Coronavirus Could Complicate Hurricane Response, Warns Catastrophe Modeler

“Hurricanes and COVID-19 are not a good mix,” says catastrophe modeling firm Karen Clark & Co., warning in a report that the pandemic will make what forecasters already predict to be an above-average hurricane season even more difficult. KCC highlighted, …

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K2 Insurance Services Completes Purchase of MGA Pioneer Underwriters

K2 Insurance Services LLC, the specialty insurance services holding company, has completed the purchase of Pioneer Underwriters, the London-based managing general agency. The deal was facilitated with a portfolio transfer, whereby Pioneer’s ongoing underwriting portfolio, together with underwriting and support …

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Agency Says Asbestos Cleanup Complete in Montana Superfund Site

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the completion of all required cleanup activities within a unit of a Montana Superfund site. The federal agency removed a portion of an asbestos-contaminated mining operation in Libby from its National Priorities List, The …

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Virus from Africa Kills Horses in Thailand, Showing Dangers of Biosecurity Gaps

When horses suddenly started dying in Thailand as the nation locked down to stem the spread of COVID-19, researchers feared the cause was another deadly bat-borne virus that could kill humans. “We had no idea what was causing it,” said …

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Maine’s AK Insurance Joins Satellite Agency Network Group

AK Insurance of Westbrook, Maine, recently joined Satellite Agency Network (SAN) Group Inc., an alliance of independent insurance agencies in the Northeast. AK Insurance was founded in April 2020 by owner Alex Kapothanasis and provides a full line of property …

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Farm Workers Getting Sick, Spreading Coronavirus As Peak Produce Season Begins

All of the roughly 200 employees on a produce farm in Tennessee tested positive for Covid-19 this month. In New Jersey, more than 50 workers had the virus at a farm in Gloucester County, adding to nearly 60 who fell …

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New Hampshire Man Charged in Scheme that Used Bitcoin to Buy Personal Data

A New Hampshire man has been charged in a fraud scheme that involved using Bitcoin to buy stolen personal data belonging to people across the country, officials said. Jonathan Nguyen, 23, of Windham, was charged Tuesday in federal court with …

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New Lawsuit Filed Against Virginia Tech Over Hazing

Another former cadet has filed a lawsuit against Virginia Tech over being suspended in connection with a blood-pinning ceremony. The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court alleges the university violated the due process rights of Christopher J. Dana when it …

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U.S. Warns Partners, Industrial Firms About Russian Hacking Operation

The U.S. National Security Agency on Thursday warned government partners and private companies about a Russian hacking operation that uses a special intrusion technique to target operating systems often used by industrial firms to manage computer infrastructure. “This is a …

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Federal Reserve Finds Businesses Not So Optimistic About Economy

Businesses across the country surveyed by the Federal Reserve don’t appear to share the Trump administration’s optimism about a rapid economic recovery starting this summer. The Federal Reserve released a report Wednesday that draws on business contacts from the central …

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California Approves PG&E Bankruptcy Plan With Oversight, Safety Conditions

California regulators approved PG&E Corp.’s $58 billion reorganization plan, bringing the power giant another step closer to exiting the biggest utility bankruptcy in U.S. history. The state’s Public Utilities Commission unanimously voted in favor of PG&E’s proposal after the company …

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Israel Thwarts Major Cyber Attack Against Its Water Systems

Israel’s national cyber chief Thursday officially acknowledged the country had thwarted a major cyber attack last month against its water systems, an assault widely attributed to arch-enemy Iran, calling it a “synchronized and organized attack” aimed at disrupting key national …

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Google Urges EU to Use Current Laws, Not New Ones, to Regulate Artificial Intelligence

Google has called on the European Union to use current EU laws to govern the use of artificial intelligence rather than draft new ones and cautioned against a one size fits all regulatory framework because of AI’s diverse applications. The …

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Mississippi Governor Says Reopening Plan has ‘Freedom with Risk’

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that he will allow all types of businesses to reopen Monday but they must follow safety guidelines to try to minimize spread of the new coronavirus. “This does not mean the threat is gone,” …

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Survey: Florida Residents More Concerned for Hurricane Season Amid Pandemic

As Florida gets ready to officially start hurricane season, a new survey shows a majority of residents are more concerned for this year’s potential storms than in previous years, given the simultaneous continuing issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic. According …

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Texas Windstorm Insurer Outlines Funding for 2020 Hurricane Season

The board of directors of Texas’ property insurer of last resort for wind and hail in the state’s coastal counties in February set a goal of $4.2 billion in catastrophe funding for 2020. At a meeting of the Texas Windstorm …

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2 Companies Fined $1M Each Over Kansas Chemical Leak

Two companies that caused a chlorine gas leak over Atchison, Kansas, in 2106 have each been fined $1 million for violating federal clean air laws. Harcros Chemicals Inc., and MGP Ingredients Inc., had pleaded guilty to negligently violating the Clean …

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WSS Hires Easley as Sr. Broker/Underwriter in Texas

WSS, a member of XPT Group, a specialty insurance distribution company, has added Meghan Easley as senior broker/underwriter in its Plano, Texas, office. Easley brings 15 years of industry experience, most recently in underwriting and brokerage business. She has extensive …

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South Dakota Property Owners Sue Over Recently Exposed Mine, Sinkhole

Residents of a Black Hawk, South Dakota, neighborhood where a sinkhole has exposed an abandoned mine endangering their properties have filed a $75.5 million lawsuit claiming government entities and private developers were negligent. Attorney John Fitzgerald is representing more than …

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Governor Orders Probe of Failed Michigan Dams

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has ordered an investigation to determine what caused two dams in central Michigan to fail, leading to devastating floods in several communities and forcing about 11,000 people to evacuate their homes. Whitmer ordered the Michigan Department of …

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University in Utah, Parents Didn’t Settle Lawsuit Over Slain Student

The University of Utah did not reach a settlement after two of mediation with the parents of slain track star Lauren McCluskey who filed a $56 million lawsuit over her death in 2018. The McCluskeys’ attorney Jim McConkie described the …

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Trump’s Targeting of Social Media Immunity Is ‘Political Theater,’ Claim Legal Experts

President Donald Trump’s attempt to curb what he says is social media censorship is a political gambit and will not change the legal obligations of companies like Twitter Inc. and Facebook Inc., according to legal experts. An executive order signed …

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Tyson Foods to Close Iowa Meat Plant as More Workers Catch COVID-19

Tyson Foods Inc. said on Thursday it will temporarily close an Iowa pork plant due to the coronavirus pandemic, a month after U.S. President Donald Trump ordered slaughterhouses to stay open to protect the country’s food supply. Meat processors like …

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Cannabis Broker Spotlight: Bozzuto with Cannabis Connect Is an Outspoken Advocate for the Business

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of profiles on cannabis brokers, in which Insurance Journal explores why and how these folks got into the business, the ups and downs of insuring cannabis, as well as a few …

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Crashed Pakistan Plane First Tried to Land Without Landing Gear at 203 Miles Per Hour

A deadly plane crash in Pakistan is prompting questions about how the crew could touch down without landing gear when their sophisticated jetliner was bristling with equipment to prevent pilots from doing just that. After an abrupt descent that had …

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Rhode Island Hosts Forums for Businesses Planning to Reopen

State officials have planned a series of virtual forums this week for the owners and operators businesses that will be allowed to reopen next week as Rhode Island’s economic restart continues. The forums being hosted by the Rhode Island Commerce …

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Australia’s 4 Summer Natural Disasters Cost Insurers More Than US$3.44 Billion

The cost of insurance claims from four natural catastrophes during Australia’s 2019-2020 summer has passed A$5.19 billion (US$3.44 billion), said the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA). Thousands of new claims and property loss assessments have pushed total claims to more …

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Massachusetts Division of Insurance Urges Carrier Flexibility with Vacancy Provisions

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has notified all property and casualty insurance carriers in the state that they are expected to take steps to preserve insurance coverage for businesses ordered to shut down due to the coronavirus crisis. “Insurance coverage …

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Police, Regulators Target Pennsylvania Businesses Flouting Wolf Shutdown

Police and state regulators are cracking down on a handful of Pennsylvania businesses that are supposed to remain shut down during the pandemic but have instead thrown open their doors. Small business owners have protested Governor Tom Wolf’s closure of …

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After Big Oil Loses Appeal, Climate Suits Appear Headed to California Courts

Big Oil lost a pair of court battles this week that could lead to trials in lawsuits by California cities and counties seeking damages for the impact of climate change. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected arguments by …

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California Sues for Sex Misconduct on ‘Criminal Minds’ Set

The state of California filed a lawsuit against CBS, Disney and producers of the long-running series “Criminal Minds,” alleging that the show’s cinematographer engaged in rampant sexual misconduct against crew members for years. The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior …

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German Court Backs Damages Claims Against VW, Providing Clarity for 60,000 Cases

A German court has ruled that Volkswagen must buy back cars from owners of its diesel cars equipped with software that evaded emissions testing – but but consumers must accept the current value of the car based on the mileage …

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Workers’ Compensation Insurtech Pie Raises $127 Million With Plan to Acquire Carriers

Workers’ compensation provider Pie Insurance announced the closing of $127 million in new financing and capital commitments. Gallatin Point Capital joined the insurtech’s current investors in the capital raise, including Greycroft, SVB Capital, Aspect Ventures, Elefund, and Sirius International Insurance …

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Insurtech Trov Partners with LatAm Insurer Sura to Bring On-Demand Insurance to Brazil

Trov, the San Francisco-based insurtech company, is partnering with Latin American insurer Seguros Sura to bring on-demand insurance products to the Brazilian market. Recent regulatory changes in Brazil have enabled insurers to offer on-demand insurance products to consumers and businesses …

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Thieves Find Unattended Autos Easy Targets During Coronavirus Sheltering-at-Home

The coronavirus hasn’t been kind to car owners. With more people than ever staying home to lessen the spread of COVID-19, their sedans, pickup trucks and SUVs are parked unattended on the streets, making them easy targets for opportunistic thieves. …

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Driving Hasn’t Found Its New Normal Yet: Opinion

Memorial Day weekend, the typical start of the U.S. summer driving season, has come and gone. Data on just how much driving Americans did is trickling in, and it’s a bit noisy. Apple mobility trends show searches for directions down …

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Trump Executive Order Aims to Shrink Liability Shield for Social Media Giants

Donald Trump has been raging against Twitter Inc. since the social media platform that helped vault him to the presidency slapped fact-check links on a pair of his tweets. Now, he’s poised to take action Thursday that could bring a …

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Could Hong Kong’s Role as Global Financial Hub Be Jeopardized by China Security Law?

China’s parliament approved a decision on Thursday to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that democracy activists in the city and Western countries fear could erode its freedoms and jeopardize its role as a global financial hub. …

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Brit Enters High Net Worth Market with Launch of Private Client Offering

Brit Ltd., the London-based specialty insurer and reinsurer, has launched a private client offering. Brit Private Client will provide brokers operating in the high and ultra-high net worth market, and their clients, with a bespoke approach. It will offer clients …

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Allianz and Generali Plan to Sell Life Insurance Assets: Sources

Two of Europe’s largest insurers are gearing up to sell billions of euros in life assets — a niche corner of dealmaking keeping bankers busy amid the coronavirus pandemic. Allianz SE is planning to divest as much as 9 billion …

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DUAL Specialty Underwriting Adds Black to Management Liability Team in Tennessee

DUAL Specialty Underwriting (DSU), the Management Liability division of DUAL North America, has added Heather Black as a senior underwriter. Black will be located in Nashville, Tenn. Black brings nearly 18 years of experience in the insurance industry with the …

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Viewpoint: What’s Fair When It Comes to Paying Insurance Claims?

