Business Insurance

Working 9 to 5 means it’s Miller Time for some

Typically frowned upon, drinking on the job is becoming more widespread during the coronavirus pandemic as more and more workers are telecommuting.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

LA lawyer sues Travelers for coronavirus coverage

A Los Angeles trial lawyer and several businesses he represents sued Travelers Cos. Inc. last week for business interruption coverage related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Attorney general highlights 'new threat' to security from drones

U.S. Attorney General William Barr on Monday issued guidance to Justice Department agencies on the use of protective measures against drones, including the destruction of any that pose a threat to national security.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Meal delivery services sued over restaurant prices amid pandemic

Grubhub, DoorDash, Postmates and Uber Eats were sued on Monday for allegedly exploiting their dominance in restaurant meal deliveries to impose fees that consumers ultimately bear through higher menu prices, including during the coronavirus pandemic.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

California comp fund creates virus relief programs for policyholders

The State Compensation Insurance Fund has established two new $25 million relief funds to help defray COVID-19-related safety expenses and provide wage replacement assistance for essential workers, the California insurer announced in a statement Mond...

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

QBE to raise $825 million to counter coronavirus crisis

Australia's QBE Insurance Group Ltd. said on Tuesday it aimed to raise about $825 million to weather the economic damage the coronavirus pandemic is unleashing.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Legal experts prepare for battles over business interruption cover

Attorneys on both sides of the COVID-19 business interruption legal battlefront are examining potential legal precedents, policy wordings and jurisdiction issues as they prepare for what many expect to be a lengthy legal fight.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Coronavirus-related claims to surpass $1 billion

The Association of British Insurers expects coronavirus-related claims to surpass £1 billion ($1.2 billion) in the United Kingdom.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Bank expects more than $570 million fine over exploitation scandal

Australia-based Westpac Banking Corp. expects a fine of $900 million Australia ($573 million) for allegedly enabling millions of illegal payments including between known child sex offenders.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Travelex pays ransomware gang more than $2 million

U.K.-based foreign exchange firm Travelex paid a ransomware gang $2.3 million to regain access to its data following a cyber attack on the New Year's Eve.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Toyota suspends production at Brazil plants until June 22

Japan-based Toyota Motor Corp. has suspended production at its plants in Brazil until at least June 22 due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Coronavirus to disrupt Indonesia's reinsurance industry

Trinita Situmeang, deputy chairperson for statistics and research at the Indonesian General Insurance Association, said that the coronavirus outbreak is expected to disrupt the reinsurance industry due to reinsurers' dependence on primary insurers.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Mapfre to return more than $32 million to policyholders

Spain-based insurer Mapfre SA plans to return more than $32 million of premiums to its self-employed and small and medium-sized enterprise policyholders.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

No refunds for flight cancellations could lead to lawsuits

Datuk Tan Kok Liang, president of the Federation of Asean Travel Associations, said that airlines failing to refund passengers and travel agents for flight cancellations due to the coronavirus pandemic could lead to lawsuits.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Saudi insurers' premiums rise nearly 9%

Saudi insurers' gross written premiums grew nearly 9% year-over-year to around 37 billion Saudi riyal ($10 billion) in 2019, from the year prior.

Posted: Apr 14, 2020

Louis Mastos, former president of AAMGA, dead at 98

Louis T. Mastos, 98, a past president of the American Association of Managing General Agents, died on March 21 in Reno, Nevada, the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association said Monday.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Liberty Mutual names global risk executive

Liberty Mutual Insurance Group named David B. Williams to the newly created role of multinational senior vice president and chief underwriting officer for its global risk solutions operation.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

BI Webinar: D&O risks from COVID-19

Several shareholder lawsuits stemming from the coronavirus pandemic have already been filed and more are expected, but that is likely just the beginning.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Widow can’t sue parent company in workplace death

A divided Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the state workers compensation exclusive remedy provision makes parent companies immune to a negligence lawsuit filed by the widow of a steel plant worker killed on the job.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Church cannot access D&O cover issued under former name

A breakaway Massachusetts Presbyterian church that changed its name and was in a dispute with its denomination cannot tap the directors and officers liability insurance coverage that was issued under its former name, says a federal appeals court, in...

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Illinois expands COVID-19 comp protections to most frontline workers

The Illinois Workers Compensation Commission issued an emergency amendment Monday that creates a rebuttable presumption for front-line workers who contract COVID-19 — expanding the definition far beyond first responders and health care workers to inc...

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

McDonald's faces class action over 'pervasive sexual harassment'

McDonald's Corp. has been hit with a class action lawsuit accusing it of subjecting female employees in its corporate-owned fast-food restaurants in Florida to widespread sexual harassment.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Wholesaler expands footprint with acquisition

Boston-based wholesaler One80 Intermediaries has acquired International Excess Program Managers, a Beachwood, Ohio-based wholesaler and program manager that operates in 50 states.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

Risk management during a crisis: Jonathan Price, Main Event

Keeping abreast of the constantly changing landscape in all of the states where Main Event Entertainment LP operates has been a challenge for Jonathan Price, senior director of risk and safety for the Plano, Texas-based entertainment services company...

Posted: Apr 13, 2020

California orders insurers to pay back premiums due to virus

California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara on Monday ordered insurers in the state to refund some March and April premium payments to policyholders for a range of personal and commercial lines due to COVID-19.

Posted: Apr 13, 2020