Daily Headlines: Monday, March 5, 2012

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March 5, 2012 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National BP’s $7.8 Billion Deal May Speed Gulf Spill Payments The estimated $7.8 billion deal struck by BP Plc with businesses and individuals suing over the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill could ... BP’s Potential Pricetag for Gulf Oil Spill BP Plc struck a deal on Friday to pay an estimated $7.8 billion to settle claims from individuals and businesses stemming from the 2010 ... Three Mull Lawsuits in U.S. Against Murdoch’s News Corp. Three people who believe they were targeted by a private investigator working for Rupert Murdoch's News of the World while they were in the ... Marsh & McLennan CFO Wittman Resigns for Senior Role at Google Marsh & McLennan Companies announced that Vanessa Wittman, the company's executive vice president and chief financial officer, is resigning ... AIG Sells $500 Million Stake in Blackstone Bailed-out insurer American International Group Inc. sold its entire $500 million stake in private equity firm Blackstone Group LP on ... Death Toll, Damage Mount from Tornadoes in Midwest, South Across the South and Midwest, survivors emerged Saturday to find blue sky and splinters where homes once stood, cars flung into buildings ... Insurers Face Huge Losses from Latest Deadly Tornadoes Less than a year after a series of tornadoes caused some of the worse insured losses in U.S. history, the insurance industry is likely ... BP Reaches $7.8 Billion Deal Over Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill BP Plc has reached an estimated $7.8 billion deal with businesses suing over the massive 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the company said on ... Online Commercial Lines Quoting Tool Launched The launch of a real-time commercial lines rater that gives agents access to a handful of large carriers was announced today by a division... More National News East New York’s Cardinal Urges ‘Freedom of Religion Battle’ New York's Cardinal Timothy Dolan is calling on worshippers to become more involved in politics as the church stands against the government ... Vermont Communities Pouring Out Stories of Irene Five months after the remnants of Hurricane Irene inundated Vermont, people from one end of the state to the other are recording their ... Report Raps Connecticut Utility Over Oct. Storm Response A report commissioned by Northeast Utilities says subsidiary Connecticut Light & Power did not fully recognize the risks of the weather ... N.Y.-based Preferred Concepts Names VP to Lead Online Business Unit Preferred Concepts LLC, a national insurance program administrator and specialty broker, appointed Georgeanna Munger as vice president to ... More East News Midwest Missouri Senator Pushes for Changes to Homewoners Insurance After the powerful tornado tore through his southwest Missouri hometown in May 2011, Joplin resident Chuck Surface said he and his wife had ... Woods Appointed Chief Medical Officer at Ohio Work Comp Bureau Dr. Stephen T. Woods, M.D. has been named medical director at the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC). Woods will be responsible ... Cost of North Dakota's Souris River Flood Plan: $820M A long-term Souris River flood protection plan in North Dakota could cost $820 million. Engineers have released their 1,500-page proposal ... More Midwest News Southeast Small Towns in Southeast Hit Hard by Tornadoes Residents of towns throughout the Southeast are recovering from the shock of last Friday's severe storms and tornadoes. Along with pubic ... Florida House Passes PIP Fraud Bill A bill aimed at cracking down on rampant fraud in the state's personal injury protection insurance was passed Friday in the Florida House ... Court Blocks Drug Enforcement Against Florida’s Cardinal Health, CVS A U.S. appeals court has agreed to temporarily allow Cardinal Health Inc. to continue distributing strictly-controlled prescription drugs ... Say Something Nice About Florida's Insurance Market So much that is said and written about Florida's insurance climate is negative. Is there anything good to say about Florida's insurance ... More Southeast News South Central Appeals Court Upholds Corps’ Liabilty in Katrina Flood Ruling A federal appeals court has upheld a judge's landmark ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers is liable for property owners' claims, ... Oklahoma House Panel Votes to Close Daycare Insurance Loophole An Oklahoma House of Representatives committee has voted to close a loophole in state law, ensuring that all daycare facilities have ... Centauri Insurance Offers Homeowners Coverage in Louisiana Centauri Insurance, a homeowners insurance carrier based in Sarasota, Fla., is now providing homeowners insurance coverage in Louisiana. ... More South Central News West Montana Reaches $1.6 Million Settlement with Exxon over Pipeline Spill Officials in Montana have finalized a $1.6 million settlement with Exxon Mobil over an oil pipeline break that spilled 1,500 barrels of ... Another Bad Year For Arizona Wildfires Could Return Conditions that pushed fire through a million acres of Arizona grassland and forest last year could return this spring to Southern