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has tragically resulted in the deaths of 100,000 Americans, changed our day-to-day lives, hampered our economy, and forced us to reexamine how we live. As the country moves to reopening, after weeks of a shut down …

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NY Stock Exchange Partially Reopens Trading Floor; Traders, Staff Sign Liability Waivers

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo donned a face mask and rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Tuesday, marking the partial reopening of the trading floor at 11 Wall Street, which had been shuttered since March …

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Oregon Children Sue Day Care Owner, State Agencies Over Sex Abuse

The representatives of three children who attended a Polk County, Ore. day care are suing multiple people and state agencies over sexual abuse for $5.1 million. The children attended the now-closed Stinky Feet Childcare in Independence owned by Ceola Harden, …

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Woodruff Sawyer Adds Crowder in Northern California

Woodruff Sawyer has added Kelly Crowder to its Northern California management liability and property/casualty teams as a vice president and account executive. Crowder will serve high-growth private and public company clients. She was previously a senior risk management consultant and …

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Top 100 Cities: 6 in 10 Homes in High-Risk Flood Zones Lack Flood Insurance

As the Atlantic hurricane season approaches, and central Michigan experiences severe flooding, a new report analyzing 100 of the largest U.S. cities shows where homeowners face the greatest financial risk and exposure to flooding. According to the personal financial website …

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Weakened Bertha Expected to Hit Carolinas, Virginia With Heavy Rains, Flash Floods

05/27/2020 02:53 PM (Reuters) – Bertha, the second named storm this Atlantic hurricane season, has weakened to a tropical depression but was still expected to bring heavy rain and possibly life-threatening flash floods to parts of the Carolinas and Virginia, …

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Oklahoma Workers’ Comp Medical Fee Schedule Approved

The Oklahoma Legislature has adopted a proposed new Medical Fee Schedule, the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) reported. The WCC had submitted in House Joint Resolution (HJR) 1028; it goes into effect July 1, 2020. The Medical Fee Schedule sets …

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South Dakota Bull Facility Faces $122.6K in Penalties After Employee Dies

A South Dakota bull stud facility faces penalties of more than $122,000 after being cited by federal officials following a worker fatality. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited Custom Genetic Solutions LLC in …

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Wells Media Names Huebner as Web Team Lead

Wells Media Group has named Nathan Huebner to the position of Web Team Lead. In this position, Huebner heads the Wells’ development team and is responsible for overseeing the technology infrastructure, including server and database administration, email delivery, online ad …

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PartnerRe Taps Meyenhofer as CEO Specialty Lines, Haft as CEO Global Cat

PartnerRe announced that the company will change responsibilities in its executive leadership for Specialty Lines and will create the new role of CEO Global Cat. Effective June 1, Philippe Meyenhofer will be appointed CEO Specialty Lines. Currently CEO P&C EMEA …

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Delaware Insurance Commissioner Shares Reopening Reminders

The Delaware Department of Insurance is sharing reminders with business owners regarding important measures to take as phased reopenings begin and providing resources to enhance worker and customer safety. Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro has recommended that businesses revisit their insurance …

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Utah Lawsuit Against Pellet Grill Company Dismissed

A district court judge has dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit against barbecue grill manufacturer Traeger Pellet Grills, deciding the defendants failed to establish the court has jurisdiction. U.S. District Court Judge Bruce Jenkins of Utah dismissed without prejudice the …

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Reinsurers Will Fail to Earn Cost of Capital, Leading to More Rate Hikes: Fitch

Global reinsurers will fail to earn its cost of capital in 2020 amid the coronavirus crisis, which will help maintain price increases for the sector during the year ahead, said Fitch Ratings. Financial performance will be hit by mortality claims …

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Smoke Inhalation Killed 34 in California Dive Boat Fire, Coroner Says

Coroner’s reports for the 34 victims who died in a scuba boat fire off the Southern California coast last year show they died of carbon monoxide poisoning before they were burned, authorities said Thursday. All thirty-three scuba divers and one …

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Lawmaker Details Federal Reinsurance for Pandemic Business Interruption, Event Losses

New York Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney has introduced the Pandemic Risk Insurance Act of 2020, a federal backstop for pandemic-related business interruption insurance modeled after the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act. “This is the only bill I have written that people are …

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Coronavirus Cluster Found in Crew of Freight Cargo Ship in Australia

A coronavirus cluster was detected Tuesday on a freight ship berthed in the Australian west coast port of Fremantle, raising questions about why local authorities weren’t alerted to the danger. Six of 48 crew members from the Al Kuwait tested …

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Airbus Opens Investigation into Plane Crash that Killed 97 in Pakistan

Pakistan announced Tuesday that Airbus experts have opened a probe into last week’s plane crash that killed 97 people when an Airbus A320 went down in a crowded neighborhood near the airport in the port city of Karachi. Initial reports …

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Massachusetts Begins Phased Reopening, Implements Safety Standards for Workplaces

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has implemented mandatory safety standards for workplaces to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmissions as the state begins its phased reopening of businesses. All businesses in Massachusetts must develop a written plan for how they will …

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Liberty Mutual Appoints Perez to Chief Underwriting Officer of Global Risk Solutions

Liberty Mutual Insurance has appointed David Perez as chief underwriting officer for Global Risk Solutions (GRS). GRS is Liberty Mutual’s global commercial and specialty lines reinsurer that provides a full range of traditional insurance, specialty and reinsurance risk solutions to …

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Ship Inspectors Conduct Virtual Inspections of Oil Tankers During Pandemic

Ship assessors are resorting to virtual inspections of oil tankers to keep vessels afloat, as the coronavirus pandemic makes physical visits to check for seaworthiness tougher and a slump in fuel demand increases the need for ships as storage. Oil …

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Severe Storm Batters Coast of West Australia

Tens of thousands of homes and businesses lost power, buildings were battered and trees were uprooted as a vast stretch of the west Australian coast was whipped by a severe storm on Monday for the second straight day. No casualties …

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Swiss Re Corporate Solutions Names Hunziker as APAC Head Property & Specialty

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions has appointed Robert Hunziker as Asia Pacific Head Property & Specialty, effective Sept. 1, 2020. In this role, Hunziker will be responsible for providing underwriting leadership, portfolio steering and growing the Property & Specialty product offering …

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Florida CFO to Focus On Pandemic Business Liability Protections in 2021 Session

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis said he will pursue legislation that establishes liability protections for businesses in the next legislative session slated to start in March 2021. The Florida Department of Financial Services said in a statement that Patronis is currently …

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Retail Subsidiaries of BB&T Rebrand as McGriff, Maintain North Carolina Headquarters

McGriff Insurance Services, Inc., and McGriff, Seibels & Williams, Inc., the retail insurance subsidiaries of BB&T Insurance Holdings, have rebranded their businesses to McGriff. The company said in a statement the rebranding is designed to simplify the firm’s overall identity …

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SEC Pursues Coronavirus Fraudsters With Help From Whistleblowers

The novel coronavirus outbreak and economic fallout is proving to be a bonanza for whistleblower lawyers as the U.S. securities regulator cracks down on a range of related misconduct from companies touting sham cures to misuse of federal aid. The …

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P/C Insurance Underwriting Profits Up 21% for Q1: AM Best Analysis

Even though unrealized capital losses pushed surplus down 9 percent from year-end 2019 for the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry, aggregate underwriting profits for first-quarter 2020 were more than 21 percent higher than first-quarter 2019, AM Best reported. The first-quarter underwriting …

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Property Damage – Is It Because the Government Says It Is?

Property Damage: Is it “Property Damage” Just Because a Jurisdictional Order Uses the Term “Property Damage”? Some plaintiff attorneys are almost giddy over the fact that several jurisdictions used the term “property damage” in their respective emergency declarations to justify …

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Lockton Affinity to Offer Coverage for Architects, Engineers through GenStar

Lockton Affinity has expanded its insurance coverage offerings to include customized policies for architecture, civil engineering, construction management, design build, electrical engineering, HVAC engineering, interior design, landscape architecture, mechanical engineering and surveying professionals. These professionals will have access to professional …

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Times Square to Go Dark to Shine Light on Fight Over Business Interruption Insurance

The digital billboards in New York City’s famous Times Square will go dark tonight at 9 pm ET for one minute to dramatize the plight of restaurants, non-profits and retailers across the country that are suffering business losses due to …

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Florida Unemployment System Hit by Data Breach

Some Florida residents who have made unemployment claims may have had personal data stolen, officials said Thursday. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity has notified 98 people who were part of a data breach associated with unemployment claims, agency spokeswoman …

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Lawsuits Filed Against Michigan Dam Operator, Others over Flooding

Residents and businesses in Central Michigan communities that were submerged when two dams failed sued the operator of the dams and two state agencies charged with overseeing the structures on May 22. A second class-action suit was filed the same …

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Join the Coronavirus Survey for the Entire Property/Casualty Insurance Industry

How is the coronavirus pandemic affecting you, your life, your work and your industry? Now and going forward? No matter where you work in the P/C insurance industry, your experience is important. Learn how your experience compares with that of …

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Residents in Small Alaska Town Feel Moderate Earthquake

People in Kodiak City reported early Saturday that they felt a moderate earthquake that struck the Kodiak Island region, the Alaska Earthquake Center confirmed. The magnitude 4.4 earthquake hit at 12:52 a.m. Saturday and had an epicenter that was 58 …

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Nevada Governor Declares Emergency After Big Quake

Gov. Seve Sisolak has declared a state of emergency after Nevada’s biggest earthquake in 65 years caused significant damage to three U.S. highways, including the major route connecting Reno to Las Vegas. Sisolak said his declaration late las week will …

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Warehouse Fire Devastates San Francisco’s Fishing Industry

A huge fire that tore through a warehouse on San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf has destroyed fishing gear used to deliver about two-thirds of the city’s fresh seafood, threatening to disrupt the upcoming Dungeness crab season, local fishermen said Sunday. The …

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Three Members of $31.7M New York City Trip-And-Fall Scheme Sentenced to Prison

Three members of a $31.7 million trip-and-fall scheme to defraud New York City businesses and their insurance companies have been sentenced to prison. Bryan Duncan, Robert Locust and Ryan Rainford were sentenced by U.S. District Judge Disney H. Stein in …

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California Workers’ Comp Bureau Lowers Mid-Range Estimate of COVID Costs by $10B

The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California published estimated costs of allowing state workers to receive benefits for COVID-19 claims without proving virus exposure at work, dropping a prior mid-range estimate by $10 billion. In a report published on …

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EU Urged to Create Insurance Catastrophe Backstop for Pandemics, Huge Cyber Attacks

A European Union framework is needed to provide insurance cover for catastrophes such as pandemics and huge cyber attacks, the Federation of European Risk Management (FERMA) said on Tuesday. This would involve public-private partnerships and could cover events which hit …

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Official Says Fire at Middle School in New Hampshire Was Set Intentionally

A fire at Portsmouth Middle School in New Hampshire early Saturday appears to have been intentionally set, an official said. Firefighters arrived at the school after 3 a.m. and found flames coming out the front door of the main entrance …

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Workers’ Lawsuit Against McDonald’s Seeks Safety Measures, Not Damages

As U.S. businesses reopen, worried workers and their advocates are borrowing a legal strategy commonly used to shut down rowdy topless bars to try and force employers to strengthen protection against further spread of the coronavirus. Workers and their families …

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Willis Towers Watson Launches Customized Cyber Insurance for Shipowners

Willis Towers Watson announced the launch of CyNav, a new type of cyber insurance cover designed specifically for shipowners. The new product addresses the growing need for an explicit marine cyber solution, built from the ground up to specifically address …

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Chubb Not Responsible for Superstorm Sandy Damage to Two Insureds’ Homes

