Daily Headlines: Thursday, February 3, 2011

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February 3, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Senate Democrats Block Repeal of Healthcare Law President Barack Obama's fellow Democrats in the U.S. Senate blocked a Republican bid Wednesday to repeal his healthcare overhaul, likely ... Congress Trying Again on Patent Reform Senior U.S. lawmakers are once again planning to reform the patent system to try to eliminate huge damage awards, an issue ripe for ... Judge Finds Claims Fund Chief Feinberg Not Independent of BP The administrator of BP Plc's $20 billion fund to compensate victims of the Gulf oil spill is not independent and the oil company must ... Why Elderly Are Bad Drivers When elderly drivers get behind the wheel, they often confront the harrowing reality that they cannot easily see other cars, pedestrians, ... Marsh Forms Alliance with Maplecroft to Assist Clients with Political Risk To assist clients in analyzing and monitoring crucial political, economic, social, and environmental risks, Marsh has formed an alliance ... Berkshire Hathaway Homestate to Provide Workers’ Comp Nationally The Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies (BHHC) now has the ability to provide workers' compensation coverage to their clients in every ... The Hartford Sees 4Q Profits Grow The Hartford reported a larger fourth-quarter profit, as improving results in its wealth management unit offset a variety of cost pressures ... Senate Votes to Rescind IRS 1099 Healthcare Reporting Measure The U.S. Senate Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to rescind a measure in last year's healthcare law that expands business transaction ... Caution: Distressed Commercial Properties The American landscape is littered with partially built, financially distressed or bank owned properties. Whether they are towering condos,... More National News East Delaware Adds 48 New Captives Delaware added 48 new captive insurers last year, doubling the state's total to 96 captives, according to state regulators. Steve Kinion, ... Insurers Laud New Jersey Fraud-Fighting Legislation The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) says it wants New Jersey lawmakers to adopt legislations that would enhance ... McIntyre Group Hires Purfield as Biz Dev Exec New Jersey-based broker The McIntyre Group has named Mark D. Purfield as a marketing executive responsible for business development. ... More East News Midwest Midwest Buckles Under Storm A massive storm billed as the worst in decades barreled toward the northeast Wednesday, leaving vast swaths from Chicago to New York ... Iowa Commissioner: Wellmark May Increase Rates by 8.5%, not 10.8% After completing a review of health insurer Wellmark's November 2010 rate increase request, Iowa Insurance Commissioner Susan E. Voss has ... Agriculture, Energy Help Bolster Mid-America States Economy The economy is gaining strength in nine Midwest and Plains states because global growth and continued low interest rates have provided a ... More Midwest News Southeast Florida Regulator Wants Dallas National Vendetta Lawsuit Dismissed Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is back in federal court looking to end a legal battle with the Texas-based Dallas National ... Csiszar, Ex-Regulator, Named to Board of Florida’s Patriot National Ernest N. Csiszar, former South Carolina insurance commissioner and head of a national insurers organization, has been named to the board ... BB&T Promotes Owen to Director of Commercial Lines in Florida BB&T Insurance Services has promoted David Owen to director of commercial lines and BB&T Insurance Services' at its Fort Myers, ... More Southeast News South Central Arkansas Senate to Take Up Cell Phone While Driving Restrictions The Senate is looking at banning drivers from using handheld cell phones in school and highway work zones, going a step further than a ... Geographer Recreates 'The Great Louisiana Hurricane of 1812' Nearly 200 years before Hurricane Katrina, a major storm hit the coast of Louisiana just west of New Orleans. Because the War of 1812 was ... TDI December Enforcement Actions Result in Nearly $575K in Fines, Restitution Texas Department of Insurance enforcement actions taken by Commissioner Mike Geeslin that became final during December 2010 include four ... More South Central News West EPIC Launches National Public Entities