Arizona. ... Shell Files Pre-Emptive Offshore Drilling Lawsuit Shell Oil Co. is taking the offensive against environmental groups that have put legal roadblocks in the company's path to offshore ... Montana Department of Labor Loses Lawsuit Over Firing A jury has awarded the former executive director of the Montana Board of Nursing $160,000 in a wrongful discharge lawsuit against the ... Nevada Approves Regulations for Self-Driving Cars Nevada is becoming the first of the U.S. states to regulate self-driving vehicles on its roadways. The state's legislative commission has ... Agency Blames Lack Of Control For Alaska Mine Accident A federal agency blames inadequate management policies, procedures and controls for a fatal accident at an Alaska mine last year. The U.S. ... More West News International AIG to Sell $6 Billion Worth of AIA shares to Repay U.S. Bail-out American International Group is selling part of its stake in AIA Group to raise about $6 billion to help the U.S. insurer repay a huge ... Arch Capital to Acquire Ariel Re’s Credit & Surety Reinsurance Operations The selloff of various parts of Ariel Re continues, as Arch Capital announced that it will acquire Ariel Re's Credit & Surety ... Best, S&P React to Ariel Re Sale of Bermuda, Zurich Units Both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's issued bulletins following the announcement that Ariel Re was selling off its Bermuda-based ... ABI Head Warns EU Solvency Rules Must Not Deter Growth, Investment Otto Thoresen, Director General of the Association of British Insurers, has called for European Union policy makers to ensure that draft EU ... Endorsements for All Business Classes in London Go Electronic Says LMG The London Market Group (LMG) announced that the electronic endorsements initiative will extend to all classes of business as of today, the ... Ratings Recap: CIS (Panama), Guild, Eurasia, Halyk-Kazakhinstrakh A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of 'A-' (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of "a-" of Panama's Compania ... More International News Sponsored Content Webcetera Releases Major Update to Industry Leading EZLynx® Software Flower Mound, TX, 03/01/12 – Webcetera, L.P., the company behind the innovative EZLynx® platform, has released a major update to their ... Insurance Journal now available on the iPhone - Download it free today! More Sponsored Content Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Should D&O Cover Bribery? Director and officers liability coverage is increasingly being called up to respond to cases... Watch Now Chartis CEO Hancock on Fear, Regulation, Science and Expenses Peter D. Hancock, CEO of Chartis, AIG's global property/casualty business, discussed the... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Licensed vs non licensed CSR ( CA) Posted: Mon Mar 5 -- Hiring a non-licensed CSR potentially puts your agency, license, and E&O at risk. If an unlicensed CSR is talking coverage with clients,... Big Dog Should I accept Allied Appointment? Posted: Mon Mar 5 -- Run! rodgwag How have you Benefited from your Cluster Membership? Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- Ditto Jam It is good to have choices- Farmers thru its DM had turned the agent contract into an employee position with none of the benefits... William Graham Travelers Insurance in CA Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- Not a big issue here yet but we mainly write package anyway. Just throw in a silver renters policy. JAM CA Electrical Contractor BOP/GL Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- Victory has a good admitted program. JAM Allstate Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- From what I hear they are trying to get the smaller agencies to close and create super agencies. JAM I Feel Like Crying ! Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- what ever you do don't join Farmers, or State Farm. If I had to do it all over again I would get my license and go work for an agency while... JAM ADA Violations Posted: Sun Mar 4 -- EPLI with 3rd party will generally cover this. Some carriers like CNA will give you the option to ad it as an endorsement up to 500k. For... JAM Where to locate a NEW branch? Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Have you tried using Google Maps? Kiddin. I think the online directory of Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA) would be helpful. It... sethm Go to Forums Reader Comments Disabled Vet Gets $20k in Utah Service Dog Dispute Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- From experience, most board members of an HOA and most managers either don't know the law or choose to ignore it. Good win. Anejo Insurance Fight Shows Catholic-Evangelical Ties Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- What I meant to say is that I am pro choice. I don't really see the difference in the two statements. Please help me clarify the... ijs Oregon To Pay $1.5M In Torture Death Lawsuit Posted: Fri Mar 2 -- While this death is both sickening and tragic, I find it disgusting the state is being sued. Perhaps, rather than commit crimes, to the... Mike N N.Y. Cardinal to Give Speech on Contraceptive Coverage Debate Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- What a well thought out, mature, concise comment TSOPOV. I hope you put as much thought and effort in your law office clients as you do your... ijs Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue Hospitality Risks Directory; Homeowners & Auto; Technology & New Media Risks March 5, 2012 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 Casualty Claim Representative/Senior Casualty Claim Rep. Broker/Assistant Broker Producer, Commercial Lines Insurance Producers 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 © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Daily Headlines: Friday, March 2, 2012