A New Jersey appeals court has upheld a trial court’s ruling that Chubb Insurance Co. is not responsible for damages to two insureds’ homes caused by Superstorm Sandy because of a flood exclusion in their policies. In October 2012, Superstorm …

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Canopius Appoints AXA XL’s Elliott as APAC Casualty Underwriter

Canopius announced the appointment of Craig Elliott as casualty underwriter for the region, effective May 4, 2020. He reports to Claudio Saita, head of Australia & Pacific, and is based in the company’s Sydney office, established last June as part …

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AXA to Pay Business Interruption Claims to Restaurants After Court Ruling

AXA said on Tuesday it would meet the bulk of claims from some restaurant owners after a Paris court ruled last week the French insurer should pay one owner two-months’ worth of coronavirus-related revenue losses. The ruling on a disputed …

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As Hurricane Season Starts, Coronavirus to Impact Disaster Preparedness

With forecasters predicting another intense Atlantic hurricane season with as many as 13 to 19 named storms, disaster preparedness experts say it’s critically important for people in evacuation zones to plan to stay with friends or family, rather than end …

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Space Explorers Should Beware of Viruses From Outer Space: Opinion

This summer, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration will launch a rover designed to collect samples of the Martian surface and store them until they can eventually be brought back to Earth. When they arrive, according to a former NASA …

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NFL Player Sues Airline, Says Attendants Failed to Stop Sexual Harassment by Passenger

An NFL player is suing United Airlines, saying he was harassed and sexually assaulted by an intoxicated female passenger on a red-eye flight in February. The player said in a lawsuit that soon after boarding the cross-country flight, a woman …

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Crest Insurance in Colorado Adds Stephen and Vallino in Employee Benefits

CREST Insurance Group of Colorado has added Lyal Stephen and Dylan Vallino to the fir in the new Ft. Collins location. Both will be producers in the employee benefits division. Lyal was previously a broker at PFS Insurance Group. Dylan …

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BHSI Expands Defense Base Act Coverage into Dubai

Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI) is now offering Defense Base Act (DBA) insurance on a global basis through its DBA-dedicated underwriting and claims team in Dubai. According to Neeraj Yadvendu, head of Third-Party Lines, BHSI Middle East, the mandatory coverage …

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CFC Launches Standalone Licensing Agreement Liability Product for IP Risks

CFC has released an insurance product for licensing agreements that expands on the company’s suite of media and intellectual property insurance products. According to the company, the global licensing industry is rapidly expanding as brand owners increasingly monetize their intellectual …

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Kansas Legislature Passes Bill Barring COVID-19 Lawsuits

Republicans pushed a sweeping coronavirus measure through the GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature on May 22, aiming to shield businesses and health care providers from coronavirus-related lawsuits and take control of the state’s pandemic response from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. Some Democrats …

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What’s a Life Worth? America Weighs Costs, Benefits of Social Distancing

We are becoming a nation of amateur actuaries, calculating the risk of restarting our lives. Can we go outside? Can we go back to work? Can we go to a restaurant or bar? Can we go to the beach? Can …

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Texas Agency Sleeper Sewell Insurance Joins Insurors Group

Dallas-based independent insurance agency, Sleeper Sewell Insurance, has joined Insurors Group LLC, an alliance of independent insurance agents in Texas. Sleeper Sewell Insurance was originally founded as Dwight Sleeper & Company in 1962 by Dwight W. Sleeper, Jr. In 2006, …

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French Court Orders AXA to Pay Restaurant’s COVID-19 Business Interruption Losses

A Paris commercial court has ruled that French insurer AXA will have to pay a restaurant owner two months’ worth of coronavirus-related revenue losses, the restaurant’s lawyer said on Friday. Stephane Manigold, who owns four restaurants in Paris, had filed …

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Coalition Launches Cyber Insurance and Security Coverage in Canada

Coalition, the cyber insurance and security managing general agent, announced it is offering its products and services to Canada-based businesses. The San Francisco-based company described the offering as proactive cyber-security products and services as well as cyber and technology error …

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AIR Worldwide Estimates Global COVID-19 Deaths Could Reach 644,000 During June

The number of COVID-19 cases globally over the next four weeks may reach 50 million total cases, with 644,000 estimated deaths, according to estimates provided by Verisk’s catastrophe modeling unit, AIR Worldwide, on May 20. As of May 19, 2020, …

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Earthquake Confirmed in Remote Area of Western Nevada

An earthquake of preliminary magnitude 5.0 shook a remote area of western Nevada Wednesday morning where a stronger temblor occurred last week, The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. Nye County sheriff’s Capt. David Boruchowitz said there were no immediate reports of …

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New Mexico Hospital Paying to Settle Retaliation Claim

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said a northern New Mexico hospital will pay $98,000 to settle a discrimination and retaliation lawsuit filed by the agency. The case against Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe was filed …

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Pacific Hurricane Forecast Complicated by Coronavirus

The Central Pacific basin including Hawaii should expect to see between two and six tropical storms or hurricanes this year, federal forecasters said this week. The annual National Weather Service prediction came as wary Hawaii residents begin to emerge from …

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Not All Homes in Wildfire Zones Are Uninsurable. Here’s How Insurers Can Tell.

Fire-risk scores now used by insurance underwriters can sometimes can make it challenging for homeowners to find coverage. Zesty.ai, a California insurtech start-up, is among a handful of firms working to fine-tune fire-risk scores so that some homeowners have a …

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Insurers, Agents Propose Pandemic Business Relief Plan; Plaintiffs Offer BIG Compromise

Key segments of the property/casualty insurance industry, which is facing mounting claims for business interruption losses from the pandemic, have thrown their lobbying weight behind a proposed federal program to replace revenues lost by businesses shut down during pandemics like …

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Maryland P/C Insurance Consumers to Receive More Than $250M in Premium Relief

Maryland property and casualty insurance consumers will receive more than $250 million in premium relief during the COVID-19 State of Emergency, according to a Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) press release. As of May 14, property and casualty insurance companies have …

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Australia Clamps Down on Litigation Funders Following Surge in Class Action Lawsuits

The Australian government is tightening regulatory scrutiny of wealthy litigation funders, clamping down on the industry following a surge in costly class action lawsuits. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said on Friday that litigation funders will be required to hold an Australian …

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Some of Hand Sanitizer Purell’s Claims Called Misleading, Draw Lawsuits

Everyone’s favorite hand sanitizer may have to stand trial for claiming it can stop you from getting sick. A trio of lawsuits has hit Purell’s maker, Gojo Industries Inc., since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus outbreak a public …

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Retaliation Claim Against Delaware Law Firm Over Softball Injury Nixed

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit against a Delaware law firm filed by a paralegal who claims he was targeted for retaliation after being injured while playing on the law firm’s softball team and filing a workers’ compensation claim. The …

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Airbus A320 Jet Crashes in Pakistan with 107 People on Board

An Airbus SE jet operated by Pakistan International Airlines crashed with 107 people on board as it approached its destination of Karachi. Flight PK 8303, which took off from Lahore, was carrying 99 passengers and 8 crew, Pakistan’s Civil Aviation …

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Zurich North America Brings Apprenticeship Program to New York City

Zurich North America is expanding its professional apprenticeship program from its Chicagoland headquarters to its downtown New York City office this fall, with the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) as the education provider. Zurich is a provider of insurance …

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SUNZ Insurance Solutions in Florida Names Leonard as President

Rick Leonard, former director of Sales and executive vice president with SUNZ Insurance Solutions, has been appointed president of the company. Leonard has been with SUNZ, a national provider of workers’ compensation insurance, for nearly 10 years and initially joined …

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Brazil Reinsurer IRB Eyes Purchase of Foreign Competitors’ Portfolios: Sources

Brazilian reinsurer IRB Brasil Resseguros SA is in advanced negotiations to buy rivals’ portfolios in Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America as foreign competitors scale back in the region, two sources close to the company told Reuters. Any such acquisition …

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Menard Inc. in Michigan for Sued by EEOC for Sexual Harassment

Menard Inc., which operates over 300 Menards home improvement stores in 14 states, has been sued by federal authorities on charges that it failed to act on multiple complaints of sexual harassment by an assistant manager at its facility in …

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LP Insurance Services Adds Layne in Employee Benefits in Nevada

LP Insurance Services LLC has named Chad Layne to the southern Nevada employee benefits sales team. Layne has been a benefits insurance broker for more than 25 years. Most recently he was president of Layne Insurance Services. He began his …

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SelectQuote Raises $350M in IPO; Shares Jump 40% in Market Debut

Shares of SelectQuote Inc. jumped more than 40% in their stock market debut on Thursday, giving the insurance policy comparison website a market valuation of over $4 billion. The company’s stellar offering is the latest sign of thawing in the …

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Federal Coronavirus Business Interruption Suits Now Top 100; Many More Expected

A federal court has received notice that 101 lawsuits have been filed as of Wednesday seeking coverage from insurers for business interruption losses caused by COVID-19. Plaintiffs attorneys say they expect the number to rise into the thousands. “Ultimately, I …

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Woodruff Sawyer Adds Glover as Producer in California

Woodruff Sawyer has added Paul Glover to the San Francisco, Calif., office as a producer and account executive in the firm’s real estate practice. He has been bringing serving clients in the real estate and manufacturing industries for more than …

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Michigan Flood Puts Privately Owned Dams in Harsh Spotlight

The dams that breached after days of heavy rain in central Michigan are privately owned and had been the center of controversy for several years. Now Governor Gretchen Whitmer is saying these critical facilities should not be in private hands. …

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WNFIS Expands Private Flood Program into South Carolina

Wright National Flood Insurance Services, LLC (WNFIS) has expanded its Residential Private Flood Insurance Program into South Carolina. This stand-alone product was previously launched in Florida and New Jersey last year, with plans for expansion into additional states. Wright’s Residential …

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Credit Ratings of United Farm Bureau of Indiana Group Upgraded

AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a” from “a-” of the members of United Farm Bureau of Indiana Group (Indiana Farm Bureau): …

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Suit: ADT Employee Spied on Texas Customers Via Home Security Systems

Two federal class-action lawsuits have been filed against ADT, one of the largest security companies in the country, alleging that an employee spied on customers and children in Texas over a seven-year period through their home security cameras. The lawsuits, …

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Service American, Tangram Insurance Partner on Workers’ Comp Program

Service American Indemnity Co. (SAIC), a national workers’ compensation carrier, is partnering with Tangram Insurance Services Inc. (Tangram), a managing general underwriter and program manager, to enhance Tangram’s Social Service Workers Compensation Program. SAIC is a subsidiary of Texas-based Service …

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Dow Shuts Operations in Michigan as Flood Waters Rise

Dow Inc. said on May 20 it shut down all operating units at its headquarters in Midland, Michigan, after flood waters breached its sites following the collapse of two dams. “At approximately 10:00 a.m. Eastern it was confirmed there were …

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Cyber Seller Coalition Counters Insurtech Funding Dip, Raises $90 Million for Expansion

Coalition, an insurtech managing general agency focused on cyber insurance and security, disclosed it raised $90 million in new venture financing earlier this year to fuel development of new products and a global expansion. “We are in the fortunate position …

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Oregon Governor Declares Drought Emergency in Coos County

A drought declaration passed by Coos County Commissioners has been approved by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. The governor’s declaration, which expires Dec. 31, will authorize state agencies to expedite water management tools for local officials to quickly start mitigation activities, …

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Aspergillus Mold Found Again at Washington Hospital

Seattle Children’s hospital is again coping with a mold in its operating rooms that has persisted at the hospital for nearly 20 years and has been linked to seven deaths. There are no known new illnesses connected to the latest …

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Las Vegas Businessman Reaches $21M Settlement in Fatal DUI Crash

