Insurance Journal

Shimano Crankset Recall After Several Crashes and Injuries

NEW YORK (AP) — Cycling company Shimano is recalling some 760,000 bike cranksets in the U.S. and Canada due to a crash hazard that has resulted in several reported injuries. According to a Thursday notice from the U.S. Consumer Product …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Report Examines 10-Year California Workers Comp Payment Trends

Average paid losses on California workers’ compensation lost-time claims fell immediately after legislative reforms of SB 863 took effect a decade ago, but then gradually increased up until the pandemic hit, according to a new study. The Califo...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

People Moves: Bates Joins Alliant as VP in Austin, Texas

Bates Joins Alliant as VP in Austin, Texas Nick Bates joined Alliant Insurance Services’ Alliant Americas division as vice president in Austin, Texas. Bates joins Alliant with 20 years of experience, including roles as vice president at both Mc...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

West Virginia Regulator Wants Input on Surplus Lines Export List

The West Virginia Office of Insurance Commissioner is accepting comments on potential changes to the state’s surplus lines export list, through Oct. 16. By state law, the office maintains a list of coverages and classes that may be placed with...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

VIAA Adds Two Missouri Agencies to Commercial Marketing Pod Program

Valley Insurance Agency Alliance (VIAA), a cohesive family of more than 160 independent insurance agencies in Missouri and Illinois, recently welcomed two alliance agencies to its members-only Commercial Marketing pod program. VIAA offers this exclus...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Director of Minnesota’s New Marijuana Regulatory Agency Resigns Amidst Illegal Cannabis Sales Allega...

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The recently appointed director of Minnesota’s new marijuana regulatory agency Erin Dupree has resigned amid reports that she sold illegal cannabis products in the state. Dupree ran a business that sold products exceeding...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Movie Star Anthony Mackie Returns to New Orleans to Repair Hurricane-Damaged Roofs

NEW ORLEANS (AP) – Movie star Anthony Mackie was back in his home town – and back at an old job – as he took part in a program to repair roofs damaged by natural disasters for people who aren’t …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Oklahoma Judge Arrested After Allegedly Firing Shots at Parked Cars and Crashing into Woman’s Vehicl...

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – An Oklahoma judge was arrested in Austin, Texas, last week after authorities say he opened fire on parked vehicles while out driving, striking at least one of them, and intentionally crashed into a woman`s vehicle, telling &#8230...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

People Moves: Bettencourt Settling In as New Hampshire Insurance Commissioner

DJ Bettencourt is settling in after he was confirmed as the state’s insurance commissioner, more than a month after he was nominated to the post by Gov. Chris Sununu. “As commissioner, my key priorities include making New Hampshire a gold...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

California Governor Vetoes Bill to Have Humans Drivers Ride in Autonomous Trucks

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed a bill to require human drivers on board self-driving trucks, a measure that union leaders and truck drivers said would save hundreds of thousands of jobs in the state. The legislation vetoed Friday night &#823...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Judge Sides with Nashville in Fight Over Fairgrounds Speedway

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A newly enacted Tennessee law designed to lower the threshold needed for Nashville leaders to approve improvements to its fairgrounds speedway violates the state`s constitution and cannot be enforced, a three-judge panel...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

MGA iprism Purchases Property-Focused MGA, SK Underwriting

iprism, the London-based construction, property, commercial and high-net-worth MGA, announced the acquisition of property-focused MGA, SK Underwriting Ltd. for an undisclosed amount. Kent, England-based SK Underwriting was formed in 1999 and offers a...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Family Settles for $8.5M After Man Died While Pinned to Floor at Virginia Hospital

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The family of a man who died while handcuffed and pinned to the floor for about 11 minutes as he was being admitted to a Virginia psychiatric hospital has reached an $8.5 million settlement with the …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

FTC Poised to Sue Amazon for Antitrust Violations

The Federal Trade Commission is expected to sue Amazon.com Inc. for antitrust violations next week, according to people familiar with the matter – marking the agency’s fourth swipe at the online retail giant this year. The lawsuit, expected to...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Tech Startups in US, France, Germany Help in Fight Against Wildfires

This year has been a challenging one for Phil Schneider, who hasn’t seen wildfire behavior like this in his 47-year firefighting career. Blazes raged through more than 2,000 acres of wildland in recent months in his county deep in the …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

US Energy Regulator Recommends Revising Reliability Standards for Extreme Weather

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday [Sept. 21] recommended revising reliability standards for power grid and natural gas infrastructure to avoid issues during extreme weather, as part of findings from a report on winter storm Elliott...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Alpine Tunnel Chaos Puts Crucial European Network Under Strain

When a landslide blocked an aging Alpine tunnel connecting Italy and France this summer, Livio Ambrogio knew what the fallout was going to be for his freight business: time and money. The closure of the 8-mile long Frejus tunnel meant …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Hedge Fund Manager Crispin Odey Faces Lawsuit Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Two of Crispin Odey’s alleged victims have filed a lawsuit against the hedge fund manager and his eponymous former firm. Two former employees have submitted a civil claim against Odey Asset Management and the 64-year-old former executive, accor...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Britain Proposes Diversity and Misconduct Rules for Financial Services Firms

Britain’s financial regulators proposed guidance on Monday for financial firms to tackle sexual harassment and bullying, along with new requirements for large banks and insurers to set targets to improve diversity and inclusion. The Financial C...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Russia Dodges G7 Price Cap Sanctions on Most of Its Oil Exports: FT

Russian crude oil supplies increased 50% this spring despite the G7 countries imposing sanctions due to war in Ukraine, the Financial Times reported on Sunday citing data from analytics company Kpler. The European Union, G7 countries and Australia in...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Aviva Agrees to Acquire AIG’s UK Protection Business for $563 Million

British insurer Aviva said on Monday it had agreed to acquire the UK protection business of AIG for 460 million pounds ($563 million). Aviva said it would buy the unit – known as AIG Life UK – from Corebridge Financial …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

US Wildfire Fighters Are Hitting a Pay Cliff at the Worst Time

In Fairbanks, Alaska, the US Forest Service is looking to hire a smokejumper, a person who parachutes out of a rickety airplane to wrangle wildfires that break out far from roads or rivers. Little experience is necessary; the pay starts …

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

EEOC Sues UPS, Alleging Discrimination Against Deaf Drivers

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) on Friday said it sued United Parcel Service for disability discrimination, alleging the delivery firm refused to hire deaf or hearing-impaired individuals as drivers. The agency said the Depart...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

Florida Agriculture Losses from Idalia Reach $78M to $371M, Study Says

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida agriculture losses from Hurricane Idalia are estimated at between $78 million and $371 million, with farmers also suffering widespread damage to such infrastructure as irrigation rigs and fences, according to...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023

AM Best Tweaks State Farm Outlook to Negative After Weather, Regulatory Issues

The AM Best financial rating firm has downgraded its outlook for multiple State Farm insurance companies due to weather losses and regulations that the firm said hinder the insurance giant’s ability to adequately raise rates. “The negativ...

Posted: Sep 25, 2023