Insurance Journal

Santa Monica Weighs Fiscal Distress Vote Amid Sex Abuse Settlements

Santa Monica, California officials are voting on whether to adopt a resolution declaring fiscal distress, as mounting sexual abuse settlements have destabilized the city’s finances, echoing strains that have already pushed other local governmen...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Former California Insurance Commissioner Carries on Climate Change Crusade

When Dave Jones first started talking about climate change and what insurers should be doing about it some 15 years ago, the response could be thought of as something akin to a collective shrug. There wasn’t much to say. Insurance …

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

NTSB: Steering Control System Failure Led to Collision in Houston Ship Channel

A steering control system component failure on a multi-purpose carrier resulted in a collision with a bulk carrier in the Houston Ship Channel in 2023, causing more than $1 million in damage, the National Transportation Safety Board said in an &#8230...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Texas Governor to Issue Order Implementing Age Restrictions on THC Products

Gov. Greg Abbott will soon issue an executive order to regulate THC and set a minimum age of 21 to purchase those products in Texas, according to three people who spoke with the governor’s office. The Legislature’s second special session...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

BCU Risk Advisors Launches Dedicated Family Office Practice

BCU Risk Advisors, a boutique personal insurance consulting firm specializing in high-net-worth individuals and families, announced the launch of its family office practice, a dedicated platform that builds on nearly two decades of experience serving...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Nebraska Town Increases Fines on Dairy Plant for Wastewater Violations

Michael’s Cantina has been serving Tex-Mex food to the residents here for more than 30 years. Softball trophies crowd the top of a dresser in a dining room, old signs line the walls and regulars visit multiple times a week. …

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Court Rejects Trump’s Appeal of Carroll’s $83.3M Defamation Award Over Sexual Assault

The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has rejected President Donald Trump’s appeal of a $83.3 million award that a federal civil jury found he must pay to former advice columnist E. Jean Carroll for repeated defamatory remarks Trump made &#8...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

US Electric Car Uptake Will Slow Further on Trump Policies

Already sluggish adoption of electric vehicles in the US will slow even further after a $7,500 tax credit for EV buyers expires later this month. Battery-powered cars will account for half of US auto sales in 2039, five years later …

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Construction Delays, Litigation Can Follow Hurricanes: A Guide for Property Owners

When a hurricane tears through a community, the damage left behind can feel overwhelming. For property owners, the priority is to get repairs done quickly so that life and business can return to normal. But too often, homeowners and business …

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Colorado Jury Says Liability Waiver Doesn’t Shield Vail From $21M Ski Lift Fall Verdict

A $21 million jury verdict against Vail Resorts for a paralyzing ski lift fall shows that liability waivers — those documents often written in legalese that people must sign before taking part in an activity— aren’t ironclad legal protection fo...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

People: ICW Group Names DeViere VP and Head of Distribution and Marketing

ICW Group Insurance Companies announced it has named its longtime workers’ compensation underwriting chief as vice president and head of distribution and marketing as the group expands into excess and surplus lines. Rob deViere will be based ou...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

UConn Law Launches Graduate Certificate in Insurance Law

The University of Connecticut School of Law is launching a new Graduate Certificate in Insurance Law for legal and insurance professionals seeking advanced knowledge in one of Connecticut’s most vital sectors. Enrollment is now open for the Spr...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Florida Plan to Drop School Vaccine Rule is Limited, Won’t Start for 90 Days

Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine mandates likely won’t take effect for 90 days and would include only chickenpox and a few other illnesses unless lawmakers decide to extend it to other diseases, like polio and measles, the health dep...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Florida Plan to Drop School Vaccine Rule Is Limited, Won’t Start for 90 Days

Florida’s plan to drop school vaccine mandates likely won’t take effect for 90 days and would include only chickenpox and a few other illnesses unless lawmakers decide to extend it to other diseases, like polio and measles, the health dep...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Durham, NC Council Declares City a ‘Fourth Amendment Workplace’

In a unanimous vote Tuesday, Durham City Council passed a resolution to make the North Carolina city a “Fourth Amendment Workplace,” increasing protections for city workers against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids and arrest...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Former WhatsApp Employee Says Bosses Ignored Cybersecurity Flaws

A former employee at Meta Platforms Inc.’s WhatsApp filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging he repeatedly raised cybersecurity concerns about the messaging app with his superiors but was ignored and retaliated against. Attaullah Baig, who ident...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Virginia’s Disaster Fund Now Open to Home and Business Owners

Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that the state’s $50 million disaster aid fund is now accepting applications from homeowners and businesses in the southwest region of the state. The Virginia Disaster Assistance Fund, which Youngkin p...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Exclusive: Applied System Acquires AI-Enabled Risk Digitalization Firm Cytora

Applied Systems announced the acquisition of Cytora, a digital risk processing platform for the insurance industry, in an effort to accelerate connecting the dots within the insurance ecosystem, something Applied terms as the “Digital Roundtrip...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Exclusive: Applied Systems Acquires AI-Enabled Risk Digitalization Firm Cytora

Applied Systems announced the acquisition of Cytora, a digital risk processing platform for the insurance industry, in an effort to accelerate connecting the dots within the insurance ecosystem, something Applied terms as the “Digital Roundtrip...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Markets/Coverages: Tokio Marine HCC Enhances Product Recall Offering

Tokio Marine HCC (TMHCC) – Specialty Group, a member of the Tokio Marine HCC group of companies based in Houston, Texas, announced that it has partnered with The Acheson Group to enhance its existing Product Recall Crisis Consultancy abilities...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Ariel Re Gets ‘In Principle’ Approval From Lloyd’s to Launch Syndicate 2006

Ariel Re, a global reinsurer with offices in Bermuda, London and Hong Kong, announced it has received “in principle” approval from Lloyd’s to launch a new syndicate. From 2026, Ariel Re will be separating its Lloyd’s business...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Swiss Re, Munich Re and Hannover Re Top List of 40 Largest Reinsurers in 2025: S&P

Swiss Re tops the list of the world’s 40 largest reinsurers, followed by Munich Re and Hannover Re, according to S&P Global Ratings. Berkshire Hathaway Insurance Group comes in at number four, while Lloyd’s is ranked at number 5 and &...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Google Sued by Advertising Exchange Over Monopoly Violations

Alphabet Inc.’s Google was sued by advertising exchange PubMatic Inc., which is seeking billions of dollars over its claim that the search giant has illegally monopolized the ad technology market. The lawsuit, filed Monday in federal court in V...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Automakers Debut New EVs, Affordable Models at Munich Car Show

Major automakers showcased their latest models at the Munich car show on Monday, unveiling new EVs and lower-cost models as Europe’s auto sector fights crises ranging from tariff hikes to rising costs and rivalry with Chinese firms on their hom...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025

Disasters Damage $12.7 Billion of African Infrastructure a Year

The average annual loss of infrastructure including buildings caused by disasters in Africa is $12.7 billion, according to the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. Of the damage 70% is caused by floods followed by earthquakes at about 28%...

Posted: Sep 09, 2025