$5 Trillion Investor Group Aims to Align Portfolios with Paris Climate Agreement

Thirty of the world’s largest investors managing a combined $5 trillion said on Tuesday they plan to set targets to lower their portfolio carbon emissions by as much as 29% over the next five years. All members of the Net-Zero …

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With Tech Tools Galore, It’s an Exciting Time for Insurtech McKenzie Intelligence

Advanced technological tools are making it an exciting time to be an insurtech – and an exciting time for those insurers and reinsurers that want to more accurately assess the risks on their books, according to Forbes McKenzie, CEO of …

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InsuraGuest to Offer Crum & Forster BOP Coverage to 130+ Classes Via Web Portal

InsuraGuest Technologies, Inc. through its wholly owned U.S. subsidiary Insure The People, LLC (ITP), has launched a new business owner policy (BOP) insurtech portal, www.InsureThePeople.com that is available to more than 130 class codes. ITP is powered by InsuraGuest’s insurtech …

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U.S. Dept. of Labor Orders Tennessee Restaurant Chain to Pay $563K in Back Wages

A small Tennessee restaurant chain has been ordered to pay $563,350 in back wages to 120 employees after the U.S. Department of Labor found it violated minimum wage and overtime rules. Don Pancho Mexican Restaurant kept a portion of servers’ …

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UK’s Post-Brexit Privacy Protections Fail EU Data Protections, Activist Warns

UK privacy protections were criticized by an activist who told the European Union that the British shouldn’t be trusted to protect user data after Brexit. The personal data of EU citizens “do not at present have an adequate level of …

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Insurers Remain Unfazed by Risks of Clinical Trials for COVID-19 Vaccine

The world is racing towards a vaccine in record time, stirring public concerns about safety to the extent that nine leading developers have felt compelled to issue a pledge to uphold scientific standards and testing rigor. Yet, while more than …

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Kansas Man Sues Trucking Firm, Driver Over Crash That Killed Wife, 4 Children

A Kansas man is suing a over a crash that killed his wife, three of his children and his stepdaughter. Jeffrey Williams, of Viola, is seeking more than $75,000 in damages in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against Andrew Specht …

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Iowa’s Derecho Crop Losses Increase by More Than 50%, Report Shows

A new report shows that crop loss estimates from a rare windstorm that slammed Iowa in August have increased by more than 50%. The U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Oct. 9 that the number of crop acres that Iowa …

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AccuRisk’s Share of Texas Non-Subscriber Market to Grow with Acquisition

Chicago-based managing general underwriter, AccuRisk Solutions LLC, is set to acquire the renewal rights to Great American Insurance Group’s book of Texas occupational illness and injury non-subscription business. The parties have come to a mutual agreement of terms and AccuRisk …

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Senator Calls on U.S. to Delay IPO by China’s Ant Group

Senator Marco Rubio, who has successfully urged the Trump administration to pursue investigations of Chinese companies, called on Friday for the U.S. government to consider options to delay an initial public offering of China’s Ant Group, the fintech arm of …

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Removal of Georgia Shipwreck Delayed Again Over Anchor Issue

An engineering problem has forced another delay before salvage crews can start removing an overturned cargo ship that’s been partially submerged on the Georgia coast for more than a year, officials said last week. The multi-agency command overseeing the salvage …

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Lockton Global Marine Adds Lochridge, Byrne in Florida

Lockton Global Marine has added Kyle Lochridge and Jake Byrne as vice presidents and account executives. They are based in South Florida. Lochridge has over 13 years of experience in marine insurance with a focus on blue water risks and …

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Returning After Hurricane Delta, Louisiana Evacuees Face Power Outages, Extreme Heat

10/11/2020 06:21 PM— Storm-weary coastal Louisiana residents who fled from the path of Hurricane Delta in recent days streamed back to their homes on Sunday to face cleanup and repairs from the second hurricane to batter their state over the …

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U.S. Olympics Sues Insurers Over Stalled Nassar Sex Abuse Settlement

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) said on Friday it has filed a lawsuit against its insurance providers for failing to fulfill obligations in reaching a settlement with survivors of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal. Committee Chair …

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UK Financial Services Firms Become More Optimistic, Says Business Survey

Financial services firms in Britain turned more optimistic for the first time this year as a drop in business bottomed out, but big uncertainties remained about COVID-19 and a post-Brexit trade deal, according to a survey published on Thursday. A …

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Pennsylvania’s Erie Insurance Announces Senior Leadership Changes

Erie Insurance, based in Erie, Penn., has announced a series of senior leadership changes within the Claims, Sales & Products and Information Technology divisions. The organizational changes are in conjunction with the January 2021 retirement of Chris Zimmer, senior vice …

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Nigerian Insurance Market Faces Challenges to Realize Its Potential: AM Best

Nigeria’s insurance market has great potential given its position as Africa’s largest economy, its substantial oil and gas reserves and its young and growing population. Yet Nigeria’s insurance market has failed short on that promise due in part to the …

