Insurance Journal

Tesla Faces More Questions From Feds on Autopilot Safety

The U.S. auto safety regulator investigating Tesla’s Autopilot driver assistance system is demanding an explanation for a software change that allows drivers to keep their hands off the wheel for longer, risking collisions, documents released o...

Posted: Aug 30, 2023

Lufthansa Weighs Sale of Aviation Insurance Broker, Insurer: Sources

Deutsche Lufthansa AG, the German airline, is looking to sell its insurance brokerage unit Albatros and insurance business Delvag, according to people familiar with the matter. The country’s largest carrier is working with advisers to find a bu...

Posted: Aug 30, 2023

Parents of Maine Teen Who Died on School Hiking Trip File Suit

The parents of a 17-year-old Maine boy who died on a school-sponsored hiking and camping trip are suing the school district and two staff members. The lawsuit contends Michael Strecker had limited access to water while hiking and that his …

Posted: Aug 30, 2023

Maine Police Say Driver on Drugs Swerved Off Road, Hit 4 Troopers

A motorist who veered off a highway and struck four state troopers was charged with operating under the influence of drugs, officials said Monday, as two of the troopers remained hospitalized. Three troopers and a trooper-in-training were at the end...

Posted: Aug 30, 2023

LP Insurance Services Acquires Wasserman & Associates in California

LP Insurance Services LLC acquired Wasserman & Associates in Northern California. Wasserman & Associates joins the LP Insurance Services Gold River/Sacramento office. Wasserman & Associates has been serving the Sacramento, Calif. communit...

Posted: Aug 30, 2023

Hawaii Power Utility Takes Responsibility for First Fire on Maui, But Faults County Firefighters

Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby and become the deadliest...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

California Labor Commissioner Cites Farm Labor Contractor and Growers $1.9M

The California Labor Commissioner’s Office cited farm labor contractor M.G. Luna, Inc. of Parlier and growers Madera Persimmon Growers Inc. of Madera and Willems Farms Inc. of Kingsburg $1,926,531, for wage theft affecting 356 workers who harve...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

People Moves: Burns & Wilcox Announces Quillman as Regional Lead for Texas

Burns & Wilcox Announces Bob Quillman as Regional Lead for Texas Burns & Wilcox announced the hire of regional lead, Bob Quillman, who will oversee the company’s Texas region. Quillman joins Burns & Wilcox as Regional Vice President...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Texas Construction Contractor Faces $263K in Penalties for Fatal Crane Collapse

A federal workplace safety investigation has found that a Farmersville, Texas construction contractor could have prevented the loss of a 23-year-old employee by following required safety procedures for operating a mobile crane at an Aubrey work site....

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Former North Dakota Governor Victim of Car Theft

FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Former North Dakota Gov. Ed Schafer learned a lesson about his car keys after his vehicle was stolen as he hosted a Fargo radio show. Schafer was guest hosting KFGO`s “News and Views” program Friday morning …

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Reinsurers’ Cyber Rates Expected to Rise as They Seek to Regain Profitability: S&P

More cyber reinsurance rate increases can be expected as reinsurers seek to regain underwriting profits in their cyber portfolios, according to a report published by S&P Global Ratings. “Reinsurers had a difficult 2022 due to low profitabil...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Ohio Vinyl Tile Manufacturer Faces $545K in Penalties for Failing to Protect Workers from Hazards

An Ohio-based vinyl tile manufacturer with a history of failing to protect workers from hazards at its Fostoria plant dating back to 2017, now faces an additional $545,853 in federal penalties after investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor. The...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Unusually Warm Atlantic Ocean Is Supercharging Hurricane Idalia

Hurricane Idalia, now a Category 1 storm, is expected to make landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Wednesday. The hurricane’s likely transformation between now and then will be due in part to the unusually warm waters on its path. As &#...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Crane Collapse at Miami Hospital Killed One, Injured Other Workers

Authorities were still investigating Tuesday after a construction crane at a Miami hospital buckled and collapsed onto construction workers, killing one person and injuring four others. The 200-foot crane was in use Saturday at a part of HCA Florida...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Update: 3M to Pay $6 Billion to Settle Military Earplug Lawsuits

3M Co. has agreed to pay $6 billion to resolve hundreds of thousands of lawsuits alleging it sold defective earplugs to the US military that led to hearing damage for combat troops. The company will pay $5 billion in cash …

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Florida Sheriff’s Copter Crashes in Pompano Beach, Killing Two

A south Florida sheriff’s helicopter caught fire Monday before crashing into a Pompano Beach apartment building, killing two people and injuring four. The Associated Press, the New York Times and local news outlets reported that the Broward Cou...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation Rates to Drop 14% in 2024

The New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) recently approved a workers’ compensation rate proposal that will reduce voluntary loss costs by 14% on average. The new rates will apply to policies effective starting on January 1, 2024. According...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

OSHA Orders Vermont Firm to Rehire Environmental Whistleblower, Pay Damages

In early June 2022, an employee of a Vermont agricultural equipment company observed the company pumping wastewater from the facility’s service bays onto the ground bordering the Winooski River in Berlin and was concerned about the environmenta...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Citizens Suspends Binding, Could Be Most Affected as Hurricane Aims for Big Bend

Florida property insurers were keeping their fingers crossed Tuesday as the latest projections indicated that the worst of Hurricane Idalia may miss some of the most heavily populated parts of the state’s west coast. The National Hurricane Cent...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Burger King Must Face Lawsuit Claiming its Whoppers Are Too Small

A U.S. judge has rejected Burger King’s bid to dismiss a lawsuit claiming that it cheated hungry customers by making its Whopper sandwich appear larger than it actually is. U.S. District Judge Roy Altman in Miami said Burger King must …

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Catastrophe Experts Discuss Maui’s Long Road to Recovery

While wildfire search and rescue efforts continued in Maui, a group of CoreLogic experts gathered online last week to discuss the island’s road to recovery through an insurance lens. Panelists analyzed the disaster’s uncertain billion-dol...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Jury in California Awards $3.75M to Protester Hit by Hard-Foam Projectiles

A jury awarded $3.75 million in damages this week to a protester shot twice with hard-foam projectiles fired by Los Angeles police during demonstrations in 2020. Jurors ruled that the LA Police Department was negligent when one or more of …

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Hawaiian Electric Calls Maui County’s Wildfire Lawsuit ‘Irresponsible’

Hawaiian Electric HE.N said on the lawsuit filed against it by the county of Maui was “factually and legally irresponsible,” pointing to the county’s responsibility in the Hawaii wildfires. The company’s shares jumped 30.2% to...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

Student Pilot, Instructor Killed in Maine Plane Crash Identified

Authorities identified the two people killed in a Maine plane crash as a flight instructor and student. The Beechcraft cargo plane crashed in a field in the town of Litchfield last Tuesday. Federal authorities are investigating the cause of the &#823...

Posted: Aug 29, 2023

2023 to Test Recent Growth in Private Flood Insurance Market

The private flood insurance market has been growing but 2023 may provide a real test following Tropical Storm Hilary in California as well as future storms that may come during the remainder of the Atlantic hurricane season. According to AM …

Posted: Aug 29, 2023