited. But the battle isn’t over …

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Alera Group Acquires Champion Benefits of Atlanta

Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, has acquired Champion Benefits of Atlanta. The company provides integrated, strategic benefit plans for clients with a fully integrated team including healthcare consultants, pharmacists, nurses, …

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OSHA Fines Contractors $86K Over Miami Bridge Collapse

Contractors that worked on the bridge near a Florida university that collapsed, killing six people, have been fined more than $86,000 for workplace violations. The Miami Herald reported Tuesday that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued the fines for …

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West Virginia Spared Worst of Florence Rains, Floods

Worried West Virginians got a reprieve when forecasts of potential devastating floods didn’t come to fruition from the remnants of Hurricane Florence. The storm brought 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of rain in most parts of the …

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Kitchen Torch Behind Fire at Home of Michigan GOP Lt. Gov. Candidate

Republican lieutenant governor candidate Lisa Posthumus Lyons says the fire that burned down her western Michigan home started after one of her children used a kitchen torch inside the attached garage. She said at a news conference on Sept. 17 …

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Largest Wildfire in California History Officially 100% Contained

Officials announced on Wednesday that the Mendocino Complex Fire, the largest wildfire in California’s history, is now 100 percent contained. The blaze burned a combined 459,123 acres, destroyed 280 structures including 157 residences, killed one firefighter and injured four others. …

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John Hancock Will Only Sell Interactive Life Insurance with Fitness Data Tracking

John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and smartphones, the company said on Wednesday. …

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S.S. Nesbitt Adds Fountain as Market Executive in Alabama ß Photo

S.S. Nesbitt, a Southeastern insurance agency and division of EBSCO Industries Inc., has appointed Senior Vice President L. Dickerson (Dick) Fountain as Market executive in Huntsville, Ala. Over the past year, S.S. Nesbitt’s Huntsville office has aggressively expanded both its …

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Wisconsin August Storm Damage Tops $233M

The damage total from flooding and storms in Wisconsin in August continues to rise and now approaches a quarter of a billion dollars. Gov. Scott Walker tweeted on Sept. 18 that the preliminary damages are nearly $234 million, up from …

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Kistler Joins Illinois’ Alera Group as Director of Business Development

Alera Group, a national employee benefits, property/casualty, risk management and wealth management firm headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, has appointed Matt Kistler as director of Business Development. Kistler will play a critical part in Alera Group’s continued national expansion and growth. …

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Florence Floods: Hurricane Rating System Fails to Account for Deadly Rain

When meteorologists downgraded Hurricane Florence from a powerful Category 4 storm to a Category 2 and then a Category 1, Wayne Mills figured he could stick it out. He regrets it. The Neuse River, normally 150 feet away, lapped near …

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Sullivan Tapped to Lead Transportation Unit at Midlands Management

Wholesale insurance services firm, Midlands Management Corp., appointed Mark Sullivan leader of its Transportation team, based in Dallas. Sullivan joined Midlands in 2010 as an associate marketing representative and later was promoted to senior underwriter where he was active in …

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Marijuana Doctors’ Patient Caps Tossed in Louisiana

Amid concerns about bottlenecks to access, Louisiana regulators have agreed to loosen limits on how many medical marijuana patients doctors authorized to dispense cannabis can treat. Louisiana’s State Board of Medical Examiners voted 8-1 to remove a cap established in …

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Copper Thefts Knock 3 Arkansas Radio Stations Off Air

Three Jonesboro, Arkansas, radio stations are back on the air after copper thieves disrupted operations and damaged the transmitter building and a backup generator. The outages affecting East Arkansas Broadcasters stations KIYS, KIYS HD2 and KBTM were discovered about 1:20 …

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Ohio’s Hylant Launches Haven Re Group Captive for Middle-Market Businesses

Toledo, Ohio-based privately held independent insurance brokerage, Hylant, has launched Haven Re, a primary casualty, heterogeneous group captive designed to provide well-performing middle-market businesses an attractive cost-saving option. Haven Re is ideal for middle-market businesses with a strong commitment to …