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Newfront in California Adds Alliant’s Parker to Run Carrier Partnerships

Newfront Insurance in San Francisco, Calif., has named Natalie Parker head of carrier partnerships. Parker will oversee carrier relationships for Newfront, and join its executive team. She joins Newfront from Alliant Insurance Services, where she spent 21 years. Newfront is …

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Crest Insurance Adds Kosiek in Arizona as Director of Risk Services

Crest Insurance Group has named Marc Kosiek director of risk services. Kosiek is based in Scottsdale, Ariz. He has a background in commercial insurance risk management, including experience in trucking, auto dealerships, habitational risks, restaurants and contractors. He was previously …

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Employees Say Rules at Britain’s Banks Block Use of Contact Tracing App

Branch staff at some of Britain’s biggest banks say rules that require them to store phones in lockers while at work are putting them at undue risk of COVID-19 from colleagues and customers, as they cannot use the country’s tracing …

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Firms’ Employee Benefit Offerings Reflect Pandemic-Reshuffled Priorities

During the past year, there is a good chance that you and your priorities changed significantly. The things you used to think were important are not so important anymore. And issues you did not even think about before are suddenly …

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Gulino to Lead The Hartford’s Middle/Large Commercial Insurance Central Division

Bob Gulino has been appointed as head of The Hartford’s Central Division for the company’s middle and large commercial insurance business. Gulino now leads the sales and underwriting operations for the company’s independent agents, brokers and customers across 13 Midwestern …

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Louisiana Insurance Commissioner: Pay Only 1 Hurricane Deductible Per Season

Louisiana’s single season named-storm/hurricane deductible law prohibits a homeowner from paying more than one named-storm/hurricane deductible in the same hurricane season, the state insurance department is reminding vulnerable policyholders in advance of Hurricane Delta. Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon wants …

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Exiting Insurers, Premium Hikes Frustrate Canada’s Struggling Hospitality Industry

Canadian hospitality businesses, already reeling from the downturn sparked by the coronavirus pandemic, are facing yet another existential threat as insurance companies spike premiums or exit the space, citing losses and the sector’s risks. Even before COVID-19, insurers globally were …

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EPIC Adds MetLife’s Johnson to National Employer Consulting Practice in Atlanta

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has added Robert Johnson as principal. Johnson’s primary focus will be new client acquisition and helping teams build client relationships through non-medical growth strategies. …

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M.J. Hall Adds Personal Lines Practice with Hugues in California

M.J. Hall & Co. has formed a personal lines insurance practice, adding April Hughes as a broker specializing in personal lines. Hughes is based in Stockton, Calif. Hughes has more than 20 years of industry experience. She was most recently …

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California Commissioner Makes Appointments to Insurance Boards

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has added new members to the California Department of Insurance’s Curriculum Board, the California Life and Health Insurance Guarantee Association’s Board of Directors, and the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s Governing Committee. Rene Swan …

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New MyFloodInsurance.com Offers Online Platform to Compare, Buy Flood Coverage

Florida-based flood insurance agency National Flood Insurance (NFI) has backed a new online platform for consumers and agents to quote, compare, and purchase flood insurance policies from multiple flood insurance companies, as well as from the National Flood Insurance Program …

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6 Stolen Vintage Vehicles Recovered in Minnesota

St. Paul, Minn., police said they have recovered six collector cars stolen from a body shop and are searching for suspects. The vintage vehicles were found abandoned in a wooded area of Woodbury, St. Paul police spokesman Steve Linders said. …

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Pre-Delta, Gov. Edwards Declares State of Emergency in Louisiana

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a state of emergency ahead of Hurricane Delta, which is on track to hit his state later this week. The Democratic governor called Delta an “incredibly dangerous storm that will bring heavy winds, …

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Howden’s Acquisition of A-Plan Group to Create One of UK’s Largest Brokers

The international insurance broking group Howden recently announced that it has agreed to acquire A-Plan Group, one of the UK’s largest personal and commercial lines insurance brokers. The deal promises to create one of the UK’s largest insurance brokers managing …

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Hackers-for-Hire Group Targets Officials, Activists, Executives in Middle East

Saudi diplomats, Sikh separatists and Indian business executives have been among those targeted by a group of hired hackers, according to research published on Wednesday by software firm BlackBerry Corp. The report on the group, known publicly as Bahamut, the …

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Montana Climate Project Will Install Remote Weather Stations

University of Montana researchers recently received a $21 million government contract, bringing more support and longevity to what has been a grassroots effort to build a better climate monitoring network across the state. The funding from the U.S. Army Corps …

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AXIS Insurance Adds 4 Senior Underwriters to Management Liability Team

Specialty insurer AXIS Insurance has hired four experienced underwriters to its U.S. Management Liability team. Christina Segreti, Drew Kushnick, Matthew Holzinger and Sherry Alexakis have joined AXIS as senior underwriters to help support growth in the management liability market. Segreti …

