Daily Headlines: Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Contact us | Subscribe | Send to a Friend

May 31, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Storm Scientists Assess Year’s Series of Deadly Tornadoes Storm science has greatly improved tornado warnings in recent years. But if that's led anyone into a sense of security, that feeling has ... Senate Bill Would Set Wind-Vs.-Water Insurance Claim Formula A U.S. senator from Mississippi is introducing a bill that tries to resolve wind-versus-water insurance disputes for structures wiped out ... Senator Looks to Halt Rentals of Recalled Vehicles Over Safety U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer of New York said he will introduce a bill to stop car rental agencies from renting automobiles that are under ... Best Affirms All of GEICO’s ‘A++’ Ratings A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of 'A++' (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "aaa" of ... Ratings: Benchmark, Repwest, Sooner, Park Assurance, Mariah Re, ACMAT, Kingsway Amigo A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to negative from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating of 'A-' (Excellent) and issuer ... Forde Joins RLA Insurance as Underwriting Officer Frank Forde has joined RLA Insurance Intermediaries as underwriting officer heading the firm's U.S. and International Financial Services ... Medicus Insurance Expands Coverage to Calif., Ky., Ore. Medicus Insurance Co. is now selling medical professional liability insurance in California, Kentucky and Oregon. Medicus now sells ... Group Study: Largest Hedge Funds Buy More, Pay Less for Lawsuit Protection Large hedge funds with over $10 billion in assets under management (AUM) typically purchase $40 million or more in professional liability... More National News East Goldsmith Named Maryland Insurance Commissioner Therese Goldsmith has been appointed as Maryland's insurance commissioner. She most recently served as commissioner of the Public Service ... New York City Settles Inmate Death Lawsuit New York City has agreed to pay $2 million to settle a lawsuit that claimed a man died in jail when his alcohol withdrawal went untreated. ... $10M Awarded to Girl in Philly Drug Lawsuit A Philadelphia jury has awarded $10 million to a 13-year-old girl after deciding that she suffered a life-threatening drug reaction a ... More East News Midwest President Obama Consoles Tornado-Ravaged Missouri City Exactly a week after the Missouri city of Joplin was nearly leveled by the deadliest tornado to strike the U.S in decades, President Barack ... Senate-Approved Workers’ Comp Overhaul Rejected by Illinois House A major overhaul of the state's costly workers compensation system failed in the Illinois House on May 29, raising the possibility that ... Workers’ Comp Reform Approved in Illinois Senate A plan to overhaul workers' compensation to cut business costs and curb corruption emerged May 28 and was approved by the Illinois Senate. ... Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Fish & Schulkamp Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired Fish & Schulkamp Inc. of Madison, Wis. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded ... State Farm Storm Claims in Hundreds of Thousands State Farm says it has paid almost $1 billion on about 300,000 catastrophe claims from devastating storms across the central and ... More Midwest News Southeast Alabama Lawmakers Advance Bills Curbing Lawsuits The Alabama Legislature has taken another step toward erasing the state's one-time reputation for juries returning big cash lawsuit ... Insurance Company Says Tennessee Gay Couple Burned Own Home The company that insured a lesbian couple's home claims the women set a fire that destroyed it. Carole Ann Stutte and Jean Stutte of Vonore ... More Southeast News South Central Demise of Windstorm Agency Overhaul Prompts Special Session in Texas Texas lawmakers were unable to come to terms on an overhaul of the state-backed insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the Texas ... Certificates of Insurance Bill Heads to Texas Governor The Texas Legislature has passed a measure that requires regulatory approval of property and casualty certificate of insurance forms ... More South Central News West Flood Warnings Issued for 7 Utah Counties Flood warnings are in effect for seven Utah counties as three rivers flow over their banks. The National Weather Service says the Weber ... Northern Calif. Tornadoes Destroy Almond Crops Officials say tornadoes that touched down in a rural area of Northern California destroyed hundreds of acres of almond orchards. The ... San Gabriel Valley Underwriters Society Names Officers The San Gabriel Valley CPCU Chapter has named its 2011-2012 officers and directors. They are: President Tracy Stevenson, Vice ... More West News International Will the Next Big Nat Cat Turn the Cycle? ‘Maybe’ Say Reinsurance CEO’s The reinsurance world has always been a bit arcane, but rarely to the extent it appears to be right now. Henry Keeling the president and ... Air France Crash Investigation Sparks Pilot Mystery  A French airliner plunged out of control for four minutes before crashing into the Atlantic in 2009, investigators said, in a report ... Virulent German E.coli Outbreak Death Toll Rises A virulent form of E.coli bacteria blamed on infected cucumbers from Spain has killed 13 people in Germany and sickened 300, health ... Study Forecasts Ice Melt Will Close off Arctic’s Interior Riches Global warming will likely open up coastal areas in the Arctic to development but close vast regions of the northern interior to forestry ... More International News Sponsored Content The e-Marketing Minute is a bi-weekly video series designed to help insurance agents learn how to grow their agency utilizing the Internet. Check it out. More Sponsored Content Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Interstate Compacts? Forget About Them In preparation for new surplus lines regulations, states are considering whether to join a... Watch Now Producer Compensation: The Good and the Great Creating a compensation plan that is both fair to producers and the agency is critical in... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Ethical Problem - Please help! Posted: Tue May 31 -- Does your electronic notepad have a history feature where all activity on the file can be documented? If so, find the date you entered your... Blondie2 ..a complicate package prospect question!.. Posted: Sun May 29 -- Hi Saabins: Thanks for the advice. Yes, she's currently with an standard carrier; Because the premium is so attractive, if it's E&S market... roycheong1031 National Agents Alliance? Legit or Keep Away? Posted: Sat May 28 -- Well everyone I really haven't had time to dedicate to NAA quite yet. But based on what I am reading here I just don't know if it's what I... slushpuppyking Healthcare Reform Posted: Sat May 28 -- There's always a buzz on Health care reform. Recently, Obama made changes on Medicare and then signed the CLASS Act to lessen the dependence... carefree Policies written through E&S markets--Florida Posted: Sat May 28 -- I am curious to find out if there is a specific rule against putting my agency's information over that of the E&S broker that the policy is... saabins Go to Forums Reader Comments Suit Filed in Boy's Fatal Fall After Lakers Game Posted: Thu May 26 -- A tragedy and better barriers are most likely warranted. However, who puts their 2-1/2 year old so close to the edge without another adult... Alice Drunk, Joyriding Husband Covered by Insurance in Michigan for Crash Posted: Fri May 27 -- I think this is a bad decision -- the guy should be prosecuted for stealing the car as well as being held personnally responsible for the... hmmmmm German Insurer Organized Orgy for Best Salesmen Posted: Wed May 25 -- Amazed....please stop bashing our President. If you had 1% of his compassion, you would never have made such an ignorant, insensitive... Cheri Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue AAMGA Issue, Salute to Super Regionals, Premium Finance Directory More Newsletters Choose Newsletters Daily Headlines Weekly Reader Picks Magazine Update Insurance Journal TV Classifieds Breaking News MyNewMarkets Daily Claims Daily Enter Your E-mail Market Directories Excess & Surplus Markets Programs Workers' Comp Markets New Insurance Jobs Sr. Product Development Manager Sr. Product Development Analyst Commercial Account Manager Have a job opening? List it on our Web site. How to Advertise For information about advertising on this newsletter and Insurance Journal magazines, contact Julie Tinney at (800) 897-9965 x148. View our Media Kit for advertising options in our magazines and online properties. Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Preparing Your Clients for Vacation