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Seismic Activity Increases Around Alaska Volcano

The Alaska Volcano Observatory is keeping watch on a remote volcano that’s showing signs of erupting. The observatory this week increased the alert level from “advisory” to “watch” at Semisopochnoi (SEM-ee-sah-POTCH-noy) in the Aleutian Islands. The volcano is on an …

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Oregon Judge Won’t Take Unprecedented Step to Let Animals Sue

A judge has tossed a lawsuit filed by animal rights activists in the name of a once-neglected horse, finding that animals don’t have a right to sue. The Oregonian/OregonLive reported in doing so, Washington County Pro Tem Judge John Knowles …

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84 Percent Increase in Pedestrian Fatalities in Hawaii

The state Department of Transportation says pedestrian fatalities have increased by 84 percent from the same time last year. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported 25 pedestrians have died as of Sept. 13 this year compared to four deaths last year in …

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Exploring the Jump in Mega Workers’ Compensation Claims

Mega workers’ comp claims – losses exceeding $10M – jumped in 2016, according to a new report by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). It’s unclear if this is a one time occurrence or a new trend for the …

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Why Small Mutual P/C Insurers, Insurtechs May Need Each Other: A.M. Best

Technology-oriented insurance startups and established small mutual property/casualty insurers may find they are better off partnering than competing. Mutual property/casualty insurance companies continue to face heightened competition amid an insurance industry that is being transformed by technological, economic and demographic …

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New Hampshire’s Optisure Risk Partners Hires Needham

Optisure Risk Partners, based in Manchester, N.H., has hired Beth Needham as insurance operations manager and best practices leader. In this role, she will serve as a contributing member of the Optisure leadership team, offering insurance operations experience in service, …

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Alliant Insurance Services Launches Maryland-Based Imperium Consulting Group

Alliant Insurance Services, a Newport Beach, Calif.-headquartered specialty insurance brokerage firm, has launched Imperium Consulting Group, a specialized advisory business that works with clients to better manage commercial risks as well as resolve complex claims and disputes. Imperium is based …

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Lawsuit Targets Massachusetts Utility Over Deadly Gas Explosions

A resident of a Massachusetts city rocked by last week’s deadly gas blasts that damaged dozens of homes sued utility operator NiSource Inc on Tuesday, accusing it of inadequately maintaining its distribution system. The proposed class action lawsuit targets NiSource …

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Americans’ Interest in Self-Driving Cars Goes in Reverse

Less than half of Americans (43 percent) are interested in utilizing self-driving cars, down from 53 percent last year. According to an annual sharing economy index by Allianz Global Assistance, the lack of interest is primarily attributed to safety concerns …

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After Blasts, Massachusetts Gas Customers Face Long Wait

The blast of high-pressure natural gas that led to dozens of home explosions last week in Massachusetts very likely damaged the system’s antiquated pipeline network and could lead to a long period of testing and repairs before full service is …

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Lloyd’s Market Association & Lloyd’s Issue Policy Documents in Preparation for Brexit

A new suite of policy documentation, to support the underwriting of risks from the European Economic Area by Lloyd’s Brussels, has been published. The new documents were prepared by the Lloyd’s Market Association’s (LMA)* wordings team, working closely with the …

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Drivers of Marsh & McLennan-JLT Deal: Too Much Capital, Not Enough Growth – Opinion

Too much capital and not enough growth. Faced with this ailment, the insurance sector is reaching for a costly remedy — M&A. Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. Tuesday became the latest [insurance industry participant]* to splash the cash, agreeing to …

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BHSI Expands Team in Dubai with Product Line, Service Appointments

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Co. (BHSI) announced that it has further expanded its leadership team in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), with the appointment of executives to fill key product line and service posts. “Building a strong foundation of …

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After Spate of Typhoons & Hurricanes, World’s Oceans May Take a Breather

With the remnants of Hurricane Florence wringing out heavy rain through the Appalachians and New England this week, and Typhoon Mangkhut winding down in southern China, it looks like the world’s oceans may take a breather. There are few significant …