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March 2, 2012 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National U.S. Seeks Dismissal of Ex-CEO Greenberg’s $25B Lawsuit on AIG Takeover The U.S. government has asked a court to dismiss a lawsuit relating to its 2008 takeover of American International Group that was filed by ... Court Revives Securities Case Involving Foreign vs. Domestic Transactions A federal appeals court has breathed new life into a lawsuit accusing a Beverly Hills broker-dealer of defrauding nine hedge funds out of ... U.S. Regulators to Issue Post-Fukushima Safety Rules As the first anniversary of Japan's Fukushima nuclear disaster approaches, U.S. nuclear regulators have moved to issue the first new rules ... Chartis Enhances Fiduciary Liability Coverage Chartis has introduced enhancements to its fiduciary liability product for private companies, nonprofits and financial institutions. The ... CFC Introduces Tailored Policy for PEOs CFC Underwriting, a Lloyd's MGA, has launched a tailored policy for professional employment organizations (PEOs) that includes ... Driving on ‘High’-way: Many Teen Drivers Admit Having Driven After Pot A surprisingly large number of U.S. teen drivers admit to having driven under the influence of marijuana, according to Liberty Mutual ... Privacy Breaches Boost Technology Coverages The airwaves have been filled with information about the latest privacy breach involving Wikileaks releasing e-mails from Stratfor, a global... More National News East Pennsylvania High Court Overturns Malpractice Fund Ruling Pennsylvania's highest court is handing the Corbett administration a major victory in a dispute over a malpractice insurance fund. The ... Chartis No Longer Writing Excess Workers’ Comp as Stand-Alone Product American International Group disclosed in its annual report that Chartis management decided last year to cease writing excess workers' ... Workers’ Comp Surcharge Cost Burden to N.Y. Employers: Study The assessment surcharge added to workers' compensation costs for New York employers is increasingly becoming a burden for businesses, ... Philadelphia-based Graham Company Announces Promotion The Graham Company, one of the Mid-Atlantic region's largest insurance and employee benefits brokers, promoted industry veteran Dina ... Former N.J. Insurance Commissioner Bakke Joins DataCede Consulting firm DataCede Companies said former New Jersey Banking and Insurance Commissioner Holly Bakke has joined the firm as managing ... Conn.-based S.H. Smith & Co. Appoints Account Manager S.H. Smith & Co. Inc., a wholesaler and managing general agent based in Hartford, Conn., appointed Shauntelle Lake as account manager in ... More East News Midwest Tales of Chaos After Deadly Pre-Dawn Midwest Storms Jeff Rann had ample warning that terrible weather was approaching before dawn. A frantic call to his wife from his mother-in-law alerted ... Storm Damages Missouri Country Music Resort Town, Kills 9 A powerful storm system that produced multiple reports of tornadoes and lashed the Midwest early Wednesday roughed up the entertainment ... Storm That Hit Branson Was 22-Mile Tornado The National Weather Service has confirmed that the heavy damage in the southwestern Missouri town of Branson was caused by a 22-mile-long ... North Dakota River Flood Plan Cost Estimated at $820 Million A Souris River flood protection plan in North Dakota could cost $820 million. Engineers have released their 1,500-page proposal to protect ... More Midwest News Southeast Senate Panel Advances Florida PIP Reform Bill A Senate bill aimed at cracking down on the rampant personal injury protection insurance fraud that costs Florida drivers more than $1 ... North Carolina Resolves Hurricane Irene Claims North Carolina regulators have recovered over $400,000 for policyholders stemming from claims filed in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene. At ... South Carolina Restaurant Sued for Wrongful Death A renowned Charleston, S.C. restaurant has been named as a defendant in a wrongful death case. The Post and Courier of Charleston reported ... West Virginia Safety Bill Responds to Upper Big Branch Tragedy A father crushed in a roof fall. A former schoolmate suffocated by poisoned air. Sharing stories of loved ones and friends killed in West ... More Southeast News South Central Oklahoma Advances Open-Carry Firearm Bill Despite some concern that Oklahoma is returning to the "lawless days of yesteryear," a state House panel has approved a bill (House Bill ... Oil Well Control Veteran, Krause, Joins J.H. Blades & Co. Brian Krause has joined Houston-based J.H. Blades & Co. Inc., a division of Swett & Crawford. Krause is a veteran in the oil and ... More South Central News West Oregon To Pay $1.5M In Torture Death Lawsuit The state of Oregon has agreed to pay $1.5 million to the estate of a murdered Eugene teenager. The settlement will resolve a lawsuit ... Report: Arizona P/C Insurers See Premiums Written Fall and Losses Rise A report on Arizona's property/casualty insurers issued on Thursday shows a drop in written premiums to $7.4 billion, and a large ... Nevada Workers' Comp Loss Costs to See 1% Increase Many Nevada employers will see a small increase in the premiums they pay for workers' compensation insurance in 2012. Nevada Insurance ... EPIC Names Brown Vice President of Claims Management Edgewood Partners Insurance Center, a retail property-casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage, has named Hilton Brown to oversee ... More West News International Iran Ship Insurer Vows to Pay Western Claims Despite Sanctions Tough new U.S. sanctions against Iran are raising concern that the OPEC member's insurers may not be able to pay Western claims in the ... Japan Refiners Eye Force Majeure Clauses Due to Lack of Insurance Japanese buyers of Iran crude may ask Tehran to include a force majeure clause in contracts if they are unable to pay Iran or lift Iranian ... Pirates Thwarted in Attack on Nigerian Tanker Pirates have attacked a ship off the coast of Nigeria for the second time in as many days, but the attackers were thwarted in the latest ... Goldman Sachs Acquiring Ariel Re Bermuda Operations Goldman Sachs Group said it is acquiring Ariel Reinsurance's Bermuda-based insurance and reinsurance operations, which it will combine ... More International News Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Should D&O Cover Bribery? Director and officers liability coverage is increasingly being called up to respond to cases... Watch Now Chartis CEO Hancock on Fear, Regulation, Science and Expenses Peter D. Hancock, CEO of Chartis, AIG's global property/casualty business, discussed the... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums ADA Violations Posted: Fri Mar 2 -- Not run across this I presume it is a commercial risk? I would appreciate knowing the details - if it gets litigated there, I am sure it... William Graham Travelers Insurance in CA Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- With TRV we can do home or auto alone in CA - but we can't do tenant occupied dp3 unless they have personal residence insured with TRV. I... GRCinCA Where to locate a NEW branch? Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Have you tried using Google Maps? Kiddin. I think the online directory of Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA) would be helpful. It... sethm Identity Theft Insurance Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Some companies now include identity theft insurance as part of their homeowners' insurance policy. Others sell it as either a stand-alone... sethm Questions about starting an MGA Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- Thanks DM. I actually called around and got a quote for about $5,000, which is MP I was told. I was expecting that. paulbennings CA Electrical Contractor BOP/GL Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- There are any number of Preferred carriers (Allied, CNAInsurance) who write commercial contractors. Have you checked with your Direct... LadyBroker Full-service boutique brokerage and invest Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- I have a buddy of mine who is about to open is own Full-service boutique and brokerage and investment firm. He was also thinking of... CoJones How have you Benefited from your Cluster Membership? Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- I want to Ditto what SACMAN had to say --- I am a former FIG agent for 22 years, Farmers divorced me. I thought briefly about staying away... William Graham Go to Forums Reader Comments Pennsylvania Township, Schools Pay $63K to Banned Fan Mom Posted: Fri Feb 24 -- It really should be mandatory that parents be given a tranquilizer before they are allowed to watch their kid play sports. Anejo Disabled Vet Gets $20k in Utah Service Dog Dispute Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- From experience, most board members of an HOA and most managers either don't know the law or choose to ignore it. Good win. Anejo Insurance Fight Shows Catholic-Evangelical Ties Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- What I meant to say is that I am pro choice. I don't really see the difference in the two statements. Please help me clarify the... ijs Lawsuit Filed in Iowa Over Tainted Sprouts Posted: Fri Feb 24 -- I've always found a little food poisoning was good for a quick 5-10 pound weight loss. My system gets cleaned out and the sweats clean out... Anejo Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue Agency Salary Survey; Boats & Marinas; Agribusiness / Farm & Ranch February 20, 2012 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 Casualty Claim Representative/Senior Casualty Claim Rep. Broker/Assistant Broker Producer, Commercial Lines Insurance Producers 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 © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Are you a Workers' Comp Expert?

