Operational Changes Coming in 2020 for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association

The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association has posted on its website a summary of operational and policy changes that go into effect in 2020 as a result of new laws passed in 2019 by the state’s Legislature. Following are changes set …

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Michigan City Ramping Up Enforcement of Ban on Using Handheld Phone While Driving

Police in Battle Creek, Michigan are enforcing a local ban on the use of a handheld phone while driving. The prohibition has been on the books for months, but signs recently went up at Battle Creek’s city entry points. Police …

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POWERS Insurance & Risk Management Adds Pallarito as Personal Lines Manager

St. Louis, Missouri-based POWERS Insurance & Risk Management has hired Kathy Pallarito as a personal lines manager. Pallarito has over 25 years of sales, customer service, and marketing experience in the insurance industry. In her new position, she will assist …

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In Midwest, Legal Marijuana Sales May Spark Interstate Tension

Retailers legally selling marijuana for the past month in Michigan say they have drawn customers from surrounding Midwestern states where the drug remains illegal and, as Illinois prepares to joins the recreational market on Jan. 1, officials are renewing warnings …

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Texas Surplus Lines Association Warns of Fake Email

The Texas Surplus Lines Association is warning its members of a fake email that has been sent out under the name of TSLA President Jennifer Mier. TSLA is urging members not to respond to the email. In an emailed message, …

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Helicopter Tours Criticized After Deadly Hawaii Crash

Tour helicopter operations in Hawaii are under increased scrutiny after a deadly crash this week, one of several recent accidents in the state, with a congressman calling the trips unsafe and lacking proper oversight. A helicopter that was set to …

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Emergency Declaration Extended in Alaska Borough for Flooding

An emergency declaration was extended in an Alaska borough where residents were forced to evacuate when an ice jam caused a creek to flood, official said. Matanuska-Susitna Borough Assembly members met with state officials Saturday to discuss options to deal …

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Will People Use California’s Vastly Expanded Digital Privacy Law?

Forty million Californians will soon obtain sweeping digital privacy rights stronger than any seen before in the U.S. – rights that could pose a significant challenge to Big Tech and the data economy it created. So long as state residents …

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Climate Forecast for 2020s Is Warmer, Stormier and More Extreme: Opinion

Over the last decade, scientists learned a great deal about the climate, much of it concerning the connection between global warming and extreme events — heat waves, hurricanes, floods, droughts and wildfires. There has been, for many years, an understanding …

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Eight Crew Members Kidnapped from Greek Tanker Anchored Near Cameroon

Five Greeks, two Filipinos and a Ukrainian were abducted by unidentified assailants from the Greek-flagged tanker ‘Happy Lady’ while the vessel was anchored two nautical miles from Limboh port in Cameroon. The attack on the 28 crew-member ship took place …

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Program Underwriters Seek ‘New, New’ Spaces While Administrators Embrace Insurtech

Fueled by efficiencies introduced by insurtechs and underwriters’ interest in niche classes, the insurance program business has experienced impressive growth the last few years. But heavy interest is also forcing program administrators to think outside the box in order to …

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Diet Dr. Pepper Is Not Promising Weight Loss, Court Rules

A U.S. federal appeals court on Monday said the maker of Diet Dr Pepper did not deceive consumers into thinking the soft drink promoted weight loss by including “diet” in its name, a decision that could doom a similar lawsuit …

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Puff, Puff, Passed: 2019 Marijuana Laws in Review and 2020 Projections

With 2019 nearly rolled up, it is time to exhale and recap the latest dose of marijuana laws affecting the workplace. In the last twelve months, Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational marijuana use by adult[1] and several …

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Virginia Plant Fire Ruled Accidental, Causes $4M in Damages

A fire at a western Virginia can manufacturing plant caused $4 million in damages and led to injuries for two firefighters battling the blaze, officials said. The fire began Friday evening at the Ardagh Group plant in north Roanoke County …

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Wawa Facing Lawsuits Over Data Breach at All of Its Stores

The Wawa convenience store chain is facing a wave of lawsuits over a data breach that affected its 850 locations along the East Coast. Wawa Inc. discovered malware on its payment processing servers this month before stopping the breach Dec. …

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Court Says Airline’s Workers at Newark Airport Can’t Sue as Class in Pay Dispute

American Airlines workers at Newark’s airport who claim in a lawsuit they’ve been shorted on overtime pay can’t sue as a class, a federal appeals court ruled this week. The three-judge panel’s decision reversed a New Jersey judge’s ruling that …

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Germany Aims to Thwart African Swine Fever as It Edges Closer to Borders

German hunting dogs are being trained to sniff out dead wild boar, authorities are stockpiling electric fences along the eastern frontier and the government in Berlin is urging drivers not to toss ham-sandwich scraps out of their car windows. These …

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Australia’s Wildfire Crisis Intensifies as Locals, Tourists Seek Refuge on Beaches

Australia’s wildfire crisis intensified on Tuesday as coastal towns across the southeast caught ablaze, forcing thousands of stranded tourists and locals to seek refuge on beaches. Thick black smoke billowing from infernos in Victoria and New South Wales states turned …

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Most Common Workers’ Compensation Medical Provider Fraud Schemes

While most insurance claims are legitimate, studies indicate that 10% or more of all property/casualty insurance claims are fraudulent. In the workers’ compensation industry, combatting fraud can seem like a game of Whack-A-Mole. When certain schemes and scenarios are addressed, …

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Uber, Postmates Sue to Overturn California Gig Worker Law as Unconstitutional

Uber Technologies Inc. and Postmates Inc. sued the state of California, alleging that a labor rights law set to go into effect this week is unconstitutional. The lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles federal court is a preemptive strike against …

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Fourth Sewer Line in a Month Ruptures in South Florida City

For the fourth time in a month, a South Florida sewer line has ruptured. The sewer line burst on Friday at a park in Fort Lauderdale. It was repaired overnight when crews removed the damaged section of 16-inch force main …

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Jim Beam Fined $600K Over Massive Kentucky Bourbon Spill

Jim Beam was fined $600,000 earlier this month after a July warehouse fire sent a nearly 23-mile (37-kilometer) plume of alcohol into the Kentucky and Ohio rivers, killing fish. The distiller agreed to the fine in a Dec. 6 order …

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Kentucky Farmer Pleads Guilty in Tobacco Crop Insurance Fraud Scheme

Another Central Kentucky farmer has pleaded guilty in a crop insurance fraud scheme that a federal prosecutor has called “pervasive and severe” in that region. Daniel Arvin pleaded guilty on Dec. 19 in federal court in Lexington to a conspiracy …

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2 Workers Die While Cleaning Chemical Tank at Houston-Area Business

Two workers apparently became overcome by fumes and died while cleaning a chemical tank at a business near Houston, authorities said on Dec. 28. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a tweet that deputies responded to the plant overnight …

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Ohio Doctor Charged in 25 Patient Deaths Sues Hospital for Defamation

An Ohio doctor accused of ordering drug overdoses in the deaths of 25 hospital patients has sued his former employer for defamation, arguing that he did nothing wrong and did not deviate from hospital policy on end-of-life care. Dr. William …

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Blast at Beechcraft Plant in Kansas Injures More Than a Dozen People

More than a dozen people were injured on Dec. 27 when a nitrogen line ruptured at the Beechcraft aircraft manufacturing facility in Wichita, Kansas, causing part of the building to collapse, authorities said. Daniel Wegner, deputy fire chief for Sedgwick …

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Document: Iowa School District Settled Discrimination Suit for more than $170K

Newly released documents show that Mason City Schools in Iowa settled a gender discrimination lawsuit filed by a former official for more $170,000. The district issued its former human resources director Jodie Anderson $31,500 in wage differential payment and $73,500 …

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Venice Floods to Cost St. Mark’s Cathedral at Least $5.5 Million in Damage

“Every stone is a treasure,” says the technical director of St. Mark’s Basilica’s vestry board, indicating the prized gold-leaf mosaics overhead, the inlaid stone pavement and the marble clad walls of the 923-year-old masterpiece. And many are vulnerable to the …

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Eight Escape California Warehouse Fire Similar to Ghost Ship Fire

Oakland authorities have confirmed a fire chased eight people out of an evacuated and condemned building injuring one person before fire crews could extinguish the blaze. Assistant Fire Marshal Emmanuel Watson compared the event to the 2016 fire that trapped …

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Judge Overturns $15M Award to Ex-LA Times Columnist

A judge has overturned a jury’s award of nearly $15.5 million to a former sports columnist for the Los Angeles Times who said he was forced out of his job because of age and health discrimination. Superior Court Judge William …

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Allied Names Locher to Lead Winery Insurance Program in Western U.S.