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UK Cryptocurrency Market Similar to ‘Wild West’ and Should Be Regulated: Lawmakers

Britain’s cryptocurrency market resembles the Wild West and should be regulated, lawmakers said on Wednesday, urging the government to bring to heel a sector plagued by volatile price swings, vulnerability to hacking and weak consumer protection. The government’s current approach …

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Missouri Sawmill Cited for Safety Violations; Faces Nearly $200K in Penalties

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proposed penalties of $199,183 to Missouri-based American Walnut Company LLC for two repeated and 14 serious safety violations. OSHA initiated an inspection of the St. Joseph sawmill after …

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After Florence Floods, Uninsured Awaken to Painful Reality

Flood insurance was far from Stephanie Walker’s mind in 2015 when she moved her family into a home in Fayetteville in central North Carolina, nearly 200 miles (320 km) from the coast. The next year, a creek at the end …

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North Carolina Sets Up Insurance Camps, Victim Assistance Centers With FEMA, NFIP

Consumer assistance centers and insurance camps have been set up in areas of North Carolina affected by Hurricane Florence, according to a statement from North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. “We are going in to flood-ravaged areas to assist people …

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Democrats Want Trump Labor Board Member’s Recusal on Union Email Rule

Democratic U.S. senators led by Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts urged a Trump administration labor board appointee to recuse himself from a case that could end up being a big victory for corporations trying to make it harder for workers to …

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Alliant Acquires Harbor Group Consulting of Miami

Alliant Insurance Services has acquired Harbor Group Consulting, a national insurance advisory for commercial real estate loans. Miami-based Harbor Group will join Alliant’s growing real estate practice, adding new resources and capabilities to Alliant’s risk and insurance platform. Founded in …

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Marsh Moved Quickly as Stars and People Aligned in JLT Deal

Marsh & McLennan Inc. (MMC) has been preparing for a major acquisition and admiring its competitor Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT) for years. So right after the CEOs of the two firms met on Sept. 7 and he sensed an opening, …

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California Commissioner Sues Biopharma Giant AbbVie Alleging Illegal Kickbacks in Promoting HUMIRA

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Tuesday filed an insurance-fraud complaint in Alameda County Superior Court on behalf of the state against AbbVie Inc. alleging the company gave illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers to prescribe HUMIRA, which Jones classified as …

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Tower Hill Specialty Expands Homeowners Products into Alabama

Tower Hill Specialty insurance products for homeowners are now available in Alabama, as the Ohio-based company expands its regional focus in the Southeast. Specializing in personal lines property products, Tower Hill Specialty now offers homeowners, dwelling fire, manufactured housing and …

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Duke Restores Power to 1.2 Million in Carolinas as Florence Heads North

Duke Energy Corp., the biggest utility in the Carolinas, has faced a three-front war as it battles back against the wet and dangerously wild effects of Hurricane Florence. The company restored power to almost 80 percent of customers who went …

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Reutter Named Head of Construction for Zurich NA

Insurer Zurich North America has tapped Karen Reutter to lead its Construction unit. Reutter, who recently led the construction practice of a major insurance broker, also worked in Zurich’s construction business from 1999 to 2001. She is a recognized industry …

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Global Insurers in Mood to Take on New Investment Risks

Despite challenging market conditions, insurers are in a relatively upbeat mood and ready to increase their risk exposure, according to a study from investment advisor BlackRock. Almost half (47%) of insurers surveyed plan to increase portfolio risk exposure over the …

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Dentists Benefits Insurance, Northwest Dentists to Merge With Parent TDIC in California

Dentists Benefits Insurance Co. and Northwest Dentists Insurance Co., acquired by Sacramento, Calif.-based The Dentists Insurance Co. in 2017, plan to merge with their parent company, TDIC. The change is effective Jan. 1, 2019, upon regulatory approval. DBIC and NORDIC …

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Top 10 Stolen Vehicles: Older Models Most Vulnerable

