Business Insurance

Texas bill would create COVID-19 comp presumption for nurses

A Texas lawmaker has introduced a bill that would make it easier for nurses who acquire COVID-19 to obtain workers compensation benefits.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Paradigm hires new specialty network CEO from Optum

Paradigm Management Services Inc. has named Chris Pricco, formerly an executive at Optum Inc., as CEO of Paradigm Specialty Networks, the Walnut Creek, California-based workers compensation care management company announced Friday.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Lawyer pays dearly for auto insurance claim

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board hit the brakes on a suburban Pittsburgh lawyer’s license to practice after he filed an auto insurance claim following a speedway-racing mishap, claiming he had instead swerved to miss a deer.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

British central bank warns insurers risk unexpected COVID-19 losses

Insurers in Britain risk being optimistic in estimating losses from COVID-19 related claims and should stress test their underlying assumptions, the Bank of England said on Friday.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Washington state farms cited for violating COVID-19 safety rules

Inspectors with the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries have conducted 384 agricultural workplace safety and health inspections since March and found violations of pandemic policies at nearly a third of the sites, the agency said in a s...

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

The BI Top 10: Week of Nov. 9, 2020

Judicial rulings have been much in the news this week, topped by the dismissal of former American International Group Inc. Chairman Maurice R. Greenberg’s defamation lawsuit against Eliot L. Spitzer, former New York attorney general.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Kentucky high court upholds governor’s COVID-19 orders

The Kentucky Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Gov. Andrew Beshear’s executive orders establishing a state of emergency in the state, ordering business closures, requiring the wearing of personal protective equipment and — while not identified in the...

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Talanx reports COVID-19 claims of $1.2 billion

German insurer Talanx AG's COVID-19 pandemic-related claims surpassed €1 billion ($1.2 billion) in the first nine months of the year.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Denmark culls 10 million minks as coronavirus spreads

Denmark has culled at least 10 million minks after a new mutation of the coronavirus was found in them.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

WHSmith to shut 25 stores due to pandemic

U.K.-based retailer WHSmith PLC plans to close 25 high street stores after it reported a loss of £280 million ($369 million) for the year ended Aug. 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Posted: Nov 13, 2020

Fired Amazon worker files discrimination suit over pandemic conditions

A former Amazon.com Inc. worker who protested conditions at his New York City fulfillment center sued the retailer on Thursday, accusing it of discrimination for firing him and for putting Black and Hispanic workers at heightened risk of contracting...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Distribution firm sued for alleged coronavirus act violations

A wholesale and distribution company employee who was allegedly forced to resign after she had requested an accommodation to her working hours because her son’s school was closed, has sued her former employer, charging violations of the Families Firs...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Court dismisses Greenberg’s defamation suit against Spitzer

A New York state court judge on Thursday dismissed a long-running defamation lawsuit filed by former American International Group Inc. chairman Maurice R. Greenberg against Eliot L. Spitzer, New York’s former attorney general.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

M&A deals continue for brokers; on the horizon for insurers: Panel

Insurance broker mergers and acquisitions continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic as private equity capital invests in the sector, a panel of experts say.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

The Institutes, I.I.I. close to finalizing affiliation

The Institutes said Thursday it plans to finalize its affiliation with the New York-based Insurance Information Institute on Nov. 16.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Auto part manufacturer to pay $1.5M for worker death

An automobile parts manufacturer has pleaded guilty to a charge of willful violation of the Occupational Safety and Health Act and agreed to pay $500,000 in fines and restitution of $1 million to the family of a worker who was crushed to death in Jun...

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Appeals court denies future medical costs in back injury case

A woman who injured her back while providing medical care to people in their homes but continued to run in races was denied future medical costs as part of her workers compensation claim, according to an appeals ruling issued Tuesday in Nebraska.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Aon to expand corporate apprenticeship program to six more cities

Aon PLC said Thursday it plans to expand its corporate apprenticeship program over the next five years with a $30 million investment.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Pandemic, cat losses push up commercial prices: Moody’s

Commercial insurance prices are accelerating as U.S. property/casualty insurers hit by pandemic and catastrophe headwinds seek to offset rising loss costs and low interest rates, Moody’s Investors Service Inc. said in a report Thursday.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Save money. Live better. Insure your pets.

Walmart Inc. is hoping those who are picking up dog food and cat toys will check out the retailer’s latest offering: pet insurance.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Generali delays dividend payout, profit beats estimates

Italy’s top insurer Generali Group said on Thursday it would delay the payment of the second tranche of 2019 dividends to next year to comply with regulatory demands, after reporting nine-month operating profits above expectations.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Zurich Insurance plays down impact of COVID-19 claims

Zurich Insurance Group Ltd. does not expect property claims triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic to materially affect the group, the insurer said on Thursday, adding that it planned to maintain its dividend policy.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Companies can take steps to avoid ‘nuclear’ verdicts: Experts

Companies can reduce the anger reflected in jurors’ so-called nuclear verdicts by taking steps such as having a company representative sitting at the defense table who appears empathetic, experts say.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

China to lead global insurance market recovery: Report

A report by Swiss Re Institute said that China will lead the recovery of the global insurance market, with nonlife premiums expected to rise by 10% next year.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020

Covea and CEO ordered to pay $24 million to Scor

A French court has ordered insurer Covea Groupe SAS and its chief executive Thierry Derez to pay nearly €20 million ($24 million) in compensation for the damage their misconduct has caused reinsurer Scor SE.

Posted: Nov 12, 2020