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How Coronavirus Is Changing Claims, Risks, Workplaces, Habits, Supply Chains and More

The magnitude of the COVID-19 pandemic as an economic loss events is unprecedented for companies and insurers alike and claims trends and risk exposures are likely to evolve in both the mid- and long-term as a result of the pandemic, …

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EU Climate Service Says September Was World’s Warmest on Record

Last month was the world’s hottest September on record, with unusually high temperatures recorded off Siberia, in the Middle East, and in parts of South America and Australia, the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said on Wednesday. Extending a …

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Hub International Limited Acquires Assets of Maryland’s Bernstein Insurance

Global insurance brokerage Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of Bernstein Insurance LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bernstein Insurance’s principal owner, Jennifer Bernstein, was previously part of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company’s exclusive distribution model and is …

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Metal Recycler Fined $2.7M for Improper Disposal of Waste

A metal recycler has been fined nearly $3 million for improperly disposing of hazardous waste on its site, the New Hampshire attorney general’s office said. The $2.7 million fine is the largest the state has issued for a hazardous waste …

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Seaplane Crashes Into New York City Pier, Killing One and Injuring Two

A single-engine seaplane skipped twice on the water of Long Island Sound while landing and crashed on top of a concrete pier in Queens, killing a passenger and sending the pilot and another passenger to the hospital with serious injuries, …

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Progressive CEO Says Move Into Life Insurance Possible: ‘More to Come’

Progressive Corp. could soon expand its horizons into life insurance. “We actually are considering that,” Chief Executive Officer Tricia Griffith said when asked about a possible move. “We have a life-insurance company filed in Ohio. More to come on that.” …

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Category 3 Hurricane Delta Hits Mexico; Expected to Strengthen, Then Move to U.S.

Updated Oct 7., 2020, 6:58 AM— Hurricane Delta weakened to a Category 3 storm just before slamming into the coast of Mexico, but remains life-threatening. Delta came ashore along the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula near Puerto Morelos, the National Hurricane Center …

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EU Sources Say Brexit Deal with Britain on Social Benefits ‘Closer’: Reuters

Britain and the EU are closer to agreement on reciprocal social security rights for their citizens after Brexit, two diplomatic sources said, with one describing talks last week on an elusive trade deal as “one of the most positive so …

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German Lawmakers Agree to Corporate Accounting Reforms After Wirecard Scandal

Germany’s coalition parties have agreed a package of reforms to financial and accounting rules aimed at avoiding another Wirecard scandal, a document seen by Reuters shows. Lawmakers launched a parliamentary inquiry in an effort to force the government to reveal …

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The MEMIC Group Appoints Nash as Underwriter for Carolinas

Sealy Nash of Charlotte, N.C. has been appointed as a senior production underwriter at The MEMIC Group, a specialty workers’ compensation insurance company serving the Eastern seaboard from Florida to Maine. She will report to Tod Austin, president of MEMIC’s …

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HIIG in Houston Hires Rollins as Director of Underwriting, Property

Houston International Insurance Group Ltd. (HIIG) has hired Jason Rollins to join its Commercial Property group as director of Underwriting. Rollins has 20 years of experience building highly profitable property books. He previously was the head property underwriter at International …

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Lawsuit: Omaha Police Used Excessive Force at Protests

A lawsuit accuses Omaha police of using excessive force when they responded to protests against police brutality and racial injustice in Nebraska’s largest city earlier this year. The American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska filed a federal lawsuit on Oct. …

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Children of Deceased Tyson Worker in Iowa Allege Lax COVID-19 Safety

The children of a Tyson Foods worker who died of the coronavirus in April have filed a lawsuit claiming his plant took few safety precautions before he and others became infected in Iowa’s first major outbreak. Pedro Cano, 51, worked …

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Bender in California Names Abouelezz Business Development Manager

Sacramento, Calif.-based Bender Insurance Solutions has named Ramy Abouelezz business development manager. Abouelezz will drive organic growth initiatives across all lines of business. He has 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He was previously a regional sales …

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SEC Warns GE of Possible Securities Violations in Its Insurance Accounting

General Electric said on Tuesday it has received a notice from U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff, warning that the company could face a civil action for possible violations of securities laws related to accounting practices for some of its …

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House Antitrust Panel Blasts Big 4 Internet Firms for Abuses; Seeks Reforms, Separations

A U.S. House of Representatives panel looking into abuses of market power by four big technology companies found they used “killer acquisitions” to smite rivals, charged exorbitant fees and forced small businesses into “oppressive” contracts in the name of profit. …

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Newfront Adds California-Based Brokers in Ag, Service and Manufacturing

Newfront Insurance has added a team of insurance brokers who were formerly part of Paramount Insurance in Fresno, Calif. The move reflects Newfront’s growing investment in agriculture, service and manufacturing. The new additions are: Danny Vance, principal and sales director. …