A prominent Las Vegas businessman awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty in a deadly drunken driving crash has reached a $21 million settlement in a lawsuit by the family of a mother of three killed in the wreck. Real estate broker …

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Rhode Island’s Lathrop Insurance Named Newest Member of Renaissance Alliance

Lathrop Insurance Inc., a full-service independent insurance agency located in Westerly, R.I., has been named as the newest member of Renaissance Alliance Insurance Services. Established in 1939 by Francis Lathrop Sr., Lathrop Insurance is a full-service independent insurance agency providing …

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Connecticut Reminds Businesses to Verify Insurance Coverage During Reopening

Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Andrew N. Mais and Economic Development Commissioner David Lehman are reminding businesses to make sure their insurance coverage accurately reflects any changed circumstances as they move to comply with Governor Ned Lamont’s reopening guidelines. “The pandemic has …

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COVID-19 Contact Tracing Apps Proving Not Much of a Help Thus Far

Harnessing today’s technology to fight the coronavirus pandemic is turning out to be more complicated than it first appeared. The first U.S. states that rolled out smartphone apps for tracing the contacts of COVID-19 patients are dealing with technical glitches …

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Generali 1st Quarter Net Profit Plunges 84.8% on COVID-19 Investment Hit

Generali’s first quarter net profit plunged 84.8% to €113 million (US$124 million) from €744 million (US$815.5 million) reported in Q1 2019, as a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on financial markets. The hit to its Q1 net …

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Safety Probe Cites ‘Poor Safety Culture’ for Fatal Air Ambulance Crash

A lax safety culture at an air ambulance company led to the crash of a medical helicopter last year in snowy weather in Ohio that killed three people, federal investigators said Tuesday. Survival Flight’s “inadequate management of safety” led the …

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Woodruff Sawyer CEO Barrengos Appointed CEO and Chairman, Loar Named Chairman Emeritus

San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff Sawyer today announced Andy Barrengos has been appointed CEO and chairman by the board of directors. Stan Loar is to be honored with the title of chairman emeritus. In addition, Woodruff Sawyer’s board has introduced the …

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When UK Insurers, Banks Emerge from Lockdown, Their Employees Face New Normal

Limits on elevators, thermal imaging and temperature checks will greet a first wave of traders and bankers in Britain preparing to return to offices under new norms to tackle the coronavirus. Britain’s financial sector is working to bring staff back …

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New York Dusts Off 1918 Pandemic Playbook For Help in Making Subway Safer

As in 1918, New York may use staggered work hours to keep subway safe As New York City makes plans to reopen in the coming months, officials are dusting off the playbook from the 1918 flu pandemic, when businesses were …

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Cyclone Amphan Floods Areas of India and Bangladesh, Threatening Pandemic Fight

The biggest cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal in two decades wrecked havoc along India’s east coast and in Bangladesh, killing several people, flooding low-lying areas and affecting power supply. Amphan is likely to continue to move north-northeastward and …

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UK’s Aviva Expects COVID-19-Related Claims of Nearly $200 Million

British insurer Aviva expects 160 million pounds ($195 million) in claims related to the coronavirus pandemic and weaker second quarter sales, it said on Thursday, as government lockdowns aimed at containing the virus hit the global economy. Insurers globally are …

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Roads Are Emptier But Riskier During Coronavirus Quarantine. Fatalities Up 14%.

As Americans have driving less and covering fewer miles, the emptier roads have become more lethal. Preliminary data from the National Safety Council indicate a year-over-year 14% jump in fatality rates per miles driven in March, in spite of an …

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States Sharing of COVID-19 Patients’ Data With First Responders Sparks Privacy Concern

More than 11 million people have been tested in the U.S. for COVID-19, all with the assurance that their private medical information would remain protected and undisclosed. Yet, public officials in at least two-thirds of states are sharing the addresses …

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OSHA Vows More Work Safety Inspections for Coronavirus as Businesses Reopen

The U.S. Labor Department will expand inspections of businesses to reduce job-site hazards related to the new coronavirus as employees begin returning to work across the country, although the policy falls short of demands by worker advocates. The revised policy, …

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Insurance Is Not A Company’s Primary Line of Defense in a Crisis

Imagine your company having a Halloween party: Employees show up wearing costumes mocking your customers, says the chief executive of a New York commercial insurance brokerage we recently interviewed. “Now imagine what happens when pictures of the party go public.” …

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PG&E’s Bankruptcy Plan Wins Support from California Wildfire Victims

_ Pacific Gas & Electric’s plan for getting out of bankruptcy has won overwhelming support from the victims of deadly Northern California wildfires ignited by the utility’s fraying electrical grid, despite concerns that they will be shortchanged by a $13.5 …

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Coalition in California Raises $90M to Grow Internationally

San Francisco, Calif.-based Coalition, a cyber insurance and security company, announced it has raised $90 million in equity capital to support its growth and global expansion. Valor Equity Partners led the funding with participation from Felicis Ventures, Greyhound Capital, and …

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Construction Company Owner Pleads Guilty After Lying During OSHA Investigation

After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the owner of a Somerset County, N.J., construction company has pleaded guilty to one count of felony perjury brought by the U.S. Attorney for the …

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U.S. to Mandate Safety Management for Aircraft Manufacturers

The Federal Aviation Administration said Tuesday it would require Boeing Co. and other aircraft manufacturers to adopt new safety-management tools following two fatal Boeing 737 MAX crashes that killed 346 people. The plan to begin the regulatory process to mandate …

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Maryland, Virginia, D.C. Intend to Sue EPA on Bay Pollution

Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia filed a notice of intent to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to require two other states to implement plans to cut pollution in the Chesapeake Bay, officials said Monday. EPA Administrator …

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Judge in Las Vegas Shooting Case Seeks State Ruling on Gun Makers’ Immunity

A U.S. judge is asking Nevada’s highest court to decide whether state law allows gun manufacturers and sellers to be held liable for deaths as he considers a lawsuit from the parents of a victim of the deadliest mass shooting …

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BMS Names Former Everest CEO Addesso as Non-Exec Chair of U.S. Reinsurance Arm

BMS Group, the London-based specialist re/insurance broker, announced the appointments of Dominic Addesso as non-executive chairman and LoriAnn Lowery-Biggers as an independent non-executive director of BMS Intermediaries Inc., the group’s U.S. reinsurance intermediary arm. Addesso and Lowery-Biggers also join as …

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Allianz Group Appoints Richter to lead Cyber Center of Competence

Dr. Catharina Richter will be appointed global head of Cyber Center of Competence for Allianz Group, effective June 1, 2020. The Cyber Center of Competence (CoC) coordinates and steers cyber risk underwriting and governance across Allianz Group and is embedded …

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Generali Digitizes Art Insurance, Offering Collectors Remote Evaluation of Artworks

ARTE Generali, Generali Group’s business unit that provides art insurance to collectors, has unveiled a new app, which offers remote evaluation of artworks. In addition, ARTE Generali has set up a program to support small galleries, museums and art dealers …

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Brexit Talks Become Acrimonious as UK Slams EU’s ‘Unworthy’ Trade Offer

Boris Johnson’s chief Brexit negotiator accused the European Union of offering the UK only a “low-quality” trade deal as talks between the two sides descended into acrimony. In a dramatic intervention in the increasingly fractious negotiations over the future UK-EU …

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For Third Point Re, COVID-19 Crisis Hurts, but It Celebrates 1st Underwriting Profit

Third Point Re reported a net loss of $183.6 million for the first quarter of 2020 due to COVID-19-related investment volatility – but the company still had big reasons to celebrate. For the first time since its inception in October …

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Wisconsin’s M3 Insurance Joins TechAssure

TechAssure, an international nonprofit association of insurance and risk management experts for technology-related risks, has named Madison, Wisconsin-based M3 Insurance as a new member. A top 50 insurance broker and risk management firm, M3 employs more than 300 people from …

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Mississippi to Offer $300M in Virus Relief Grants for Small Businesses

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said last week that he expects to sign a bill to create grants for small businesses by using part the state’s coronavirus relief money. The governor’s staff was involved in negotiations that led to the bill …

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Holmes Murphy’s CSDZ Adds Beyer to Minnesota Risk Management Team

CSDZ, a Holmes Murphy company, has added Cal Beyer to its Minnesota team as vice president of Workforce Risk and Worker Wellbeing. Beyer has over 30 years of safety, insurance, and risk management experience, with 24 of those years serving …

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West Virginia Expands State Reopenings Ahead of Memorial Day Weekend

West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice on Monday expanded his plan to lift coronavirus restrictions while acknowledging that cases will likely rise as the economy reopens. The Republican governor has added indoor malls to the growing list of businesses set to …

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The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers Adds Barkasy in South Carolina

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers has hired David Barkasy to establish a presence for the company in South Carolina. Barkasy, who has been in the insurance field for more than 20 years, joins the team as a producer and is …

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North Carolina Revises Workers’ Comp Premium Rules Related to COVID-19

Two new rule revisions to the North Carolina Basic Manual for Workers Compensation and Employers Liability (NC Basic Manual) related to the COVID-19 pandemic have been approved by the North Carolina Department of Insurance. The North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB) …

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Texas Storage Tank Facility Cited for Safety Hazards, Fined $234.5K

Alexander Tank Company – a manufacturer of steel storage tanks based in Luling, Texas – has been cited by federal regulators for repeat safety and health hazards and fined $234,528. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited Alexander …

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McDonald’s Faces Class Action From Workers Over COVID-19 Safety

Five McDonald’s workers in Chicago filed a class action lawsuit against the chain on Tuesday, accusing it of failing to adopt government safety guidance on COVID-19 and endangering employees and their families. McDonald’s failed to provide adequate hand sanitizer, gloves …

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WCF Insurance Promotes Boyd to California Director of Underwriting

WCF Insurance has promoted Ann Boyd to California director of underwriting in the Roseville. Boyd will lead the underwriting team’s growth and development in California will report to Gwen Church, vice president of underwriting. She joined WCF Insurance in 2018. …

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Work From Home Is Fine . . . For Now: Opinion

There are reasons to be optimistic about corporate America getting more comfortable with work-from-home arrangements brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Workers gain more flexibility around their working and living arrangements. Both companies and workers stand to save money by …

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Johnson & Johnson to No Longer Sell Talc-Based Baby Powder in U.S., Canada

Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday announced that it would stop selling its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States and Canada, making the decision after a consumer products “portfolio reassessment related to COVID-19.” The U.S. healthcare conglomerate said it …

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Louisiana Senate OKs Bill Aimed at Curbing Car Accident Lawsuits

The Louisiana Senate has agreed to change the rules for lawsuits over car wrecks, aiming to limit damage claims against insurance companies and other businesses. The Senate voted 29-8 for the bill by Republican Sen. Kirk Talbot of River Ridge. …

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Wisconsin Commissioner Seeks Rehabilitation for Time Insurance Co.

Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Mark Afable has filed a petition and proposed court order that would allow the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) to place Time Insurance Co. in rehabilitation. Time Insurance has close 200,000 policyholders for long-term …

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Bluefire Insurance Announces 10% Temporary Auto Rate Drop in Louisiana

Irving, Texas-based managing general agent specializing in low cost auto insurance, Bluefire Insurance, said it will provide approximately $2.7 million dollars in rate relief to assist policyholders with financial hardships in Louisiana. In response to the turbulent times brought on …

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Minnesota’s Summit Insurance Joins Midwest Insurance Agency Alliance

Summit Insurance Agency LLC, in Moorhead, Minnesota, has joined Midwest Insurance Agency Alliance Inc. (MIAA), a network of insurance agencies across seven states. A full-service insurance agency, Summit Insurance serves families and businesses in the Moorhead, Minnesota, and Fargo, North …

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Insurer Beazley Raises $300M to Strengthen Balance Sheet on COVID-19 Uncertainties

Beazley, the Lloyd’s specialist insurer, announced it raised £247 million (approximately $300 million) in capital via an equity placement designed to strengthen its balance sheet as a result of the continuing uncertainty created by the COVID-19 crisis. During the first …

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Parents of Oregon Baby Who Died From Meningitis Sue For $6.3M

The parents of an infant who died from meningitis after he was released from Silverton Medical Center in Oregon are suing the hospital for $6.3 million. The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the death of 7-month-old Blaize Wheeldon and …

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Nursing Home With Oregon’s Deadliest Virus Outbreak Sued

The daughter of a woman who died after contracting the coronavirus at a Portland long-term care facility filed a $1.8 million lawsuit Thursday claiming elder abuse. Angela Brown says her 75-year-old mother, Judith Jones, contracted coronavirus and died because of …

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Investigators Open Probe into Los Angeles Explosion

Police and fire investigators launched a criminal probe Sunday into the cause of an explosion at a hash oil manufacturer in downtown Los Angeles that sent firefighters running for their lives. Detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department’s major crimes …

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Show Them the Money: Cyber Attackers Desire Financial Gain More Than Espionage

Money trumped spying as the top motivator for data breaches last year, according to Verizon’s annual report on cyber crimes published on Tuesday. About nine out of 10 breaches were financially motivated, based on an examination of more than 32,000 …

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P/C Insurers Back a Federal Pandemic Loss Fund But Not a Backstop Like TRIA

Property/casualty insurance carrier groups are developing a proposal for a federal program to replace revenues lost by businesses shut down during pandemics like COVID-19, but their program won’t be modeled after the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act as some have urged. …

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How Coronavirus Has Affected Auto Insurance Shopping

This year began with auto insurance buyers shopping around more than ever but by mid-March shopping began to slow down before returning to normal a few weeks later. According to the data firm LexisNexis, shopping has closely mirrored other pandemic …

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Car Crashes into Closed Pennsylvania Convenience Store

A car slammed into a convenience store in western Pennsylvania, killing one woman and injuring two others, authorities said. The car was traveling down Dwellington Drive in Middlesex Township when it crashed into a closed store at the CoGo’s at …

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Citi Appoints Haider to its Financial Institutions Group in New York

Citi has appointed Jawad Haider as North America head of insurance in its Financial Institutions Group, based in New York. He is starting at Citi effective immediately. Haider has more than 20 years of experience in providing strategic coverage and …

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Delaware Teen Charged with Setting Fire at Elementary School

Authorities in Delaware have arrested a 14-year-old boy accused of intentionally setting fire to a structure at an elementary school, causing damage estimated at $80,000, according to the State Fire Marshal’s Office. State Fire Marshal deputies charged the teenager with …

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Aon Promotes Petrevski to Data, Analytic Services Leader

Global insurance broker Aon has promoted Steve Petrevski as senior vice president and general manager of Data & Analytic Services. Petrevski will be responsible for developing and executing Aon’s data and analytic services platform, which brings together data, technology, expertise …

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Risk Managers Expect Prolonged Global Recession on COVID-19 Crisis: WEF Report

Risk managers expect a prolonged global recession as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, a report by the World Economic Forum showed on Tuesday. Two-thirds of the 347 respondents to the survey – carried out in response to the outbreak …

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Sony to Take Full Control of Its Financial Unit for $3.7B, Aiming for Fintech Growth

Sony Corp. said on Tuesday it will turn its listed financial arm, Sony Financial Holdings Inc, into a wholly owned unit through a tender offer worth about 400 billion yen ($3.72 billion). The deal will allow the Japanese electronics and …

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India, Bangladesh Prepare for Biggest Cyclone in 20 Years with Evacuation of Thousands

The biggest cyclonic storm over the Bay of Bengal in about two decades may likely weaken as it hits coasts of India and Bangladesh late on Wednesday, with authorities making preparations to evacuate more than 5 million people to safer …

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North Carolina Tyson Foods Plant Closes for COVID-19 Deep Clean After Worker Illnesses

A poultry producer is temporarily closing a North Carolina plant for cleaning amid the COVID-19 outbreak. Tyson Foods spokesman Derek Burleson said in an email one of two fresh meat plants at its Wilkesboro complex was closed from Thursday to …

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Nearly 9K Acre Brush Fire in Southwest Florida Destroys At Least 7 Homes

At least seven homes were lost in a brush fire in southwest Florida, and many of the victims say they escaped with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. The 8,663-acre wildfire fire in Collier County continued to burn …

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Insurance Office of America Adds Goodwell in California

Insurance Office of America has added Theo Goodwell as a commercial property/casualty insurance producer in its San Diego, Calif., office. His focus will be on select commercial business accounts. Goodwell was previously a broker at Snapp & Associates Insurance Services …

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When Insurers Deny Claims, Brokers Are Next in Line for Allegations of Wrongdoing

In the wake of government orders shutting down or seriously limiting the operations of businesses to deal with the COVID-19 outbreak, many affected businesses have turned to their insurers for coverage. This has led to a flurry of lawsuits across …

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U.S. Employers Shying Away From Using Coronavirus ‘Immunity’ Tests in Reopening

U.S. employers have cooled to the idea of testing workers for possible immunity to the coronavirus as they prepare to reopen factories and other workplaces. Blood tests that check for antibodies to the new coronavirus have been touted by governments …

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OSHA Releases First Coronavirus Guidance for Nursing Homes

The U.S. Department of Labor last Thursday issued its first workplace guidance to nursing homes since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the country and ravaged care facilities, saying residents, staff and visitors should keep 6 feet (1.83 meters) apart. The alert …

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China Urges Local Firms to List in London with China Pacific Insurance as One of First

China is urging domestic companies to look at listing in London, several sources told Reuters, as the country aims to revive deals under a Stock Connect scheme and strengthen overseas ties in the wake of the coronavirus crisis. The Shanghai-London …

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Investigations Continue Following Blast at Maine Paper Mill

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration inspection of the site of a paper mill blast could take several more months. OSHA has until six months after the date it entered the Pixell Specialty Solutions mill on April 17 to complete …

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Great American Insurance Group Hires Lewis as Divisional Vice President

Great American Insurance Group has hired Gordon M. Lewis as a divisional vice president within its Ocean Marine division. Lewis has more than 28 years of experience in numerous lines of business within the marine insurance industry. He joins Great …

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Hub Acquires Assets of Massachusetts’ Lashua-LaChance & Poliks Insurance Agency

Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, has acquired the assets of Lashua-LaChance & Poliks Insurance Agency Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Gardner, Mass., Lashua-LaChance is a locally owned, independent insurance agency that provides personal …

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Insurance Comparison Website SelectQuote Hopes IPO Will Raise $342 Million

SelectQuote Inc. said on Friday it was looking to raise about $342 million in an initial public offering that could value the owner of the insurance policy comparison website at more than $3 billion. The company will offer about 18 …

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The Facts About Supposed ‘Illegal Acts’ Exclusions

Is the Insurance Policy Affected if the Business Opens Against a Governor’s Orders: The Facts About Supposed “Illegal Acts” Exclusions States have gone to war against some municipalities over COVID-19. Executive orders currently in place in many states still bar …

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Ed Broking Launches E-Trading Platform Called ‘TradEd’ in Bermuda

Ed Broking, the London-based reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced the external launch of its TradEd portals for carriers and clients in Bermuda. TradEd, the e-trading platform that is used in-house by BGC insurance companies* globally, is now available to …

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BMS Signs Long-Term Partnership Agreement with Chilean Broker Insurex Re

BMS Group, the London-based specialist re/insurance broker, announce it has signed a preferred partner agreement with the independent Chilean reinsurance broker and existing trading partner Insurex Re, a company owned by Insurex Group. A long-term business plan has been agreed …

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Coronavirus Blocks Many UK Farm Laborers – in Possible Foretaste of Brexit

Britain’s fruit and vegetable farmers have long dreaded their country’s exit from the European Union, worrying that it would keep out the tens of thousands of Eastern European workers who come every year to pick produce. Now, the coronavirus pandemic …

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Europe Faces Sweltering Summer with Below-Average Rainfall: Scientists

Europe is set for a sweltering and tinder dry summer this year, posing trouble for farmers, utilities and transportation on inland waterways. That’s the conclusion of scientists at the Copernicus Climate Change Service, who published the seasonal outlook this week. …

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Italy to Protect Businesses from Liability if Workers Catch Coronavirus: News Report

Italian businesses that follow the health and safety rules are protected from liability in case returning workers catch coronavirus, the head of the country’s insurance association said in an interview with La Stampa. While infections are categorized as workplace accidents …

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5th Circuit Court: Suit Against LSU in Frat Pledge’s Death Can Proceed

A federal appeals court said the parents of a Louisiana State University freshman who died during a hazing ritual can pursue a lawsuit that accuses the university of committing sexual discrimination when disciplining sororities and fraternities. Stephen and Rae Ann …

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Louisiana Senate Backs Bills to Shield Businesses from Virus Lawsuits

Restaurants serving takeout and delivery orders in Louisiana during the coronavirus outbreak and businesses providing protective gear should be largely shielded from lawsuits for injuries, the state Senate decided on May 14. Senators overwhelmingly supported the pair of bills from …

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Workers at Kansas FedEx Facility Infected with Coronavirus

FedEx has confirmed that workers from its facility in the Kansas City suburb of Olathe have tested positive for COVID-19. A spokesperson from FedEx Ground said in a statement that it was working cooperatively with county health officials and offering …

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Nephew: Dead Worker Had Warned Virus Was ‘Everywhere’ at Iowa Plant

In the days before his death, an Iowa meatpacking worker twice warned that the coronavirus was spreading through his plant because of its crowded spaces and lack of personal protective equipment, his nephew said. Husen Jagir, 56, died May 1, …

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Central Insurance COO Hurless Elected to Company’s Board

Cindy M. Hurless, chief operating officer of Van Wert, Ohio–based Central Insurance Companies has been elected to the company’s board of directors. Hurless is responsible for oversight of the company’s services, claims, underwriting, and loss control operations. She joined Central …

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San Antonio’s Amerman Insurance Services Merges with Higginbotham

Independent insurance broker, Higginbotham, and Amerman Insurance Services, based in San Antonio, Texas, have merged operations, the companies said. The union adds eight commercial and personal property/casualty insurance and employee benefit professionals to Higginbotham’s existing San Antonio office for a …

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Economy Will Need More Government Help to Recover, Says Fed Chair Powell

The most important data for the U.S. economy right now are the “medical metrics” around the coronavirus pandemic, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Sunday night in broadcast remarks where he outlined the likely need for three to six more …

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Talc Miner Imerys to Forfeit North America Units to Settle 14,000 Cancer Lawsuits

Imerys SA, which mines talc used in Johnson & Johnson’s iconic Baby Powder and other products, agreed to turn over its North American operations to resolve more than 14,000 lawsuits claiming the mineral caused cancer in some consumers. Imerys Talc …

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Citing 9/11 Victims Fund, Lawmakers Eye U.S. Compensation Pool For COVID-19 Workers

A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers last week unveiled a plan to compensate essential workers who fall sick or die from COVID-19. The lawmakers are modeling their Pandemic Heroes Compensation Act after the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. Reps. Carolyn …

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U.S. Completes Overhaul of Biotech Farm Product Regulations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on Thursday a rule that will simplify or waive agency reviews of certain biotech farm products, including plants and seeds that have been genetically modified or engineered. As a result, some products could be …

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Buckle Adds Delivery Coverage During Pandemic for Georgia Rideshare Drivers

