Insurance Journal

Allstate, Nationwide Post Dramatic Q12024 Homeowners Loss Ratio Drops: S&P

In the topsy-turvy world of homeowners insurance, first-quarter loss ratios have been bouncing around for the last five years—from below 50 in 2020 to over 70 in 2021 and 2023, a new analysis shows. The S&P Global Market Intelligence analysis &#8...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Ex-Staffers of Missouri Boarding School Face Suit Alleging Abuse of Students

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Yet another civil lawsuit filed Wednesday against a Missouri Christian boarding school by a former student accuses staffers of forced child labor, physical abuse and tactics aimed at hiding mistreatment from authorities. Th...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Onex Partners Completes Acquisition of R&Q’s Program Manager, Accredited

Accredited, the property/casualty program manager and subsidiary of R&Q Insurance Holdings Ltd., announced the completion of its acquisition by Onex Partners, the Toronto-based private equity company. The sale of the unit comes on the heels of R&...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

California Workers’ Comp Med-Legal Costs up Sharply Under New Fee Schedule

Payments for medical-legal evaluations and reports used to resolve medical disputes in California worker injury claims rose more than expected since a new Med-Legal Fee Schedule (MLFS) took effect in 2021, according to a new study. The study by the &...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Vertafore Report Highlights Agency Recruitment, Hard Market Challenges

Independent insurance agencies are struggling to find qualified job candidates, and nearly a third of agents surveyed for a recent Vertafore report said they’re finding that “young people just aren’t that interested in insurance.&#8...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Fisker to Recall Over 12,000 Ocean Vehicles

Electric-vehicle firm Fisker is recalling more than 12,000 Ocean vehicles to fix an issue where exterior door handles can stick and fail to open, the company said on Friday, marking its third recall this month. The U.S. National Highway Traffic &#823...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Australia Approves ANZ’s $3.3B Buyout of Suncorp; Deal Will Help With Insurance Focus

Australia on Friday gave the go-ahead for ANZ Group’s A$4.9 billion ($3.26 billion) buyout of Suncorp’s banking business, clearing the deal to proceed after almost two years of scrutiny by financial regulators and treasury. Treasurer Jim...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

People Moves: Gallagher Re Appoints Rudden as Head of Green Solutions; Markel Taps BHSI’s Gebran as...

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Gallagher Re and Markel. A summary of these new hires follows here. Gallagher Re Appoints Rudden as Head of Green Solutions Gallagher Re announced the appointment of Richard Rudden as...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Claimants for Deadly Mariana Dam Collapse File Injunction Against BHP, Vale

Lawyers representing claimants taking legal action over Brazil’s worst environmental disaster filed an injunction this week against miners BHP and Vale for “trying to derail” a potential 36 billion-pound ($46 billion) London lawsuit...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

BMS Australia Launches Agriculture Business

BMS Australia, the London-based specialist insurance and reinsurance broker, announced the launch of its Agriculture business with Ceri Martin appointed to lead the division. The establishment of this new business is part of BMS’ global strateg...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Insurers Seek Subrogation Against Norfolk Southern Over Ohio Train Derailment

Four insurance companies filed a subrogation lawsuit against Norfolk Southern in federal court last week, alleging the rail carrier’s negligence led to the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and subsequent fire, explosion and release of...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

As Rates Rise, Majority of Homeowners Say Insurance Industry Is in Crisis: Survey

Homeowners are cutting back on dining out, travel, groceries and even medication to afford their soaring property insurance premiums. One in 10 are considering relocating to an area with lower premiums. Within the last five years, homeowners’ i...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Guidance and Insurance Implications for the CDK Global Cyberattack

On June 18 and 19, 2024, CDK Global (CDK), a leading provider of cloud-based software to auto dealerships in North America, fell victim to a two-tiered cyberattack. 15,000 dealerships are potentially impacted, with multiple departments affected, incl...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Supreme Court Blocks EPA’s ‘Good Neighbor’ Air Pollution Plan

The U.S. Supreme Court blocked an Environmental Protection Agency regulation aimed at reducing ozone emissions that may worsen air pollution in neighboring states, handing a victory on Thursday to three Republican-led states and the steel and fossil-...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Here Are the Legal Battle Lines in Ireland’s Multi-Billion Euro Russian Jet Trial

The opening salvos have been fired in a 2.5 billion euro ($2.7 billion), Irish court battle between some of the world’s largest aircraft lessors and their insurers over around 80 jets stranded in Russia. Dublin’s High Court earlier this m...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Lawsuits Targeting ‘Climate Washing’ Becoming More Frequent

Companies accused of misrepresenting their progress on tackling climate change are increasingly finding themselves the target of litigants, as activist groups look to hold some of the world’s worst polluters to account. As many as 47 new climat...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

After Oil, Russia May Be Building a Shadow Fleet for Gas

In the months that followed its invasion of Ukraine and punitive Western restrictions imposed in response, Russia amassed a shadow fleet to ferry its oil around the world. Now there is growing evidence Moscow has begun to do the same …

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Tennessee Turns Probe of Questioned Graceland Sale Over to Fed Authorities

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee attorney general’s office said Tuesday that it has turned over its investigation into the failed sale of Elvis Presley’s home Graceland at a foreclosure auction to federal authorities, a newspaper repor...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

NC Lawmakers Ratify Bill That Trims Taxes on Captives, Risk-Retention Groups

North Carolina, already ranked among the top states for captive insurance firms, could soon become a little more attractive for captives and risk-retention groups if the governor signs Senate Bill 319. State lawmakers this week unanimously approved t...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

No Workers’ Comp for Employee Injured When Vehicle Crashed Through Her Office Wall

An employee at the Virginia Department of Health who was seriously injured when a vehicle crashed through the wall of her first floor office is not entitled to workers’ compensation benefits. The Virginia Workers’ Compensation Commission...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

People Moves: California Earthquake Authority Governing Board Appoints New CEO

The Governing Board of the California Earthquake Authority (CEA) named Tom Welsh CEO. Welsh was the chief legal and compliance officer. He has served as the interim CEO since January. He joined the CEA in 2019 as general counsel. He …

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Gunmaker Smith & Wesson Must Comply With New Jersey Subpoena

Smith & Wesson, the gun manufacturer, must comply with a New Jersey subpoena seeking documents as officials investigate whether the company engaged in deceptive advertising, a U.S. appeals court ruled Tuesday. The documents being sought include a...

Posted: Jun 28, 2024

Oregon Wildfire Growing After Active Day

A wildfire near La Pine, Oregon that has prompted evacuation orders grew to 3,889 acres on Thursday morning. The Darlene 3 Fire, which started Tuesday, is now 30% contained. Winds and warm temperatures on Tuesday resulted in spotting beyond the &#823...

Posted: Jun 27, 2024

What is Ransomware?

This post is part of a series sponsored by TSIB. According to IBM’s 2023 Cost of a Data Breach Report, it’s estimated that data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.5M in 2023. Statista, shared that over 317M ransomware attempts &#82...

Posted: Jun 27, 2024

IICF Hosts Nearly 800 Attendees at Regional Forums Advancing the Future of Work

Since 2013, events have raised over $10 million in support of nonprofits helping those in need in the US and UK LOS ANGELES – June 26, 2024 – The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a nonprofit organization marking 30 years …

Posted: Jun 27, 2024