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North Carolina Sets Oct. 31 Continuing Education Deadline After COVID Delay

All licensed insurance producers and adjusters operating in North Carolina with a continuing education compliance period that ended in February, March, April, May and June 2020 must complete the state mandated CE requirements by Oct. 31, 2020 or face having …

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3 Dead, 1 Hurt in Partial Collapse of Houston High-Rise Under Construction

Three workers were killed on Oct. 5 when a stairwell collapsed inside a high-rise building under construction in Houston, according to fire department officials. The fire department said one injured worker was taken to a hospital and was listed in …

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Texas Surplus Lines Stamping Fee to Decrease in January

The stamping fee for recording surplus lines insurance policies in Texas will drop from the current rate of 0.15% of gross premium to 0.075%, after the request by the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) to lower the rate …

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An Insurance Lyft: CSAA Forms Rideshare Carrier; Allstate, Liberty Mutual Offer Coverage

A new carrier has joined the rideshare insurance market, offering coverage to Lyft drivers in 11 states. At the same time, ridesharing firm Lyft’s drivers now also have access to coverage from Allstate and Liberty Mutual in a handful of …

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Insurance Consumer Advice for Owners of High-Risk Homes: Liz Weston

When house hunting, the price of homeowners insurance probably isn’t top of mind. But homes with hidden risks can make getting coverage difficult, expensive or both. Learning how to identify them could save a homeowner a bundle. This could be …

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Family of Autistic Teen Getting $7.5M in California Golf Cart Death Settlement

The mother of an autistic teenager who died in a golf cart crash at a Southern California high school will receive $7.5 million in a lawsuit settlement. The agreement with the Orange Unified School District was announced by attorneys for …

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Alaska Pilot’s Blood Alcohol Was 5 Times Over Limit, Report Shows

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed an Alaska airplane pilot involved in a fatal crash had a blood-alcohol level more than five times above the legal limit for pilots to fly. The final NTSB crash report said pilot Charles Weimer …

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Feds Fault Operator, Regulators in New York Limo Crash That Killed 20

State regulators repeatedly failed to properly oversee a poorly maintained stretch limousine with corroded brakes that hurtled down a hill at more than 100 mph and crashed in a ravine, killing 20 people, federal investigators said. National Transportation Safety Board …

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Hub International Limited Acquires Virginia’s WFG Benefits

Global insurance brokerage Hub International Limited has acquired the assets of WFG Benefits Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in McLean, Va., WFG Benefits Inc. is an insurance and employee benefit planning firm with more than 30 …

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World Insurance Associates Acquires New York’s Paul Global Benefits

World Insurance Associates LLC (WIA) has acquired Paul Global Benefits Inc. (PGB) of Syosset, N.Y., on September 1, 2020. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. PGB is an employee benefits consulting firm specializing in health/welfare and retirement services in …

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Rebuilding in Wildfire Zones: A One-Stop Shop for Wildfire Victims

California is on fire. Already this year, thousands of people have lost their homes, and communities are struggling to figure out how to rebuild. Nikki Pechet wants to be the person they turn to. Pechet co-founded Homebound Inc. in 2018 …

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Hollywood’s Insurer Braces for Claims Due to COVID-Related Movie, TV Shutdowns

Allianz SE, Europe’s largest insurer, is bracing for a flood of claims after movie and television studios were forced to curtail production during lockdown. A unit of Allianz, which says it’s the largest insurer of Hollywood studios, has set aside …

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Tropical Storm Delta Expected to Threaten Gulf Coast as Major Hurricane This Week

Tropical Storm Delta, the 25th named Atlantic storm this year, is moving toward the Gulf of Mexico and expected to take aim at the U.S. Gulf Coast this week as a major hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said. If Delta …

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Top EU Court Rules Mass Spying on Phone, Internet Data Is Unlawful

The European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday that unrestrained mass surveillance of phone and internet data is unlawful, in a move which could curb the powers of spying agencies in France and other EU countries. Privacy rights advocacy groups …

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Allianz CEO Cautions European Governments on Spending for Coronavirus Recovery

Allianz CEO Oliver Baete said on Tuesday that European governments needed to be careful about spending record amounts on the COVID-19 crisis as many ordinary people would be angry when they were handed such a vast bill. The coronavirus pandemic …

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Hub International Buys Canadian Benefits Consultancy Firm, Clearpoint

Hub International Ltd., a Chicago-based global insurance broker, announced it has acquired Canadian benefits firm, Clearpoint, which comprises Clearpoint Advisory Group Inc., Clearpoint Retirement Solutions Inc. and Canwest Group Benefits Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in …

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South Carolina Passes Flood Insurance Law to Boost Private Market

The state of South Carolina is aiming to foster new flood insurance coverage options through the enactment of the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the legislation, passed Sept. 23 by state lawmakers, into …

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The New Digital Normal and the Future of Work in Reinsurance