Buckle, a technology-driven financial services company, has been granted temporary approval to add insurance coverage to its rideshare driver members’ policies for the delivery of food, household supplies, and other packaged goods. Due to the COVID-19 crisis that has forced …

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Aon’s Thurman Joins Lockton Re in Atlanta to Lead New Workers’ Comp Practice

Lockton Re, the global reinsurance business of insurance broker Lockton, has hired Keith Thurman to its Lockton Re Atlanta office to lead the buildout of its’ Workers’ Compensation practice in the U.S., working closely with colleagues both there and in …

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CorRisk Solutions Hires DeFelice to Lead Its A&E Professional Liability Team

Melville, New York-based managing general underwriter CorRisk Solutions has hired Christine DeFelice to lead its architects and engineers (A&E) professional liability team. DeFelice is based in CorRisk’s New York City office and will report to Maria V. Amelio, chief underwriting …

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Walt Disney, Unions Agree on Coronavirus Worker Safeguards for Reopening Parks

Walt Disney Co. and unions representing workers at Florida’s Walt Disney World have reached an agreement on safeguards to protect employees from coronavirus, a union statement said on Thursday, removing one of the company’s hurdles to reopening its popular theme …

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UK Regulator Announces Pandemic Relief Measures for Insurance Customers

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) announced a set of measures to help insurance customers who may be suffering financial difficulties as a result of coronavirus pandemic. The measures include premium reductions, discounts, waiving fees and premium payment deferrals. FCA explained …

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Wolf Administration Warns Pennsylvania Businesses Defying Shutdown Order

The administration of Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf issued a warning Monday to businesses that choose to open in defiance of the pandemic shutdown, saying they could be jeopardizing their insurance coverage. With several counties in open rebellion against Wolf’s restrictions …

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U.S. Issues Maritime Advisory on Sanctions for Ship Owners, Insurers

WASHINGTON/LONDON (Reuters) – The Trump administration on Thursday issued guidelines to help ship owners and insurers avoid the risks of sanctions penalties, standards that maritime players and senior State Department official said they were modified following months of discussions with …

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Few Coronavirus Liability Lawsuits Have Been Filed Thus Far

Businesses are urging U.S. lawmakers to shield companies from what they fear could be a flood of lawsuits by workers and consumers blaming employers for exposing them to the new coronavirus. But so far, court records show few such cases …

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Business Interruption Claimants Like How Some Localities Worded Emergency Orders

Cities and counties across the country may have handed plaintiff’s attorneys an argument to use in lawsuits against insurers that seek business-interruption coverage for losses caused by coronavirus closure orders. Jurisdictions as far asunder as Los Angeles, Calif. and Key …

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Typhoon Vongfong Tests Philippines’ Ability to Protect Evacuees from Coronavirus

Typhoon Vongfong forced more than 150,000 people in the Philippines to leave their homes, risking coronavirus infection as they move to usually packed shelters. Intense rains and strong winds damaged houses and crops as the first typhoon to enter the …

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Generali and Insurtech Descartes Underwriting to Develop Parametric Insurance Cover

Generali’s P&C unit Global Corporate & Commercial (GC&C) and insurtech company Descartes Underwriting have formed a strategic partnership to develop parametric products designed to help close the growing insurance protection gap. This collaboration combines GC&C’s technical capabilities in the corporate …

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AXA Unit to Offer Medical Consultations to Guests of French Hotel Group Accor

AXA and French hotel group Accor have formed a strategic partnership to provide medical support to guests staying at Accor’s 5000 hotels worldwide. As soon as July 2020, Accor’s guests will be able to benefit from advances in telemedicine through …

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Florida’s Capitol Preferred to Shed Nearly 24K Policies; Regulator to Oversee Operations

Capitol Preferred Insurance Co., one of the top writers of homeowners insurance in Florida, has received approval from the state’s insurance regulator to shed 23,800 policies just weeks before the start of hurricane season. In a March 12 consent order, …

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Hub International Acquires Assets of Hatchett Insurance Agency of Tennessee

Hub International Limited (Hub), a global insurance brokerage, has acquired the assets of Hatchett Insurance Agency, LLC (Hatchett Insurance). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Winchester, Tenn., Hatchett Insurance is a family-owned independent insurance agency providing personal …

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Lentz Named Senior VP – Underwriting at Texas Mutual Insurance Co.

Workers’ compensation provider, Texas Mutual Insurance Co., has appointed Jeff Lentz as the company’s senior vice president (SVP) of underwriting. He most recently was vice president of underwriting at the company. Lentz will oversee corporate underwriting, underwriting support services, regional …

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Man Dies in Fall at South Dakota Construction Site

A 24-year-old man died on May 12 in a fall at a downtown Sioux Fall, South Dakota, construction site, police said. Police were called around 10:45 a.m. about a man injured at the construction site of the First Premier Bank …

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Texas Appellate Courts Won’t Pay Ransom After Cyber Attack

Texas courts have been hit with a ransomware attack that took down the website and case management systems for the state’s appellate and high courts. The attack on the courts’ network was discovered by staff on the morning of May …

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Outlooks Revised to Negative for Indiana’s NAMIC Insurance

AM Best reported it revised the outlooks to negative from stable and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of NAMIC Insurance Co. Inc. (NAMICO) in Indianapolis, Indiana. The negative outlooks …

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Kansas Sausage Making Plant with COVID-19 Cases Shuts Down

A Kansas plant that makes sausage shut down on May 13 after employees tested positive for the coronavirus, and an outbreak that has infected hundreds at the state’s largest prison claimed the life of another worker. The shutdown at the …

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AIG Shareholders Approve Insurer’s Executive Compensation Plan

Shareholders of American International Group Inc. strengthened their support for the U.S. insurance company’s executive compensation plan after the board made changes to its pay packages, according to vote totals AIG released on Thursday. Nearly 94% of the shareholder votes …

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Workers Protesting the Virus May Be Just the Start: Opinion

In recent weeks, employees at sites as diverse as Amazon warehouses, meat-processing plants and emergency rooms have raised the alarm over unsafe conditions posed by the new coronavirus. Workplace infections have been soaring, while protective gear has been in chronically …

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Trump Administration Rule Changes Allow Trucker Work Day of 14 Hours

The U.S. Transportation Department on Thursday published new rules for truck drivers that will allow short-haul drivers to work a longer day and revising rules for longer trips, saying the changes will save the industry $2.8 billion over 10 years. …

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Aon Forms Intellectual Property Liability MGA; Taps Lewis to Lead

Aon has established an intellectual property liability underwriting platform with levels of capacity it says is the largest known delegated capacity for the risk. IP underwriter Ian Lewis has joined the company to spearhead the development of an underwriting team …

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Governor Vows ‘Consequences’ if Arkansas Theater Proceeds with Concert

An Arkansas theater will face consequences that could be enforced by the police if it proceeds with its plan to defy the state’s coronavirus restrictions by holding what could be the country’s first major concert this far into the pandemic, …

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Bid to Force Interruption Insurance to Cover Virus Pulled from Louisiana Bill

Louisiana lawmakers won’t try to force business interruption insurance policies to cover the widespread closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sen. Rick Ward, a Port Allen Republican, shelved the proposal amid concerns it could crater the state’s insurance industry and …

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Zurich Insurance Estimates Coronavirus Pandemic Claims to Hit $750 Million for 2020

Zurich Insurance estimates that the overall property and casualty (P&C) claims from the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the region of $750 million for 2020. To put that into context, Zurich’s CFO George Quinn said the expected COVID-19 claim level …

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Officials: Why Was Man Killed by Jet on Texas Runway There?

Investigators are trying to determine how a man with apparently no security clearance ended up on a runway at a Texas airport where he was struck and killed by a landing commercial jet. Junin Ko, 22, died on May 7 …

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Missouri Family Files Workers’ Comp Claim in Nurse’s Death from Virus

Attorneys for the family of a Missouri nurse who died from COVID-19 filed a claim for death benefits under the state’s workers’ compensation laws. Celia Yap-Banago, 69, died April 21 after caring for a patient with COVID-19 at Research Medical …

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Kansas GOP Lawmakers Want to Limit Coronavirus Lawsuits

Republican legislators in Kansas are joining a broader effort to shield doctors, hospitals and businesses from lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus, with business and medical groups pushing them to act quickly. The effort faces strong opposition from labor unions, trial …

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Former Lieutenant with Michigan State Police Settles Whistleblowers’ Suit

A retired lieutenant has settled a $2 million whistleblowers’ lawsuit against Michigan, the state police and her former supervisors. Twana Powell’s lawsuit was settled in April, the Detroit Free Press reported. Powell was both the first woman and first African …

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Legislation to Limit Car Accident Claims Advances in Louisiana

Louisiana’s Republican lawmakers have advanced proposals to limit damage claims against businesses in car wreck lawsuits, pushing ahead with the pre-coronavirus priority as Democrats argued the debate was inappropriate amid a pandemic. House and Senate committees approved “tort reform” measures …

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Here’s What Happened to Commercial Insurance Renewal Premiums in April

Year over year, all lines of property/casualty insurance business experienced an increase in average premium renewal rate, except workers’ compensation, which saw a premium decrease, according to the April results of the IVANS Index. Month over month, April premium renewal …

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Building Owner, Alarm Companies Sued Over Deadly Las Vegas Fire

The owner of a downtown Las Vegas apartment building where six people died in the deadliest residential fire in city history has been hit with another lawsuit seeking damages. This time, several fire alarm manufacturers, sellers and monitoring companies were …

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Insurance Office of America’s Adds Daniel to Employee Benefits Team in Nevada

Insurance Office of America has added Stephen P. Daniel to the Las Vegas, Nev., office as an employee benefits consultant. He was previously an employee benefits consultant with The Mahony Group. Daniel has also been an owner/agent for New York …

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SEC Accuses Two Companies of Making Misleading COVID-19 Claims

The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged two companies it says claimed to offer products to combat the COVID-19 virus. One complaint is against against Applied BioSciences Corp. and the other is against Turbo Global Partners, Inc. and its chief …

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New Jersey Insurance Companies Directed to Provide Premium Reductions

The New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance has directed insurance companies in the state to provide premium reductions to consumers and businesses during the COVID-19 emergency, citing reduced risk of loss due to the pandemic. The department issued a …

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Family of New Jersey Teacher Killed in School Bus Crash Files Lawsuit

The family of a New Jersey teacher who died when the school bus she was riding crashed into a dump truck has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against both drivers, as well as local and state officials. Social studies teacher …

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Departing Maryland Insurance Commissioner Reflects on Time in Office, Talks Future Plans

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Al Redmer Jr. will leave his regulatory role and step into his new position as executive director of Maryland Auto Insurance on Monday, bringing with him a legacy as Maryland’s longest serving insurance commissioner. Maryland Auto Insurance, …

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Applied Underwriters’ Centauri Files $30M ‘Poaching’ Suit Against Wellington Insurance

A Florida-based managing general agency has filed a $30 million poaching lawsuit against three former executives and the agency they jumped to while it was in the process of being acquired. Centauri Specialty Insurance Holdings (CSIH) and Centauri Specialty Managers …

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Lloyd’s Insurer Antares Names Campbell as Head of Specialty, Succeeding Taylor

Antares, the Lloyd’s managing agent and subsidiary of QIC Global, announced the appointment of Martin Campbell as head of Specialty at Antares Syndicate 1274, effective May 12, 2020. Reporting to Alexander Craggs, active underwriter at Antares, Campbell succeeds John Taylor, …

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Insurtech Zego Expands Partnership with RSA to Provide Cover for UK Van Fleets

London-based insurtech Zego has expanded its partnership with RSA Insurance to provide flexible cover for van fleets. Zego is offering usage-based policies to delivery, courier or trade van fleets of 20-200 vehicles in the UK – reducing upfront costs for …