Hondas that are 10 and 11-years old and even older Ford and Chevrolet pick-ups top the list of the most stolen vehicles in the U.S. in 2017. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its annual Hot Wheels report, which …

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Three Struck by Train, One Killed in Delaware

A woman has been killed and two men have been critically injured after being struck by a train in Delaware. Police in Georgetown say the three were hit by a Carload Express train early Sunday morning as they walked on …

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Official Says Pressure Sensors Are Focus of Massachusetts Gas Explosions Probe

The investigation into the Boston, Mass.-area natural gas explosions is partially focused on pressure sensors that were connected to a gas line that was being taken out of service shortly before the blasts, the head of the National Transportation Safety …

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National Alliance Names Hold CEO; Will Also Succeed Father, Co-Founder as President in 2 Years

The Austin-based insurance education organization the National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research has appointed William J. Hold as chief executive officer. He will assume the day-to-day leadership of the organization effective immediately and will assume the presidency in two …

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New York’s Ethos Specialty Insurance Services Appoints Cline as President, CEO

Ethos Specialty Insurance Services (Ethos), Ascot Group’s New York-based MGU platform, has appointed Rory Cline as president and CEO. Cline takes the helm from his current role as chief underwriting officer, having joined Ethos Specialty at its inception in 2017. …

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Rogers & Gray Insurance Opens New Massachusetts Office

Rogers & Gray Insurance has opened a new office in Quincy, Mass., to accommodate its growth. This represents the 10th office for the Massachusetts-based company, which serves clients in all fifty states. “This was a logical next step in our …

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Marsh to Acquire Broker JLT

U.S.-based Marsh & McLennan is buying British insurance and reinsurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson for 4.3 billion pound ($5.7 billion), the latest takeover in a sector which has been hit by recent losses. Shares in JLT, which reorganized earlier this …

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9 Female Athletes Allege Sex Discrimination at Louisiana University

Complaints of sex discrimination made against the University of Louisiana at Lafayette by nine female athletes include allegations by some of the women of inappropriate behavior by the university’s president and athletic director. Copies of the complaints to the U.S. …

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Arkansas Nursing Care Facility Sued for Sexual Harassment, Retaliation

Federal officials allege in a lawsuit that Happy Valley LLC d/b/a Happy Valley Nursing and Rehabilitation in Malvern, Ark., failed to address sexual harassment complaints made by female employees and terminated those employees for complaining of the harassment in violation …

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Amputation Brings Citations Against Ohio Wood Pallet Maker

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited pallet manufacturer Buckeye Diamond Logistics Inc. — which operates as BDL Supply — for lockout/tagout hazards after an employee suffered an amputation at the Columbus-based company. OSHA …

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Outlooks Revised to Positive for Michigan’s Northern Mutual Insurance

A.M. Best has revised the outlooks to positive from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of “a-” of Northern Mutual Insurance Company (MI) (NMIC) in Hancock, Michigan. NMIC …

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Nebraska’s Method Insurance Services Adds Scott

Patrice Scott has joined the Method Insurance Services team as a business development manager. She will focus on expanding Method’s agency distribution in the Midwest and beyond, and assist in rolling out the new Method Specialty Comp Program for challenging …

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Worldwide Facilities to Acquire Texas Insurance Wholesaler McClelland and Hine

Los Angeles-based Worldwide Facilities LLC announced plans to acquire managing general agent and excess and surplus lines broker, McClelland and Hine Inc. and McClelland & Hine Trucking Underwriters LLC (collectively, MHI), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. MHI Principals Gill Hine …

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Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Opens Munich Office; Name Key Underwriters

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) has opened a new office in Munich, Germany, the latest advance in BHSI’s expansion of its global footprint. The insurer has named two key underwriters for the office. The new office in Munich, along with …

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IMF Contends Failure to Reach Brexit Deal Will Shrink British Economy

Britain’s economy will shrink if it leaves the European Union without a Brexit deal and it will suffer some damage whatever terms it agrees, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, challenging the promises of some Brexit supporters. The Fund …