Practice California-based EPIC (Edgewood Partners Insurance Center), a retail property, casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage, has ... Montana Bill Would Send Workers’ Comp Out for Bid A Montana senator believes the state might save money if part of the workers' compensation program were administered by a private ... Reno Facing Decision on Creation of Flood Agency Fourteen years after being hit by flooding, Reno, Nev., elected officials appear split on a plan to create a multi-jurisdictional flood ... Calif. City May Give Red Light Camera Fines to Charity A Southern California city may donate red light camera fines to local charities in an effort to convince skeptics that safety is the motive ... More West News International Cyclone Yasi Spreads Destruction in Queensland, But No Deaths Reported Tropical cyclone Yasi roared ashore on the coast of Queensland last night, causing widespread damage to property and knocking out power ... No Comment from QBE on Report of Talks to Buy Balboa from BofA QBE Insurance, Australia's biggest insurance group, is in talks to buy U.S. insurer Balboa from Bank of America , a media report said on ... Munich Re Estimates 2010 Profits at $3.35 Billion Munich Re announced that its preliminary estimate of its consolidated results for 2010, "despite substantial losses," is €2.43 billion ... ICC Says Impact of Counterfeiting/Piracy to Reach $1.7 trillion by 2015 A new report released from its Paris headquarters by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) indicates that the global economic and ... Aon Benfield Natural Hazard Centre Hosts African Workshop on Disasters Aon Benfield announced that its Natural Hazard Centre in South Africa at the University of Pretoria has hosted the first "ENHANS ... Willis, Atlas Set-up Malta-based Insurer to Underwrite UK Auto Liability The Global Captive Practice of Willis Group Holdings and Atlas Insurance PCC (Protected Cell Company), which is based on the Island of ... 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 How November Elections Changed Insurance Power in Washington The November elections brought change to Washington as Republicans took control of the House... Watch Now Medical Marijuana Retailer High on Insurance Sara Jane Sinclair is the CEO of Sara Jane Inc., a medical marijuana dispensary located in... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Specialty Contractor Posted: Thu Feb 3 -- Specialty contractor in CA does lube and air system installation at gas stations and lube/oil stops. About 50% of revenues is sales, 25%... GRCinCA Captive Agencies with Non-Compete Agreements Posted: Thu Feb 3 -- Many producer agreements come with some sort of a non-compete clauses and nearly all captive agency contracts have non-compete clauses... AgencyEquity Stop It! Posted: Thu Feb 3 -- I am new to this forum but not new to p and c or sales. I have been reading through this forum for the last couple of hours scanning... jrcpcpkc CPCU classes vs. CLU classes Posted: Wed Feb 2 -- Well I actually received my CPCU textbook and guides last night and was surprised at how thin the textbook is. It's about half the size of... bjwestner Social Media and its potential Posted: Wed Feb 2 -- In reply to d's insurance store's comment/question: Considering your audience is one of the most important considerations when using social... ignotus25 Commercial rater Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- Please send me a private message with your contact information. I'd like to talk to you offline about this. Thanks! Carey cstraetz Potentially Starting My Own P&C Agency...Cluster Questions Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- I hope your boss is not reading this, Just kidding. Nevertheless you need to make quite a big margin in order to depend on it. I can't give... aahorncole Pizza Delivery Work Comp Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- There's a great video on YouTube on Human Computer Interface where someone has written a software which is based on MS-DOS and that you can... aahorncole Go to Forums Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue 2011 Market Fact Book and Buyer's Guide; (including all 2010 Surveys in one convenient place!) 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 Homeowners Claim Supervisor Broker's Assistant Process Improvement Specialist 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.