Allied Public Risk, LLC, through its Allied Winery Risk division, has added Gregory Locher to the winery space in the Western U.S. as lead executive of the firm’s property and liability insurance program. The Allied Winery Risk program was designed …

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Typhoon Phanfone Kills at Least 41 in Philippines, Destroys Homes, Crops

Typhoon Phanfone killed at least 41 people when it slammed into the central Philippines on Christmas Eve, with dozens still injured or missing, according to the agency which oversees disaster response. The 21st cyclone to hit the Southeast Asian nation …

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Thousands of Tourists Evacuated as Wildfires Sweep Through Southeast Australia

Thousands of holiday-makers have evacuated a popular tourist spot in southeast Australia as a heatwave and strong winds fuel wildfires sweeping through the region. But with temperatures hitting 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) Monday and blazes closing sections of …

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The Hilb Group Acquires Rhode Island’s Wickford Insurance Agency

The Hilb Group LLC (THG) has acquired Rhode Island-based Wickford Insurance Agency Inc. (WIA). The transaction became effective December 1, 2019. WIA is a full-service property and casualty insurance agency for businesses and individuals throughout Rhode Island. WIA’s associates will …

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18 Sickened After Private Function at Popular New Hampshire Restaurant

Eighteen people were sickened with a gastrointestinal illness after attending a private function last month at a restaurant co-owned by a Democratic congressman that’s popular with presidential candidates, state health officials said. People who became ill with norovirus attended the …

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Connecticut City Reaches $625K Settlement in Halfway House Lawsuit

A federal prison halfway house will not be built in Connecticut after a Pennsylvania-based nonprofit reached a $625,000 settlement in an ongoing lawsuit with the city of Norwalk. The city will pay $275,000 of the settlement while the city’s insurance …

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Financial Services Industry Must Act Faster on Climate Change: Bank of England Chief

Financial services have been too slow to cut investment in fossil fuels, a delay that could lead to a sharp increase in global temperatures, Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said in an interview broadcast on Monday. Carney, due to …

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Why Small Business Liability Insurance Must Be Advanced Into the Digital Age

Liability insurance as we know it no longer suits a large fraction of today’s and tomorrow’s small-business owners. Brokers and insurers are at a crossroads on how to serve small businesses’ changing needs in the on-demand economy. The industry’s one-size-fits-all …

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California ‘Gig’ Worker Law Affects Employers Inside and Outside the State

A California law that makes it harder for companies to treat workers as independent contractors takes effect next week, forcing small businesses in and outside the state to rethink their staffing. The law puts tough restrictions on who can be …

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China Will Begin in Earnest in 2020 to Open Its Great Financial Wall

China’s big bang opening of its $45 trillion financial industry begins in earnest next year — a step-by-step affair that’s unfolding just as economic strains threaten the promised windfall luring in global firms. Starting with its insurance and futures markets, …

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5 Alabama Construction Workers Injured in Work Site Floor Collapse

Firefighters rescued five construction workers who fell during a floor collapse at a work site near the University of Alabama campus Thursday. The workers were on the ground floor level at a site near Tutwiler Hall when the collapse occurred …

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14 Killed on Georgia Roads Over Christmas Holiday

Georgia State Police announced Friday that 14 people were killed in car crashes over the Christmas holiday spanning from Tuesday evening to Thursday night. Last year, the number of fatalities were the same, although last year the holiday period was …

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Doctor Claims Apple Watch Infringes His Heart Monitoring Technology Patent

A New York University cardiologist claims Apple Inc.’s Watch uses his patented heartbeat-monitoring invention and he wants compensation. Dr. Joseph Wiesel, who teaches at NYU School of Medicine, filed a suit Friday against the tech giant, in federal court in …

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Court Upholds Insurers’ Auto Body Repair Networks Against Racketeering Claim

A federal appellate court affirmed a decision to throw out a racketeering lawsuit brought by a group of 126 auto body collision repair shops against seven of the largest U.S. insurers. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta agreed …

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Georgia Board Begins Work on State Medical Marijuana Rules

A new Georgia board has begun working to create rules and a distribution network for the sale of medical marijuana oil. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that the Georgia Access to Medical Cannabis Commission held its first meeting Dec. 18. Medical …

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Tennessee Opens Insurance License Testing Centers in Rural Communities

The Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) has opened three new testing centers in rural Tennessee communities as part of its effort to better serve insurance agents and their customers in these areas, the department said in a statement. …

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Iowa’s Collins Community Credit Union Launching Collins Insurance

Collins Community Credit Union is launching Collins Insurance, a partnership with West Des Moines, Iowa-based, independent insurance agency, Coverage Direct. This partnership will provide Collins Community Credit Unions members with direct access to independent insurance options, including affinity discounts, from …

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Agriculture Woes Cited for Lag in Personal Income Growth in Kansas

Personal income growth in Kansas is below the national average largely because of troubles in agriculture. Kansas farmers face an expanding drought and low commodity prices, though a break in an ongoing tariff dispute may bring those prices up. Agriculture …

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New Limits on Lawsuits a Goal for Louisiana Republicans

After an election season in which conservative Republicans made Louisiana’s high car insurance rates a campaign issue, GOP lawmakers expect efforts to try to limit damages awarded in car wreck lawsuits to be front and center in the 2020 legislative …

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California Man Choked Unconscious Can Sue Police, Court Rules

A California man can proceed to trial with a lawsuit against a police officer who choked him unconscious at a Las Vegas nightclub, a federal appeals court ruled this week. “It has long been clear that a police officer may …

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Former Oregon Officer Sues Officials Claiming Retaliation

A former Oregon police officer filed a lawsuit saying he faced retaliation within the department for reporting a former police chief struck him with his arm while holding a metal sign, court records said. Joseph Patnode is suing the Sunriver …

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BP Alaska to Pay $125K Over Hazardous Waste Violations

BP Alaska agreed to pay a little more than $125,000 in fines over hazardous waste violations on Alaska’s North Slope, officials said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it reached the agreement with the Alaska arm of oil company BP …

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Wyoming Workplace Deaths Last Year Were Below Long-Term Trend

Thirty-one people died on the job in Wyoming in 2018, a rate slightly below average. Wyoming has averaged 33 workplace fatalities each year in data going back to 1992, according to the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services. About 61% of …

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Alaska Earthquake Sensors Require More Funding to Maintain

A project that maintains seismic monitoring stations in Alaska needs more funding to continue fully operating, officials said. Scientists, lawmakers and federal agencies are promoting the permanent installation of the Transportable Array Network, The Anchorage Daily News reported. The National …

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Danske Bank Sued by International Investors over Money Laundering Scandal

A group of international investors who manage trillions of dollars in assets has filed what it says is the first in a series of lawsuits against Danske Bank in connection with the money laundering scandal engulfing Denmark’s largest lender. The …

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Extended Deadline for Insurance Journal’s Top P/C Agents

Insurance Journal is searching for the nation’s leading independent agents to become part of America’s Top Property/Casualty Agent listing. The deadline to submit is now extended to the end of day on Monday, Dec. 30. This is a listing of …

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Congress, FAA Reviewing ‘Disturbing’ Boeing Employee Communications on Safety

Boeing Co. documents under review by a U.S. congressional panel appear to point to a “very disturbing” picture of commentary from the planemaker’s employees over the grounded 737 MAX aircraft, a congressional aide said on Tuesday. The documents were submitted …

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OSHA Reaches Settlement with Meat Supplier Following Safety Violations in N.J.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has reached a settlement with Thomas Foods International after issuing citations for workplace safety and health violations at the company’s meat processing facility in Swedesboro, N.J. As part of …

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Federal Disaster Aid Coming to 18 New York Counties Hit by Storm

Federal disaster aid is coming to 18 upstate New York counties that endured severe thunderstorms and flooding on Halloween, U.S. Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Friday. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will provide public assistance funding to the …

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Connecticut City to Pay $5M to Settle Lawsuit Over Fatal School Stabbing

A Connecticut city will pay $5 million to the family of a teenage girl stabbed to death at her high school to settle a lawsuit alleging the district did not properly respond to threats posed by the killer, attorneys for …

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Piracy Surges Along Southeast Asia’s Straits of Malacca and Singapore

Piracy has surged this year along Southeast Asia’s straits of Malacca and Singapore, one of the world’s busiest trade routes, according to a watch group that tracks maritime security. Incidents along the shipping choke point have risen to 30, from …

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Plane Operated by Bek Air Crashes in Kazakhstan, Killing 12, Injuring Dozens

A passenger plane carrying nearly 100 people crashed near the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan on Friday after take off, slamming into a house in an accident that killed 12 people and injured dozens. The Fokker 100 aircraft, operated by …

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Insured Property Losses for December 2018 Sydney Hailstorms Rise to A$798M: PERILS

The fourth and final insured property loss estimate for the hailstorms that hit the greater Sydney region in December 2018 rose to A$798 million ($553.2 million), according to PERILS, the independent Zurich-based organization that provides industry-wide catastrophe insurance data. This …

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Japan Post’s Insurance Sales Suspended by Regulator: Sources

Japan’s financial regulator ordered a three-month suspension of insurance sales by two units of Japan Post Holdings Co. as punishment for improper sales practices. The Financial Services Agency said it found examples of Japan Post customers being sold unduly expensive …