It’s been said that necessity is the mother of invention. That proverb was illustrated perfectly during the insurance industry’s successful scramble to conduct its business digitally at the onset of the COVID-19 crisis. This digital transformation is creating a new …

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Cypress P&C of Florida Promotes Rine to President, Taps Hillier as CFO & Treasurer

Cypress Property & Casualty Insurance Co. has promoted Jay Rine to president and new hire, Trevor Hillier will assume the role chief financial officer and treasurer. Rine joined Cypress in 2017, most recently serving as executive vice president, chief financial …

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Cypress P&C of Florida Promotes Rine to President, Taps Hillier as CFO & Treasurer

Cypress Property & Casualty Insurance Co. has promoted Jay Rine to president and new hire, Trevor Hillier will assume the role chief financial officer and treasurer. Rine joined Cypress in 2017, most recently serving as executive vice president, chief financial …

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Judge Orders Cisco to Pay $1.9 Billion in Cybersecurity Patent Lawsuit

A U.S. judge on Monday ordered Cisco Systems Inc. to pay $1.9 billion to a Virginia company that accused it of copying its cybersecurity patents. U.S. District Judge Henry Morgan in Norfolk, Virginia, concluded after a monthlong non-jury trial that …

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WCF Names Stireman Regional Vice President in Utah

WCF Insurance has promoted Laura Stireman to Utah regional vice president. Stireman and her team Kevin McGee, Randah Urbina, and Tovik Olsen, will now focus on assisting Utah agencies with WCF’s staged growth into multi-peril products. She will continue to …

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Personal Lines Insurtech Root Files IPO Proposal with SEC

Root, Inc., the parent company of Root Insurance Co., has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price …

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Energy Firm Evacuations Underway as Another Major Storm, Delta, Threatens Gulf Coast

Energy companies on Monday began evacuating offshore oil platforms as the 25th named storm of the year formed in the Caribbean and was forecast to become a major hurricane before it entered the Gulf of Mexico and threatens the U.S. …

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California Workers’ Comp Premium for First Two Quarters of 2020 Down 11%

Written workers’ compensation premium in California for the first two quarters of 2020 was 11% below that for the first two quarters of 2019, according to a new report out. The Worker’s Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California released its …

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Illinois Topped 300,000 Coronavirus Cases, Adds 31 Deaths

Illinois topped 300,000 confirmed coronavirus infections since the pandemic hit the state about seven months ago, state health officials said over the weekend. The Illinois Department of Public Health has recorded 300,088 COVID-19 cases and 8,774 deaths across the state. …

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Michigan Governor’s Coronavirus Powers Upended After Court Ruling

A 1945 law repeatedly used by Gov. Gretcher Whitmer to respond to the coronavirus pandemic was declared unconstitutional Friday by the Michigan Supreme Court, a striking decision that puts months of restrictions in jeopardy while COVID-19 continues to flare up …

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Woman Shot in Back in Missouri Gets $2M Settlement

A St. Louis, Mo., suburb has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a federal lawsuit with a suspected shoplifter who was shot in the back by a police officer who said she intended to use her stun gun but …

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Judge Tosses Case Over Texas Chemical Plant Fire During Harvey

A judge has dismissed the criminal case against a chemical manufacturer and one of its former employees over a fire at its plant near Houston during Hurricane Harvey, saying prosecutors failed to present sufficient evidence to support the charges. A …

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More Illinois Auto Crashes with Deer Expected as Mating Season Begins

Illinois motorists should beware of more deer activity this time of year, particularly at dawn and dusk. Officials from the Illinois Departments of Natural Resources and Transportation note that it’s deer mating season, meaning more deer will be on the …

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Ridesharing Companies Spend Big in California to Oppose Even Costlier Gig Law

Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. together are spending nearly $100 million on a November California ballot initiative to overturn a state law that would compel them to classify drivers as employees. That sum looks less huge, however, than the …

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Enstar Offers to Purchase Watford Holdings for $620 Million, Surpassing Arch’s Offer

Enstar Group Ltd. has made a 100% cash offer to purchase Watford Holdings Ltd.for $31.00 per ordinary share, which amounts to $620 million. The Enstar offer is higher than another offer received recently from Arch Capital Group and a group …

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Proposed Virginia Bill Making Localities Responsible for Protest Damage Stalls

A Virginia General Assembly bill is likely dead for the session that would have held localities accountable for damages caused by protesters if an adequate police response was not provided. Del. Mark Cole, R-Fredericksburg, said he proposed House Bill 5026 …

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CMIC Group Rebrands as Integris Group, Reorganizes as Mutual Holding Company

CMIC Group has rebranded as Integris Group and reorganized into a mutual insurance holding company, after having received approval by the Connecticut Insurance Department on September 17, 2020, as well as from the CMIC Group board and its membership. In …

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Worldwide Facilities Acquires New Jersey’s Hunt Jorgensen

