Insurance Journal

BioNTech Sues Moderna for Patent Infringement Over COVID Shots

German biopharmaceutical company BioNTech sued Moderna in Delaware federal court on Thursday, alleging that Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine mNEXSPIKE infringes a patent related to BioNTech and Pfizer’s competing shot Comirnaty. The lawsuit sai...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

People Moves: Higginbotham Hires Ritter as Medical Director for Employee Benefits

Higginbotham has hired Samuel Isaac Ritter, M.D., as medical director for employee benefits, adding a client-facing physician resource within its self-funded advisory work. As more employers move into self-funded plans, the questions landing on broke...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

Texas Fire Threat to Worsen as Oklahoma Panhandle Burns

A fast-moving wildfire in the Oklahoma panhandle doubled in size as it pressed into Kansas while winds threatened to shift and raise fire risks across West Texas and New Mexico. The Ranger Road Fire had consumed more than 283,000 acres …

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

NAIC Says 2026 Priorities Include Disaster Preparedness, Responsible Tech Use

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) released its strategic priorities for 2026, including the oversight of emerging technology like artificial intelligence. “At the NAIC, a deep bench of 56 members representing each U.S....

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

Delaware High Court Rescues Cyber Insurers’ Subrogation Claims

The Delaware Supreme Court has re-opened the door for cyber insurers to pursue recovery of claims payments they made to their insureds who took matters into their own hands after their data hosting company allegedly failed to adequately respond to &#...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

Washingtion Contractor Fined for Exposing Workers to Asbestos

A contractor in Washington was fined $200,000 for putting workers at risk during a demolition project at a home in Bellevue, Washington. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries cited Seattle Environmental Services LLC for knowingly...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

EEOC Sues Coca-Cola Distributor It Says Excluded Male Employees From Event

A regional Coca-Cola seller and distributor violated federal law when it excluded male employees from an employer-sponsored event, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has charged in a lawsuit. According to the lawsuit, in September 202...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

People Moves: MIA Names Thornton, Matthewson, Fountain; Trucordia Appoints Dunning for East

Thornton to Lead Maryland Insurance Administration’s Property and Casualty Division Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant has announced the appointment of Courtney Thornton as associate commissioner of property and casualty, Brent Matthew...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

People Moves: MIA Names Thornton, Matthewson, Fountain; Trucordia Appoints Dunning

Thornton to Lead Maryland Insurance Administration’s Property and Casualty Division Maryland Insurance Commissioner Marie Grant has announced the appointment of Courtney Thornton as associate commissioner of property and casualty, Brent Matthew...

Posted: Feb 20, 2026

More Snow Coming to California After Deadly Avalanche

A blast of mountain snow and flooding rain is falling over California, the last of a string of storms that brought much-needed moisture to the state yet triggered a deadly avalanche in the Sierras. Winter storm warnings stretch from the …

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

LA Fire Victims Suing City Utility for Billions Win Major Ruling

The water and power utility that serves the city of Los Angeles must face hundreds of lawsuits faulting its response to the massive 2025 wildfire that leveled one of the city’s premier seaside neighborhoods and caused tens of billions of &#8230...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Marsh Risk Launches Excess Casualty Facility for US Digital Infrastructure

Marsh Risk, a business of broker Marsh, announced the launch of Nimbus Casualty, a new insurance facility providing clients with excess general liability protection during the construction phase of US-based digital infrastructure projects. The facili...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Pritzker to Halt Data Center Tax Perks as Power Bills Soar

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is seeking to temporarily halt incentives for data centers in a bid to contain soaring power bills. Pritzker, a Democrat seeking his third term as governor, wants to implement a two-year moratorium on new state-issued ta...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Explosive Wildfires Surge Through Oklahoma Panhandle and Kansas

A fast-moving wildfire on Oklahoma’s panhandle has doubled in size as it presses into Kansas, as firefighters contend with days of dry heat and gusting winds across the Great Plains. The Ranger Road Fire had consumed more than 280,000 acres &#8...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Texas Sues Dow, Alleging Water Pollution Violations at Chemical Plant

The Texas Attorney General’s office filed a lawsuit last week against Dow Chemical Co., North America’s largest chemical manufacturer, describing hundreds of water pollution violations from its industrial complex on the rural Gulf Coast i...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

District of Columbia Seeks Federal Help for Potomac River Sewage Spill

District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has requested federal support as the region continues to deal with a January 19 pipe break that sent sewage flowing into the Potomac River northwest of Washington. Bowser has asked for a Presidential Emergency...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Georgia Supreme Court Disbars Workers’ Comp Attorney for Taking Client Funds

The Georgia Supreme Court this week disbarred a workers’ compensation claimants’ attorney after in investigation alleged that he had forged clients’ signatures and kept almost $160,000 in settlement proceeds for his own use. Bryan M...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Lemonade Books Q4 Net Loss of $21.7M as Customer Count Grows

Insurtech Lemonade reported a fourth quarter 2025 net loss of about $21.7 million compared with a loss of about $30 million during the same time in 2024. Revenue and gross profit increased 53% and 73%, respectively, versus Q4 2024. However, …

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Edison Is Slashing Top Executive Bonuses After Deadly LA Fire

Edison International is cutting top executive bonuses by 40% to reflect the impact of the devastating Los Angeles-area wildfire that killed 19 people and damaged or destroyed more than 10,000 structures. The decision follows a hard season for Edison&...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Palantir Gets Partial Win in Fight With Ex-Workers at AI Startup

A judge agreed with Palantir Technologies Inc. that a trio of former employees likely violated confidentiality and non-solicitation agreements in founding their artificial intelligence startup but stopped short of halting their work at the new compan...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Markets/Coverages: BluNiche Launches Pharmaceutical Product Recall Insurance

BluNiche, the London-based product recall specialist MGA, announced the launch of its Pharmaceutical Recall Insurance product, expanding its portfolio to provide dedicated coverage for the pharmaceutical sector. The new offering provides comprehensiv...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

India to Decide on Russia Oil Tanker Insurance Firms in Days

The Indian government must decide in the next few days whether to keep allowing a handful of Russian companies to insure tankers when they deliver oil to the Asian nation. The process comes at a time when New Delhi is …

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

India to Decide on Russia Oil Tanker Insurance Firms Within Days

The Indian government must decide in the next few days whether to keep allowing a handful of Russian companies to insure tankers when they deliver oil to the Asian nation. The process comes at a time when New Delhi is …

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

UK Floods Raise Specter of ‘Mortgage Prisoners’ for Banks

As the prospect of flood damage haunts an ever larger number of UK homes, the country’s banks are under growing pressure to prove they’re not underestimating the risk in their mortgage books. Nationwide Building Society — once seen as an...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026

Update: UK Floods Raise Specter of ‘Mortgage Prisoners’ for Banks

As the prospect of flood damage haunts an ever larger number of UK homes, the country’s banks are under growing pressure to prove they’re not underestimating the risk in their mortgage books. Nationwide Building Society — once seen as an...

Posted: Feb 19, 2026