Daily Headlines: Wednesday, February 2, 2011

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February 2, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Berkley Life Sciences Introduces Admitted Commercial Lines Package Berkley Life Sciences, LLC, an insurance underwriting company dedicated solely to the life sciences industry, has begun offering a full ... Predictive Modeling Improving Insurers’ Bottom Lines, Market Share Property/casualty insurance carriers currently utilizing predictive modeling continue to see their bottom lines improve and almost 4 out of ... Caution: Distressed Commercial Properties The American landscape is littered with partially built, financially distressed or bank owned properties. Whether they are towering condos,... More National News East Upstate Agency Acquired by Glens Falls Bank New York-based Glens Falls National Bank and Trust has acquired Upstate Agency Inc., a property and casualty insurance agency with eight ... New York Lawsuit Accuses Toshiba of Discrimination A human resources manager at a Toshiba America Inc. subsidiary sued the company for $100 million, accusing the electronics giant of ... More East News Midwest Minnesota Man Imprisoned After Crash Sues Toyota Attorneys for Toyota Motor Corp. asked a federal judge this week to dismiss most of the claims filed by a Minnesota man who was ... Lawyer for Wisconsin Abuse Accuser Says Vatican Refuses Lawsuit The attorney for a man who says he was sexually abused decades ago by a now-deceased priest at a Wisconsin school for the deaf says the ... Hylant Acquires Michigan Benefits Agency Ohio-based Hylant Group, one of the largest privately owned insurance brokerage firms in the nation, recently acquired a substantial ... More Midwest News Southeast Lloyd's of London Names Smith Southeast Director Lloyd's of London has appointed Rodney Smith to serve as the regional director for Lloyd's newly established Southeast region. Smith will be based in Atlanta, Georgia ... Mississippi AG Asks Court to Intervene in BP Oil Spill Claims Fund U.S. courts must compel the administrator of BP's $20 billion oil spill fund to meet his legal obligations and stop short-changing victims of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, Mississippi said ... More Southeast News South Central Environmental Group Seeks Safety Records on Texas Border Dams An environmental group has filed a lawsuit to compel the release of documents related to the safety of two dams on the Texas-Mexico border. ... Large Sinkhole Forms in Intersection in Texas A 10-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide sinkhole has formed in an intersection in eastern Austin, Texas. Austin Water Utility officials tell the ... Oklahoma Seeks Out-of-State Adjusters to Help with Storm Claims Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner has issued an emergency order granting licenses to insurance adjusters form other states to help cope with ... More South Central News West Farmers May Get Naming Rights to L.A. Stadium A stadium deal worth up to $1 billion could make Los Angeles more alluring to an NFL team. An entertainment company proposing a stadium in ... Montana Businesses Forming Captives to Better Manage Costs Montana licensed a record 26 captive insurance companies in 2010, boosting the number of captives at year-end to 67, also a record, the ... Barney & Barney Names Reeves Chief Sales Officer San Diego-based Barney & Barney LLC has named Trindl Reeves chief sales officer. Reeves, who has been a principal with the century old ... More West News International La Nina Helps Fuel Monster Australian Cyclone Yasi Record ocean temperatures and an intense La Nina weather pattern have helped spawn one of the most powerful cyclones in Australia but whether there ... Cooper Gay Launches European Markets Integrated Trading Unit London-based Cooper Gay, an independent global wholesale, reinsurance and specialist retail insurance broker, has launched Cooper Gay European Markets ... Willis Names Parker to Lead Global Service Centers in Ipswich and Mumbai Willis Group Holdings announced the appointment of Mark Parker as leader of the Group's Global Service Centers in Ipswich and Mumbai, effective ... Willis Appoints Capurro to Lead UK Utilities Practice Willis Group Holdings UK branch announced that Robert Capurro has been appointed leader of the Utilities Practice within its Risk Solutions division, effective ... Best Revises Arch Capital and Subs Outlook to Positive; Affirms Ratings A.M. Best Co. has revised the outlook to positive from stable and affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of 'A' (Excellent) and ... More International News Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV How November Elections Changed Insurance Power in Washington The November elections brought change to Washington as Republicans took control of the House... Watch Now Medical Marijuana Retailer High on Insurance Sara Jane Sinclair is the CEO of Sara Jane Inc., a medical marijuana dispensary located in... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Social Media and its potential Posted: Wed Feb 2 -- In reply to d's insurance store's comment/question: Considering your audience is one of the most important considerations when using social... ignotus25 CPCU classes vs. CLU classes Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- Hello Everyone, Was wondering if there is anyone out there that has their CLU and CPCU that can chime in...I have my CLU and am now starting... bjwestner Why Would an Agency Retain Trust Account Service? Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- The problem with Outsourcing revolves mainly on a trust issue. I mean once you outsource your tasks you also outsource your secrets and the... aahorncole Hiring agents and CSR's Posted: Mon Jan 31 -- One avenue to explore for CSRs is a temp agency. No obligation to keep the employee and you may find a golden nugget, especially in this... kiswest Go to Forums Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue 2011 Market Fact Book and Buyer's Guide; (including all 2010 Surveys in one convenient place!) 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 Homeowners Claim Supervisor Broker's Assistant Process Improvement Specialist 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.