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$584B at Risk From Cat Events in 2020: University of Cambridge Study

Providing an annual update of its study of the impact of catastrophic events on global GDP, researchers from the University of Cambridge find that roughly $584 billion could be wiped from the global economy from such events in 2020. According …

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Vetter Named VP, Branch Manager for Erie Insurance in Indiana

Bob Vetter has been appointed vice president and branch manager in the Indiana branch of property/casualty insurer Erie Insurance. Vetter joined ERIE as a commercial underwriter in 1993, later becoming district sales manager in Indiana. He has served as a …

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Texas House Committee Hearing on Windstorm Insurance Legislation Set for Jan. 15

The insurance committee in the Texas House of Representatives will hold a hearing on Jan. 15 to consider the state of rulemaking and other governmental actions with regard to legislation passed in 2019 affecting Texas’ property insurer of last resort …

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United Airlines Settles Sexual Harassment Claim Over Explicit Internet Posts by Captain

United Airlines has agreed to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit over a captain who continued to post explicit images of a flight attendant online without her consent even after the attendant complained. The airline will pay $321,000, plus attorney’s fees, …

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Why the Worst Case for Climate Change Doesn’t Look Realistic: Viewpoint

In recent years, much of the commentary about climate change has gone from sternly serious to wildly despairing. A new report from the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change warns that the effects of climate change are accelerating and …

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Employers Warned of Potential Wage-and-Hour Claims Under New Overtime Rule

Time is running out for employers to familiarize themselves with new federal rules on overtime pay. Starting January 1, the threshold for who is entitled to overtime pay — and who is not — changes. It’s the first change since …

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Long-Awaited U.S. Drone Safety Rules Call for Extensive Tracking Network

All but the smallest civilian drones would have to broadcast radio tracking data to ensure greater safety and prevent terrorism under a sweeping proposal unveiled by U.S. regulators Thursday. The long-awaited draft rules call for a massive new tracking network …

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Semitrailer Crashes Into Florida Landmark in Orlando

A semitrailer plowed into a historic inn south of Orlando early Sunday, causing major damage but no apparent injuries. Photos show that the truck ran through the wall of the Desert Inn and a portion of the building collapsed around …

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Family of California University Student Sues Fraternity, Saying Hazing Led to Death

The family of a university student who died in 2018 after what they say was a hazing incident has sued a fraternity they claim is responsible for his death. KABC TV reported. The family of Tyler Hilliard said that the …

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Health Provider in Arizona to Pay $6M Settlement in Breach

A Phoenix, Ariz.-based health provider has agreed to settle a lawsuit over a computer data breach that may have compromised health and personal data of about 3 million patients, employees, health insurance customers and others. The class action lawsuit against …

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Must Gift Cards Be Available in Braille to Comply with ADA?

In this season of giving, nothing says I-waited-until-the-last-minute-and-didn’t-have-time-to-think-seriously-about-what-to-get like a gift card. In both their solid and virtual forms, the cards have become a ubiquitous sign of the holiday season. But does the law require that they be available in …

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Vaping Lung Injury Cases Down; Link to Vitamin E Acetate Reinforced

Most patients stricken in a wave of vaping-related injuries had vitamin E acetate in their lungs, U.S. health officials found, reinforcing a suspected link between the compound and an outbreak that spurred a national debate about the safety of the …

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Workers’ Comp Profits at Risk from Growing Competition, Lower Rates: A.M. Best

Workers’ compensation carriers’ ability to retain profitable accounts and maintain market share could be challenged due to declining rates and growing competition in the U.S., according to an A.M. Best report. Rate decreases across the United States have led to …

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Vietnam-Linked Hackers Steal Intellectual Property from Competitors: Experts

A Vietnam-based hacking group is learning from China’s playbook, using increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks to spy on competitors and help Vietnam catch up to global competitors, according to cyber-security experts. In the last two years, the group, which is believed …

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It’s Not Easy Getting Insurers to Defend in Sexual Harassment Cases

While Harvey Weinstein’s insurers have reportedly agreed to pay $47 million to settle civil suits against the movie producer, most policyholders should prepare for an epic legal battle just to get their insurers to defend them against accusations of sexual …

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Vatican Tribunal Processes ‘Tsunami’ of Clergy Sex Abuse Complaints

The Vatican office responsible for processing clergy sex abuse complaints saw a record 1,000 cases reported from around the world this year – and still some regions that haven’t reported any allegations at all. The Congregation for the Doctrine of …

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Sirius Expands Facultative Cover, Tapping Underwriters from Asia Capital Re

Bermuda-based Sirius International Insurance Group Ltd. announced it is expanding its facultative product offerings in the Asian region to better service its clients, beginning in early 2020. Through its office in Singapore, Sirius Group will onboard a team of key …

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Japan Post’s Share Sale Faces Delays After Scandals at Insurance Unit: Sources

Japan’s government is considering holding off on its plan to sell about $10 billion worth of shares in Japan Post Holdings Co. through this fiscal year following scandals involving its insurance unit, according to people familiar with the situation. Concern …

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New York Tweaks Clean Water Plan as Suppliers Call for More Time

New York would not issue violations against certain water suppliers who notify the public that they have too-high levels of certain industrial and synthetic chemicals under the latest plan to be proposed by state regulators. Brad Hutton, deputy commissioner of …

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IICF Raises $1.14M at Annual Benefit Dinner Honoring Markel Corporation

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, raised $1.14 million at its 13th Annual Northeast Benefit Dinner held December 11 at Cipriani in New York City. The event gathered more than …

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Massachusetts Auditor Says Revenue Department Needs to Better Protect Data

The Massachusetts Department of Revenue needs to do more to protect the security of taxpayer and business data, the state auditor said Monday. Auditor Suzanne Bump said an audit found the department was not prepared to respond to or mitigate …

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Vaught Joins Alliant in Houston as Energy, Marine Advisor

Alliant Insurance Services has appointed Karey Vaught as executive vice president, managing director. Based in Houston, Vaught will provide insurance and risk advisory services to energy and marine clients across the United States. Vaught joins Alliant with expertise in midstream, …

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Ohio Agents Honor Berg of Big ‘I’ with Industry Citation Award

Ohio Insurance Agents Association (OIA) has presented Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America’s Ron Berg with its Industry Citation Award. Berg has served as executive director of the Big “I” Agents Council for Technology (ACT) since 2013 and in …

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TSLA, Austin Independent Agents Group Donate Food, Cash to Food Bank

The Independent Insurance Agents of Austin and the Texas Surplus Lines Association Inc. joined efforts in December to collect food and money for the Capital Area Food Bank located in Austin, Texas. Food and money were collected at the IIAA …

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Underwriters and Insureds Taking Harder Look at Commercial Property Risks

Commercial property underwriters are adjusting to a market defined by rising catastrophe losses and dwindling profits. From increasing rates and higher deductibles to fewer classes of business and stricter underwriting, even the best in class properties are feeling the heat. …

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Police Say City Employee Targeted Co-Worker in Deadly North Carolina Shooting

A deadly shooting at a city building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina was an act of “workplace violence” by one city employee who targeted a co-worker he’d disliked for a long time, police said Friday. Winston-Salem Police Chief Catrina Thompson told …

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Coalition Adds California Consumer Protection Act Endorsement

San Francisco, Calif.-based Coalition, a cyber insurer for small and midsize businesses, has added an endorsement that broadens its coverage to protect against additional violations brought under California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). Coalition is offering the coverage to help businesses …

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Plymouth Rock Assurance Expands Home, Auto Coverage to New York

Plymouth Rock Assurance, a data-driven home and auto insurance provider in the Northeast, has expanded its home and auto insurance coverage to residents and agents in New York. This marks the first time the 37-year old insurance company has offered …

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Singer Marc Anthony’s Luxury Yacht Goes Up in Flames in Miami

A luxury yacht owned by singer Marc Anthony partially sank in Biscayne Bay after it was engulfed by a massive fire that took 45 firefighters nearly two hours to extinguish. No one was injured. The 120-foot (36.5-meter) boat was docked …

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Notre Dame Fire Reveals Global Safety Lapse Over Dangers of Lead Dust

PARIS (AP) — It took a blaze that nearly destroyed Paris’ most famous cathedral to reveal a gap in global safety regulations for lead, a toxic building material found across many historic cities. After the Notre Dame fire in April …

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Cyclist in Oregon Who Sued Over Unsafe Bike Lane Gets $350K Settlement

A bicyclist hit by a speeding driver near a Portland, Ore. bike lane crossing in front of a freeway on-ramp will receive a $350,000 settlement from the city, state and the motorist. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Bobbi Smith is scheduled to …

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Cyber Attack Forces Airline to Cancel Flights in Alaska

RavnAir canceled at least a half-dozen flights in Alaska on Saturday – at the peak of holiday travel – following what the company described as “a malicious cyber attack” on its computer network. The cancellations affected around 260 passengers, according …

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$25M for Girl Who Suffered Brain Damage in California Crash

