Insurance Journal

Hartford Opens Y‑Risk Office in San Francisco

The Hartford has opened a Y‑Risk office in San Francisco, a specialty underwriting business focused on insuring the shared economy and emerging technologies. The company says the San Franciso Y-Risk location will strengthen its ability to serve custo...

Posted: Jan 26, 2026

Storm Leaves 1 Million Without Power, Forces 10,000 Flight Cancellations

More than 1 million customers in the U.S. as far west as New Mexico were without electricity and over 10,000 flights were canceled on Sunday during a monster winter storm that paralyzed eastern and southern states with heavy snow and …

Posted: Jan 26, 2026

MAPFRE Accuses AAA of Violating Exclusive Marketing Agreement

By Andrew G. Simpson The biggest auto insurer in Massachusetts is at odds with the AAA Northeast division it says is violating an exclusive 20-year joint marketing agreement that is worth $200 million a year in premiums to the insurer. …

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

‘Door Knocker’ Roofers Were Knocking. North Carolina Farm Bureau Answered.

It began with “door knockers” – the all-too-familiar practice of roofing companies telling homeowners that they can get a new roof with little or no out-of-pocket expense. North Carolina Farm Bureau Insurance, the second-largest pro...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Gender Balance as a Business Strategy

The insurance industry is built on assessing risk, yet many companies overlook a critical one: the risk of sameness in leadership. When all decision-makers look and think the same, they’re limited in their ability to spot emerging risks, connec...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Industry Trends to Exploit for 2026: Part Two

Agency owners must stay informed about significant new trends in the insurance industry. The following is part two of a two-part article highlighting seven industry trends insurance agencies should track for 2026. For part one, see Insurance Journal&...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Does ‘Under Construction’ Include ‘Renovation’?

Recently, policyholder attorney Chip Merlin blogged about a vacancy exclusion found in many property insurance policies. His article cited a California Supreme Court decision that overturned a claim denial based on a vacancy exclusion. In TRB Investm...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

A Risky World

Worldwide business leaders face growing risk challenges including increased technology and cyber risks, societal challenges, and deepening geopolitical divides. These risks will continue to shape the business landscape over the next 12 months, say Ma...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Insurance Agency Recruiting Tips to Kickstart 2026

As we look ahead to the new year, insurance agencies are diving into a fresh set of hiring challenges. It’s more important than ever to attract new talent in sales, service, and leadership. With competition getting steeper by the day, …

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Experian: AI Agents Could Overtake Human Error as Leading Cause of Data Breaches

By Chad Hemenway Artificial intelligence continues to be at the center of Experian’s annual breach forecast for 2026, heavily influencing the scope, frequency, and cost of cyber incidents. AI makes its way into many of the predictions in Experi...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

Iowa Landlord Settles in Sexual Harassment Lawsuit

The Justice Department announced that the owner and property manager of residential rental properties in Davenport, Iowa, have agreed to pay $325,000 to resolve a lawsuit alleging that the property manager sexually harassed female tenants in violatio...

Posted: Jan 25, 2026

New Exoskeleton System Said to Reduce Back and Strain Injuries by Almost Two-Thirds

An exoskeleton system developed initially by Vanderbilt University researchers decreased strain, sprain and lifting injuries by as much as 62% over months of study, signaling a way to reduce some of the most common workers’ compensation claims....

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Sweeping US Winter Storm Threatens Blackouts and Snarled Travel

A vast swath of the US — sweeping east from the Southern Rockies to the Mid-Atlantic and New England — is on alert for winter-storm conditions that could last days, disrupting travel and threatening blackouts. By Friday evening, a mix …

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Pacific Life Seeks to Dismiss Kyle Busch’s $8.5M Lawsuit Over Insurance Policies

Pacific Life Insurance Company on Thursday asked a federal court to dismiss the $8.5 million lawsuit filed by NASCAR champion Kyle Busch and his wife over policies the Buschs claim were sold to them under false and negligent representations as &#8230...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

People Moves: Starwind Marine and Energy Announces Leadership Appointments

Starwind Specialty Insurance Services, a CRC Group division, announced a series of leadership appointments within Starwind Marine and Energy that further strengthen its long-term strategy for growth and technical excellence across the marine and ener...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

People Moves: Coterie Appoints Seich as Chief Revenue Officer

Coterie Insurance, a small business MGA, announced Mark Seich as the company’s new Chief Revenue Officer overseeing revenue strategy across distribution, agency engagement, marketing, and customer experience. Seich served as VP of Marketing &#3...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Hot Sauce Company Sues Manufacturer Over Exploding Bottles

A product liability dispute is bubbling between a popular salsa and hot sauces company and its manufacturer. Iowa-based Lola’s Fine Sauces alleges in a lawsuit that it lost several hundred thousand dollars after customers complained that Lola&#...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Prudential Japan Pledges Reforms After Widespread Misconduct

Prudential Financial Inc.’s Japan insurance head vowed to bolster governance after revelations that improper actions by more than 100 current and former staff cost customers about $20 million. The chief executive officer of the unit, Kan Mabara...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Port of Los Angeles December Imports Fell 8% From Year Earlier

The Port of Los Angeles handled 424,499 20-foot equivalent units of imports in December, down 8% from the year earlier, according to data released by the nation’s busiest seaport on Thursday. Related: EU ‘Fully Prepared’ to Hit Back...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Pennsylvania High Court Quashes Challenge to Uber’s ‘Clickwrap’ Arbitration Agreement

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has vacated a lower appeals court ruling that had found ride-hailing firm Uber’s “clickwrap” mandatory arbitration agreement unenforceable because it would deprive a husband and wife of their right to...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Munich Re May Trim Headcount Through Voluntary Buyouts at Ergo Insurance Unit

German reinsurer Munich Re is planning to reduce jobs through attrition but may turn to voluntary buyouts at its ERGO insurance unit, CEO Christoph Jurecka said. Speaking to journalists on Thursday evening in Munich, Jurecka said that natural fluctua...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

France Reports Second Baby Death Amid Tainted Formula Crisis

French authorities received a report of a second infant death, as a tainted formula crisis that’s engulfed Nestlé SA, Danone SA and Groupe Lactalis widens. Both babies drank formula that has been recalled, the French health ministry said in a &...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Another Russian Shadow Fleet Oil Tanker Runs Into Difficulties

An oil tanker that’s under sanction for its role in transporting Russian oil appears to have run into trouble off the coast of Algeria and is now drifting in the Mediterranean Sea, according to tracking data compiled by Bloomberg. The …

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

People Moves: Burns & Wilcox Promotes Leaders Nationwide

Burns & Wilcox, headquartered in Farmington Hills, Michigan, transitioned several of its professionals into new leadership positions. Sam Carson, formerly vice president, operations, is now vice president & managing director with responsibili...

Posted: Jan 23, 2026

Poll: Most Americans Believe Cities Will Be Lost to Rising Sea Levels

Many Americans believe climate change climate change is likely to cause some cities to be lost to rising sea levels, and they also expect mass displacement of people and serious damage to the global economy, a new poll shows. A …

Posted: Jan 23, 2026