Daily Headlines: Tuesday, February 1, 2011

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February 1, 2011 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Study: Red Light Cameras Reduce Fatal Crashes Red light cameras saved 159 lives between 2004 to 2008 in 14 of the biggest U.S. cities, a new analysis by the Insurance Institute for ... AIG Completes Sale of Japanese Life Insurance Companies to Prudential American International Group, Inc. (AIG) reported it has closed the sale of its Japan-based life insurance subsidiaries, AIG Star Life ... Applied Systems Adds Data Protection, Email Verification Service Insurance agents and brokers can now legally prove who e-mailed what to whom and when. Applied Systems TAMOnline and VisionOnline agency ... Safety Checklist Eliminated Infections, Reduced Hospital Deaths A Johns Hopkins-led safety checklist program that virtually eliminated bloodstream infections in hospital intensive-care units throughout ... Federal Judge in Florida Rules Healthcare Law Must Be Voided A federal judge in Florida struck down President Barack Obama's landmark healthcare overhaul as unconstitutional Monday in the biggest ... The Top Ten D&O Stories of 2010 - Conclusion Below is the conclusion of the Top Ten D&O Stories of 2010: 7. Assessing Coverage for "Bump Up" Claims: As noted above, a significant... More National News East GreenWood International Partners with Cook & Co. for Injured on Duty Coverage in MA, R.I. GreenWood International Insurance Services, Inc (GWI) is has chosen Cook & Company of Marshfield, Mass. to provide claim and ... New York Agents Praise Regulators New Opinion on Bounced Check Fees New York insurance agents are lauding a new legal opinion from state regulators that will allow producers to recover any money lost when ... Poll: Growing Support to Legalize Gay Marriage in New York A new poll shows support among New Yorkers for legalizing gay marriage is growing after years of hovering just over the 50-percent level. ... In Future, Cars Might Decide if Driver is Drunk An alcohol-detection prototype that uses automatic sensors to instantly gauge a driver's fitness to be on the road has the potential to ... More East News Midwest Illinois Changes Procedure for Workers’ Comp Pro Se Settlement Contracts The Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission announced that as of March 1, 2011, no case settlement contracts will be approved until the ... Wisconsin Workers’ Comp Medical Costs Per Claim Increasing The increased cost and more frequent use of medical care provided to injured workers in Wisconsin drove up the average medical payments per ... More Midwest News Southeast Admiral Insurance Names Jones as Vice President in Atlanta Admiral Insurance Co.  has named Stephen Jones as its new vice president of professional liability in the insurer's Atlanta, Georgia ... More Southeast News South Central Louisiana Insurance Agent Arrested for Unfair Trade Practices Troopers with the Lafayette Field Office of the Louisiana State Police Insurance Fraud Unit recently arrested a Ville Platte insurance ... Dean & Draper Recognized for Employee Workplace Satisfaction Houston-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Texas, announced it recently ... More South Central News West George to Chair Insurance Institute for Highway Safety AAA Northern California, Nevada and Utah announced that Steve George has been elected as the new chairman of the board of directors for the ... Bell-Anderson Agency Names Tanta Shareholder The board of directors of Kent, Wash.-based Bell-Anderson Agency Inc. has elevated Steven Tanta as the newest shareholder in the agency. ... Liens Stress California Workers’ Comp System Liens are "choking" California's workers' compensation system, with employers and insurers spending roughly $200 million per year on loss ... Utah Bill Targets Construction Companies That Skirt Workers’ Comp Utah Senate Bill 35 is going after construction companies, requiring them to pay workers' compensation and contribute to unemployment ... More West News International Model Boasts Good Track Record Predicting Political Hotspots The forecast for predicting the next political hotspots could be much more accurate because of a model developed by two Kansas State ... Egypt’s Troubles Mean Companies Need to Reassess Risk, Says Marsh The fallout from the ongoing events in Egypt – protestors have called for a million people to assemble in Cairo today – is affecting ... Flood-ravaged Queensland Braces for Tropical Cyclone Yasi  Just as TC Anthony dissipated over Queensland the flood ravaged State received a warning that another tropical cyclone is heading its ... So. Korea Shipping Firm Re-routes Container Ships due to Egypt Unrest South Korea's Hanjin Shipping was re-routing some of its container vessels due to the unrest in Egypt that has