Insurance Journal

Louisiana Fortify Homes Program Doubles Grants as Registrants Surge

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple said the number of grants has doubled for the latest round of the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program due to high volume of registrants. Temple increased the number of grants this round from 300 to 600 …

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

The Fidelis Partnership Launches MGA Seraphina, Led by Sanders From Probitas 1492

Pine Walk Capital Ltd., the specialist MGA incubator platform and wholly owned subsidiary of The Fidelis Partnership, announced the launch of the MGA Seraphina. Seraphina will write a broad portfolio of international property business, complementing...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Judge Approves $600M Settlement for Residents Near Ohio Train Derailment

A federal judge on Wednesday approved a $600 million class-action settlement Wednesday that Norfolk Southern railroad offered to everyone who lived within 20 miles (32 kilometers) of last year’s disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. Ju...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Inmate Who Was Beaten in Patrol Car in Arkansas Files Federal Lawsuit

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An inmate who was beaten by an Arkansas police officer in the back of a patrol car filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the former officer and his police chief, accusing them of violating his constitutional …

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Canada’s Axis Insurance Acquires P/C Broker Baker Insurance

Axis Insurance Managers Inc., the Vancouver, Canada-based insurance broker, announced the acquisition of Baker Insurance, a property/casualty brokerage based in Calgary. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. This strategic move strengthen...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Biggest LNG Exporter in the US Wants to Define Emission Rules

Cheniere Energy Inc.’s top executive Jack Fusco wants the biggest gas exporter in the US to set the rules to measure the environmental impact of liquefied natural gas, using a fleet of methane tracking technologies and the company’s clout...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Rockville Diocese Reaches Bankruptcy Agreement With $323M for Sex Abuse Claims

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York reports that it has reached an agreement with survivors, insurers, parishes and other parties on a settlement of its bankruptcy case that includes a $323 million fund to compensate victims &#...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Over Mine Sinkholes in South Dakota

A judge in South Dakota has thrown out a lawsuit brought by dozens of neighbors in a Rapid City-area subdivision whose homes were built above an old, underground mine linked to sinkholes in the neighborhood. Circuit Court Judge Eric J. …

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Food Producer Settles Lawsuit Over Sexual Harassment Allegations at Michigan Facility

Pero Family Farms Food Company, LLC, will pay $40,000 in compensatory damages and furnish other relief to settle a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit, the federal agency announced today. The EEOC’s suit alleged Pero Fam...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Court Upholds Finding That Montana Clinic Submitted False Asbestos Claims

A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court determination that a Montana health clinic submitted hundreds of false asbestos claims on behalf of patients. A jury decided last year that the clinic in a town where hundreds of people …

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Markets/Coverages: Guernsey Insurer Paratus to Offer Renewable Power Insurance

Paratus Holdings Ltd., the Guernsey-based re/insurance group, announced that Paratus Renewables Insurance Ltd. has been granted regulatory approval by the Guernsey Financial Services Authority (GFSC) to provide insurance cover to the renewable power...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Aspen’s Orseck Explains the Growing Impact of PFAS [Video]

As research has evolved on the effects of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), correlations are being made to medical conditions within people exposed—and that’s about everyone to some degree. “We’re ingesting this stuff for...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Ukraine Says Russian Strike on Danube Port Town Kills Three

Ukrainian authorities said at least three people were killed by a Russian strike against a Danube River port that was repeatedly attacked last year after it became a lifeline for key exports amid the Kremlin’s invasion. Fourteen others, includi...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Penn State to Pay $703K to Resolve Gender Pay Discrimination Claims

Pennsylvania State University will pay $703,742 in back wages and interest and enter into a conciliation agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to resolve alleged gender pay discrimination against female employees. Based on a compliance review,...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Personal Auto Insurance Could Be Obsolete in 20 Years: Morningstar

Self-driving cars could make personal auto insurance largely obsolete within 20 years, according to a worst-case scenario modeled by Morningstar. A more likely, moderate scenario forecasts the line could remain necessary for a few more decades, until...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Tallahassee, Atlanta Dodge a Bullet, But Thousands of Claims Are Expected

Hundreds of claims adjusters were set to move out across Florida, Georgia and western parts of the Carolinas Friday morning as Hurricane Helene brought high storm surge and 140 mph winds to a region that has faced three hurricanes in …

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Study: 75% of Independent Agencies Report Revenue Gains From 2022-23

Despite challenging conditions, 75% of independent insurance agencies saw revenue gains from 2022 to 2023, according to the 2024 Agency Universe Study. That number is significantly higher than between 2020 and 2021, during which 62% of agencies exper...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

75% of Independent Agencies Report Revenue Gains From 2022-23

Despite challenging conditions, 75% of independent insurance agencies saw revenue gains from 2022 to 2023, according to the 2024 Agency Universe Study. That number is significantly higher than between 2020 and 2021, during which 62% of agencies exper...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

New York State Insurance Fund Swapped Coal Assets for Responsible Index ETF

Moving money from coal assets to a new responsible-investment exchange-traded vehicle provided the sort of quick win the New York State Insurance Fund was looking for when evaluating the climate and social impacts of its holdings, a top executive sai...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Tropical Storm Helene Lashes Florida With Powerful Winds, Rain

Hurricane Helene barreled into the western coast of Florida with dangerous winds, knocking out power for more than a million customers and threatening to unleash deadly flooding across several states. Helene made landfall near Perry with top sustaine...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Climate Change and Rising US Insurance Rates

A new article directly blames climate change for rising U.S. insurance rates. While the article mulls the various and numerous reasons for rising rates, it calls out what the author sees as a “common thread” that ties in rising rates &#82...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Policing Group Says Officers Must Change Use of Physical Force

An influential group of law enforcement leaders is pushing police departments across the U.S. to change how officers use force when they subdue people and to improve training so they avoid “consistent blind spots” that have contributed to...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Zillow Listings Will Now Highlight Climate Risks, Insurance Info

For-sale listings on Zillow will now feature detailed climate risk information for five key categories — flood, wildfire, wind, heat and air quality — along with insurance recommendations, according to the online real estate company. The climate risk...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Report: Cybersecurity Claims for Data Loss Vary Broadly

Cybersecurity claims reported in recent years vary sharply, with larger claims reaching $500 million of data loss and smaller claims as low $1,000. NetDilligence released its annual report, which analyzes 10,464 claims from incidents between 2019 and...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024

Ransomware, Email Compromise Leading Causes of Cyber Loss: NetDiligence

Cybersecurity claims reported in recent years vary sharply, with larger claims reaching $500 million of data loss and smaller claims as low $1,000. NetDilligence released its annual report, which analyzes 10,464 claims from incidents between 2019 and...

Posted: Sep 27, 2024