Insurance News
Cyber Attack on Ukrainian Medical Facilities Sets ‘Dangerous’ Precedent: Experts
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
Dr. Lidiia Podkopaieva was about to click “send” on an order of new surgical instruments when her computer monitor suddenly went dark. She speed-dialed the clinic’s technician but didn’t even have time to tell him what was wrong. “We’re under cyber …
British Columbia Wildfires Continue to Rage, Torching 1,235-Plus Square Miles
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
British Columbia is extending a state of emergency for two more weeks as wildfires sweeping across the province’s interior show no sign of slowing. Premier John Horgan said Wednesday that his government’s first priority is to support the more than 45,000 people …
Safety Lapses Blamed for Death of Kentucky Coal Miner
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
Federal regulators say an accident that killed a coal miner in Pike County happened because a conveyor belt didn’t have adequate safety guards. The Lexington Herald-Leader reports the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said in its report that 43-year-old …
6 Injured in Atlanta Restaurant Roof Collapse
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
An official says the roof of an Atlanta restaurant collapsed Monday night, injuring six people. Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Cortez Stafford said at a media briefing that about 40 percent of the roof collapsed. Stafford says he couldn’t say for …
Report: Head-First Fall Onto Concrete Killed ‘Walking Dead’ Stuntman on Georgia Set
Fri, 21 Jul 2017
A stuntman fatally injured during production of “The Walking Dead” fell head-first onto concrete about 22 feet (7 meters) below after appearing to try to grab a railing to stop his fall, an assistant director told authorities. Coweta County coroner …
Texas Bill Would Change Workers’ Comp Medical Causation Report Law
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A medical causation narrative report is one created by a doctor that explains a causal connection, if any, between a compensable workplace injury and the diagnoses or conditions specified in the insurance carrier’s plain language notice disputing the extent of …
Verisk: Texas 2nd in Number of Households at Risk for Wildfire
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
The 2017 Verisk Wildfire Risk Analysis shows that Texas is ranked second behind California for the number of households at high or extreme risk from wildfire. The analysis determined the number and percentage of households at high or extreme risk …
General Indemnity Group Acquires Kansas’ Surety Support Services
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
General Indemnity Group LLC (GIG), a subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corp., has acquired Surety Support Services Inc., of Overland Park, Kansas. Tracing its origins back almost 40 years, Surety Support Services (SSS) provides surety-only services to contractors, insurance agents, brokers …
TWFG Honors Top Producers
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Successful insurance agents with The Woodlands, Texas-based TWFG received official recognition and awards during TWFG’s recent convention. President and CEO Gordy Bunch inducted 20 new members into the insurance services’ Million Dollar Club, bringing its membership up to 81 “super …
Ex-Iowa Seed Company Exec Files $80M Suit over Firing
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
An executive for a prominent Iowa seed company is alleging he was wrongly fired by Iowa’s richest man and deprived his right to acquire $80 million worth of corporate stock. Joseph Saluri filed a lawsuit against billionaire Harry H. Stine …
Missouri Finally Creating Prescription Drug-Monitoring Plan
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Missouri became the final state to create a prescription drug-monitoring program on July 17 when Republican Gov. Eric Greitens signed an executive order aimed at combatting a scourge that killed more than 900 residents last year. The announcement surprised lawmakers, …
Cash Contents of Wisconsin Bank Vault Destroyed in Flood
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Recent flooding destroyed all the cash in the vault of a southeastern Wisconsin bank. Fox River State Bank president Keith Polleck refused to disclose how much money was ruined, but said the Federal Reserve will have to replace every dollar. …
Fire Investigators Pinpoint Unit Where Deadly Honolulu High-Rise Blaze Began
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Fire investigators said the apartment where a deadly fire began in a Honolulu high-rise was near the two units on the 26th floor where the bodies of three victims were found, but they’re still working to determine the cause. The …
Fire Destroys 3 Mobile Homes in Oregon, 2 Were Uninsured
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A fire southeast of Eugene, Ore., destroyed three mobile homes and sent a man to a Portland hospital. Residents of the mobile home park tell The Register-Guard that two dogs and four cats died. The fire happened Monday at the …
Yosemite Park Wildfire Burns Dozens of Structures And Heads Toward California Towns
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A wildfire in foothills west of Yosemite National Park destroyed dozens of structures and forced thousands to flee towns but fire crews have been able to stop it from reaching a threatened community on the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. …