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Preparing Your Clients for Vacation Don't let it become a nightmare! Learn what your clients should know in this all-new webinar. Vacation time! A time to relax and enjoy family. A time to let your hair down and have a little fun. It's a time your clients look forward to all year. However, vacation time may actually increase the chances that your clients will suffer a loss. Worse yet, because they are away from home and likely engaging in unusual activities, some of these losses may be excluded (or severely limited) unless the proper steps are taken by you – the agent. Click Here to Register What you will learn in this webinar: Coverage gaps when renting a condo or hotel Insurance issues when renting those "toys" (wave runners, 4-wheelers, snow mobiles, etc.) The exposures and coverage issues when renting a car Foreign travel insurance problems When you register, you get: Access to the live webinar Video and Audio recordings, so you can watch or listen again Question & Answer session with the instructor Audio download of the webcast Presentation slides download Join us this Wednesday, June 1st for this one-hour training webinar. (PLUS, all registrants will receive video and audio recordings of the webinar, so you can listen/watch again at your convenience). Space is limited! Click Here to Reserve Your Spot! Regularly priced at $129.00, just $89 when you register today! (special pricing expires Tuesday, May 31) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x120. Date: Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Time: 1:30pm EDT / 10:30am PDT Duration: 1 Hour Price: Save $40 until May 31st! Register today for just $89! Click Here to Register Instructor: Terry Tadlock, CIC, CPCU, CRIS Industry veteran, coverage expert and President of Coastal Plains Insurance, LLC More Great Training Coming Soon: Business Income: It's Easier Than You Think (5-Part Series) - Business income is the MOST important property coverage any insured can buy. Discover how simple the coverage really is during this five-part web series. Performance Management Process - Learn the steps involved in creating and executing a successful Performance Management Process within your organization. Leadership Land Mines and How to Avoid Them - Explore the most common land mines that can undermine your effectiveness as a leader. Learn strategies to overcome your mistakes and minimize their impact on your team. Producer Performance Development Program (8 Sessions) - This program is designed for newer producers and will re-energize experienced producers who have lost the edge in developing new business. Developing Producer Compensation & Agency Perpetuation Plans - Through this course, agency owners, sales managers, and financial officers will begin to see how vital the concept of compensation analysis is to the success of its company. Send to a Friend | Contact Us | Subscribe | Unubscribe | Privacy Policy Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Insurance Journal TV: New York Evaluating Certificates of Insurance Problems

