Business Insurance

Hartford wins copyright infringement case with fabric retailer

A Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. unit was not obligated to defend or indemnify a fabric retailer in copyright infringement litigation, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday in affirming a lower court ruling.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Lloyd’s insurers map out new look for September reopening

Clear screens on underwriting boxes, temperature-check thermal cameras and a click and collect take-away catering service are among changes Lloyd's of London insurance workers will see when they return to the office in September.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Carnival loses ruling in case of injured child

A federal appeals court has reversed a lower court and reinstated litigation filed by the mother of a 3-year-old girl who suffered head injuries after she either fell over or through a cruise ship’s guardrail.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

MEMIC announces early dividend to policyholders

The MEMIC Group will distribute a $17 million dividend to its policyholders, the Portland, Maine-based insurer announced in a statement Wednesday.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Skiing bummer: Trip insurance won’t pay for COVID

A travel insurance firm hoping to get a pass on paying for canceled ski trips over the COVID-19 pandemic is getting hit with a class action that argues that “quarantine” in the policy language calls for coverage.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Direct written comp premium in California hits 5-year low

Workers compensation direct written premium in the state of California declined to a five-year low in 2019, according to a bulletin released Monday by the California Workers Compensation Institute.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Calif. Assembly passes bill to limit warehouse quotas

The California Assembly on Monday passed legislation to protect warehouse workers.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Arkansas executive order extends comp to workers with COVID-19

Arkansas workers who believe they contracted COVID-19 on the job may be entitled to workers compensation under an executive order signed Monday by Gov. Asa Hutchinson.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Comp will pay for officer exposure to bodily fluids

Ohio corrections workers exposed to another person’s bodily fluids will be covered by workers compensation for medical diagnosis services under a bill signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Mike DeWine.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Morrissey to retire from International Insurance Society

Mike Morrissey is retiring as president and CEO of the International Insurance Society, the association announced Wednesday.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Hartford unit names wholesale property chief

The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. on Wednesday named former Validus underwriter William H. Steinberg head of wholesale property for its Navigators Insurance Co. unit.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Insurer hit with COVID-19 suits says virus doesn’t damage property

The coronavirus does not cause damage to tangible property, therefore, income lost due to COVID-19 lockdowns is not covered by commercial insurance policies, an insurer facing multiple claims from restaurants and other businesses argued Monday.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Workers in contracting trades lead in opioid use: NCCI

Workers compensation claims in the contracting industry have relatively higher opioid usage and almost double the costs when compared with the other industry groups, which researchers say is caused in part by the occurrence of more severe claims.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Bill limiting liability in pandemic signed into law

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law on Saturday a bill that limits liability for businesses that could face lawsuits related to COVID-19 exposure.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

DOJ to propose rolling back protections for big tech

The U.S. Justice Department will propose legislation as soon as Wednesday to try to remove protections that big tech platforms like Alphabet's Google LLC and Facebook Inc. have had for decades, a department official said on Wednesday, speaking on con...

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Liberty Mutual unit offers business service bonds through insurtech

Liberty Mutual Insurance Group's Liberty Mutual Surety has started offering its business service bonds coverage through insurtech CyberPolicy, the insurer said in a statement Tuesday.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Former insurance regulator jailed 11 years for bribery

Xiang Junbo, former chairman of the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, has been sentenced to 11 years in prison for accepting bribes when in office.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

New Zealand raises oil spill insurance minimum

New Zealand's maritime safety authority has increased the amount of oil spill insurance that owners of offshore installations are required to have by $28 million New Zealand ($18 million) to NZD 1.2 billion.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Ergo signs agreement to buy stake in Chinese insurer

German insurer Ergo Group AG has signed an agreement to acquire a nearly 25% stake in China-based Taishan Property & Casualty Insurance Co. Ltd. through its subsidiary Ergo Versicherung AG.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

UAE firms face default risk as customers delay payments

A survey by Dutch credit insurer Atradius NV found that companies in the United Arab Emirates are facing default risk as customers increasingly delay payments due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Pandemic costs Jaguar Land Rover $632 million

U.K.-based Jaguar Land Rover Ltd. recorded a loss of £501 million ($632 million) in the fourth quarter ended March 31 as the COVID-19 pandemic led to a nearly 31% year-on-year decline in retail sales.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Avon suffers cyber attack, website shut down

U.K.-based direct selling company Avon Products Inc. suffered a cyber attack on June 10 and had to shut down its website.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Creative industries to lose $93 billion due to COVID-19

A report by Oxford Economics Ltd. said that the COVID-19 pandemic will cost the U.K.'s creative industries £74 billion ($93 billion) in revenue loss this year.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Prepare for substance abuse issues after lockdown: Experts

Surging alcohol and marijuana sales and a lack of access to traditional support networks during the pandemic could lead to a number of individuals returning to the workplace with substance abuse issues, experts say.

Posted: Jun 17, 2020

Firm that promised accurate COVID tests sued

A putative class-action directors and officers liability lawsuit filed in federal district court charges that a biopharmaceutical company falsely claimed a 100% accurate COVID-19 test while company officials made millions dumping their stock.

Posted: Jun 16, 2020