Having trouble reading this email? View it as a webpage. Not interested anymore? Unsubscribe instantly. Today's Special Offer   What You Get Four live training sessions (see course outline below) Q&A sessions after each training Recordings of the sessions following each training Anytime access to all four modules Watch or listen as many times as you like Free work comp book PDF download of The Insurance Professional's Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation book by Chris Boggs One of our top-selling courses, more than one thousand students have attended our workers' comp trainings! No Risk, Money Back Guarantee. We know you're going to appreciate the value of the training you receive. It's simple. If you're not completely satisfied with the training, just contact us and we'll promptly issue you a full refund. Space is limited! Register today to save your spot! Regularly priced at $397.00, just $297.00 when you register today! (special pricing expires Friday, March 9) Register today and you'll also receive a free download of "The Insurance Professional's Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation" book by Chris Boggs. Your registration includes access to all of the following training sessions: Course and Scope Rule / Live call-in March 8 Session 1: The Course and Scope Rule and its Gray Areas - Including a Discussion of Compensable Occupational Disease For an injury to be compensable it must "arise out of and be in the course and scope" of the worker's employment. "Course and scope" is not always black and white; there is sometimes a bit of gray area. This session will illuminate some of the gray areas and guide the participant through some interpretations of "course and scope." View and Buy Now What is an Employee? / Live call-in March 15 Session 2: Employees, Independent Contractors, General Contractors and Contractual Risk Transfer in Work Comp Who qualifies as an "employee?" The answer can depend on statute, contract and the facts surrounding the relationship between the worker and the individual or entity making use of the worker's services. Session 2 dissects employee/employer relationships to avoid surprises following a loss or at audit. View and Buy Now 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." Additional States / Live call-in March 22 Session 3: When to Add Additional States - Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Problems Potential coverage limit gaps or the complete loss of coverage are possible when employees work in states in which the employer has no specific location. To avoid these gaps or the loss of coverage requires recognition of the problems and knowledge of the available solutions. This session highlights the problems, focuses on the solutions and provides guidelines and rules that should be followed in deciding to name a state. View and Buy Now Employers' Liability / Live call-in March 29 Session 4: 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?" View and Buy Now Student Feedback: "From what I have listened in on - about 3 hours or so is FANTASTIC." When you register, you also get: Access to each live class Question & Answer session after each class Recording of each session, so you won't miss any of the content MP3 download of the webcast Presentation slides download Free download of the The Insurance Professional's Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation book by Chris Boggs Meet the Instructor: 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 is the author of five books, • Property and Casualty Insurance Concepts Simplified, • Business Income Insurance Demystified, • The Practical Guide to Workers' Compensation, • Insurance Is Not Risk Management and • Wow! I Never Knew That! 12 of the Most Misunderstood and Misused P&C Insurance Coverages, Concepts and Exclusions (these books are available here) Course Dates: Your registration includes access to ALL four sessions. All classes start promptly at 10:30am Pacific / 1:30pm Eastern. Part 1: Thursday, March 8 Part 2: Thursday, March 15 Part 3: Thursday, March 22 Part 4: Thursday, March 29 Space is limited! Register today to save your spot! Regularly priced at $397.00, just $297.00 when you register today! (special pricing expires Friday, March 9) Have questions or need help? Send an email to webcasts@insurancejournal.com or call Barbara at 800-897-9965 x166. 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 © 2012 by Wells Publishing, Inc.