Contact us | Subscribe | Send to a Friend

May 31, 2011 Feature Video New York Evaluating Certificates of Insurance Problems When clients ask insurance agents to alter certificates of insurance, it can create a lot of legal and liability issues. In New York, where it's a major problem, some lawmakers are... Watch Now Popular Videos Markets in Motion: Medi-Spa A Focus on Providing Value Serves Minnesota Agency Well More Insurance Videos Watch InsuranceJournal.tv Subscribe to our iTunes Channel Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Daily Headlines: Friday, May 27, 2011

Contact us | Subscribe | Send to a Friend

May 27, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National States Hit Hardest by Recent Tornadoes Among Least Insured Many of the states hammered by what's already the deadliest year for tornadoes in more than half a century have among the nation's highest ... Smaller Cars Improve Safety Performance As automakers are building more small cars, they are managing to make them safer than ever, new car safety tests show. Six of 13 small cars ... Bankruptcy Court Approves Summit Media Rescue Plan A court has approved a plan of reorganization for Summit Business Media Holding Co., parent of The National Underwriter Co. and other ... Is Human Error in Workplace Preventable? Maybe, Maybe Not If a worker makes a mistake that leads to an accident, should that employee take the blame? Maybe not, according to Indiana University of ... Best Affirms Travelers and Subsidiaries Ratings  A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength ratings (FSR) of 'A+' (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of "aa" of ... Markets in Motion: Medi-Spa The anti-aging market has become more sophisticated, more profitable and more risky. From botox injections to laser treatments, the... More National News East Connecticut Couple Wins $58M Malpractice Award A jury awarded a Connecticut couple $58 million after their baby was born with severe injuries in what the couple's attorneys called the ... Main Join’s Aon in Pittsburgh Aon Risk Solutions named Randy Main senior consultant of health and benefits in the firm's Pittsburgh office. Main will advise clients on ... Confie Seguros Buys Two New Jersey Agencies Confie Seguros has acquired two New Jersey insurance brokerages - Royale Insurance and First Americano Insurance Agency. The agencies' ... More East News Midwest Joplin Tornado Death Toll Rises; Engineers Assess Hospital Damage Rescue and recovery work in Joplin, Missouri was shadowed by uncertainty as crews still hoping to find survivors combed areas that had ... Drunk, Joyriding Husband Covered by Insurance in Michigan for Crash A western Michigan man excluded from his wife's insurance policy still is eligible for benefits in a drunken crash, thanks to a line of ... 14 Killed as Tornadoes Carve Path Through Midwest A violent storm system rumbled through the central U.S. on Wednesday, spawning tornadoes that turned homes into splintered wreckage, ... April Storm Damage in Ohio Estimated at $123M The Ohio Insurance Institute estimates that mid-April storms caused more than $123 million in damage across the state. The industry group ... Illinois Agency Fighting Release of Workers’ Comp Settlement Details The Illinois agency that processes workers' compensation claims is challenging the state attorney general's order that it release details ... Iowa-based United Fire Files Reorganization Plan be automatically converted into one share of United Fire Group common stock. Shareholders of United Fire common stock would hold the same ... More Midwest News Southeast DuPont Moves to Block ‘Double-Dipping’ by West Virginia Plaintiffs DuPont wants a judge to deny plaintiffs in a West Virginia personal injury case the right to enroll in a related, court-administered ... Florida Wildfire Danger High Heading Into Memorial Day Weekend The danger of wildfire is very high throughout Florida due to lack of rain, low humidity and windy conditions. Jim Karels, director of the ... Hub to Acquire South Carolina’s First Southeast Insurance Hub International Limited plans to acquire First Southeast Insurance Services, Inc. (FSIS), an insurance brokerage firm headquartered in ... AuclaireRe Hires Young to Expand Reinsurance Operations Reinsurance intermediary firm AuclairRe International, Inc. announced the expansion of its reinsurance practice with the addition of Rory ... More Southeast News South Central Homeowners of America Insurance Names Rosentraub CFO Homeowners of America Insurance Co., based in Irving, Texas, has named Michael C. Rosentraub as chief financial officer. Rosentraub has ... Texas Mutual to Distribute $155M in Policyholder Dividends Texas Mutual Insurance Co. plans to distribute $155 million in workers' compensation dividends in 2011. Dividends reward loyal ... More South Central News West Colo. Governor Approves Workers’ Comp Reforms Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper has signed legislation approving state workers' compensation reforms. Senate Bill 11-199, sponsored in the ... Oregon Senate Passes Insurance Fraud Bill The Oregon Senate has passed a bill that makes insurance fraud in claims a crime. According to the insurance fraud bill, SB 401, fraud ... Insurance Professionals of Los Angeles Names New Officers The Insurance Professionals of Los Angeles, Inc, (IPLA), a local chapter of the National Association of Insurance Women, International, has ... Wood Gutmann & Bogart Insurance Names Focardi Loss Control Manager Tustin, Calif.