Insurance Journal

Person With Bird Flu Dies in Mexico: WHO

A person with prior health complications who had contracted bird flu died in Mexico in April and the source of exposure to the virus was unknown, the World Health Organization said on Wednesday. WHO said the current risk of bird …

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Top Law Firms in US Opioid Lawsuits to Get Hundreds of Millions in Fees

A court-appointed panel on Friday recommended how to divvy up a pool of $2.13 billion in legal fees from nationwide drug industry settlements over the U.S. opioid crisis, with top firms set to receive hundreds of millions of dollars. The …

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Catastrophe Bond Sales Soar as Markets Brace for Unusually Active Hurricane Season

Issuance of catastrophe bonds just hit a record high, as the market braces for a rough hurricane season with the potential to do substantial damage. Sales of so-called cat bonds are 38% higher this year through May than over the …

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

South Carolina DOI Sets Another Data Call on Liability Market Issues in the State

The South Carolina Department of Insurance is again requesting carrier data on the health of liability insurance markets in the state. “As you are aware, South Carolina and other states have seen liability markets harden significantly over the...

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Disney to Invest $17B in Florida Parks Now That Fight with DeSantis Has Cooled

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Months after Disney and Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees agreed to end a protracted legal fight, the two sides are set to approve an agreement that could result in the company investing up to $17 billion into …

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Witness Testifies on Seeking Sen. Menendez’s Help on Insurance, Trucking Probes

A New Jersey businessman took his star turn on the witness stand in the bribery case against Sen. Bob Menendez on Friday, telling a jury he believed he had a $200,000-to-$250,000 deal in 2018 for the Democrat to pressure the …

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Rhode Island Lawmakers Pass Bill Requiring Safe Storage of Firearms

A bill that would require the safe storage of firearms in Rhode Island has been approved by lawmakers and is awaiting the governor’s signature. The bill, which won final approval from lawmakers on Thursday, would require all firearms, when not...

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Lax Oversight by California Agency Put Freeway at Risk Before 2023 Blaze, Audit Finds

Lax oversight by California’s transportation agency contributed to a destructive blaze last year that consumed a vital section of a Los Angeles freeway used by hundreds of thousands of commuters, according to a state audit. While authorities de...

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

Maine’s Biggest Water District Sues 18 Manufacturers Over Forever Chemicals

The biggest water district in Maine is suing manufacturers of so-called forever chemicals in the hopes of recouping costs of monitoring and treating polluted wastewater. The Portland Water District lawsuit comes as the cost of the disposal of PFAS-co...

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

ShakeAlert Adding Satellite Capabilities for Earthquake Warnings

The U.S. Geological Survey and its partners have come out with a new capability designed to characterize large earthquakes quickly in hopes of helping warn the public about potentially damaging shaking headed their way. The ShakeAlert System, current...

Posted: Jun 10, 2024

A Perfect Storm: Looking Ahead to the 2024 Hurricane Season

This post is part of a series sponsored by CoreLogic. The Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of the United States are officially in hurricane season, which every year starts on June 1 and lasts through the end of November. People across …

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Colorado Woman Handcuffed in Police Car Hit by Train Receives $8.5M Settlement

A Colorado woman who was seriously injured when a freight train hit the parked police vehicle in which she sat handcuffed has reached an $8.5 million settlement, a lawyer representing two of the involved police officers said. The city of …

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

US Auto Insurance Market on the Mend; Homeowners Line Volatile: Fitch

The U.S. personal insurance sector is positioned for improving underwriting performance in 2024. According to Fitch’s latest U.S. Personal Lines Market Update, the change is predicted amid signs that the previous surge in claims severity from h...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Carolina Insurance Agent Charged With Forging Life Insurance Policies on 16 People

North Carolina authorities have charged a Battleboro insurance agent with 74 counts after they said he forged life insurance applications for 16 people. Jonathan Michael Vlasak, 35, a licensed producer qualified to sell property, casualty, life and a...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Louisiana’s Temple Meets With Insurers Ahead of Potentially Active Hurricane Season

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple recently met with 20 property and casualty insurers ahead of this year’s Atlantic Hurricane Season to make sure insurers are prepared to handle claims following a hurricane or other catastrophic event...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Man’s Body Found After Suburban Chicago Home Explodes

LAKE ZURICH, Ill. (AP) — The body of a 77-year-old man has been found after a house exploded in suburban Chicago. First responders found the home leveled after the explosion about 8:30 p.m. Tuesday in Lake Zurich, according to the …

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

People Moves: AXIS Appoints Boulos and Ryan to Head US Ocean Marine

AXIS Capital Holdings Limited, headquartered in Pembroke, Bermuda, appointed Paul Boulos and Rob Ryan as heads of ocean marine. Boulos and Ryan will be responsible for building a suite of ocean marine-related products into a comprehensive offering. M...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

After 11 Deaths, Lawsuit, Arrests at Jail, Travelers Drops NC Sheriff’s Liability Coverage

After multiple deaths in the jail, criminal charges against an employee and alleged sexual relationships with inmates, a North Carolina sheriff’s office has lost its law enforcement liability insurance coverage from Travelers. The News & Ob...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Texas County to Pay Female Deputies $1.5M to Settle Sexual Misconduct Suit

HOUSTON (AP) — A Texas county has agreed to pay a group of female deputies $1.5 million to settle a federal lawsuit that claimed they were abused and harassed when a constable’s office turned undercover operations into a drunken “playgrou...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Netflix Sued in $170M ‘Baby Reindeer’ Defamation Lawsuit

Netflix was sued on Thursday for at least $170 million by a Scottish woman who said she was defamed over her portrayal as a stalker in the hit mini-series “Baby Reindeer.” The plaintiff Fiona Harvey has publicly claimed to be …

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Liability Reinsurance Crisis Could Be Looming, TransRe CEO Says

“There could be a liability crisis in reinsurance in a couple of years,” a reinsurance executive predicted this week. Ken Brandt, chair, president and chief executive officer of TransRe, offered the assessment during a 30-minute chat with...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Massachusetts Drivers Lose Second Bid for Class Certification Over Lost Resale Value

Three Massachusetts drivers have hit a dead end for the second time in their drive for court certification of a class action against auto insurers over missing payments for the lost resale value of vehicles. Superior Court Justice Kenneth Salinger &#...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Massachusetts Drivers Lose Second Bid for Class Certifications Over Lost Resale Value

Three Massachusetts drivers have hit a dead end for the second time in their drive for court certification of class actions against two auto insurers over missing payments for the lost resale value of vehicles. Superior Court Justice Kenneth Salinger...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Close Call at South Carolina Bridge as Out-of-Control Freighter Loses Power

A large cargo ship lost control of its engines and went nearly full throttle through a South Carolina harbor Wednesday, prompting the closure of one of the busiest bridges in the state. Harbor pilots were able to help the nearly …

Posted: Jun 07, 2024

Brown & Brown Acquires Minnesota’s McNamara Company

Brown & Brown, Inc. announced it has acquired the assets of McNamara Company. McNamara Company is a family-owned agency that has been servicing customers in all 50 states for four generations. Established in 1970 in Minnesota, McNamara Company pr...

Posted: Jun 07, 2024