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Exor Plays Hardball with French Insurer Covéa as PartnerRe Deal Collapses: Opinion

Renege on a deal with the Agnellis and you can expect to pay for it. Scion John Elkann has refused to renegotiate the Italian family’s $9 billion sale of its reinsurance business after the buyer, French mutual Covéa, sought to …

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Typhoon Vongfong Hits the Philippines with Evacuations Expected

Typhoon Vongfong, the Northern Hemisphere’s first named storm [of 2020], is rapidly intensifying east of the Philippines, where it could clip parts of the island nation Thursday and Saturday, according to the U.S. Joint Typhoon Warning Center in Hawaii. The …

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Lloyd’s Expects US$4.3B in COVID-19 Claims – On Par with Costs of 9/11 Terror Attacks

Lloyd’s of London revealed it will pay claims in the range of $3 billion to $4.3 billion as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Lloyd’s said this payout is on a par with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, which cost …

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More Restrictions Eased in Georgia; AG Asks Congress for Business Lawsuit Protections

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp eased a few restrictions Tuesday on businesses and child care operations, but said he was keeping most current rules until at least the end of May. The Republican governor reiterated that he believes Georgia is containing …

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23 Killed of COVID-19 in Alabama Veterans Nursing HOme

About two dozen people have died at an Alabama veterans nursing home because of COVID-19, the illness caused by the new coronavirus, the state said Tuesday. The Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs said in a statement the 23 deaths occurred …

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Financial Trade Group, Stock Exchanges Resolve Broker Liability Database Dispute

A financial industry trade group said on Wednesday it resolved a dispute with U.S. stock exchanges that had threatened to hold brokers liable for any breaches of a new trading database controlled by the exchanges and the Financial Industry Regulatory …

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Fitch Sees Little Stress on Insurer Ratings From Pandemic. Thus Far.

Having reviewed 70% of all of the North American insurers it rates for the effects of the coronavirus and economic downturn, Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ratings of 72% of the carriers with stable outlooks. Only 4% have been downgraded. …

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Workers Protest Virus Outbreak at Minnesota Poultry Plant

Workers have protested what they consider dangerous working conditions at the Pilgrim’s Pride chicken processing plant in the central Minnesota town of Cold Spring, site of one of the largest COVID-19 workplace outbreaks in the state. State officials confirmed 194 …

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Norman-Spencer Agency Acquires Assets of Intercorp, BNK Insurance Services

Norman-Spencer Agency LLC (Norman-Spencer), a Dayton, Ohio-based program administrator and wholesale brokerage, has acquired the business assets of Intercorp Inc. and BNK Insurance Services. Terms of the deals were not disclosed. Intercorp is based in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, and BNK Insurance …

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Louisiana Opening Up with Fewer Virus-Related Restrictions

Saying Louisiana has made significant strides in combating the COVID-19 outbreak, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced that he will begin loosening restrictions on churches, restaurants, salons and gyms, moving the state away from a “stay-at-home” position he enacted in late …

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Organic Basil Recalled in Minnesota over Possible Contamination

United Natural Foods Inc. said it is voluntarily recalling some Wild Harvest Organic Basil distributed to Minnesota retailers over a possible health risk. The organic basil was distributed from the company’s Hopkins distribution center to grocery stores in Minnesota between …

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North Dakota State Fair Cancelled for 2020 Due to Coronavirus

The North Dakota State Fair is the latest casualty of the coronavirus outbreak, as the number of cases and deaths in the state continue to rise. Fair officials announced they’re calling off the event because of uncertainty over the pandemic. …

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Colorado Restaurant Shut Down for Allowing Sit-Down Dining

A Colorado restaurant that opened for full service on Mother’s Day in defiance of state rules banning sit-down dining was ordered to close Monday and had its license suspended indefinitely by health officials. A video posted by Colorado Community Media …

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California Counties Push to Reopen Ahead Of State Guidelines

More than two dozen California counties have asked for permission to loosen their stay-at-home orders beyond what the state allows, Gov. Gavin Newsom said, promising a speedy review of their requests as jobs continue disappearing by the millions in a …

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Hub Acquires Quebec’s Vestas Financial Services

Global insurance broker Hub International Limited has acquired Vestas Financial Services Firm Inc. Located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Vestas is an independent firm providing commercial and personal insurance with a focus on various industries, in particular, construction and design professionals, …

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Coronavirus Health Effects Could Last for Years for Some Survivors

More than one million people around the world have been deemed recovered from the coronavirus, but beating the initial sickness may be just the first of many battles for those who have survived. Some recovered patients report breathlessness, fatigue and …

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WeWork Directors Move to Protect Right to Sue Owner SoftBank Over Nixed Tender Offer

A special committee of WeWork board members filed a motion in Delaware on Monday to prevent it from being disbanded, as it pursues legal action against majority owner SoftBank Group Corp. over an abandoned $3 billion tender offer for the …

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RBS Risk Manager Gets Day in U.S. Court Seeking Whistleblower Payout

The U.S. Second Circuit Appeals Court on Tuesday considered arguments by an ex-Royal Bank of Scotland employee who is suing the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission for a bounty he says he is owed under a whistleblower …

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Trump Safety Regulator Blocks Washington State’s Crude Oil Train Rules

The U.S. pipeline regulator late on Monday blocked an effort by Washington state to tighten vapor pressure restrictions on the transport of crude oil by rail, saying the measures would not lower the risk of explosions. The decision by the …

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Debate Over Business Liability in Pandemic Turns to OSHA Regulation, CDC Guidelines

Congressional Republicans have made liability protection for employers a nonnegotiable demand in any new coronavirus stimulus, but Senator Lindsey Graham, an ally of President Donald Trump, says that regulators have a role to play in the workplace. The government must …

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Delaware Company Offers Reward for Arrest in Restaurant Fire

The owners of a bayside restaurant in Delaware are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a suspect responsible for setting fire to the eatery last month, according to the development company. Investigators think the April …

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Parents Sue Delaware Child Care Facility Where Daughter Was Killed

The parents of an infant who was killed at a Delaware child care facility have filed suit against the facility as well as a former employee who was charged in the baby’s death. The News Journal of Wilmington reported Wednesday …

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Massachusetts’ MIB Group Announces Two New Hires, One Promotion

MIB Group Inc. has appointed Andrea Caruso and Trey Reynolds to executive leadership positions and promoted MIB veteran Brian Millman to head its Electronic Health Records (EHR) Solutions platform. These organizational changes will be effective May 15, 2020. Caruso joins …

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UK Insurer Brit and Google Collaborate to Launch 1st Fully Digital Lloyd’s Syndicate

Brit Ltd. announced plans to launch Ki, the first fully digital and algorithmically driven Lloyd’s syndicate, in collaboration with Google Cloud. Launching in 2021, Ki will be a “follow-only” syndicate, aiming to significantly reduce the amount of time and effort …

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UK Government to Create Temporary Reinsurance Backstop for Trade Credit Insurance

The UK Treasury announced it is creating a government-backed temporary reinsurance scheme so businesses can continue to access trade credit insurance during the COVID-19 crisis. The scheme will be delivered through a reinsurance agreement with trade credit insurers currently operating …

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Florida Extends Order Allowing Agency Reps to Work Remotely During Health Emergency

Customer service representatives holding a particular Florida insurance license will be able to continue conducting business remotely until at least July 7. A directive issued by Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis that allows remote work by Florida agency customer service representatives …

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Everest Insurance Taps Patel from AIG Europe as UK Head of Transactional Risk

Everest Insurance announced the appointment of Sujal Patel as the UK Head of Transactional Risk for Everest Global Markets, which includes Everest Insurance Ireland, dac. and Lloyd’s Syndicate 2786. Patel brings more than a decade of industry experience to Everest, …

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Insurers Zurich and Chubb Raise Cover for Canada Oil Sands Pipeline: Filings

Major insurers Zurich and Chubb increased their insurance cover for a Canadian oil sands pipeline over the last year, Canadian regulatory filings show. The Trans Mountain pipeline, which ships types of crude oil and refined products to British Columbia from …

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Reliance Partners of Tennessee Appoints Albrecht as CFO, CRO

Reliance Partners has added Thom Albrecht as chief financial officer and chief revenue officer. Albrecht is a 32-year veteran of the transportation space and served most recently as chief commercial officer and chief financial officer with Celadon Group. Prior to …

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FCCI Insurance Terminates CEO Johnson Days After His Arrest

Craig Johnson, chief executive officer of Florida-based FCCI Insurance Group, has been terminated and removed as an officer and board member of the company following an incident with police in a Sarasota restaurant. The termination came two days after the …

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UK Financial Services Firms Weigh Options for Post-Coronavirus Work Arrangements

Many of the City of London’s bankers and traders will be working from their kitchens or bedrooms for at least a year under some scenarios being planned by finance companies in Britain. Banks, insurance companies and asset managers have had …

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New Mexico Man’s Body Mutilated to Fit in Coffin, Lawsuit Charges

A New Mexico funeral home broke the legs of the body of a tall man so he could fit into a smaller coffin, a new lawsuit said. The family of Dakota Powell filed last week a lawsuit in state district …

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M4.5 Earthquake Confirmed in Southern California Desert

A moderate earthquake shook a remote desert area east of San Diego Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of damages or injuries, the U.S. Geological Survey confirmed. The magnitude 4.5 quake struck at 3:07 p.m. and was centered about …

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Commercial Insurance Rates in Q1 Rise 14%, Even Before Impact of COVID-19: Marsh

Global average commercial insurance prices increased 14% in the first quarter of 2020 – but the rate hikes were not due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to insurance broker Marsh in its quarterly Global Insurance Market Index. Although the COVID-19 …

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California Taking Steps to Reopen Businesses, Public Spaces

A beach bordering two Southern California counties reopened Monday with some restrictions as parts of the state slowly reopened public spaces and businesses. Seal Beach in northern Orange County allowed running, walking and surfing starting at sunrise. “The beaches are …

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Why We Can’t Wait Until It’s Safe to Lift Lockdowns: Opinion

Officials in the U.S. have undermined hopes of a successful economic reopening because they’ve garbled public messaging, never clearly explaining why strict lockdowns were imposed in the first place. They’ve failed to communicate what the lockdowns are achieving for us, …

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New Jersey Woman Struck by Telephone Pole to Receive $125M from Verizon

The family of a woman who was paralyzed when she was struck by a falling telephone pole as she waited for a bus is to receive $125 million to settle a lawsuit against Verizon. Maria Meister was commuting from Union …

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DeCotis Specialty Insurance Hires Bergstrom as a Broker Based in Rhode Island

DeCotis Specialty Insurance has hired Jessica Bergstrom as a broker based in its Providence, R.I., office. Bergstrom has more than 20 years of experience as an underwriter in both standard and surplus lines markets. In her new role as a …

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New York’s The IMA Group Hires Markham as Chief Strategy Officer

The IMA Group has hired Doug Markham, a healthcare and managed care industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience, as chief strategy officer. Markham has a background in healthcare, insurance, claims and managed care services. Prior to joining …

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Guy Carpenter Launches Probabilistic Philippines Flood Model

Guy Carpenter & Co., the reinsurance broker and subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Cos., announced the launch of a new Philippines Flood Model. The probabilistic model provides countrywide coverage and enables insurers to assess flood exposure, one of the most …

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Proxy Firms Offer ‘Cautionary Support’ for AIG Executive Pay Before Shareholder Vote

American International Group Inc. faces a crucial test on Wednesday, when shareholders are to vote on whether the board of directors has adequately addressed their concerns about executive pay. Investors offered relatively weak support for AIG’s pay proposals in the …

