Insurance Journal

Insurance Broker Witness at Menendez Bribery Trial Faced Tough Cross-Examination

The prosecution’s prized turncoat witness at the bribery trial of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez was politely combative Tuesday as defense lawyers tried to poke holes in his testimony and portray him as a habitual liar. Jose Uribe spent a third …

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Major Defense Contractor Accused of Discriminating Against Older Workers

A major defense contractor was sued Tuesday over allegations that it discriminated against older workers in job ads. The lawsuit filed in federal court in Boston accuses RTX Corporation of posting ads that target younger workers at the expense of &#8...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Specialist Risk Group’s MGA, MX, Agrees to New Long-Term Capacity Arrangement

Specialist Risk Group, the London-based insurance intermediary, announced that its managing general agent, MX, has agreed to a new capacity agreement with program manager Accredited Insurance (Europe) Ltd. (AIEL). AIEL is supported by a panel of &#82...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Canada’s Largest School Board Targeted by Ransomware Attack

Canada’s largest school district is investigating a cyber incident, adding to a series of ransomware attacks that have caused disruptions to companies and public institutions in the country. The Toronto District School Board alerted parents Wed...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Commodity Ship Hit by Drone Near Yemen Is Taking on Water

A commodity carrier was taking on water after being hit by a drone near Yemen, the latest incident underscoring the dangers of sailing through the Red Sea region. The UK Navy said Wednesday that a ship was hit by a …

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Zombies: Ranks of World’s Most Debt-Hobbled Firms Soaring, and Not All Will Survive

They are called zombies, companies so laden with debt that they are just stumbling by on the brink of survival, barely able to pay even the interest on their loans and often just a bad business hit away from dying …

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Most US Drivers Support Anti-Speeding Technology in Vehicles: IIHS Survey

More than 60% of the drivers in the United States would find it acceptable if their vehicle provided an audible and visual warning when they exceeded the posted speed limit, a survey by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed on …

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

US E&S Growth Slower in 2023; Berkshire, AIG Top Premium Rankings

An analysis by S&P Global Market Intelligence reveals that the pace of growth in the U.S. excess and surplus lines market has slowed since a peak growth rate of 32.3% recorded in 2021. In 2023, growth remained robust—and up in …

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

SpaceX Sued by Engineers Fired After Accusing Elon Musk of Sexism

Rocket maker SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk were sued on Wednesday by eight engineers who say they were illegally fired for raising concerns about alleged sexual harassment and discrimination against women. The engineers—four women and four men—claim M...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Liberty Mutual’s Angle on $4.7M Refund Differs Slightly from Florida Regulators’

Liberty Mutual Insurance this week should complete $5.2 million in refunds, premium credits and interest payments to more than 46,000 auto insurance policyholders in Florida, the result of a market conduct examination done months after a use-and-file...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

California Governor Wants to Curb a Labor Law That Cost Businesses $10B

For two decades, a California law has helped workers sue the world’s biggest companies. Drivers for Uber Technologies Inc. won a $20 million settlement, Google employees secured $27 million over complaints of free-speech violations, and Walmart...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

D.A. in California Suing Farmers and Other Home Insurers Alleging Scheme to Underinsure

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Consumer Justice Bureau has sued multiple home insurance carriers in California, including Farmers Insurance Exchange, alleging they’re operating a scheme that knowingly and systematically u...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

D.A. in California Sues Farmers, Other Home Insurers Alleging Scheme to Underinsure

Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price’s Consumer Justice Bureau has sued multiple home insurance carriers in California, including Farmers Insurance Exchange, alleging they’re operating a scheme that knowingly and systematically u...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Employee Who Was Trapped in Elevator Denied Workers’ Compensation Benefits

A health insurance company employee who was trapped in an elevator for about 30 minutes has been denied workers’ compensation benefits. The employee did not suffer any physical injury while she was trapped in the elevator but claimed she later...

Posted: Jun 13, 2024

Reaching for the Clouds? Expect Some Turbulence: 3 Barriers to Adopting Cloud-Native Insurtech and 5...

This post is part of a series sponsored by AgentSync. Nothing good comes easy, right? Turns out, overhauling your outdated technology in favor of more modern, cloud-native systems is no exception. In today’s digital age, shying away from cloud-...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

First Arkansas Merges With Sunstar Insurance Group

Sunstar Insurance Group, LLC announced a merger with First Arkansas Insurance in Pine Bluff, elevating Sunstar’s statewide presence to now include 14 independent insurance locations and over 120 employees generating almost $19 million in combin...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

USDA to Enhance Crop Insurance for Michigan Blueberry Producers

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is enhancing Federal crop insurance for blueberry producers in Michigan beginning in the 2025 crop year. This change will enable producers to receive different pricing and optional units for three seasonal ty...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Nebraska Funeral Home Discovers Hospice Patient Declared Dead Was Actually Alive

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska funeral home discovered that a 74-year-old hospice patient who was declared dead by her nursing home two hours earlier was actually still alive, so workers started CPR and she was rushed to a hospital, …

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Artemis Risk Solutions Launches Insurance Brokerage, Names Executive Team

Artemis Risk Solutions, a recently formed insurance brokerage specializing in employee benefit solutions, property & casualty, and personal lines formally has announced its launch. Co-founded by industry veterans Clint Anderson, Chief Revenue Off...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Mississippi River Flooding is Pushing People Out of Their Homes, Data Shows

WEST ALTON, Mo. (AP) — Commerce along the Mississippi River has evolved over the past century at the expense of many once-thriving river towns. But persistent and sometimes devastating flooding has added to the woes of some of those towns. …

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Texas Crane Company to Pay Driver Fired for Refusing to Break Federal Safety Rules

A federal judge has upheld the Department of Labor’s finding that a Houston, Texas crane and rigging services provider violated federal law by firing a company truck driver on June 5, 2020, for refusing to exceed safe driving limits set …

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

US Inflation Report Offers a Break for Price-Weary Consumers

US consumers, unaccustomed to falling prices for the past several years, were able to breathe a little bit easier last month as many necessities — from groceries to gasoline to car insurance — became cheaper. Even many discretionary goods and …

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

HHS Says UnitedHealth Can Notify Patients of Data Breach

U.S. healthcare providers can ask UnitedHealth Group to notify people whose data was exposed during a hack on the company’s Change Healthcare unit in February, according to an update on the health department’s website. The news comes as a...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Former Florida Fire Captain Charged with Padding Living Expenses on Citizens Claim

A retired south Florida fire captain has been arrested for insurance fraud, charged with vastly overstating the number of nights he was forced to stay in a resort hotel while his home was under repair. Florida’s chief financial officer said &#8...

Posted: Jun 12, 2024

Hiscox Appoints Plymouth Rock’s Boyd to US CEO

Hiscox appointed Mary Boyd CEO of its U.S. business unit to replace Kevin Kerridge, who is stepping down after 30 years in the business. Boyd, who will join specialist insurer Hiscox on June 24, was CEO of Plymouth Rock Assurance’s …

Posted: Jun 12, 2024