Sacramento County will pay more than $25 million to the family of a 12-year-old girl who was left with brain damage after her family car was struck by a sheriff’s patrol car vehicle. The settlement last week is the largest …

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Health System in California Pays $575M to Settle Anti-Trust Lawsuit

One of Northern California’s largest health systems will pay $575 million to settle claims that it used anti-competitive practices to bump up costs for patients, the state’s attorney general said last week, though that falls short of damages sought in …

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GEICO CEO Roberts to Retire End of 2020; Berkshire Hathaway’s Combs to Succeed

Bill Roberts, GEICO’s president and chief executive officer, has announced that he will retire in December 2020 after 35 years with the insurer. Replacing Roberts as CEO will be Todd Combs, one of Berkshire Hathaway’s investment managers. Roberts, who turned …

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Australia’s Bushfires Destroy Nearly 200 Homes, Claim Another Life

Australia’s devastating wildfires, which at the weekend destroyed close to 200 homes and claimed another life, show no sign of abating and are poised to blight Christmas celebrations. Around 200 blazes were burning across the world’s driest inhabited continent on …

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How High Tech Competition Is Transforming NFL Helmets

Long gone are the days of the leather shell and single-bar face mask. Today’s football helmets are technological marvels, using cutting edge materials and design elements to make the headgear the safest it’s been in the 100th season of the …

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City of London’s Unity Begins Cracking over Brexit Trade Deal: Opinion

Boris Johnson’s triumphant U.K. election victory makes Brexit a near certainty next month. For the City of London, Britain’s split from its biggest trading partner is a huge leap into the unknown; one that will test its cohesion like never …

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Bipartisan Internet Privacy Proposal Calls for User OK to Share Data But Is Mum on Suits

A top House panel unveiled long-awaited draft privacy legislation that calls for limits on sharing consumers’ information and would allow users to correct their personal data. The draft, which also calls for the Federal Trade Commission to establish a new …

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The Hartford Joins Insurers Limiting Fossil Fuel Investments, Underwriting

The Hartford became the latest insurance carrier to cut back on business it does with the fossil fuel industry out of concern over climate change. The company announced it will no longer insure or invest in companies that generate more …

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U.S. Law Firms ‘Hounded’ Relatives of Ethiopian Airlines’ Crash Victims

Days after the March 10 crash of a Kenya-bound Ethiopian Airlines’ Boeing jet that killed all 157 people on board, strangers began calling or visiting bereaved families, saying they represented U.S. law firms. They showed up uninvited at memorials and …

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Bank of England Enhances Scrutiny of Lloyd’s Whistleblower Systems

The Bank of England has stepped up its monitoring of Lloyd’s of London’s whistleblowing systems, the central bank said on Monday, after reports this year about sexual harassment and bullying at the 330-year old insurance market. The Prudential Regulation Authority …

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Guy Carpenter Appoints Schepens from Allianz as Benelux CEO

Guy Carpenter & Co., the reinsurance broker and subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Cos., announced the appointment of Patrick Schepens as CEO of the Benelux region, effective April 2020. Schepens will be responsible for all of Guy Carpenter’s activities in …

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Venice Hotels Suffer Nearly $34M in Damages from November’s Floods

Venice’s hoteliers association estimates that the city’s hotels suffered about 30 million euros ($34 million) worth of structural damage during November’s floods. The overall losses, though, are higher after adding in the lower revenues that local hotels have reported in …

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Jimcor Agency Hires Emanuel as Property and Casualty Brokerage Specialist in Pennsylvania

Jimcor Agency Inc., an independent managing general agency and insurance wholesaler, has hired Ed Emanuel as a property and casualty brokerage specialist for the Western Pennsylvania office located in Pittsburgh, Penn. Emanuel is an insurance professional with a background over …

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Retrial Decision Due Next Year in Triple-Fatal 1995 Pittsburgh Arson

A federal judge is slated to decide next year on a second trial in the case of a man accused of having set a Pittsburgh fire that killed three firefighters almost a quarter of a century ago. Gregory Brown, 42, …

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DuPont Asks Delaware Judge to Toss Chemours Environmental Liabilities Suit

The DuPont Co. is asking a Delaware judge to dismiss a lawsuit claiming that it massively downplayed the cost of environmental liabilities that Chemours would be saddled with when DuPont spun off its former performance chemicals unit. An attorney for …

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U.S. E-Cigarette Regulation Has Been Delayed for Years

As the Federal Drug Administration pressures e-cigarette firms to stamp out youth vaping, the agency faces criticism itself for failing to rein in the fast-growing industry after years of bureaucratic delays dating back to the Obama administration. Despite recent tough …

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Cox Communications Found Liable for $1 Billion for Infringing Music Copyrights

A U.S. District Court jury last Thursday found telecom company Cox Communications Inc. liable to pay $1 billion to music labels and publishers over piracy infringement on more than 10,000 works. Over 50 music companies, including Sony Music, Warner Music …

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U.S. Government Backs Bayer in Bid to Overturn Roundup Cancer Verdict

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Justice Department said a federal appeals court should reverse a lower court verdict finding Bayer AG liable in the case of a California man who blamed its Roundup weed killer for his cancer. …

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Tennessee Approves 7% Decrease for Workers’ Comp Rates

Workers’ compensation rates in Tennessee will go down again next year, marking the seventh consecutive year of decreases, according to the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. Commissioner Hodgen Mainda approved a 7.1 percent overall loss cost decrease for 2020 …

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BRP Group to Acquire Lanier Upshaw of Florida

BRP Group, Inc., an independent insurance distribution firm based in Florida, announced that Baldwin Krystyn Sherman Partners, LLC, a subsidiary of BRP Group, has entered into an agreement to acquire substantially all assets of Lanier Upshaw, Inc, a Lakeland, Florida-based …

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PG&E Creditors Sweet Offer to California Wildfire Victims With $13.5 Billion Upfront

PG&E Corp.’s creditors have sweetened their offer to California wildfire victims, saying they are now prepared to pay $13.5 billion in cash upfront, according to a letter sent on Friday to state governor Gavin Newsom. Current terms of the settlement …

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Insurance Protections Expanded in California Wildfire Areas

More than a million California homes are now protected under a new law that temporarily bans insurance companies from dropping customers in areas affected by recent wildfires, officials announced this week. Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara issued a moratorium earlier this …

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California Earthquake Warning App Sends 1st Public Alert

California’s new earthquake early warning cellphone app issued its first public alert when a modest tremor occurred this week in a rural area of the state, a newspaper reported. MyShake app project manager Jennifer Strauss said more than 40 people …

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Canada Pension Fund OMERS to Buy Stake in Fairfax Run-off Unit, RiverStone UK

Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. and OMERS, the pension plan for Ontario’s municipal employees, announced they have entered into an agreement where OMERS will acquire a 40% interest in Fairfax’s UK run-off group, RiverStone UK. The transaction gives RiverStone UK the …

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$1.45 Trillion U.S. Spending Bills with Flood, Terrorism Insurance Renewals Goes to President Trump

The Senate yesterday went along with House measures that fund the military and rest of the federal government through next September. The government funding measure includes two provisions of particular interest to the property/casualty insurance industry: a reauthorization of the …

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Ascot Appoints Walter as Executive VP and Head of Cyber & Commercial E&O

Ascot has appointed Drew Walter as executive vice president and head of Cyber & Commercial E&O. Also joining the team are Tracy O’Hara, Abigail Oliver, Greg Garijanian and Ben Mancuso. Based in New York, Walter will build a business writing …

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Munich Re Group Agrees to Buy Manhattan Skyscraper

Munich Re Group, advised by MEAG, has agreed to acquire the 330 Madison Avenue building in New York City. The 39 story high-rise dates from 1963 and was designed by Ely Jacques Kahn, one of the fathers of the New …

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How Car Makers Are Doing with Voluntary Accord to Install Automatic Braking Systems

Three years ahead of schedule, four vehicle manufacturers— Tesla, Volvo, Audi and Mercedes— have already met their voluntary commitment under an agreement to equip virtually all of their new passenger vehicles with low-speed automatic emergency braking systems that includes forward …

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Mass. High Court Upholds Consent-to-Settle Clause in Malpractice Policy

Massachusetts’ highest court on Monday rejected arguments that consent-to-settle clauses in professional malpractice insurance policies violate public policy. The Supreme Judicial Court sided with CNA subsidiary Continental Casualty Co. in an engineering malpractice lawsuit brought against homeowners Douglas and Kristen …

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Insured Losses in 2019 Estimated at $56B, Down from $93B Last Year: Swiss Re

Global insured losses in 2019 dropped to an estimated US$56 billion, from US$93 billion in 2018 and below the annual average (US$75 billion) of the previous 10 years, according to preliminary sigma estimates from Swiss Re Institute. During the year, …

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Canadian Lab Test Firm, LifeLabs, Pays Ransom After Data Breach

Lab test provider LifeLabs said Tuesday that it paid a ransom to secure data for Canadians that was stolen in a data breach in late October. Hackers also obtained personal information of an unknown number of the company’s 15 million …