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Thai Soccer Boys’ Cave Rescuer Sues Musk for Defamation

Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Inc., was sued for defamation on Monday for falsely suggesting that a British caver who helped rescue 12 boys and their soccer coach from a Thailand cave in July was a pedophile and …

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Hydroelectric Dams Operating at Peak to Manage Florence’s Floods

Florence’s driving rains are forcing hydroelectric dam operators to run generators at full tilt and open flood gates that haven’t been used in more than 20 years. The Tennessee Valley Authority — which operates dams in Tennessee, Georgia and other …

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Hurricane Florence’s Surge Is Expected to Hit Homes That Already Cost the Government Millions: ProPublica

Though the flooding from Hurricane Florence is predicted to be unprecedented, residents of the coastal North Carolina towns threatened by the storm surge know what it’s like to take on water. Some homes in these areas have been repeatedly flooded …

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FEMA Chief Under Scrutiny Over Use of Government Vehicles

A demand for documents by a key House Republican adds to the growing pressure on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s chief as he coordinates the government response to Hurricane Florence. On Monday, House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy sent Brock …

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Karen Clark & Co. Estimates $2.5B in Insured Losses from Hurricane Florence

Insured losses from Hurricane Florence will reach $2.5 billion, according to an estimate from Karen Clark & Co. The estimate of insured losses to residential, commercial, and industrial properties and autos comes from KCC’s High Resolution U.S. Hurricane Reference Model …

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J&J Talc Supplier Settles in California Asbestos Case

A unit of Imerys SA agreed to settle a California woman’s lawsuit blaming asbestos-tainted talc for causing her cancer as a jury prepares to weigh similar claims against Johnson & Johnson. A judge in Pasadena, California, announced Monday that Imerys …

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Cigna Says Express Scripts Acquisition Passes Antitrust Review

Health insurer Cigna Corp.’s $52 billion acquisition of pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts Holding Co. has passed U.S. antitrust scrutiny, the companies said on Monday, allowing them to proceed with a combination they say will lead to lower costs by …

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EEOC Sues Del Taco in California for Sexual Harassment, Retaliation

Fast food chain Del Taco violated federal law when at least three male employees, including those in supervisory roles, sexually harassed and retaliated against a group of young female workers at a Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., Del Taco, the U.S. Equal …

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WCF in Utah Names Clark Senior VP of Safety and Health, Harris VP of Risk Management

Sandy, Utah-based WCF Insurance has appointed Kathryn Clark as senior vice president of safety and health. Clark will also take on the title and duties of WCF’s chief risk officer as of Jan. 1, 2019. Patrick Harris will be joining …

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Duke Downplays Threat From Coal-Ash Spill in Carolina Storm

Duke Energy Corp. is confident most of the coal ash that breached a North Carolina landfill was contained at the site and that the spill doesn’t pose an imminent threat to public safety or the environment, a company official told …

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Hurricane Florence Likely to Expose Gaps in Flood Insurance

The number of Americans with flood insurance is on the rise, yet Hurricane Florence is likely to make it painfully clear that too many homeowners in the Carolinas and other vulnerable regions remain unprotected. . An analysis of federal flood …

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Kansas City Star: Changes Urged After Spike in Deadly Semi, Big Truck Crashes

Tractor-trailers and other large trucks aren’t required to have crash-avoidance technology, despite thousands of crashes annually and repeated calls for it to be mandated. Federal data shows that more than 4,300 people were killed in accidents involving semis and other …

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Insurance Commissioner OKs Fees, Rate Hikes for Texas Fair Plan

Texas Insurance Commissioner Kent Sullivan has approved a request by the Texas Fair Plan Association to raise rates and revise/implement various fees. The commissioner denied, however, the plan’s request to end premium discounts for electronic burglar alarms and automatic sprinkler …

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Iowa Denied Federal Disaster Assistance Denied for July Tornadoes

