Insurance Journal

Report: New Mexico, Alaska Among Safest States for Older Drivers

New Mexico and Alaska are among the safest states for older drivers, a new report shows. Research carried out by personal injury law firm Bader Scott analyzed National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data from 2017 to 2021 to identify states &#...

Posted: Jan 12, 2024

EBay to Pay $3 Million Penalty Over Harassment of Couple Behind Critical Newsletter

EBay has agreed to pay $3 million to resolve a U.S. criminal probe into a campaign by several of its employees to stalk and harass a Massachusetts couple whose online newsletter was viewed as critical of the e-commerce company. Federal …

Posted: Jan 12, 2024

Family of Arizona Professor Killed on Campus Reaches Multimillion-Dollar Deal

The family of a University of Arizona professor who was fatally shot on campus in the fall of 2022 has reached a multimillion-dollar agreement with the school, attorneys for the man’s wife and sons said. A statement by the law …

Posted: Jan 12, 2024

Two California Cities Among Most Likely to Experience Flood Damage

Two California cities made the list of cities most likely to experience flood damage in a new study. Stockton and Sacramento were among the most likely to experience flood damage based on data from the 200 largest cities in the …

Posted: Jan 12, 2024

Massachusetts Hospital Wins COVID-19 Claim Under Disease Contamination Endorsement

A federal appeals court has ruled that a Massachusetts hospital is entitled to coverage for losses due to COVID-19 under a health care endorsement in its policy from Continental Casualty Co. The First Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that Lawrence...

Posted: Jan 12, 2024

Gas Leak Suspected in Texas Hotel Explosion That Injured Over 20 People

Fire investigators said they have still not determined what caused an explosion at a historic Texas hotel that plunged two stories of debris into the basement, blew out windows and doors onto the streets of downtown Fort Worth and left …

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

First MainStreet Adds Seven Iowa Agencies

First MainStreet Insurance L.C.announced the addition of seven new Iowa agencies to its platform to close out 2023. In late November 2023, Pfantz Insurance Services and the insurance operations of Eckhardt Enterprises, both located in State Center, j...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Behind the Negative Image: The True Role of Insurance Companies

The insurance industry faces an image challenge. Plaintiff attorney highway billboards and websites routinely disparage insurance companies as fat, greedy and collusive. One plaintiff law firm website declares that “at the end of the day, the l...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Markets/Coverages: Ryan Specialty Expands Renewable Energy Offering on Global Basis

Ryan Specialty, the Chicago-based international specialty insurance firm, announced the expansion of its renewable energy insurance offering on a global basis with PERse International, a managing general underwriter based in London. PERse Internation...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Texas Regulators Suspend Well Permits to Address Rising Earthquake Frequency

The state’s oil and gas regulatory agency last month suspended nearly two dozen permits that let companies inject saltwater water into the ground, a routine industry practice that regulators said has contributed to the rising frequency and magn...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Blizzard Knocked out Power and Closed Highways and Ski Resorts in Oregon and Washington

A blizzard pounded mountainous areas of Oregon and Washington on Tuesday, knocking out power and prompting the closure of highways and ski resorts. The Washington Department of Transportation closed two mountain passes: U.S. Route 2, which goes throu...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Title Insurer Fidelity National Says 1.3 Million Customers Affected by Cyberattack

Title insurer Fidelity National Financial (FNF) said about 1.3 million customers have been impacted by a cyberattack it suffered last November. According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, FNF became aware of a cybersecurit...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

People Moves: BHSI Taps Holding From Aviva to Lead UK Marine; Ardonagh Specialty Names Goldenberg as...

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI), Ardonagh Specialty, and Lockton Re. A summary of these new hires and promotions follows here. BHSI Taps Holding From Aviva to Lead UK Ma...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Rokstone Launches Kentucky-based TPA for U.S. Agricultural Claims

Rokstone, a specialty insurance and reinsurance managing general agency, has launched a new third-party administrator service based in Kentucky. Part of the Aventum Group, Rokstone said its new Verus TPA will manage Rokstone’s agricultural clai...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Carolina City Remorseful in $25M Settlement with Wrongfully Convicted Man

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — A man wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for 44 years has reached a $25 million combined settlement with a central North Carolina city and the state of North Carolina involving a lawsuit accusing authorities of misconduct, the &...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

People Moves: Marsh Names Hennessy Northeast Leader; Lively Joins Alliant in Boston; ShoreOne Adds C...

Marsh Names Hennessy Northeast Zone Leader Marsh named Patrick Hennessy as zone leader for its eight Northeast offices. Based in New York, Hennessy brings 30 years of insurance brokerage, consulting and management experience to the role, having spent...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

SEC Approves Bitcoin ETFs in Watershed for Crypto Market

The U.S. securities regulator on Wednesday approved the first U.S.-listed exchange traded funds (ETFs) to track bitcoin, in a watershed for the world’s largest cryptocurrency and the broader crypto industry. The Securities and Exchange Commissi...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

China Orders Banks, Insurers to Review Cyber and Data Security

China’s financial regulator told its banks and insurers to thoroughly review cyber and data security across all their businesses, underscoring the government’s increased focus on national security and data integrity. In a directive sent a...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Real Estate MGA Ventis Launches in UK

Ventis, the commercial and residential real estate managing general agent that provides tailored solutions for a range of property profiles, has opened for business. Founded by Gareth Roberts, previously head of Covéa’s Mid-Market Specialist an...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires UK-Based MCMM Services Ltd.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of UK-based MCMM Services Ltd. (MCMM). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. MCMM provides administrative and claims management services to members of Education Mutual, a mutual insurer t...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

More P/C Carriers With Less Surplus: Aon Ward Analysis

As we head into 2024, many property/casualty companies are primed to grow their businesses, but not all have adequate levels of surplus to support premium growth, an Aon Ward executive said during a mid-December webinar. Jeff Rieder, partner and head...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Stray Dogs Cause Over $350,000 in Damages at Houston Car Dealership

HOUSTON (AP) — A pair of strays have landed in the doghouse after being caught on video causing more than a quarter-million dollars’ worth of damage at a Houston car dealership. One dog, described as a bull terrier mix, was …

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

If China Invades Taiwan, It Would Cost World Economy $10 Trillion

War over Taiwan would have a cost in blood and treasure so vast that even those unhappiest with the status quo have reason not to risk it. Bloomberg Economics estimate the price tag at around $10 trillion, equal to about …

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Wisconsin Assembly Republicans Introduce Limited Medical Marijuana Bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Assembly Republicans’ highly restrictive plan to legalize medical marijuana in the state drew a lukewarm response from Senate Republicans and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers on Monday. The bill would limit medical mari...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024

Orion180 Expands Homeowners Insurance to Georgia and Indiana

Orion180 announced the expansion of its homeowners insurance products to the states of Georgia and Indiana. Underwriting through Orion180 Select Insurance Co., an admitted insurance company domiciled in Indiana, Orion180 offers the coverage through i...

Posted: Jan 11, 2024