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Legacy Acquirer DARAG Completes Portfolio Transfer with Germany’s SOVAG

DARAG Group Ltd., the Malta-based legacy acquirer, announced it has closed the portfolio transfer with German re/insurer SCHWARZMEER UND OSTSEE Versicherungsaktiengesellschaft (SOVAG), following the receipt of all regulatory approvals. The direct insurance and inwards reinsurance business within the legacy portfolio …

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Deadly Danish Train Accident Caused by Improperly Secured Trailer: Report

Danish authorities say a deadly accident in which a high-speed passenger train struck a semi-trailer that fell off a freight train coming in the opposite direction, happened because the unit wasn’t properly secured. Denmark’s Accident Investigation Board, known by its …

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U.K. Business Executives, Economists, Politicians React to New BoE Boss Bailey

Britain’s new government named Andrew Bailey as the next Bank of England boss on Friday. Following is reaction to his appointment. LIZ MARTINS, UK ECONOMIST, HSBC “In terms of Mr Bailey’s position on the dove-hawk spectrum, it is very hard …

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U.K. Names Bailey as Bank of England Chief, Succeeding Carney

Andrew Bailey will be the next head of the Bank of England after the government chose to replace Mark Carney with the U.K.’s top financial regulator, just as Britain faces the next phase of Brexit. He’ll start on March 16, …

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Citizens to Evaluate Policyholder Count as Florida Market Conditions Tighten

Florida’s insurer of last resort Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will make shrinking its policyholder count a priority next year, despite potential headwinds that may come from Florida domestic carriers raising rates and restricting coverage. Prompted by the request of Florida …

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Texas Regulators Want Stiffer Penalty for Owner of Port Neches Plant That Exploded

Environmental and watchdog groups have long criticized the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for taking it too easy on polluters — and the TCEQ has often countered that its job is to coax industrial facilities into compliance rather than slap …

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Cedar Rapids Proposes $3M Settlement in Suit Over Traffic Camera Ticket Fines

Thousands of people whose state income tax refunds were withheld to pay Cedar Rapids, Iowa, traffic camera tickets would get refunds under a proposed $3 million lawsuit settlement. The City Council learned on Dec. 17 that the city also would …

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Louisiana’s Fidelis Group Holdings Promotes 3 in Claims Division

Fidelis Group Holdings LLC (FGH), a Covington, Louisiana-based provider of marine insurance coverage and services, has made three key promotions in its claims division, Fidelis Claims Service LLC (FCS). Christian Kelly has been named head of Claims. An attorney with …

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Reuters Report: Why Big Business Can Count on Courts to Keep Deadly Secrets

In the dreary archives of a Newark, New Jersey, courthouse, Ronald Motley found a treasure map. It was an evidence log, a detailed inventory of documents and other exhibits that had been used in an injured worker’s lawsuit. And it …

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Newly Opened Pothole Damages 30 Cars in Florida

As many as 30 vehicles were damaged when they hit a pothole that opened up in the center lane of Interstate 4 near Orlando on Tuesday night, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Troopers and officers from other agencies responded to …

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Greene to Help Expand Ascot Management Liability, Financial Institutions Group in Atlanta

Ascot has appointed Crystal Greene as senior vice president, head of Management Liability. Greene will lead Ascot’s commercial D&O and related product business in the U.S from Atlanta. She joins Ascot with 25 years of experience – 17 years with …

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Allstate to Retire Esurance Brand

Allstate is retiring its Esurance brand and combining its remaining Allstate, Encompass and Answer Financial personal lines brands under a single business model. The company says dropping Esurance and creating the new business model will lower costs and allow it …

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Outlooks for Safeway Insurance Group Members Revised to Stable

AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “a” of the members of Safeway Insurance Group (Safeway). Safeway is composed of four …

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Report Says Virginia Should Cover Injuries Caused by Repetition

Virginia is the only state in the country whose workers’ compensation system doesn’t cover injuries sustained through repetitive work activities, like repeatedly lifting boxes over several weeks, a new state report says. The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission recommended …

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The Hilb Group Acquires Virginia’s Kerr-Boswell

The Hilb Group LLC (THG) has acquired Virginia-based Kerr-Boswell Inc. (KB). The transaction became effective December 1, 2019. For more than 60 years, KB has provided employee benefits, property and casualty, life, health and financial services to businesses and individuals …

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Pie Insurance Expands Workers’ Comp Insurance Offering to New Jersey

Pie Insurance today has expanded its workers’ comp insurance offering into New Jersey. This latest addition increases Pie’s coverage area to 32 states and the District of Columbia. Pie Insurance, co-founded by former Esurance CMO John Swigart and former Valen …

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Hiscox’s Rubin Joins Liberty Specialty Markets as Head of Terrorism Underwriting

Liberty Specialty Markets (LSM) has appointed Jennifer Rubin to a newly-created role as senior underwriting executive and head of Terrorism Underwriting in North America. Rubin was formerly senior vice president, head of Property and Terrorism at Hiscox USA, and has …

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Supreme Court to Weigh Scope of Religious Shield from Employee Bias Claims

The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider giving religious organizations a bigger exemption from discrimination suits, accepting appeals from two Roman Catholic grade schools fighting bias claims after firing teachers. The appeals by Our Lady of Guadalupe School in Los …

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PG&E, Gov. Newsom Split Over State Takeover Authority

A clause that would allow California to take over bankrupt utility giant PG&E Corp. under certain circumstances has emerged as a big sticking point in negotiations between the company and Governor Gavin Newsom. Newsom wants the power company to include …

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MS Amlin to Exit U.K. P/C Classes as Part of Underwriting Review

MS Amlin, the London-based re/insurer, said it will cease underwriting corporate property, real estate, casualty and package binders through its U.K. P/C business with effect from Jan. 31, 2020. This announcement follows the outcome of MS Amlin’s comprehensive underwriting review …

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Airlines Liable for Hot Drink Burns During Flights, EU Court Rules

Airlines are liable for a hot drink accidentally spilled and hurting a passenger, the European Union’s top court said in a dispute involving a carrier founded by the late-Formula One motor-racing champion Niki Lauda. “An airline is liable for the …

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S&P Assigns A- Rating to Fidelis Insurance Units; Holding Company at BBB

Noting the proven track record of its management team and strong top-line growth in a five-year time frame, S&P Global Ratings has assigned A- financial strength ratings to the operating units of Fidelis Insurance Holding Ltd. S&P also assigned a …

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Heatwave Gripping Australia Exacerbates Devastating Bushfires

Australia’s most-populous state has declared an emergency as a heatwave that’s produced the hottest day on record exacerbates devastating bushfires. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian warned of extreme wind conditions and surging temperatures that would make efforts to battle …

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Chinese Hacking Group Resumes Global Attacks on Companies, Agencies

A Chinese government-linked hacking group that was thought to be dormant has been quietly targeting companies and government agencies for the last two years, harvesting data after stealing passwords and circumventing two-factor authentication intended to prevent such attacks, according to …

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Alibaba Unveils Management Changes Including CEO for Ant Financial

Alibaba Group Holdings Ltd. and finance affiliate Ant Financial unveiled a series of management changes, including a new chief executive officer for Ant, as they seek to boost expansion overseas and tighten coordination between the two operations. Ant Financial, the …

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West Texas Insurance Exchange Acquired by Alera Group

Alera Group, an independent national insurance brokerage and wealth management firm, has acquired West Texas Insurance Exchange Inc., located in Odessa, Texas. West Texas Insurance Exchange serves the insurance needs of many businesses throughout Texas and across the United States. …

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Texas Business Owner Must Pay $50K in Restitution in Work Comp Fraud Case

The owner of a South Texas truck stop has been ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution after pleading guilty to workers’ compensation fraud. James Russell Williams owns George West Truck Stop pleaded guilty in a Travis County District Court, according …

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Yahr to Retire from Michigan’s J.M. Wilson After 42 Years

Portage, Michigan-based J.M. Wilson announced the end of an era with the retirement of Betty Yahr, senior property/casualty underwriter. Yahr, whose last day is Dec. 20, has been with J.M. Wilson Corporation for over 42 years holding numerous titles throughout …

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Louisiana Transportation Department to Implement New Roadwork Safety Measures

Louisiana’s transportation department will boost safety measures at its roadwork sites, the agency’s secretary announced at a ceremony honoring an employee killed on the job this summer. Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Shawn Wilson said that the agency will …

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Industry Balks at Trump Rule to Let States Import Drugs from Canada

The Trump administration on Wednesday said it is proposing a rule to allow states to import prescription drugs from Canada, advancing a plan announced in July that the president has said will bring cheaper prescription drugs to Americans. Importation of …

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Neptune Flood of Florida Hires Eckstein as Executive Director

Florida-based insurtech, Neptune Flood Incorporated has hired Jean-Luc Eckstein has been hired as executive director. Eckstein joins Neptune Flood from Fortune 500 technology provider, CDW, where he sold software and hardware directly to some large companies in the United States …

