Business Insurance

U.S. inland marine line premiums up sharply in 2021

U.S. inland marine line premiums increased 15% in 2021 after falling 2% in 2020, according to a report Thursday from A.M. Best & Co.

Posted: Jul 14, 2022

Calif. appellate court reinstates COVID business interruption case

In a rare policyholder victory, a California appeals court on Wednesday reversed a lower court and reinstated a COVID19-related business interruption coverage lawsuit filed by a hotel and restaurant against an Allianz SE unit.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Fresenius unit accused of fraud in dialysis treatment

The United States has joined a whistleblower lawsuit accusing a unit of Germany’s Fresenius Medical Care AG of defrauding Medicare and other health care programs by billing for medically unnecessary procedures on dialysis patients.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Insurer must defend assisted living facility against residents’ lawsuit

An insurer must defend a North Carolina assisted living facility in a lawsuit that charges the adult home failed to provide adequate meals and activities, a federal appeals court said Tuesday in affirming a lower court.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

SEC votes to undo Trump-era curbs on shareholder advisers

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission voted Wednesday to rescind rules introduced under former President Donald Trump that critics said impeded the independence of firms that advise investors on how to vote in corporate elections.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Risk Strategies hires former Lockton exec

Risk Strategies Co. on Wednesday named former Lockton Cos. LLC executive Patrick Roth senior vice president, growth leader for the Central and West regions.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

OSHA fines two Florida firms following workplace fatalities

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Tuesday issued fines to two Florida following fatal work incidents.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Workers comp market remains competitive

During midyear renewals, workers compensation rates were flat, and the line of business remains one of the most desirable and least volatile sectors for insurers, experts say.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Ex-utility execs ordered to pay Fukushima damages

The Tokyo district court on Wednesday ordered four former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co. to pay 13 trillion yen ($95 billion) in damages to the operator of the wrecked Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, the plaintiff's lawyers said.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

PCF buys California brokerage Andreini

Acquisitive broker PCF Insurance Services said Wednesday it has bought Andreini & Co., a San Mateo, California-based brokerage with about $25 million in annual revenue.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Global inflation to increase claims costs: Swiss Re

Rate hardening in commercial lines is forecast to drive strong nonlife premium growth globally, but the impact of high inflation will weigh on total premium growth, according to a Swiss Re Institute report.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Aon names new CEO for Dutch unit

U.K.-based Aon PLC has named Leonique van Houwelingen as chief executive of Aon Netherlands, effective Nov. 1.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Indian state stares at $1.3 billion damage from recent floods

Torrential rains, floods and landslides in the Indian state of Assam have caused an estimated 100 billion Indian rupees ($1.3 billion) in damage since April.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Cyber insurers’ average ransomware payouts surpass $3.5 million

A survey by enterprise security company Panaseer Ltd. found that largest ransomware payouts made by cyber insurers averaged £3.26 million ($3.9 million) in the U.K. and $3.52 million in the past two years.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

European air travel chaos to continue as airlines cancel nearly 16,000 flights

According to global flight analysis company Cirium, airlines have canceled more than 25,300 flights for August globally, of which nearly 15,800 are European flights, signaling continuation of air travel disruptions in Europe.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Insurance buyers face rate hikes, difficult negotiations due to inflation

Insurance brokers expect that insurance buyers are likely to face higher premiums and difficult policy negotiations with their insurers, as underwriters grow wary of costlier claims amid rising inflation and continued supply chain disruptions.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

French insurers face over $4 billion damage claims from recent storms

The French insurance federation said that a spate of severe hail and windstorms in France since the end of May has led to almost €4 billion ($4.1 billion) in insured losses.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Department of Labor to tackle long COVID workplace challenges

The Office of Disability Employment Policy, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs and other departments under the U.S. Department of Labor announced plans Tuesday to begin a “national online dialogue” to better understand the implications of long...

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Judge won’t cast tuna lawsuit

There might be something fishy about Subway tuna, according to a federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, who has allowed a lawsuit against the sandwich chain to proceed.

Posted: Jul 13, 2022

Video: The BI Interview with Felix Morgan of PCF

Felix Morgan, chief financial officer and chief operating officer of PCF Insurance Services, sees the active market for brokerage acquisitions continuing despite rising interest rates.

Posted: Jul 12, 2022

Alpharetta Underwriters charges Argo with destroying its business

A lawsuit filed Monday in state court in Georgia charges Argo Group with first undermining and then competing with its former construction program manager, leaving it “dead in the water.”

Posted: Jul 12, 2022

Hackers posing as Merkel target ECB’s Lagarde: Source

Unidentified hackers attempted to trick European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde into letting them open a messaging app account in her name by posing as former German chancellor Angela Merkel, a German source said on Tuesday.

Posted: Jul 12, 2022

Patriot buys Philadelphia broker

Patriot Growth Insurance Services LLC said Tuesday it has acquired Philadelphia-based BMT Insurance Advisors.

Posted: Jul 12, 2022

Willis acquires climate risks specialist

Willis Towers Watson PLC said Tuesday it has acquired Butterwire, a financial analytics company with expertise in climate risks.

Posted: Jul 12, 2022

San Francisco reaches $58 million opioid settlement with Teva, Allergan

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and AbbVie Inc.’s Allergan unit on Tuesday reached a $58 million settlement with the city of San Francisco just before completion of a trial over claims that they fueled an opioid epidemic in the city.

Posted: Jul 12, 2022