Massachusetts SJC Rules in Favor of Employee Fired for Medical Marijuana Use
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled in favor of a woman who was fired by her employer for testing positive for her prescribed use of marijuana to treat a medical condition. The court found that because medical marijuana was …
Travelers Says It’s ‘Where It Needs to Be’ to Compete; Q2 Results Dampened by Weather
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Small business insurance leader Travelers Companies is well-positioned to continue to compete in the small commercial insurance space that is attracting new entries including technology-driven start-ups, according to CEO Alan Schnitzer. “We think we are where we need to be …
AGCS Appoints Smith as Head of Engineering, Regional Unit London
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty (AGCS)* has appointed Paul Smith as head of Engineering, Regional Unit London (RUL). He reports regionally to Carsten Scheffel, AGCS board member and chief regions & markets officer for RUL. He also reports locally to …
Chipotle to Reopen Virginia Restaurant After Norovirus Reports
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. said it will reopen a Virginia restaurant on Wednesday, two days after it was closed due to reports that several customers had fallen ill with suspected norovirus. Shares of the restaurant chain tumbled more than 4 …
Rhode Island State Police Issue $57K Fine for Overweight Truck
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
The Rhode Island State Police has issued a $57,000 fine against the company that owns the flatbed truck that was ruled too heavy for state bridges. Police announced the fine against Bay Crane Northeast Tuesday. The company’s truck was stuck …
Philadelphia Fire Captain Facing Charges for Insurance Fraud
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A Philadelphia Fire Department captain has been arrested and charged with insurance fraud. Court records show 43-year-old Yolanda Stallings, of Philadelphia, Penn., was arrested June 27 and charged with various offenses including forgery and false reports. A department spokeswoman says …
Talanx Acquires Generali’s Colombian Businesses for €30M (US$34.6M)
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Talanx has acquired Generali Colombia Seguros Generales S.A. and its life insurance subsidiary, Generali Colombia Vida Compañia de Seguros S.A., for approximately €30 million (US$34.6 million) Generali explained that Talanx is acquiring 91.3 percent of Generali Seguros and 93.3 percent …
Ban on Consumer Mandatory Arbitration Clauses Faces Challenges
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A U.S. rule years in the making that was intended to restore consumers’ ability to band together to sue financial companies could unravel in just a few months as the heads of two federal agencies clash over it and critics …
Catastrophes Cost Insurers $22B in 1H 2017; Economic Losses Totaled $53B: Aon
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Global insured losses from natural disasters during the first half of 2017 are estimated at US$22 billion with 76 percent of these losses generated by U.S. events, according to a report issued by Impact Forecasting, Aon Benfield’s catastrophe model development …
Jury Clears GM of Liability in First Trial Over Updated Ignition Switch
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A federal jury in New York on Wednesday found General Motors was not to blame for a crash of an Arizona man who alleged that his accident was caused by an updated version of the carmaker’s ignition switch that did …
Chubb Names Farrow Practice Leader for Life Sciences Industry in North America
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Chubb has named Lee Farrow as executive vice president and Life Sciences Industry practice leader for North America. In his new role, effective immediately, he will oversee the strategy, operations and underwriting of biotechnology, pharmaceutical, supplement, and medical device customers. Farrow will …
Daimler Recalls More Than 3 Million Mercedes-Benz Diesel Vehicles
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Daimler AG moved to head off a growing crisis over emissions concerns by voluntarily recalling more than 3 million Mercedes-Benz diesel vehicles in Europe, marking the latest blow to the technology since Volkswagen AG’s cheating scandal erupted nearly two years ago. …
Sullivan Brokers Enhances Healthcare Provider Program, Adds Cybersecurity Coverage
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Sullivan Brokers has launched an enhanced program that offers first party protection specifically tailored to address the exposures healthcare providers face when presenting claims to public or private insurers. The enhanced Practice Shield program now includes an expanded list of …
CSX Ordered to Pay $3.9M in Georgia Train Death of Allman Film Crew Member
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
A railroad owner plans to appeal a jury’s decision that it must pay $3.9 million to the family of a movie worker killed on a Georgia railroad trestle in 2014, a spokesman for the company said. The jury in Savannah …
North Carolina Gov Signs $100M Hurricane Aid, Zip Line Insurance Bills
Thu, 20 Jul 2017
Gov. Roy Cooper has signed legislation directing how $100 million in additional Hurricane Matthew relief funds must be spent and requiring zip line and aerial ropes course owners to get minimum levels of liability insurance. Cooper enacted Tuesday ten more …