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Kim Kardashian West Sues Alabama Doctor over ‘Vampire Facial’

Reality TV star and businesswoman Kim Kardashian West is suing an Alabama doctor over claims he wrongly used her image to promote a medical procedure called a “Vampire Facial.” West filed suit Tuesday in Los Angeles against Dr. Charles Runels …

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Chubb Launches Financial Institution Fidelity Bond for Asset Managers

Chubb has introduced a new fidelity insurance product, the Financial Institution Bond for Asset Managers, to address risks faced by today’s asset managers. The financial fidelity bond provides modernized coverage for a range of risks that can result in loss …

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4 Dead After Storms Leave ‘Trail of Destruction’ Across the South

A swarm of tornadoes and storms that left a trail of destruction across the Southeast killed four people, injured at least a dozen more and left victims to bundle up against the cold as they picked up pieces of their …

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Uber Settles Sexual Harassment Claims in $4.4M Deal with EEOC

Under an agreement with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), transportation firm Uber Technologies will establish a $4.4 million fund to compensate anyone who the EEOC determines experienced sexual harassment or related retaliation after Jan. 1, 2014. The settlement resolves …

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Court Nixes Obamacare Mandate But Punts on Whether Entire Law Is Invalid

A U.S. appeals court ruled on Wednesday that a component of the Obamacare law is unconstitutional, but dodged a major ruling by stopping short of declaring that the rest of the landmark 2010 healthcare statute must also be struck down. …

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Report: California Worker’s Comp Written Premium Decreases Escalated in 2019

Premium decreases in California workers’ compensation may have escalated in 2019, a new report shows. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California on Wednesday released its quarterly experience report, an update on California statewide insurer experience valued as of …

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California AG Releases Title and Summary for Initiative to Protect Consumer Privacy Campaign

California Attorney General Xavier Becerra on Tuesday released the title and summary for the California Privacy Rights Act, which would beef up the California Privacy Act set to go into effect Jan. 1, 2020. The act amends consumer privacy laws …

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Inszone Insurance Acquires James Swiniuch Agency in Arizona

Inszone Insurance Services has acquired James Swiniuch Agency Inc. in Tucson, Ariz. James Swiniuch Agency is focused on writing preferred personal lines insurance in Tucso. James Swiniuch Agency becomes the fourth acquisition for Inszone Insurance in Arizona, and ninth on …

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Vermont Bar Owners Settle Lawsuit with Woman Injured in Shooting

The owners of a Vermont bar settled a case Monday with a woman who was accidentally shot in the lung outside their establishment in 2018. Chelsi Parker, 26, and the owners of Nectar’s bar in Burlington resolved a lawsuit through …

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The Philadelphia Contributionship Hires Greenfield as President and CEO

The Philadelphia Contributionship (TPC) has hired Thomas Greenfield as president and CEO. Greenfield is taking over the mantle from Robert Whitlock, Jr., who was appointed president and CEO in 2009. Whitlock will retire later this year. Greenfield will provide strategic …

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Starr Taps Swiss Re’s Nawrath as Underwriting Manager for New Aviation Unit in Germany

Starr Insurance Cos. announced the appointment of Carsten Nawrath as Aviation underwriting manager, leading the build-out of a new Aviation insurance operation based in Munich, Germany. The operation will write aerospace and general aviation business for clients across Central Europe. …

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Penn National Insurance Announces Executive Leadership Successions

Penn National Insurance President and CEO Christine Sears will transition on January 1 to CEO, and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Robert B. Brandon will become president on that date. Sears also announced that she plans to retire …

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British Accountants Under Pressure to Do More to Detect Fraud at Companies

British accountants could be required to look for fraud at companies they audit under proposals made in a government-backed review of recent corporate scandals which went undetected. Lawmakers called for a shake-up of auditing after the collapses of construction company …

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Holiday Parties for Health, Liability-Conscious Wall Street Firms Feature Smoothies, Yoga

Fruit smoothies may become the new martini for Wall Street holiday parties. Banking and trading firm BTIG LLC, for example, cut alcohol from its annual employee celebration on Dec. 12 at its New York offices. Instead, guests did yoga and …

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CBS-TV Sued by Producer of ’60 Minutes’ Alleging Gender Bias and Retaliation

An associate producer on the CBS current affairs TV show “60 Minutes” filed a lawsuit on Tuesday alleging gender discrimination and retaliation by the company after she complained about inappropriate conduct by her boss. In the complaint, filed in New …

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Irish Plane Lessor Seeks $185M from Boeing for 737 MAX-Related Losses

An Ireland-based plane lessor sued Boeing Co. on Tuesday for breaching a contract for 22 of the U.S. planemaker’s 737 MAX aircraft and sought a compensation of $185 million. Timaero Ireland Ltd. cited design flaws in Boeing’s best-selling aircraft, which …

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Bankruptcy Judge Approves $13.5B PG&E Deal with California Wildfire Victims

A U.S. bankruptcy judge approved on Tuesday PG&E Corp.’s $13.5 billion settlement with victims of Californian wildfires, and the company’s stock rallied as the utility gained momentum to emerge from bankruptcy in June as planned. “I don’t think we’ve heard …

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Cigna Sells Group Disability Insurance Business to New York Life in $6.3 Billion Deal

Health insurer Cigna Corp. said on Wednesday it had agreed to sell its disability insurance and accidental death coverage unit for company employees to New York Life Insurance Co for $6.3 billion. The company said it expects to use the …

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Zaffino Assumes Added Role of President at AIG

American International Group (AIG) has named Peter S. Zaffino as president, effective Jan. 1, 2020. Zaffino will continue to serve as global chief operating officer of AIG and chief executive officer of General Insurance. Brian Duperreault, AIG chief executive officer, …

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UK Financial Services Sector Remains Resilient Ahead of Brexit: Research

Britain’s exports of financial and related services rose to 83 billion pounds ($106.5 billion) last year, with the European Union still the biggest customer, underscoring the importance of retaining market access to the bloc after Brexit. The latest figures compiled …

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Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Canada’s SBW Employee Benefits

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co., the Rolling Meadows, Ill.-based broker, announced the acquisition of Halifax, Nova Scotia-based Sinclair Billard and Weld Ltd., and CJM Solutions + Inc., which do business under the name of SBW Employee Benefits. Terms of the …

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Wisconsin’s SECURA Insurance Promotes Thiel, Heyroth

SECURA Insurance in Neenah, Wisconsin, has promoted Todd Thiel to vice president-chief information officer and Tim Heyroth to vice president-chief sales officer. The promotions are effective Jan. 1, 2020. Thiel joined SECURA in 2015 as vice president-Information Technology. He has …

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W.R. Berkley Corp. Forms Captive Insurer in North Carolina

W.R. Berkley Corporation has formed Oak Harbor Reinsurance Co. (Oak Harbor Re), a protected cell captive insurance company, which was licensed by the N.C. Department of Insurance on Nov. 25. According to the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Oak Harbor …

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Brown & Brown Acquires Insurance Management Group of South Carolina

J. Scott Penny, chief acquisitions officer of Brown & Brown, Inc., and Mark K. Ackerman, the sole shareholder of Insurance Management Group, Inc. (IMG), announced that Brown & Brown of South Carolina, Inc. has acquired substantially all of the assets …

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United Valley Insurance Services in California Adds Burnett

United Valley Insurance Services Inc. has named Genna Burnett a marketing specialist. Burnett is focused on assisting members on marketing and placing workers’ compensation accounts with carriers. She previously worked as an underwriter at Employers Insurance, and prior to that …

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Hotel Chains Sued for Knowing and Ignoring Warning Signs of Sex Trafficking on Premises

Landmark U.S. legal action was filed last Monday (Dec. 9) accusing several major hotel groups of profiting from sex trafficking on behalf of 13 women who claimed they were sold for sex in hotel rooms. Twelve hotel chains were named …

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California and PG&E Reach $1.7B Deal on Wildfire Penalties

California utility regulators have reached a settlement with PG&E Corp. over violations tied to catastrophic wildfires ignited by the company’s power lines in 2017 and 2018. The proposed settlement would prevent PG&E from recovering $1.625 billion in wildfire-related costs from …

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Judge Rules U.S. Army Engineers May Be Liable for Hurricane Harvey Floods

Hundreds of Houston homeowners near U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-managed reservoirs may receive compensation for flooding of their properties during 2017’s Hurricane Harvey, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACE), which managed two dams …

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Weather-Related Crashes Blamed on 5 Deaths in Missouri, Kansas

At least five people have died in weather-related crashes in Missouri and Kansas amid a storm that dumped nearly a foot of snow in places, forced schools to close their doors and snarled traffic, authorities said. The wintry weather was …

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Another Cyberattack Attempt in Louisiana: Sheriff’s Offices

Three Louisiana parish sheriff’s offices were targeted by hackers over the weekend in a suspected cyberattack, officials confirmed. The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Sheriff’s Association in Baton Rouge on Friday that Rapides, Washington and Orleans …

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Magnitude 3.6 Quake Reported in Oklahoma

The U.S. Geological Survey has reported a magnitude 3.6 earthquake in Oklahoma near Stroud. The quake was recorded Sunday morning about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) north of Stroud. Stroud, which has a population of about 2,700 people, is located about …

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Autonomous Cars Could Worsen Gridlock. Smart Intersections Could Help.

