Insurance Journal

Hurricane Hilary Threatens Flooding Rain in California, Nevada and Arizona

AccuWeather meteorologists say Hurricane Hilary is anticipated to bring heavy rain, flash flooding and strong winds to parts of California, Nevada and Arizona. The meteorologists issued the forecast in a media alert that was sent out Thursday afterno...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Fitch Downgrades Kemper’s Trinity Universal P/C Subsidiary

Fitch Ratings said it has downgraded the financial strength rating of Kemper Corp’s Trinity Universal Insurance Company to A- (Strong) from A. Trinity Universal of Jacksonville, Florida is Kemper Corp.’s lead property/casualty operating s...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

California-Oregon Wildfires Prompt Evacuation Orders

Growing fires near the California-Oregon border have prompted evacuation orders. A Siskiyou County wildfire, the Head Fire, started in the Klamath National Forest after a bout of thunderstorms and lightning. A social media post from U.S. Forest Servi...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Arrests Made in California “Family and Friend” Auto Insurance Fraud Ring

An alleged “family and friend” organized auto insurance fraud ring in California was seemingly broken up by the Urban Automobile Insurance Fraud Task Force when seven people were arrested on Wednesday in connection to the case. In total,...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

World Acquires Wisconsin’s R&S

World Insurance Associates LLC announced that R&S Insurance Agency, Inc. (“R&S”) of Stoughton, Wisconsin has joined World as of August 1, 2023. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. R&S has been providing insurance prod...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

People Moves: Alliant Adds Shada in Nebraska

Ian Shada has joined Alliant Insurance Services as Vice President within its employee benefits group in Omaha, Nebraska. In his role with Alliant, Shada will design and implement comprehensive employee benefits programs for a diverse client base thro...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Michigan DIFS Director Fox Urges Safe Driving Amid Increase in Crashes

Michigan Department of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) Director Anita Fox urged safe driving to safe lives and lower costs amid an increase in reported motor vehicle crashes. “Consistent with an unfortunate trend we have seen over the l...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Arkansas Timberland and Sawmill Operator Faces $218K in Fines After Worker’s Fatal Injury

A federal workplace safety investigation determined that 39-year-old employee of a south Arkansas timberland and sawmill facility suffered fatal injuries from an automated lumber stacking machine at its Bearden location. Inspectors with the U.S. Depa...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Oklahoma Supreme Court to Consider Reparations Case for Survivors of Tulsa Race Massacre

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Supreme Court will consider a reparations case from survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre after a lower court judge dismissed it last month, giving hope to advocates for racial justice that government may …

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Markets/Coverages: Cover Whale, CoverWallet Partner on Trucking Insurance

Insurtechs Cover Whale and Aon’s CoverWallet said they have partnered on providing commercial trucking insurance. The collaboration brings together Cover Whale’s trucking insurance capacity with CoverWallet’s distribution strengths....

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Allstate Agrees to Settle With Shareholders for $90 Million

To settle a years-long securities class action lawsuit against it, Allstate Corp. has agreed to set up a $90 million fund for shareholders who accused the insurer of false and misleading statements regarding its auto insurance business. According to...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Hawaiian Utility Sued by Homeowner Over Lahaina Fire

The Hawaiian power company in the crosshairs after wildfires ripped through parts of Maui faces a new lawsuit blaming its equipment for starting blazes that claimed more than 100 lives and wreaked billions of dollars in damages. Witnesses say some &#...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Landlord Not Liable for Murder at Nightclub, Massachusetts Supreme Court Says

A commercial landlord is not liable for a “targeted, execution-style shooting” that took place on her property as it was not reasonably foreseeable and no reasonable security measures could have prevented it, the Massachusetts Supreme Jud...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

People Moves: Gallagher Re Taps Howden’s Posada for LatAm, Caribbean Sales; Dale Hires Pettifer for...

This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Gallagher Re, Dale Underwriting Partners and AXA XL. A summary of these new hires follows here. Gallagher Re Taps Posada from Howden to Lead LatAm, Caribbean Sales Gallagher Re announ...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Tech Firm Behind Kentucky School Bus Route Snafu Had Problems in Ohio

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — The company behind a disastrous change to a Kentucky city`s school bus routes that resulted in more than a week of canceled classes had similar problems in two cities in neighboring Ohio last year. Touting its …

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Shinwa Plans $114M Expansion at Alabama Auto Parts Plant

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An auto parts supplier plans a $114 million investment to expand its facility in Alabama to support the production of electric vehicle parts, Gov. Kay Ivey`s office announced Tuesday. Shinhwa Auto USA Corp.`s expansion w...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Company Asks Judge to Block Alabama Medical Marijuana Licenses

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A company that failed to win a potentially lucrative medical marijuana license in Alabama asked a judge Tuesday to block the state from issuing the licenses to anyone, arguing a state commission improperly deliberated in...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Attorney, Friend of Murdaugh Sentenced to 4 Years in Scheme to Steal Insurance Money

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A longtime friend of disgraced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh was sentenced Tuesday to nearly four years in prison for scheming to steal millions of dollars in insurance settlements from the sons of Murdaugh`s dea...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Markets/Coverages: Skyrisks, Quotech Link Up to Insure Advanced Air Mobility Sector

Skyrisks Ltd., the newly incorporated, London-based managing general agent, has linked with Quotech, the underwriter-led developer of integrated technology platforms for underwriters and brokers, to deliver insurance coverage for the advanced air mob...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Specialist Risk Group Acquires UK’s Cheshire Insurance Brokers

Specialist Risk Group (SRG), the London-based insurance intermediary, has acquired Cheshire Insurance Brokers (CIB). Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed. Established in 2010 by Dominic Leach & Victoria Benito and based in Hale...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Social Media Investigations Are a Winning Strategy for Insurers

If you’re a plaintiff in an injury lawsuit against your insurer, you might want to ask your wife not to post videos online of you frolicking in a swimming pool. An Instagram post by a woman that showed her husband, …

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Cargo Thieves Target Electronics, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals: German Insurance Study

German transport insurers report a significant increase in stolen goods – with thieves targeting electronic devices as well as chemical and pharmaceutical products. Every 20 minutes, goods are stolen from a truck, according to a study from the German...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Financial Services Firms ‘Largely Blind’ to Exposures From Nature-Related Risks: Report

Most financial firms aren’t assessing their portfolio exposure to nature-related risks with the same urgency they use to measure climate impacts, a shortcoming that could lead to higher costs, litigation and a hit to reputations, according to a...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Swiss Tunnel to Partially Reopen for Freight Transport as Supply Chain Backs Up

Switzerland’s Gotthard tunnel will partially reopen for freight transport next week after a derailed train blocked one of its two tubes, though the critical route won’t return to full operability for several months. Passenger trains will...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023

Latin Americans Fall Prey to More Online Scams, Cyber Attacks

Gabriella Batalha didn’t think much when she noticed she had been logged out of Instagram – until the next day when she found her account overrun with sensational posts touting high-yield cryptocurrency investments. To recover her account...

Posted: Aug 17, 2023