A federal agency has denied disaster assistance for residents and business owners of Marshall and Polk counties who endured tornadoes in July. Gov. Kim Reynolds’ office announced the Federal Emergency Management Agency had denied the governor’s request for assistance through …

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Auto Dealers Safety Group Gets $1M Dividend from Texas Mutual

Texas Mutual Insurance Company, a policyholder-owned company, recently awarded a dividend of $1,060,313 to the Lone Star Auto Dealers Association (LSADA) safety group, which includes franchised auto, truck, RV, boat and motorcycle dealerships. This year’s dividend from Texas Mutual brings …

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Charter Bus Runs Off West Texas Road, Injuring 20

Twenty people have been taken to El Paso hospitals for treatment after a charter bus ran off a road southeast of the city. Texas Department of Public Safety Lt. Elizabeth Carter says the accident happened along an Interstate 10 frontage …

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Insurer Fights Paying $5.3M to Man Wrongly Convicted in Missouri

A former insurance carrier for the city of Columbia, Missouri, is appealing a ruling that it owes $5.3 million to a man who served 10 years in prison before his conviction for killing a sports editor in Columbia was thrown …

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Can Home Insurers Keep Customers as Happy as Insurtechs?

Homeowners insurance companies are faring rather well when it comes to customer satisfaction. Consultants at J.D Power think the carriers’ investments in improved digital channels and bundled products that combine are paying off the highest levels of customer satisfaction in …

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Oregon Sues OxyContin Manufacturer Claiming it Minimized Risks

Oregon’s attorney general has sued the pharmaceutical company that makes OxyContin, saying it misrepresented the risks and benefits of the drug and lied to a state regulatory agency to maximize profits. A spokesman at Purdue Pharma, targeted by last week’s …

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Netflix Sued by Montana Photographer Over Copyright Law, Storm Images

A Montana photographer is suing Netflix, alleging the company violated copyright law by using one of his photos without permission to create storm images for the series “Stranger Things” and the movie “How It Ends.” The Great Falls Tribune reported …

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NHL Enters into Mediation with Players Over Concussion Litigation

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman downplayed the significance of entering mediation with former players in a bid to settle a concussion lawsuit, saying last week the league is simply following a judge’s order. “The judge asked us to go into mediation …

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JLT Specialty Names Levine Senior Vice President in Colorado

JLT Specialty USA has named Samantha Levine senior vice president of JLT’s cyber and errors and omissions practice. Levine will be based in Denver, Colo. and be responsible for advising JLT’s clients on complex areas of E&O and cyber risk. …

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California’s Governor: Insurance Fared Better in Wildfires Bill

California lawmakers didn’t go as far as Governor Jerry Brown wanted to address potential liabilities for utilities from wildfires, and the governor said that “it’s hard to say” if they ever would. Brown, citing longstanding practice, declined to say if …

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Hanover Insurance May Follow Chaucer Sale with Talent Hiring, Acquisition

The Hanover Insurance Group could use some of the $950 million it will make from selling its Chaucer international specialty business to fuel organic growth, pursue select acquisitions and hire top talent from rivals, President and CEO John Roche told …

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Virginia Museum Workers Act Fast to Protect Valuable Collection in Hurricane Florence

The Durand-Ruel sisters didn’t dress for hurricane season. The eldest had on a wide-brimmed hat, the kind one would take to a high-society garden party. Both wore white gowns that looked as though their sheerness would go transparent in a …

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A.M. Best Sees Recent Floods Having Limited Effect on India’s Insurers’ Ratings

A.M. Best said it does not expect flooding in the Indian state of Kerala to have a significant impact on the balance sheet strength of rated Indian non-life insurers; however, the losses may add to the unfavorable underwriting performance that …

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Cline Named CEO of Ascot’s U.S. Platform Ethos Specialty

Ethos Specialty Insurance Services, Ascot Group’s U.S. managing general underwriting platform, has appointed Rory Cline as president and chief executive officer. Cline takes the helm from his current role as chief underwriting officer, having joined Ethos Specialty at inception in …

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BMS Group Adds 4 to Energy Division