In the not-so-distant future, city streets could be flooded with autonomous vehicles. Self-driving cars can move faster and travel closer together, allowing more of them to fit on the road – potentially leading to congestion and gridlock on city streets. …

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Government Spending Bill Includes Flood, TRIA Renewals and Obamacare Taxes Repeal

Congress is planning to use a $1.4 trillion package of two must-pass spending bills to repeal Obamacare taxes, raise the age for tobacco purchases to 21 and extend the U.S. Export-Import Bank for seven years, according to legislation released Monday. …

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SAN Group Hires Blatchley as Agency Development Field Specialist

Satellite Agency Network Group Inc. (SAN) has hired Nick Blatchley as agency development field specialist for Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. In this role, Blatchley will be directly responsible for agency development and consulting services of SAN member agencies, …

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Dartmouth Student Lawsuit Settled Over Baseball Injury

A lawsuit filed by a Dartmouth College student against the school who was seriously injured during baseball practice has been settled, the college said Monday. Last year, Colton French said in federal court documents that he was pitching to a …

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Delaware Attorney General Loses Appeal Bid in Opioid Lawsuit

The state Supreme Court has refused a request by Delaware’s attorney general to review a judge’s decision dismissing Walgreens as a defendant in Delaware’s lawsuit against the drug industry over the opioid crisis. The court issued a ruling Wednesday saying …

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Large New Jersey Hospital System Says It Was Hit by Ransomware Attack

New Jersey’s largest hospital system said Friday that a ransomware attack last week disrupted its computer network and that it paid a ransom to stop it. Hackensack Meridian Health did not say in its statement how much it paid to …

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British Watchdog FCA Probes Data Sharing in Financial Services

Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is investigating whether sharing data with outside competitors could be extended beyond banks to savings, insurance, mortgages, investments, pensions and consumer credit to increase innovation and choice. “Open banking” rules already allow payment companies and …

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Pirates Attack Oil Tanker in West Africa, Kidnapping Another Crew

An oil tanker was attacked on Sunday in West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea and most of its crew were kidnapped, the latest in a string of incidents highlighting the security risks to shipping in the region. The vessel — an …

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Ed Bermuda Taps Simons from Marsh as Head of Business Development

Ed, the London-based reinsurance, wholesale and specialty broker, announced the appointment of Mark Simons as head of Business Development and Production, Bermuda. Simons, who joins in January 2020, will focus on developing and fostering client relationships. He previously worked at …

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New UK Broker McGill & Partners Grows Rapidly in First 6 Months of Trading

New boutique risk solutions business McGill and Partners has grown rapidly in its first six months of trading following “a successful talent acquisition strategy and significant client wins,” the company said. Headcount has grown from five to 134, and the …

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There’s a 60,000-Year-Old Method to Help Battle Australia’s Bushfires

Australia’s indigenous people say the bushfire-ravaged country is paying the price for ignoring their expertise in managing the ecology of the world’s-driest inhabited continent. The fires have already burned more than 6 million acres — an area the size of …

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Steel Mill Sued over Chemical Spill in Indiana Lake

Two environmental groups are suing a steelmaker for allegedly violating the Clean Water Act at its northwestern Indiana facility more than 100 times in the past five years, including an August spill that killed more than 3,000 fish. The Environmental …

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Alliant Insurance Services Acquires TCOR Management in Texas

Alliant Insurance Services has acquired TCOR Management, a Texas-based risk management firm. The acquisition will expand the Alliant Energy & Marine talent base by 50 specialists and broaden the surety footprint across Texas. Founded in 1972, TCOR has offices in …

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HDI Global Insurance in Chicago Names Cao as VP, Actuary

Chicago-based HDI Global Insurance Co. (HDI Global USA) has appointed Jessica Cao as vice president, Actuary. Cao is based in Chicago and reports to Brad Diericx, senior vice president and chief financial officer. Cao will lead the company’s actuarial organization. …

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Bayer Asks Appeals Court to Toss $25 Million Roundup Cancer Verdict

Bayer AG on Monday said it has asked a U.S. federal appeals court to throw out a $25 million judgment it was ordered to pay to a California man who blamed the company’s Roundup weed killer for his cancer. In …

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Uber Gains in California Driver Classification But Case Isn’t Closed

Uber Technologies Inc. beat back an aggressive bid to force it to treat California drivers as employees, but a judge’s ruling may allow a long-running fight over pay and benefits to gain traction in 2020. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen …

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Cannabis Risk Management Group Plans to Offer Insurance Program

A national group offering risk management advice to the cannabis industry says it is creating a casualty insurance program to provide its members with insurance. The National Cannabis Risk Management Association (NCRMA) announced it is starting the process of registering …

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Chief Says SEC Will Not Cap Whistleblower Awards

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will not introduce “caps” on awards to whistleblowers who come forward with key information on fraud and other violations, the head of the agency told lawmakers on Tuesday. Last year, the country’s top markets …

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Florida Auto Insurer Windhaven Placed Into Rehabilitation

The future of another Florida domestic insurer is now in the hands of state regulators. Non-standard private passenger auto insurer Windhaven Insurance Co. (WIC), based in Miami, has been placed into rehabilitation by a Florida court and the Florida Department …

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Bermuda Gains Reciprocal Status With U.S. Starting in 2020

Bermuda’s insurance market gains reciprocal status with the U.S. as of Jan. 1, 2020, something that industry and business groups there are celebrating as they countdown to the new year. Reciprocal status will make Bermuda on par with the U.S., …

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Liberty Mutual to Limit Coal Underwriting, Investments; Names First Sustainability Officer

Liberty Mutual Insurance said it will drastically limit future underwriting for and investment in coal risks, an apparent response to environmentalists pushing for greener investment strategies among corporations. To support this change, the insurer has also appointed its first-ever chief …

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Surprise Medical Bill Moving in Congress Could Help Insurers As Well as Patients

Congress is closing in on a deal that could shield patients from surprise medical bills, eliminating a source of frustration for Americans who face unexpected charges from emergency care and other procedures. The question for the health-care industry is whether …

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Alphabet Seeks to Settle Investor Suits Over Google Sex Harassment Claims

Alphabet Inc. is pursuing mediation to settle investor litigation alleging the company let senior leaders at Google get away with sexual harassment and misconduct for years. Company directors this year set up a special committee to evaluate the claims after …

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Federal Safety Agency Starts 12th Probe Into Tesla Crashes

The U.S. auto safety agency said on Friday it will investigate a 12th Tesla crash that may be tied to the vehicle’s advanced Autopilot driver assistance system after a Tesla Model 3 rear-ended a parked police car in Connecticut last …

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Another Industrial Tragedy in Bangladesh as Fire at Plastics Factory Kills 13

A fire at a plastics factory near Bangladesh’s capital has killed at least 13 people and injured 21 others, police said Thursday. The fire occurred Wednesday at the Prime Plastic Industries factory in Keraniganj, said Mohammaed Bacchu Mia, a police …

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Building Relationships Key to Success for USG’s Kessel

When asked about her favorite part of working in the insurance industry, Jennifer Kessel, marketing director at USG Insurance Services Inc. in Canonsburg, Penn., doesn’t hesitate to point to something that has historically made the industry thrive. “The relationships,” she …

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EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants Hires Presutti to New York Operations

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a retail property and casualty insurance brokerage and employee benefits consultant, has hired Matthew Presutti to its EPIC New York operations as managing principal on the employee benefits team. Presutti will be based in New …

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Bankrupt Philadelphia Refinery Expects Second Insurance Payment

Insurers of Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) have indicated they will make a second payment of $15 million from its property policy in connection to the June fire and subsequent shutdown of the plant, court documents showed. The payout will be …

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Hunt for Survivors Underway After Earthquake Hits Philippines Island Trade Building

Rescue teams in the southern Philippines searched for signs of life on Monday in a collapsed shopping center after a powerful earthquake that killed at least three people and wounded dozens more. Disaster response officials said five people were believed …

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Uber Appeals Denial of License in London

Uber submitted an appeal on Friday against a decision by London’s transport regulator to strip the taxi app of its right to operate in one its most important markets, setting up a potentially lengthy legal process during which it can …

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Hong Kong Financial Firms Fear Potential Beijing Interference in Contracts

When China’s top legislature criticized a Hong Kong court’s rejection of a face mask ban there, some global firms began to fear the potential for mainland interference in commercial contracts, lawyers and finance executives said. Hong Kong’s vaunted rule of …

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Regulator Weighs Halting Japan Post Insurance Sales – Nikkei