Worldwide Facilities LLC, a national wholesale insurance broker, managing general agent and program underwriter, has acquired Hunt Jorgensen LLC, a managing general underwriter specializing in professional liability insurance and related risk management services. Hunt Jorgensen LLC is headquartered in Maywood, …

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Court Approves $800 Million Settlement For Las Vegas Shooting Victims

A court last week approved a settlement totaling $800 million from casino company MGM Resorts International and its insurers to more than 4,400 relatives and victims of the Las Vegas Strip shooting that was the deadliest in recent U.S. history. …

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Insurers Gain Early Wins in COVID-19 Business Interruption Lawsuits

Insurers have succeeded in dismissing COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuits in 17 out of 23 cases heard so far, with a growing number of judges finding that some tangible alteration of a property is required to trigger coverage under commercial property policies. …

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SCOR Global P&C Restructures with Aim to Be More Responsive on Regional Basis

SCOR Global P&C is making a number of changes to its organizational structure to be more responsive on a regional basis, according to SCOR Global P&C CEO Jean-Paul Conoscente, who sent a message to clients on Friday, Oct. 2. “We …

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Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Jurisdiction Question in Climate Damages Lawsuit

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear an appeal by energy companies including BP PLC, Chevron Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Royal Dutch Shell PLC contesting a lawsuit by the city of Baltimore seeking damages for the impact …

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Westland Insurance Acquires 2 Brokerage Firms in Alberta, Canada

Westland Insurance Group Ltd. announced it has acquired two brokers, based in Alberta, Canada, effective October 1, 2020. Ironside Insurance Brokers is a family-owned brokerage located in Carstairs, Alberta. Its professional insurance advisors are experts in residential, auto, life, travel, …

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Harris Joins QBE as CEO of International Division

Jason Harris has joined QBE Insurance this month to take on the role of chief executive officer, International Division, which includes European Operations. He will succeed Richard Pryce who will retire from QBE during Q1 2021, a plan that was …

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UK Insurer LV= in Exclusive Talks with Bain Capital About Possible Deal

UK insurance company Liverpool Victoria said it’s in exclusive talks with Bain Capital LP over a potential deal. The company, known as LV=, began a strategic review in June that included the possibility of a full or partial sale. “Discussions …

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UK Business Interruption Test Case to Get Fast-Track Appeal at Supreme Court

A test case brought by Britain’s markets regulator against some of the world’s biggest insurers will jump straight to the Supreme Court after London’s High Court agreed to a fast-track appeal on Friday. Although expedited, the appeal will further delay …

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Alabama Insurance Dept. Makes COVID-Related Producer Licensing Modifications

The Alabama Department of Insurance has issued a bulletin providing information and directives regarding current deadlines/requirements in the Producer Licensing Division related to the COVID-19 emergency. The Oct. 1, 2020 bulletin modifies bulletins issued on March 25, April 29, May …

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Georgia Begins Weeklong Crackdown on Distracted Driving

In an effort to get drivers to keep their eyes on the road while they’re behind the wheel, law enforcement officers in Georgia plan to participate in a statewide crackdown on distracted driving. State and local officers are joining a …

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Appeals Court Reinstates Glaxo $235.5 Million Verdict Against Teva

A federal appeals court on Friday reinstated a 2017 jury verdict ordering Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. to pay GlaxoSmithKline Plc $235.5 million for selling a generic version of Glaxo’s heart drug Coreg. In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Federal Circuit …

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IMA Names Hennessey in California Cannabis Practice Leader

IMA Inc. has named Michael Hennessey as vice president, cannabis national practice leader. Hennessey is based in California. He will lead business development and client service efforts across the U.S. He joins IMA after holding a leadership role at ABD …

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Judges Nix Consolidating COVID Business Interruption Suits Against Big Insurers

A panel of federal judges has decided against consolidation of hundreds of lawsuits seeking coverage for coronavirus-related business interruption claims against major national insurers Travelers, The Hartford, Cincinnati Insurance and Lloyd’s. The insurers had opposed consolidation; some plaintiffs sought the …

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Everest Insurance Appoints Harnett, Nikodem and Lightbown to Key Underwriting Posts

Everest Insurance announced today three executive appointments in its underwriting leadership. Mike Harnett has been named chief underwriting officer for North America; Erik Nikodem has been appointed global head of Property and Neil Lightbown is joining the organization as chief …

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Business Continuity Firm Agility Recovery Acquires Chicago’s Recovery Solutions

Agility Recovery, a Denver-based provider of business continuity services for banking and insurance companies, has acquired Chicago, Illinois-based Recovery Solutions. Recovery Solutions delivers audit-ready and Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council compliant business continuity services that help companies protect their people, …

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New Jersey Man Sentenced to One Year in Prison for Role in Insurance Fraud Scheme

A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 12 months and one day in prison for his role in an automobile accident scheme supporting fraudulent insurance claims. Luis G. Aguirre, of Hudson County, N.J., was sentenced for his role in …