Specialist insurance and reinsurance broker BMS Group has expanded its Energy division with four hires. Lynsey Green brings 20 years of experience to BMS. She joins from JLT, where she focused on North American energy clients. Green began her career …

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Big High Tech Is Big on Reimagining Health Care

Apple Inc.’s new watch is the latest proof: Big Tech is trying to remake health care in its own image. The device, introduced at a splashy launch event this week, can call for help after a fall. It can monitor …

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Professional Insurance Agents of New York Elects Ferris President

The Professional Insurance Agents of New York (PIANY) has elected Jamie A. Ferris as president at a meeting of the association’s board of directors at PIANY headquarters in Glenmont, N.Y. Ferris is president of P.W. Wood & Son Inc. in …

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Thomas Miller to Acquire Germany’s Zeller Associates’ MGA, Insurance Operations

London-based insurance provider Thomas Miller reports it has agreed to purchase the managing general agency and insurance services operations of Zeller Associates, a shipping, trade and transport insurance specialist based in Hamburg. No terms were disclosed Zeller Associates, which also …

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Pennsylvania’s Erie Insurance Appoints Kricher as Harrisburg Branch Manager

Fourteen-year Erie Insurance veteran Glenn Kricher has been appointed to the position of branch manager at the insurer’s Harrisburg, Penn., branch, effective September 13. As a current senior district sales manager in Harrisburg, Kricher oversees one of Erie’s largest districts. …

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Hong Kong, Southern China Restoring Operations After Super Typhoon

The financial hub of Hong Kong began clearing up on Monday after being battered by one of the strongest typhoons in recent years, with financial markets and offices operating as normal. Super typhoon Mangkhut, with hurricane-force winds well over 200 …

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Allianz Under Fire by Australian Commission for Travel Insurance Sales

An Australian unit of German insurer Allianz SE sold travel insurance that misleadingly promised unlimited emergency medical cover wherever people were even though the policies had limits on both cost and location, a misconduct inquiry heard on Monday. The Royal …

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Carolinians Must Wait for Flood Waters to Recede to Assess Florence’s Damage

Companies, regulators and environmental groups are waiting for record floods to recede so they can make a comprehensive assessment of damage from Hurricane Florence. Water levels, however, are headed in the wrong direction. Rivers throughout North and South Carolina are …

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Brexit Talks Set to Intensify as EU, UK Seek Final Exit Deal

Brexit talks are set to intensify over the coming week, with the first of three summits that European Union leaders hope will settle a divorce deal for departing Britain within the next two months. EU leaders will get an update …

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Gas Company Hit Over Response to Massachusetts Explosions; New Leak Found

A new natural gas leak was discovered in the Boston area just two days after a series of pipeline explosions killed one person, injured more than 25 and prompted Massachusetts to declare a state of emergency. The latest leak was …

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VW, Other Carmakers in Talks Over Autonomous Vehicle Standards

Germany’s Volkswagen is in talks with other carmakers to set common standards for self-driving vehicle technology, Automotive News reported on Friday. The Volkswagen Group is discussing the initiative with more than 15 potential partners, according to the report, which cited …

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MGM Follows Suit Against Las Vegas Shooting Victims with Charity Offer

An unprecedented legal move by MGM Resorts International to sue surviving victims of the Las Vegas mass shooting took another unusual turn last week when the casino-operator offered to make $500 charitable donations in the name of each person who …

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South Carolina Issues Hurricane Florence Data Call, Emergency Order to Insurers

The South Carolina Department of Insurance has issued two Hurricane Florence-related notices to all property and casualty insurers doing business in the state. SCDOI Director Ray Farmer issued an emergency regulation Friday designed to protect insurance consumers as they recover …

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Super Typhoon Targets China After Killing More Than 50 in Philippines

A super typhoon made landfall in China’s Guangdong on Sunday, the country’s most populous province, after wreaking havoc in Hong Kong and Macau and killing potentially more than 50 people in the Philippines. Packing winds of more than 200 kph …

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