Insurance Journal

What Is Volt Typhoon, the Hacking Group the FBI Warns Could Deal a ‘Devastating Blow’?

China is developing the “ability to physically wreak havoc” on U.S. critical infrastructure and its hackers are waiting “for just the right moment to deal a devastating blow,” FBI Director Christopher Wray said on Thursday. Th...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Alabama City Councilman Hit With New Auto Insurance Fraud Indictment

Authorities have added four more insurance fraud charges to those already lodged against an city official in coastal Alabama. Prichard City Councilman Derrick Griffin last week was indicted by a grand jury for the second time in four months. In &#823...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Arbol Buys Centauri Insurance, Forms Lilypad to Broaden Climate Risk Coverage

Arbol Inc., a firm that has specialized in climate risks for businesses, including parametric insurance products, has acquired Sarasota, Florida-based Centauri Insurance from Applied Underwriters. The companies announced in an statement that Centauri...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Arbol Unit Buys Centauri Insurance, Forms Lilypad to Broaden Climate Risk Coverage

A subsidiary of Arbol Inc., a firm that has specialized in climate risks for businesses, including parametric insurance products, has acquired Sarasota, Florida-based Centauri Insurance from Applied Underwriters. The companies announced in an stateme...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Once Praised, Settlement to Help BP Oil Spill Workers Leaves Most With Nearly Nothing

When a deadly explosion destroyed BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico, 134 million gallons of crude erupted into the sea over the next three months — and tens of thousands of ordinary people were hired to …

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Takeaways from Our Conversation on Commercial Auto, Telematics and Cannabis

Commercial auto is a tough topic in any business segment, but it’s tougher still for cannabis businesses. For our latest podcast, we spoke with Griffen Kapulica, broker relationship manager for Fairmatic, a commercial insurance company deliveri...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Cable Company Worker Electrocuted While Working on Utility Pole in Upstate New York

A man working on a utility pole was electrocuted early Friday when low-hanging wires made contact with the basket of his truck, according to police. The cable company worker was doing routine maintenance in rural Berne, about 15 miles (24 …

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

GeoVera Combining Carriers with SafePort to Create GeoVera Nova Holdings

GeoVera Insurance Holdings entered into a definitive agreement to sell its insurance carriers and managing general agent businesses. Upon completion of the deals, a newly formed entity, GeoVera Nova Holdings Inc., will control four insurance operatin...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Higlights of Reports on Deadly 2023 Hawaii Wildfire

More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. …

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

Highlights of Reports on Deadly 2023 Hawaii Wildfire

More than half a year after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century burned through a historic Maui town, officials are still trying to determine exactly what went wrong and how to prevent similar catastrophes in the future. …

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

CRC Group in Hawaii and INSUREtrust Form Cyber Practice Group

CRC Group, headquartered in Honolulu, has integrated INSUREtrust, formerly housed in Starwind, into its wholesale brokerage division. This integration bolsters CRC Group’s cyber capabilities and expertise and broadens INSUREtrust’s networ...

Posted: Apr 22, 2024

People Moves: Liberty Names Bernau as Senior Vice President, Commercial Lines Producer

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, named Andrew Bernau senior vice president, commercial lines producer. Bernau is based in Chicago. Bernau has nearly 20 years of industry experience, beginning his career wi...

Posted: Apr 21, 2024

People Moves: AEGIS London Hires AIG’s Johnson and Lambert for New Cyber Underwriting Team; Markel P...

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Lloyd’s syndicate AEGIS London and Markel, the insurance operations within Markel Group. A summary of these new hires follows here. AEGIS London Hires AIG’s Johnson and La...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Fleming Acquires James River’s Casualty Reinsurance Business, Ending Legal Dispute

James River Group Holdings Ltd. announced that Fleming Intermediate Holdings has completed the $277 million acquisition of James River’s casualty reinsurance business – after a period of legal wrangling that had threatened to derail the deal. T...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

People Moves: Chubb Names Scheffler COO of Personal Risk Services; AXIS Appoints Morley Head of US E...

Chubb said it has promoted Melissa Scheffler to chief operating officer of Personal Risk Services (PRS). Currently, Scheffler serves as regional executive officer for the Mid-Atlantic region. In a corresponding move, Bryce Graham, who currently serve...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Severe Storms Cause Damage in Middle U.S.

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Strong storms caused damage in parts of the middle U.S. this week and spawned tornadoes in Kansas and Iowa, including one that left two people hurt. An EF-1 tornado touched down shortly after 6 a.m. Tuesday …

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

U of Kentucky ‘Distressed’ Over Alleged Misconduct by Former Swim Coach

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky spokeswoman says the school is “distressed to hear disturbing allegations” of sexual assault by former swimming and diving coach Lars Jorgensen outlined in a lawsuit by two former team members and will coo...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Travis Scott’s Attorneys Argue for Dismissal of Astroworld Lawsuits

HOUSTON (AP) — Attorneys for rap star Travis Scott argued in court this week that he should be dismissed from hundreds of lawsuits filed over the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival, saying he was not responsible for safety planning and watching …

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Kansas Roofing Contractor Fined $233K for Deadly Fall Hazards

Federal workplace safety inspectors found a Kansas roofing contractor again putting its employees at risk of falls from elevation — the construction industry’s deadliest hazard — by not providing required protective equipment at two residential...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Inszone Acquires Texas’ Talerity

Inszone Insurance Services announced the strategic acquisition of Talerity, LLC, a specialized insurance agency focusing on professional liability for medical providers. Founded in 2008 by Cary Smith, Talerity has carved a niche in the insurance land...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Georgia Town Aims to Disrupt Student Beach Bash After Last Year’s Chaos

TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. (AP) — Thousands of Black college students expected this weekend for an annual spring bash at Georgia’s largest public beach will be greeted by dozens of extra police officers and barricades closing off neighborhood streets. W...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Former Congressman Charged After Collision with State Trooper in Florida

A former Congressman from North Carolina may soon be facing higher auto insurance premiums after he slammed into the back of a Florida state trooper’s patrol car on Interstate 75 near Naples. Madison Cawthorn, 28, who represented part of North...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Tesla to Recall 3,878 Cybertrucks Over Faulty Accelerator Pedal, NHTSA Says

Tesla is recalling 3,878 Cybertrucks to fix an accelerator pedal pad that could come loose and get lodged in the interior trim, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said on Friday. A trapped accelerator pedal could cause th...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

Gun Makers Urge Supreme Court to Hear Appeal in Mexico’s Lawsuit

U.S. gun manufacturers on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their challenge to Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit seeking to hold them responsible for facilitating the trafficking of firearms to violent drug cartels across the U.S.-Mexico...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024

People Moves: Sears Joins USQRisk; Grindle Retires from Maine Agency

USQRisk, headquartered in New York City, hired Ashleigh Sears as the company’s Head of Casualty. She is tasked with growing distribution networks, scaling in-force structured casualty portfolio and building the casualty underwriting team. Befor...

Posted: Apr 19, 2024