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UK Insurtech Zego Partners with 2 Independent Broker Networks to Expand Fleet Offering

London-based insurtech Zego has partnered with two of the UK’s biggest networks of independent brokers that sit within Bravo Group. Zego will benefit from access to a community of over 700 brokers, more than 60% of the UK independent broking …

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Iowa Relaxing Quarantine Guidance Despite Rapid COVID Spread

Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a policy change this week to make it easier for Iowa students, teachers and business workers exposed to someone with COVID-19 to avoid a two-week quarantine, despite a surge in cases across the state. Under the …

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Illinois Schools Paying $400K in 2 Physical Force Lawsuits

Chicago’s public school district has agreed to pay a total of $400,000 to settle two lawsuits that alleged staff members used physical force to punish two special education students. The Chicago Board of Education would not comment to the Chicago …

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Lawsuit Filed Against Trucker in Kansas Crash That Killed Mother, 4 Kids

The paternal grandparents of a 10-year-old Kansas girl killed in a crash last week are suing the truck driver involved in the collision, along with his employer. The Wichita Eagle reports that Mark and Carrie Brady are seeking damages in …

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Louisiana Race Track Settles With for $2.8M over Manure, Urine Discharges

The owners of the horse racing track in New Orleans have agreed to pay a $2.8 million penalty for letting horse manure and urine into the city’s drainage system for at least six years and to spend twice that on …

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Boston Insurance Brokerage Promotes Treen to VP of Finance and Administration

Boston Insurance Brokerage LLC (BIB) has promoted Casie Treen to vice president of Finance and Administration. Treen has been a member of the BIB team since 2011. She joined BIB as an intern while pursuing a degree in finance at …

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Pennsylvania-Based MedRisk Hires Lisenbey as President

MedRisk, a King of Prussia, Penn.-based managed care organization dedicated to the physical rehabilitation of injured workers., hired Danielle Lisenbey as president, effective November 2. In this role, Lisenbey will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations and new business initiatives as …

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Judge Blocks Trump ‘Secretive’ Commission Report on Police and Civil Justice

Before a U.S. federal judge on Thursday halted the work of a Trump administration law enforcement commission – saying it had violated public meetings laws – the panel had been warned about shutting out public input by several of its …

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Coal Executive Murray Files for Federal Benefits to Treat His Black Lung Disease

U.S. coal baron Robert Murray, whose company Murray Energy filed for bankruptcy last year, has applied for federal benefits to treat his black lung disease after opposing more stringent coal dust regulations for years, according to report by West Virginia …

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COVID-Sniffing Robots Promise Fast Testing Alternative

A biotechnology startup called Koniku is trying to develop robots that could sniff out Covid-19 infections faster than conventional testing. The technology fuses neurons with a silicon chip to create a “smell cyborg” capable of detecting scents ranging from explosives …

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Amazon Reveals 19,000 Frontline Workers Contracted Coronavirus

Amazon.com Inc. on Thursday said more than 19,000 of its U.S. frontline workers contracted the coronavirus this year, or 1.44% of the total, a disclosure sought by labor advocates who have criticized the COVID-19 response by the world’s largest online …

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Traffic Deaths Fell But Fatality Rate Spiked During Coronavirus Lockdowns

U.S. traffic deaths fell during the coronavirus lockdowns but drivers engaged in riskier behavior as the fatality rate spiked to its highest level in 15 years, according to preliminary data released Thursday. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported …

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Generali Completes Legal Merger of Subsidiaries in Portugal

After the completion of the acquisition of Seguradoras Unidas S.A. in Portugal in January, Generali concluded the process of the legal merger of all its 100% owned insurance subsidiaries in Portugal on Oct. 1, 2020. Seguradoras Unidas S.A. is now …

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UK MGA Manchester Underwriting Mgmt Buys Renewal Rights of Pinpoint Underwriting

Manchester Underwriting Management Ltd. (MUM) has acquired the portfolio renewal rights of Pinpoint Underwriting. The underwriting team at Pinpoint will be joining MUM with immediate effect. Pinpoint is a well-established MGA, specializing in writing UK professional indemnity. Pinpoint is headed …

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Russia-Backed Hackers Behind Most Nation-State Cyber Attacks: Microsoft

Russia-based hackers are responsible for the majority of nation-state attacks on Microsoft customers, according to new data from company. Microsoft Corp. has issued 13,000 alerts about nation-state hacking attempts to its customers in the last two years, with 52% of …

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Argument in London Pub Between U.S., British Agents Is Focus of UK Employment Suit

An insult-laden spat at a London pub that strained relations between U.S. and British law-enforcement agencies is at the center of a employment tribunal lawsuit against the UK Serious Fraud Office. Tom Martin, an investigator at the SFO, was fired …

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Virus Restrictions on Businesses, Gatherings Lifted in Most Tennessee Counties