Daily Headlines: Thursday, March 1, 2012

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March 1, 2012 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Ex-Security Chief at West Virginia Mine Gets 3 Years in Jail A U.S. judge sentenced the former security chief at a West Virginia mine to three years in prison after being convicted of two felonies ... States Won't Oppose Honda Hybrid Settlement News sources are reporting that five states that were given a deadline to oppose a class-action settlement between Honda Motor Co. and ... 5 Startup Businesses Agents Should Watch It hasn't been the best of times for America's Main Street businesses. Often facing overwhelming competition from big box stores, many ... Insurance Journal Co-Sponsors Study on Agents’ Views on Carriers Channel Harvest Research, in partnership with Insurance Journal, has launched a major new study on the Independent Agency System, probing ... State Farm Profit Took Hit in Stormy 2011 State Farm lost $4.5 billion on its property/casualty underwriting in 2011 – which is $1.3 billion more than it lost in 2010. The ... K&K Insurance Expands Skating Program K&K Insurance Service Group has expanded its ice and inline skating facilities program to include roller skating rinks. Insureds can ... Sentry Insurance Group Names McPartland as CEO Pete G. McPartland has been named chief executive officer at Sentry Insurance a Mutual Company in Stevens Point, Wis. Dale R. Schuh, who ... Companion P&C Names Rhodes Chief Operating Officer Companion Property & Casualty Insurance Group of Columbia, S.C., has named Robert C. Rhodes vice president and chief operating officer. ... Privacy Breaches Boost Technology Coverages The airwaves have been filled with information about the latest privacy breach involving Wikileaks releasing e-mails from Stratfor, a global... More National News East N.Y. Prosecutors Say Fraud Scheme Was Largest of Its Kind in History Authorities are describing the takedown of a massive auto insurance fraud ring in New York the largest of its kind involving New York's ... N.Y. Cardinal to Give Speech on Contraceptive Coverage Debate Cardinal Timothy Dolan is planning a speech on the recent controversy involving contraceptive coverage in health insurance plans. The ... N.J. Audit Finds State Health Plan Cheaper for Towns More than a third of New Jersey counties and towns are wasting millions of dollars on health insurance brokers and premiums when switching ... Health Insurer Anthem Loses Appeal to Maine Supreme Court The Maine supreme court has rejected health insurer Anthem's claim that it has a right to a 3-percent profit and risk margin when setting ... Narragansett Bay Insurance Co. Appoints N.J. Territory Manager Rhode Island-based Narragansett Bay Insurance Company appointed Lori Pakrul as territory manager of New Jersey, where she will be ... Dozens Charged in Massive Insurance Fraud Scheme in New York Federal and local authorities in New York unveiled charges today against 36 defendants -- including 10 doctors and three attorneys -- ... More East News Midwest Storms Blamed for 4 Deaths, Widespread Damage in Midwest A powerful storm system that produced multiple reports of tornadoes lashed the Midwest early Wednesday, roughing up the country music ... Storm Damages Homes in Indiana Town A possible tornado swept across the Ohio River town of Newburgh on Wednesday, damaging several homes in the community's historic riverside ... More Midwest News Southeast Alabama Seeks to License Public Adjusters Alabama regulators and public adjuster groups are lobbying state lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow the state for the first time to ... Mississippi House Revisits Vetoed Auto Insurance Verification Bill A proposal to set up online computer checks to make sure drivers have auto insurance is again moving forward in the Mississippi House. A ... Kentucky Lawmakers Advance Amish Buggy Legislation Lawmakers in Kentucky have moved a step closer to discarding a longstanding traffic safety measure in the name of religious freedom, ... Florida Lawmakers Keep Their Health Premiums Below Other State Workers’ Florida legislators, saying that they differ from rank-and-file state workers, have killed an effort to force themselves to pay more for ... More Southeast News South Central Dallas Doctor, 6 Others Arrested in $375M Health Care Fraud Scheme A physician and the office manager of his medical practice, along with five owners of home health agencies, were arrested today on charges ... More South Central News West Utah Justices: Doctors Should Consider Impact On Family Utah's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that lawyers can pursue a lawsuit seeking to hold doctors responsible for the actions of a man who ... Carriers Settle Lawsuit Vs. OC Register For $30M Thousands of newspaper carriers have settled their class-action lawsuit against the Orange County Register for a total of $30 million. The ... PG&E Says New Gas Safety Plan Will Cost $5B Pacific Gas & Electric Co. on Tuesday proposed for its customers to pay the lion's share of a $5 billion plan to boost safety on its ... Leavitt Group Taps Somers Concord, Calif.