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Homeland Security Intelligence Officer Glawe Named CEO of Insurance Crime Bureau

The National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) announced that David Glawe has been appointed as the new president and chief executive officer of the insurance fraud-fighting organization. Since 2017, Glawe served as under secretary and chief intelligence officer at the Department …

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Small Businesses See Coronavirus Effect Lasting 12-16 Months

Eighty-one percent of small U.S. companies surveyed by Veem, a global payments network, expect the new coronavirus pandemic to affect their business over the next 12-16 months, and nearly 90% are bracing for an economic slowdown, the company said Monday. …

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EC3 Brokers Launches Casualty and Cyber Specialty Division

EC3 Brokers announced the launch of its specialty division, with the appointment of Jonathon Lane as head of the division. Lane is joined by Dominic Toogood and Gary Moore. All three joined on May 1 and initially will report to …

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Zurich Insurance’s Former CEO and Chairman Gerber Dies

Fritz Gerber, a former leader of Zurich Insurance Group, has died. Gerber was 91. He passed away on May 10, 2020, according to the company, which did not disclose further details. “Fritz Gerber was a remarkable leader and is rightly …

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Allianz Posts 29% Drop in Q1 Net Profit as COVID-19 Crisis Slows Business

German insurer Allianz on Tuesday posted a 29% fall in net profit in the first quarter from a year earlier as the coronavirus outbreak slows business. The insurer had last month flagged the drop when it published preliminary figures, and …

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Kentucky to Allow Restaurants to Reopen for Dine-In Service Before End of Month

Kentucky’s restaurants will be allowed to resume limited dine-in service later this month as part of another phase of business reopenings announced by Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday. The next phase includes plans for reopening movie theaters, fitness centers, child …

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REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT on Police Immunity: For Cops Who Kill, Special Supreme Court Protection

MADILL, Oklahoma — Sick with pneumonia, agitated and confused, Johnny Leija refused to return to his hospital room. Moments later, with three police officers pinning him on the floor, Leija was dead at age 34. Staff at the local hospital …

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Lawsuit Alleging Anti-Conservative Bias at Google Ends Quietly

A lawsuit that made a big bang in Silicon Valley two years ago with allegations of mistreatment of politically conservative tech workers came to a quiet end last week. Former Google engineer James Damore and three other men who worked …

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Willis Towers Watson Forms Risk Services Group for Distressed Organizations

Willis Towers Watson has formed Strategic Solutions Group (SSG) within its Financial, Executive and Professional Risks (FINEX) global practice and Mergers & Acquisitions Group. SSG will provide specialized risk services with global broking influence and insights to distressed organizations. In …

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Florida Market Study Will Evaluate Exposures, Strategies for Citizens Property Insurance

Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s insurer of last resort, has moved forward with an independent study that will evaluate the insurer’s potential exposures from the state’s troubled property insurance market. The Citizens’ Board of Governors voted at its last meeting …

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REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT: When Cops Kill, Redress Is Rare, Except in Famous Cases

The 2014 shooting death of black teen Michael Brown by a white police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, prompted angry protests and trained a national spotlight on a perceived lack of police accountability for violent encounters with the public. Since then, …

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REUTERS SPECIAL REPORT: A United Front Takes Aim at Police Immunity From Lawsuits

The diverse opponents of qualified immunity have thrown their weight behind at least five appeals now awaiting the Supreme Court’s attention, each considered a potential means of removing or softening the doctrine. One of them is the case of Alexander …

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Southwest Jet Hits, Kills Man on Austin Airport Runway

A man was struck and killed on May 7 by a commercial jet landing on a runaway at an airport in Austin, Texas, authorities said. The pilot of Southwest Airlines Flight 1392, a Boeing 737 arriving from Dallas, reported seeing …

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Auditor: Coronavirus, Oil Glut Could Cost Louisiana Local Governments $1B

The coronavirus battle and the world oil glut could cost cities, parishes and school boards in Louisiana anywhere from $404 million to $1.1 billion over two fiscal years, the state’s Legislative Auditor’s Office said on May 7. Business shutdowns and …

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Indiana Too Quick to Clear Amazon in Worker’s Death, Report Finds

Indiana’s safety agency prematurely released Amazon from citations and fines in the death of a warehouse employee who was crushed by a forklift, a federal investigation has found. Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration absolved the online retailer of any …

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Western Security Surplus Acquires Houston Surplus Lines

Western Security Surplus (WSS), part of the XPT Group, has acquired Texas-based Houston Surplus Lines (HSL). HSL is an excess and surplus lines general agency founded in 1994 and is currently managed by Barbara Partlow and Carol Gardner. HSL has …

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Ohio’s Encova Insurance Begins Virtual Internship Program

Columbus, Ohio-based Encova Insurance is moving forward with its summer internship program in Columbus, Ohio, and Charleston, West Virginia, with virtual training and onboarding of 22 interns. Currently, about 90% of Encova’s associates are working from home. At least to …

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U.S. Businesses, Patients Sue China Seeking Damages From Coronavirus Outbreak

Before the coronavirus outbreak, Saundra Andringa-Meuer was a healthy 61-year-old mother of six who never smoked or drank alcohol. Then she became seriously ill with the disease after traveling from her Wisconsin home to help her son move from college …

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Global Commercial Insurers Will Be Hit Hard by Pandemic, Even as Rates Harden: Fitch

While insurance rates have risen for nine consecutive quarters due to large catastrophe losses and accelerating claims inflation, Fitch Ratings expects that technical profits won’t be seen until the second half of 2021 as a result of the effects of …

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Venbrook in California Names Orlando Chief Financial Officer

Los Angeles, Calif.-based Venbrook Group LLC has named Joseph Orlando chief financial officer. Orlando will assume operational leadership for all of the company’s financial functions including accounting, corporate finance, audit, and treasury. Prior to Venbrook Group, his 25 year career …

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California Governor Warns Three Counties Could Lose Disaster Aid

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning three counties that they could lose disaster funding if they continue to defy his stay-at-home order. Officials in Yuba, Sutter and Modoc counties have all allowed businesses to reopen because they have fewer coronavirus …

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New Mexico Man Sues After Being Injured in Chase, Crash

A man has sued a New Mexico State Police officer who crashed into his vehicle in January 2019 while chasing a truck near Espanola. Rudy Vialpando, 62, said he suffered spinal fractures and injuries to his ribs and right knee …

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New Mexico Forest Official Cites Rising Risk of Human-Caused Wildfires

The top administrator of a national forest in northern New Mexico says there’s an elevated risk of human-caused wildfires due to drying conditions and negligence by some forest visitors. Carson National Forest Supervisor James Duran said there’s a high fire …

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National Governments Must Help Provide Insurance for Future Lockdowns: EU Regulator

National governments must help provide insurance cover for future lockdowns, the industry’s European Union regulator said on Monday, as the private sector cannot afford to provide such broad coverage on its own. Countries have introduced lockdowns to fight the coronavirus …

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Hub Northeast Acquires Assets of New York’s The B&G Group

Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, has announced that its affiliate, Hub International Northeast Limited, acquired the assets of The B&G Group Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Plainview, N.Y., The B&G Group provides commercial …

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Companies Need Safety From Lawsuits If They Protect Workers: Opinion

States that are reopening their economies even as cases of Covid-19 are still rising are threatening their own residents and the whole country. But they are also running into two challenges that all states will face: Employees don’t want to …

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Meat Giant Sued for Worker’s Covid-19 Death in Philadelphia

The family of a beef plant worker who died because of the coronavirus has brought a wrongful death lawsuit in a Philadelphia court against JBS SA, the world’s biggest meat company. Ferdinand Benjamin filed the suit on Thursday after his …

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India Releases Safety Guidelines on Restarting Factories After LG Chem Gas Leak

India has released safety guidelines for restarting manufacturing industries as it partially eases the world’s most expansive pandemic lockdown and tries to avoid further incidents after a gas leak last week. While restarting units, companies must consider the first week …

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CyberCube Launches Cyber Analytics Product for Broker Market

Cyber risk analytics specialist CyberCube has launched a new software-as-a-service application designed specifically for insurance brokers called “Broking Manager.” “Broking Manager” facilitates client insight for both generalist and cyber specialist brokers, designed to help brokers quantify, understand, and explain to …

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Tokio Marine Uses Tractable’s Artificial Intelligence Solution for Auto Claims in Japan

Tokio Marine, the Tokyo-based property and casualty insurer, will use an artificial intelligence (AI) solution to process auto damage across its insurance operations in Japan, accelerating claims processing for policyholders. The AI solution, created by technology company Tractable, uses computer …

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Coronvirus Discrimination and Bullying Hinders Battle Against Pandemic in Japan

The coronavirus in Japan has brought not just an epidemic of infections, but also an onslaught of bullying and discrimination against the sick, their families and health workers. A government campaign to raise awareness seems to be helping, at least …

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Alabama Enacts Pandemic Lawsuit Protection for Health Care Entities, Businesses

New legal protections are being extended to help shield businesses from “frivolous” lawsuits linked to the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Kay Ivey said Friday. An order issued by Ivey would protect health care facilities and businesses involved with the COVID-19 response …

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Georgia Allows Teen Drivers to Bypass Road Test During Pandemic

Thousands of teens in Georgia don’t have to take a road test to get their driver’s licenses during the coronavirus pandemic, under an executive order signed by the governor. Teens between the ages of 16 and 18 who have had …

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Valley Insurance Agency Alliance Adds Missouri’s Strong Insurance Group

St. Charles, Mo.-based Strong Insurance Group has joined Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a network of more than 130 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois. Strong Insurance Group was founded by Casey Strong, who has over 15 years of …

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70,000 Crew Members Remain Quarantined on Ships in U.S. Waters

Carolina Vasquez lost track of days and nights, unable to see the sunlight while stuck for two weeks in a windowless cruise ship cabin as a fever took hold of her body. On the worst night of her encounter with …

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New York Strengthens COVID-19 Safety Measures for Nursing Homes

New York state on Sunday announced new coronavirus-safety measures to better protect nursing home residents, who are highly vulnerable to the respiratory illness and account for a large share of the nearly 80,000 Americans who have died from it. The …

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COVID-19 Hits Already-Troubled Nursing Home Insurance Market; Brokers Try to Help

Nursing homes are right in the middle of the deadly coronavirus pandemic hitting the U.S, with more than 28%, or nearly 20,000, of the nation’s COVID-19 deaths happening in these long term care facilities, according to a recent report by …

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As Deaths Rise to 20,000, Nursing Homes Seek Immunity from Lawsuits

Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least …

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Michigan’s High Street Insurance Partners Acquires Three New Agencies

Traverse City, Michigan-based High Street Insurance Partners (High Street), has acquired three additional agencies — two in Michigan and one in New York. These new agency partners are: Trust Shield Insurance Group (TSIG) in Schoolcraft, Michigan; Ken Bleeker Insurance Agency …

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Michigan’s Gov. Whitmer Says Manufacturers Can Reopen on May 11

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer says the state’s factories can reopen on May 11, removing one of the last major obstacles to North American automakers bringing thousands of laid-off employees back to work amid the coronavirus pandemic. While reopening the manufacturing …

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Split Okla. Supreme Court Sides with Plaintiffs in Attorney Fee Dispute

An insurer that failed to pay a claim within 60 days cannot be considered the prevailing party even if a claimant is eventually awarded less than the carrier’s settlement offer, a divided Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled. The 6-3 opinion marks …

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Young Brokerage Founder Seeks to Target ‘Underserved’ High Net Worth Space

As a self-taught app developer, when Hayden Kopser sees a problem, he seeks to build a solution. So, when he observed during his time working at AIG that some brokerages weren’t adequately servicing high net worth accounts, he saw an …

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