-based Wood Gutmann & Bogart Insurance Brokers has named Theresa Focardi loss control manager. She will service customers ... Poms & Associates Adds Two to Staff Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Poms & Associates Insurance Brokers Inc., an insurance brokerage firm focusing on commercial insurance, ... More West News International Visitors Raise Irish Hopes for an End to Financial Crisis The people of Ireland cheered up a bit following the back to back visits of Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and the President of the ... Eurocontrol: No Major Ash Impact on Air Traffic No significant disruptions of air traffic are expected in Europe in coming days as a result of volcanic activity, Eurocontrol said ... Thomas H. Lee Partners to Acquire Sword Insurance Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. (THL), a private equity firm, and the French-owned Sword Group announced that they have signed a definitive ... S&P Lowers Ratings on Residential Re’s Notes to ‘B+’ Standard & Poor's Ratings Services has lowered its rating on the Class 2009-1 notes issued by Residential Reinsurance 2009 Ltd. to ... Ratings: Tunis Re, Endurance (shares), LAPP, Electro Re/First Beacon, National General A.M. Best Europe ?€" Rating Services Limited has removed from under review with negative implications and affirmed the financial strength ... More International News Sponsored Content Nevada Surplus Lines Association – 2011 WSSLC Lake Tahoe, NV, 5/27/11 - The Western States Surplus Lines Conference (WSSLC) will be held at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Incline ... More Sponsored Content Insurance Journal Blogs iQ Universal Truth #3 – The Rules of The Insurance Game iQ Universal Truth #3 The Rules of The Insurance Game One way to look at the competitive arena of insurance sales is to view it as a game. ... More Blogs Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Interstate Compacts? Forget About Them In preparation for new surplus lines regulations, states are considering whether to join a... Watch Now Producer Compensation: The Good and the Great Creating a compensation plan that is both fair to producers and the agency is critical in... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Ethical Problem - Please help! Posted: Fri May 27 -- Is there a paper copy of the request to increase the reserves in your files? If so, leave it there. As to the notepad documentation, if... Big Dog Restaurants in CA Posted: Fri May 27 -- What carriers are big players in restaurants in CA (already know about Allied and Oregon Mutual) This is for a large account with 30... JAM Condo Associations Posted: Fri May 27 -- California. We have Tarvelers and Philadelphia. I just wanted to see what aother bing players might be in this market so I dont waste my... JAM watercraft (jetski )rental Posted: Thu May 26 -- I have several markets that will offer jet ski rental watercraft liability for both the jet skis and the business operations as well. Feel... Jramos SEO and buying back links Posted: Thu May 26 -- Hi, SEO is the only secret that enables us to reach high rankings quickly and naturally for competitive keywords. When the traffic on your... della Which is better "PIA" or "PIIB"? Posted: Wed May 25 -- Does anyone have any recommendations between PIA (Professional Insurance Agency) based out of China, or PIIB (Pacific Interstate Insurance... Nikita137 Continuing Education ... Masters Degree in Insurance? Posted: Tue May 24 -- A CPCU desigination is best. However, I would request an informational interview with a couple of Fortune 500 company's risk managers and... mccluney Need comp in Ca for structural steel contractor Posted: Tue May 24 -- Trotter- we can help you out, please give me a call today or send the Acords to... RAM Go to Forums Reader Comments German Insurer Organized Orgy for Best Salesmen Posted: Mon May 23 -- All I got was a fruit basket... Say What? U.S. Refuses to Pay Michigan Insurer for Ferrari Wrecked by FBI Agent Posted: Mon May 23 -- It really just bugs me that this FBI agent can hop in a car for a joy ride, total it and then the insurer is just out $750,000 due to his... Wayne 2 German Insurer Organized Orgy for Best Salesmen Posted: Tue May 24 -- True, but AIG did make our government bend over... Say What? U.S. Refuses to Pay Michigan Insurer for Ferrari Wrecked by FBI Agent Posted: Mon May 23 -- "It's good to be the King; sucks to be you", so sayeth the King. Little Frog Suit Filed in Boy's Fatal Fall After Lakers Game Posted: Thu May 26 -- A tragedy and better barriers are most likely warranted. However, who puts their 2-1/2 year old so close to the edge without another adult... Alice Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue AAMGA Issue, Salute to Super Regionals, Premium Finance Directory More Newsletters Choose Newsletters Daily Headlines Weekly Reader Picks Magazine Update Insurance Journal TV Classifieds Breaking News MyNewMarkets Daily Claims Daily Enter Your E-mail Market Directories Excess & Surplus Markets Programs Workers' Comp Markets New Insurance Jobs Sr. Product Development Manager Sr. Product Development Analyst Commercial Account Manager Have a job opening? List it on our Web site. How to Advertise For information about advertising on this newsletter and Insurance Journal magazines, contact Julie Tinney at (800) 897-9965 x148. View our Media Kit for advertising options in our magazines and online properties. Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Send to a Friend | Contact Us Insurance Journal 3570 Camino del Rio North, Suite 200 San Diego, CA 92108 (800) 897-9965 Copyright © 2011 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