Businesses in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties will no longer have to adhere to social distancing guidelines, Gov. Bill Lee announced Tuesday, even though cases of COVID-19 in the state have been persistently high. The Republican governor said he would …

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Appalachian Underwriters Makes 3 Promotions in Tennessee

Appalachian Underwriters, Inc. (AUI) has promoted three in-house Marketing team members Marketing representatives in its Oak Ridge, Tenn. Headquarters. The three members will service agents in their specific territories. The promotions include: Dakota Stiles, who will service the Delta area, …

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California Nursery Worker Arraigned for Alleged Workers’ Comp Fraud

Fernando Torres Garcia, 46, self-surrendered and was arraigned at the Kern County Superior Court in California this week on nearly a dozen felony counts of insurance fraud after allegedly misrepresenting an injury in order to receive undeserved workers’ compensation insurance …

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Narragansett Bay Insurance Expands into Delaware, Maryland

Narragansett Bay Insurance Company (NBIC) began writing property and casualty insurance in Delaware and Maryland, effective Oct. 1, 2020. The two states mark the seventh and eighth states where the company provides homeowners insurance. NBIC already provides homeowners insurance in …

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Researchers Film How Conversation Spreads Virus Inside Buildings

With implications for the transmission of diseases like COVID-19, researchers have found that ordinary conversation creates a conical ‘jet-like’ airflow that quickly carries a spray of tiny droplets from a speaker’s mouth across meters of an interior space. “People should …

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Pandemics Surpass Climate Change as Biggest Worry for Insurance Professionals: Study

Pandemics became the top concern for insurance professionals this year as the COVID-19 crisis roils the industry worldwide. Infectious diseases and pandemics were ranked as the most significant risks to society over the next five to 10 years in a …

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Uber, Lyft Seeking to Kill California Law App-Based Drivers

Californians are being asked decide if Uber, Lyft and other app-based drivers should remain independent contractors or be eligible for the benefits that come with being company employees. The battle between the powerhouses of the so-called gig economy and labor …

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Next Insurance Adds 24 States to Its Workers’ Compensation Market Map

Next Insurance has expanded its workers’ compensation offering into 24 additional states, including Arizona, Connecticut, South Carolina, Indiana and Virginia. The digital small business insurer said that the coverage is now available in 30 states overall, increasing its workers compensation …

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Massachusetts Natural Gas Company to Provide $10M in Grants to Nonprofits

The charitable arm of the gas company blamed for a series of natural gas explosions and fires in Massachusetts two years ago said it will provide $10 million to support nonprofits in the three communities affected by the disaster. The …

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Vermont Department of Economic Development Hires Nevins

The Vermont Department of Economic Development (DED) has hired Brittany Nevins as the new Captive Insurance Economic Development director. She replaces Ian Davis, Vermont’s former director of Financial Services. Nevins will be responsible for the marketing and business development of …

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Distinguished Programs Hires Guerrero as Regional Sales Executive in New York

Distinguished Programs, a national insurance program manager, has hired Brando Guerrero as a regional sales executive in New York. In this role, Guerrero will oversee growth/broker partners in Manhattan, the Hudson Valley and the rest of greater New York. He …

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Trump Signs Stopgap Government Funding Measure with 1 Year Flood Insurance Renewal

President Donald Trump signed a funding measure that will keep the federal government running until Dec. 11. The continuing resolution (HR 8337), which the House passed last week 359 to 57, was approved by the Senate in a 84-10 vote …

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Sedgwick Acquires Portuguese Loss Adjusting and Claims Management Firm

Sedgwick, a global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has acquired Perigest, a loss adjusting and claims management company in Portugal. “The transaction represents an important step for Sedgwick as a market leader in Spain and Portugal …

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More Than 7,500 Financial Services Jobs Move to Europe from London: EY Brexit Tracker

More than 7,500 finance jobs and a trillion pounds in assets have already left Britain for the European Union as banks prepare for full-blown Brexit in January, consultants EY said on Thursday. Banks, insurers and asset managers have opened new …

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France Urges Parts Review After Airbus A380 Engine Blowout Caused by Metal Fatigue

French investigators have called for a review of the design and maintenance of titanium alloy engine parts to ensure they guard against the risks of metal fatigue following an engine blowout on an Airbus A380 exactly three years ago. France’s …

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Centauri Insurance Taps Knutson as VP of Capital, Reinsurance Strategy

Centauri Specialty Insurance Holdings and its subsidiaries have appointed Paul Knutson vice president of Capital & Reinsurance Strategy. As a member of the executive team, Knutson is responsible for the design, negotiation and implementation of tailored internal and external products …

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UK COVID-19 Insurance Dispute Could Be Heading to Supreme Court as Talks Falter

Britain’s markets regulator said on Wednesday it had failed to strike a deal with major insurers over prompt payouts to small businesses battered by the coronavirus pandemic, dashing hopes that a Supreme Court appeal could be easily avoided. The Financial …

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