Japan’s financial regulator is considering ordering Japan Post and Japan Post Insurance to suspend sales of insurance policies, the Nikkei Shimbun reported Monday. The Financial Services Agency (FSA) will also seek clarification of responsibility at the Japan Post Group for …

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J.M. Wilson Hires Kirby as P/C Technician in Michigan

J.M. Wilson has added Lindsay Kirby as a property/casualty technician in its Portage, Michigan, office. Kirby will provide support to the property and casualty underwriters. She is responsible for providing technical assistance on policies, endorsements, and serving independent insurance agents. …

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A Passion for Learning Is Driving Force for J.M. Wilson’s Galecka

One the things Kristy Galecka loves about the property/casualty insurance industry is there’s always an opportunity to learn something new. Like many others, Galecka “fell into” the insurance business when a friend who worked at the wholesale broker and managing …

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Tropical Storm Imelda: Another Unique Weather Event

Tropical Storm Imelda landed on the Texas Gulf Coast on September 17, 2019. Over the three-day duration of the storm, 43 inches of rain saturated some locations, with nearly 30 inches falling over a 12-hour period. Some areas got hit …

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Judge Approves $103M Settlement for Florida Bridge Collapse Victims

The families of six people killed, along with 10 people injured, when a bridge collapsed at a Miami university are set to receive a nearly $103 million settlement. Judge A. Jay Cristol, with U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Miami, approved a …

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Sugar Crash: Truck Hauling 35K Pounds of M&Ms Overturns in Tennessee

A truck hauling about 35,000 pounds (15,876 kilograms) of M&M candies overturned on a Tennessee highway Friday morning, a Department of Transportation official confirmed. The semitrailer crashed on Interstate 40 near Knoxville around 5:30 a.m., news outlets reported. One of …

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Crews Drain 320K Gallons of Fuel from Overturned Ship in Georgia Port

Crews have finished draining all of the fuel from an overturned cargo ship three months after it capsized off the coast of Georgia, the team overseeing salvage operations said Thursday. Divers and other workers removed more than 320,000 gallons (1.2 …

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Tornado Causes Minor Damage in Florida

Weather officials say a tornado caused minor damage after it touched down in Florida and traveled about 20 miles. According to the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, the tornado touched down early Saturday morning near Bunnell, stopping just short of …

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New Orleans City Government Hit by Cyber Attack

Dec 13, 2019—The city of New Orleans has been hit with a cyber-attack, and employees have been asked to turn off computers as a cautionary measure. City employees began having problems with their computers around 11 a.m. local time, according …

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EU Top Court to Hear Privacy Issues of Tech Firms’ Personal Data Transfers

Austrian privacy activist Max Schrems’ seven-year battle against Facebook reaches a crucial point on Dec. 17 when an adviser to Europe’s top court will issue his view on whether tools used by companies to transfer data abroad are legal or …

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California Governor Rejects PG&E Bankruptcy Plan as Not Satisfying Wildfire Law

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday rejected a bankruptcy reorganization plan submitted by PG&E Corp, the state’s largest investor-owned utility, saying its proposal fails to meet the requirements of a recently enacted wildfire law. The decision by Newsom, sent to …

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U.S.- China Phase One Trade Pact Promises Improved IP Protections, Insurance Markets Access

The United States and China have agreed on the terms of a “phase one” trade deal that reduces some U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods while boosting Chinese purchases of American farm, energy and manufactured goods and addressing some U.S. complaints …

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Democrats Pass Bill to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors

The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday approved legislation aimed at driving down the prices that seniors pay for prescription drugs, but the bill’s future is clouded by President Donald Trump’s threat of a veto and lack of support in …

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Vale Says Mine Collapse in Brazil Partially Linked to High Water Level

The deadly collapse of a Vale SA’s mining waste dam in Brazil was partially triggered by “a persistently high water level” that caused the structure to lose strength and stability, according to a report by a panel of experts appointed …

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Big Victory for Johnson and Brexit. Now What?

Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a sweeping election victory on a promise to “Get Brexit done,” but a reality check awaits for voters hoping that the messy divorce is finally over. It’s just the beginning. Johnson should now be able …

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Big Victory for Johnson and Conservatives Clears Way for Quick Brexit

Britain was speeding towards Brexit on Friday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a crushing election victory, ending three years of uncertainty since the country decided to leave the bloc. Exiting the European Union, a goal Johnson has pursued relentlessly …

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Report Says Boston Public Transit System Needs to Improve Safety

The public transportation system in metropolitan Boston needs to step up efforts to improve safety along its network of subways, buses and commuter rail trains. That’s the finding of a panel of transit experts hired in June by the Massachusetts …

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Insurance Agents & Brokers Opens New Office in Maryland

Insurance Agents & Brokers (IA&B) opened an office in Annapolis, Md., on December 1. The organization also operates an office outside of Harrisburg, Penn. The location allows access to the Maryland State House, as well as a central meeting place …

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Concord Specialty Risk Hires Edgette in New York as VP of Tax Insurance Underwriting

Concord Specialty Risk has hired Matthew Edgette as vice president of Tax Insurance Underwriting, where he will take on a leading role in Concord’s Tax Insurance practice. Edgette will be based in New York, N.Y. For the last two years, …

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Michigan House Votes to Ban Drivers Under 18 from Using Cellphones

Drivers younger than 18 would be prohibited from using cellphones except for emergencies under legislation approved by the Michigan House. Michigan now bars drivers with a learner’s or intermediate permit – those as young as 14 years, 9 months to …

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Councell Promoted to Senior Fleet Underwriter at Michigan’s J.M. Wilson

J.M. Wilson has promoted Jennifer Councell to senior fleet underwriter in its Portage, Michigan, office. She is responsible for evaluating transportation fleet submissions (11-plus units); quoting new and renewal transportation fleet business, binding and servicing new and existing policies, and …

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Midlands Management Adds Robbins as a New Broker in Dallas

Wholesale insurance broker Midlands Management Corp. has appointed Michael Robbins to a brokerage position in Dallas. Robbins will be responsible for the solicitation of new and renewal commercial business for large and complex accounts. Through technical collaboration and guidance, he …

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Man Must Repay $16.7K to Texas Mutual in Workers’ Comp Fraud Case

A Texas man convicted on workers’ compensation fraud charges must repay $16,727.70 in restitution to Texas Mutual Insurance Co., the insurer reported. Texas Mutual Insurance reported that Richard R. Gutierrez of Seguin was sentenced in a Travis County district court …

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365 Days: Education, Mitigation and The Flood Insurance Guru

If it weren’t for Hurricane Katrina, Chris Greene might not have become an expert in all things flood related. Greene, a Georgia-based independent flood insurance agent, and founder and owner of The Flood Insurance Guru (floodinsuranceguru.com), never intended to become …

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FCC Votes to Split Safety Spectrum with Telecoms Over Transportation Chief’s Warning

The U.S. telecommunications regulator voted on Thursday to advance a plan to split a key spectrum block set aside for auto safety to accommodate the burgeoning number of wireless devices, but the Transportation Secretary warned that doing so could lead …

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Southern California Bride Tied up in Insurance Fraud Scheme

Vermyttya Miller, 37, of Santa Clarita, Calif., was sentenced this week to five years in county jail and ordered to pay $22,500 in restitution after pleading no contest to one count of felony insurance fraud for a wedding fraud scheme. …

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Two Oregon Firms Sue Pipeline Company Over 2016 Explosion

Two businesses whose Northwest Portland, Ore. storefronts were destroyed by a 2016 gas explosion have filed new lawsuits against the company that was digging at the time. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Portland Bagelworks owners Kim and Rik Bartel are suing Loy …

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United Valley Insurance Services in California Adds Alanis

United Valley Insurance Services Inc. in California has named Nichole Alanis a member relations specialist. Alanis is focused on assisting members and vendors with on-boarding and training. Nichole previously worked as an underwriting support representative at Employers, where she spent …

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Burns & Wilcox Names Ornelas Associate Vice President in Los Angeles

Burns & Wilcox has named Sylvia Ornelas associate vice president in addition to her current role as director, personal insurance, in the Los Angeles, Calif., office. Burns & Wilcox also promoted John Heaner to associate managing director from underwriting manager, …

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Probe Finds Intercontinental Terminals Fire Near Houston Began with Broken Manifold

A March fire at a petrochemical terminal that spread a blanket of black smoke across Houston began when part of a manifold, which includes a pump and motor, on one storage tank broke, according to a report by local and …

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Corbett, Stalvey Appointed to New Roles to Further Grow Tennessee Captive Market

Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance (TDCI) Commissioner Hodgen Mainda has named two longtime Tennessee captive insurance experts to new roles in the department. Michael Corbett has been named to the newly created director of Business Development position for TDCI’s …

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Burns & Wilcox Promotes Heaner in Florida

Burns & Wilcox has promoted John Heaner to associate managing director from underwriting manager, commercial insurance. Heaner is based in the Burns & Wilcox Tampa, Fla., office Heaner will oversee and manage day-to-day operations and team growth to support the …

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