disrupted dry-dock ... Queensland Hit by TC Anthony, Perth by TC Bianca – RMS Report Tropical Cyclone Anthony made landfall over the coast of the Australian State of Queensland on Sunday, close to the town of Bowen, and ... GCube Expands Solar Capacity to Half a Billion Dollars London-based GCube Underwriting Limited, which specializes in insurance services for renewable energy technologies, announced that it has ... AXA Acquires 80% Interest in B&B Insurance in Belarus AXA Central & Eastern Europe announced the acquisition of 80 percent of B&B Insurance, the second largest insurer in Belarus, and ... More International News Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV How November Elections Changed Insurance Power in Washington The November elections brought change to Washington as Republicans took control of the House... Watch Now Medical Marijuana Retailer High on Insurance Sara Jane Sinclair is the CEO of Sara Jane Inc., a medical marijuana dispensary located in... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Social Media and its potential Posted: Tue Feb 1 -- I deem that the reason you don't feel the love is because that social media networking is not for everybody. I myself have not fully grown... aahorncole Hiring agents and CSR's Posted: Mon Jan 31 -- One avenue to explore for CSRs is a temp agency. No obligation to keep the employee and you may find a golden nugget, especially in this... kiswest First American Specialty Posted: Mon Jan 31 -- I think that one of the things that should be important to an agent is how well his clients are treated when they suffer a loss. Obviously... TheClaimsAdvocate Go to Forums Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue 2011 Market Fact Book and Buyer's Guide; (including all 2010 Surveys in one convenient place!) 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 Homeowners Claim Supervisor Broker's Assistant Process Improvement Specialist 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 Surprising Importance of Employers' Liability

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Thursday, February 3, 2011 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. EST The Surprising Importance of Employers' Liability Protection - One-hour of training and Q&A w/Chris Boggs - Live presenation online, and recorded for access later - Share access with others in your office Employers' Liability protection is often overlooked or just plain ignored by many agents and brokers. The gaps filled by this coverage are too important to act carelessly when planning this protection. This session provides a new appreciation for the importance of employers' liability protection. When: Thursday, February 3 Time: 1:30pm Eastern (10:30am Pacific) Cost: $109 just $84 when you use code WCOMP25 Register Now 40 spots left - Reserve Your Seat Today! Use code WCOMP25 for a $25 discount. * promotional code expires February 2, 2011 Student Feedback: "What a wonderful class you just presented. You are a wealth of knowledge, on point, concise and have great examples to share. You made it easy to understand the material. I sincerely enjoyed listening to you and actually feel like I am walking away with the knowledge that I signed up for. I hope to take additional classes from you in the future." Meet the Instructor Chris Boggs, Director of Education Insurance Journal Academy of Insurance Christopher J. Boggs, CPCU, ARM, ALCM, LPCS, AAI, APA, CWCA, CRIS, AINS is the Director of the Academy of Insurance at Insurance Journal. Chris has a unique ability to break things down and make complex insurance issues easy to understand. Chris has authored three books, "Property and Casualty Insurance Concepts Simplified", "Business Income Insurance Demystified", and "The Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation" (these books are available here). More Workers Comp Training Live call-in February 10 How to Read, Understand and Explain the Experience Modification Worksheet Learn the who, what, when, why and how of experience modification. Who is eligible for or required to have an experience modification factor? What is an experience modification factor and why are they used? And the major question, "How are experience mods calculated?" When: Next Thursday, February 10 Cost: $109 Add to Cart 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.

Insurance Journal TV: Industry Can Count on Slow Economic Recovery in 2011

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February 1, 2011 Feature Video Industry Can Count on Slow Economic Recovery in 2011 Insurance Information Institute Chief Economist Steven Weisbart gives his economic outlook for 2011. Watch Now Popular Videos Social Media and Lawyers Calif. Commissioner Poizner: Insurance Agent Advice Critical to Commissioner Position 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.