The Best Training Available about Business Income Coverage

Next week we start what is probably one of the absolute
best training available about Business Income Insurance.

If you're an independent agent, or you own an agency
that serves commercial clients, I highly encourage you
not to miss this.

Learn more and sign up here

*Knowledge* is one of the key differentiators you bring
to the table. And over the next five weeks (one 1-hour
training and Q&A session per week) you're going to
learn more than most anyone about Business Income Insurance.

I wanted to drop you a note this morning, because today
is the last day for you to get in on our big savings
for the 5-week series Business Income Insurance.

Today is the last day you can pre-register for just $347.

When you register, you're going to get:

- Access to the complete 5-week Business Income training series (one-hour each Thursday in June)
- A copy of Chris Boggs top-selling book, "Business Income Insurance Demystified"
- Downloads of all the training materials, including the post-class Q&A calls

You'll learn a ton about BI coverage including:

- How unimportant coinsurance really is
- Picking the correct coinsurance option
- How to coordinate BI coverage with other exposures
- How best to protect your insureds


Click here to see the full course outline, including a breakdown of each weekly session.

Click here to reserve your spot.
http://www.ijacademy.com/business-income

ps: just to answer some of the questions I've been
getting: YES, we will record each of the five live sessions
and send you download links for all the training.

Thank you,

Barbara Dooley
Online Training Coordinator
Insurance Journal Academy of Insurance