-based Jenkins Insurance Group, a Leavitt Group firm, has hired Chuck Somers as vice president of business insurance. With ... Investigative Unit to Target California's Serial Labor Law Violators California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su's aim is to send a message to the state's underground economy. The message is that the ... More West News International Google Privacy Policy Violates European Law, Agencies Say Data protection agencies in European countries have concluded Google Inc.'s new privacy policy is in breach of European law, EU Justice ... HSBC Close to $1B Insurance Sale to AXA, QBE: Reuters British bank HSBC Holdings Plc is nearing a deal to sell its general insurance business for about $1 billion, sources familiar with the ... Greece Has Not Triggered CDS Insurance Payments: ISDA Greece has not triggered a payout on credit default swaps by its recent moves to prepare for a debt restructuring, the International Swaps ... Fired Olympus Boss Woodford Launches Wrongful Termination Suit Michael Woodford, the former Olympus CEO, on Thursday kicks off his legal battle for wrongful dismissal on the grounds of discrimination ... More International News Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Should D&O Cover Bribery? Director and officers liability coverage is increasingly being called up to respond to cases... Watch Now Chartis CEO Hancock on Fear, Regulation, Science and Expenses Peter D. Hancock, CEO of Chartis, AIG's global property/casualty business, discussed the... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Where to locate a NEW branch? Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Have you tried using Google Maps? Kiddin. I think the online directory of Association of Online Insurance Agents (AOIA) would be helpful. It... sethm Identity Theft Insurance Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Some companies now include identity theft insurance as part of their homeowners' insurance policy. Others sell it as either a stand-alone... sethm Travelers Insurance in CA Posted: Thu Mar 1 -- Same here in Colorado Travelers has made it clear that it does not want to be the dumping ground for all the mono-line homes -- They want... William Graham Questions about starting an MGA Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- Thanks DM. I actually called around and got a quote for about $5,000, which is MP I was told. I was expecting that. paulbennings CA Electrical Contractor BOP/GL Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- There are any number of Preferred carriers (Allied, CNAInsurance) who write commercial contractors. Have you checked with your Direct... LadyBroker Full-service boutique brokerage and invest Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- I have a buddy of mine who is about to open is own Full-service boutique and brokerage and investment firm. He was also thinking of... CoJones How have you Benefited from your Cluster Membership? Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- I want to Ditto what SACMAN had to say --- I am a former FIG agent for 22 years, Farmers divorced me. I thought briefly about staying away... William Graham is being profitable in NJ ever become reality? Posted: Tue Feb 28 -- Hello All, I wanted to get some input/comments from others in the insurance industry to see what they are seeing in regards to this issue... bjwestner Go to Forums Reader Comments Mom Sues UC Over Son's Overdose at UC Berkeley Posted: Mon Feb 27 -- Let's see....He was an adult (21), his mommy wants to blame the people that own the building for not acting like his mommy. I'm missing... csp Pennsylvania Township, Schools Pay $63K to Banned Fan Mom Posted: Fri Feb 24 -- It really should be mandatory that parents be given a tranquilizer before they are allowed to watch their kid play sports. Anejo Disabled Vet Gets $20k in Utah Service Dog Dispute Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- From experience, most board members of an HOA and most managers either don't know the law or choose to ignore it. Good win. Anejo 6 Things I Learned from Reading Steve Jobs Authorized Biography Posted: Fri Feb 24 -- Great commentary Alan. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Frank Seigel, CPCU Taxpayers See Gain As New York Fed Sells Last of AIG Bailout Bonds Posted: Wed Feb 29 -- the only gain for tax payers is that their wealth has been transferred and their government further impoverished by the privately owned Fed.... Bill Ford Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue Agency Salary Survey; Boats & Marinas; Agribusiness / Farm & Ranch February 20, 2012 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 Casualty Claim Representative/Senior Casualty Claim Rep. Broker/Assistant Broker Producer, Commercial Lines Insurance Producers Have a job opening? List it on our Web site. 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