Articles by Dave Thomas

Ala. Officials Arrest 3 Following February Church Arson Fires

Authorities and residents of Alabama got some good news on Wednesday following a series of church fires last month. Three college students from Birmingham were arrested in connection with nearly a dozen church fires in the state. In all, 10 …

Nonprofits invite new exposures when they act like for-profits

As they face pressure to do more with less, nonprofit organizations are increasingly modeling some of their fund raising, employment practices and even marketing of services after for-profit businesses. According to a recent study, this so-called “capacity building” process has …

WHEN THE NONPROFIT

While nobody wants to report a loss, there are several insurers that are not bothered if they don’t report a profit. They serve the nonprofit market and are themselves nonprofit organizations. One of the nonprofit insurers in the market is …

Nonprofits invite new exposures when they act like for-profits

As they face pressure to do more with less, nonprofit organizations are increasingly modeling some of their fund raising, employment practices and even marketing of services after for-profit businesses. According to a recent study, this so-called “capacity building” process has …

When the nonprofit insurer is itself a nonprofit

Over the years, many a vexed property/casualty insurance company chief executive has joked about his firm being a nonprofit, blaming pricing regulation, market cycles, high loss ratios, low investment income or some combination of these forces for erasing any net …

Nonprofits invite new exposures when they act like for-profits

As they face pressure to do more with less, nonprofit organizations are increasingly modeling some of their fundraising, employment practices and marketing of services after for-profit businesses. According to a recent study, this has risks for charitable, social service and …

Significant rains has Californians sopping wet

Just like traffic, higher gasoline prices and high housing costs, Californians have come to expect certain things living in the Golden State. Most recently, it has been the rainy season, which many insurance agents and claims adjusters know like clockwork. …

All But 1 West Virginia Miners Found Dead; Early Reports Said 12 Survived

Editor’s Note: This story was updated at 3 a.m. EST. News prior to then indicated that early reports were 12 miners in a West Virginia coal mine explosion had been found alive. Hours later, officials said that was not the …

Hurricane Katrina Leads to Large Number of Claims, Frustration

While Hurricane Katrina spent only a couple of days menacing the Gulf Coast, the trail of destruction in both lives and properties lingers on months later. As places like New Orleans, Mississippi and other surrounding affected areas look to recover …

Independent Agents Feel Hurricane Katrina’s Full Force

Residents in many areas of the Gulf Coast watched their lives change forever on Aug. 29, 2005. When all was said and done, Hurricane Katrina went in the record books as the country’s worst natural disaster, leaving a large swath …