Business Insurance

Panel consolidates some COVID-19 business interruption cases

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on Friday agreed to consolidate business interruption litigation filed by businesses against a Wisconsin insurer, but refused to do so against several other insurers, saying it would be inefficient.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Commercial insurance rates up across the board in Q3: Report

Commercial insurance buyers in the U.S. were hit with rate increases on every line of coverage and industry class in the third quarter, with directors and officers and umbrella liability seeing the largest rate hikes, online insurance exchange Market...

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Comp attorney suspended for texting adjuster during deposition

A workers compensation attorney was issued a 30-day suspension and ordered to pay costs to The Florida Bar for improperly texting his witness during a deposition and inadvertently texting advice for the witness to opposing counsel.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Cleveland Browns players entitled to comp for injuries

Three Cleveland Browns football players are entitled to workers compensation after an appellate court held that their claims were timely filed.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

OSHA announces pandemic-related fines totaling $484,069

Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited 37 entities for violations related to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in proposed penalties totaling $484,069, the U.S. Department of Labor anno...

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

The king of all bizarre insurance commercials?

The only way the latest Insurance King commercials will have audiences roaring with laughter is if (1) they saw the Netflix show “Tiger King” and (2) they think it’s funny that “Diff’rent Strokes” star Todd Bridges is wearing a blond mullet wig, sell...

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

H&M fined $40 million for mishandling employee data

Swedish clothing retailer Hennes & Mauritz AB has been fined €35 million ($41 million) in Germany for violating its employees' privacy by exploiting their personal data.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Storm causes widespread damage in France, Italy

Storm Alex brought strong winds and heavy rains to France and Italy last week and caused widespread damage.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Reinsurers' fortunes ebb in sub-Saharan Africa

A report by U.S.-based A.M. Best Co. Inc. said that difficult market conditions have hurt reinsurers operating in sub-Saharan Africa.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Mining firms could be sued for nearly $30 billion

Federal and state prosecutors in Brazil are considering reopening a 155 billion Brazilian real ($27.4 billion) lawsuit against mining companies Samarco Mineracao SA, Vale SA and BHP Group Ltd.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

More insurers shun coal mine project

Bermuda-based Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. and Allied World Assurance Company Holdings Ltd. are among the latest insurers and reinsurers to rule out insuring Adani Group's Carmichael coal mine and rail project in the Australian state of Que...

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Cuba issues hurricane watch

Cuba has issued a hurricane watch as a storm brews south of Jamaica.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Construction firm's liquidation to threaten suppliers

U.A.E.-based construction group Arabtec Holding PJSC's decision to liquidate is likely to threaten thousands of jobs and scores of suppliers and sub-contractors in the Persian Gulf.

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Malware emerging as grave cyber risk in manufacturing

Advances in manufacturing and industrial control systems have improved efficiency but also are increasing exposure to malware. In this Business Insurance Risk Perspective, FM Global explains what risk managers can do to mitigate this enterprise-level...

Posted: Oct 05, 2020

Federal court rules against attorney in COVID-19 interruption case

A federal district court in Philadelphia has become the latest court to rule against a policyholder in COVID-19 litigation, holding that an attorney does not have business interruption coverage because of a virus exclusion in her policy.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

White Mountains to acquire majority stake in Lloyd’s insurer Ark

White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. on Thursday said it has agreed to invest fresh capital in and acquire a 72% stake in Ark Insurance Holdings Ltd., parent company of Lloyd’s of London insurer Ark Syndicate Management Ltd.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

OSHRC vacates citation issued after workers crushed by buoy

The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission vacated a citation against a marine construction company stemming from the deaths of two workers after ruling that the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited a violation of the in...

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

COVID-19 insurance appeal headed straight to UK Supreme Court

London’s High Court on Friday approved a fast-track appeal of an unprecedented test case against some of the world’s biggest insurers, brought by Britain’s markets regulator, allowing it to leapfrog straight into the Supreme Court.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

US Supreme Court takes up energy companies' appeal over Baltimore climate suit

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

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

Court takes up energy companies' appeal over Baltimore climate suit

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

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

Amazon reports over 19,000 US frontline employees had COVID-19

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

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

Worldwide Facilities buys New Jersey-based MGU

Wholesale insurance broker Worldwide Facilities LLC of Los Angeles has acquired managing general underwriter Hunt Jorgensen LLC of Maywood, New Jersey, Worldwide said in a statement Friday.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

FTC chairman the new Nigerian prince?

The Federal Trade Commission is warning consumers this week that if they receive an email from its Chairman Joseph Simons promising unclaimed inheritance to not respond or open it.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

Judge dismisses $18M in liens in medical provider fraud case

An administrative law judge with the California Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board has dismissed liens valued at $18 million filed by a convicted medical provider, which the California Department of Industrial Relations said Thursday falls in line w...

Posted: Oct 02, 2020

Swiss Re unit names global head of financial and professional liability

Swiss Re Corporate Solutions, part of Swiss Re Ltd., on Friday named Laura Coppola global head of its financial and professional liability business and made two other senior appointments in a push to grow the line of business.

Posted: Oct 02, 2020