Insurance Journal » Stephanie K. Jones

Cause of Texas Fertilizer Fire ‘Undetermined,’ Authorities Say

Stephanie K. Jones — Fri, 17 May 2013 00:16:28 +0000

The cause of the fire that triggered the explosions in a fertilizer plant in Texas last month has been deemed “undetermined,” investigators say. Texas State Fire Marshall Chris Connealy said the scene investigation into what caused the fire in the …

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Oklahoma Governor Signs Workers’ Compensation Overhaul

Stephanie K. Jones — Wed, 08 May 2013 16:00:28 +0000

Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin on May 6 signed a measure to overhaul the state’s workers’ compensation system, one that was backed by Republican lawmakers, the state’s top insurance regulator and insurance trade groups. Senate Bill 1062 changes Oklahoma’s current court-based …

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Interest in Personal Gun Liability Insurance Protection Increasing

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 06 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The media focus on gun-centric events and the public discussion of liability issues has piqued interest in personal liability insurance for firearms owners, insurance professionals say. While coverage is available through gun owner associations and through specialty insurers, the liability component …

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Homeowners not the Only Line of Coverage Affected by Texas Weather

Stephanie K. Jones — Thu, 02 May 2013 23:27:06 +0000

It’s well known that Texas has some of the highest homeowners premiums in the nation — in large part due to the state’s vulnerability to violent weather. It may be less known that Texas has some of the highest insurance …

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Ohio Workers’ Comp Fund Plans to Return $1 Billion to Employers

Stephanie K. Jones — Thu, 02 May 2013 22:39:57 +0000

Ohio’s governor and the state workers’ compensation fund want to return $1 billion in dividends to Ohio businesses, bolster workplace safety initiatives, and modernize the way employers pay into the fund. A higher-than-expected return on investments is making possible the …

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Interest in Personal Gun Liability Insurance Protection Increasing

Stephanie K. Jones — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 10:00:27 +0000

Interest in personal liability insurance for firearms owners has expanded with the media focus on gun-centric events and the public discussion of liability issues. While coverage is available through gun owner associations and through specialty insurers, the liability component of …

The article Interest in Personal Gun Liability Insurance Protection Increasing appeared first on Insurance Journal.

Texas Windstorm Insurer Board: No Receivership at This Time

Stephanie K. Jones — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 16:12:16 +0000

Numerous representatives from Texas coastal counties, cities and business organizations on March 25 spoke before the board of the state’s insurer of last resort urging them to oppose the proposal by state regulators to place the organization in receivership. The …

The article Texas Windstorm Insurer Board: No Receivership at This Time appeared first on Insurance Journal.

Oklahoma Independent Agents Express Support for Work Comp Bill

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:38:33 +0000

Leadership at a statewide association of independent agents in Oklahoma has issued statements publicly supporting workers’ compensation system reform legislation. Dan Ramsey, president and CEO of the Independent Insurance Agents of Oklahoma, said the statements are in response to communication …

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Receivership Proposed for Texas’ Insurer of Last Resort

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:30:27 +0000

In a meeting on March 25, the board of directors of Texas’ insurer of last resort in coastal areas is expected to discuss the organization’s dire financial condition and the possibility of placing the organization into receivership. According to the …

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Unpredictable Tornadoes

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

It’s tempting to think that climate change is bringing more frequent, stronger and larger thunderstorms and accompanying tornadoes, but climate scientists say they just don’t know if that’s the case. Tornadoes and the severe thunderstorms that spawn them are difficult …

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The Woodlands Financial Group Has a Focus on Growth

Stephanie K. Jones — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 00:20:11 +0000

Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, readily concedes that starting a personal lines-focused insurance business in Texas in 2001 – while the state was in the throes of the “mold crisis” – may not have …

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Texas Lawmaker Scolds Insurance Industry over Coastal Coverage

Stephanie K. Jones — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 23:53:15 +0000

A state senator in Texas is taking the insurance industry to task for what he perceives as its disinterest in coming up with new approaches to solving coastal windstorm insurance issues. In a Senate committee meeting on March 12, Sen. …

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Texas Windstorm Insurer Faces Tough Legislative Session

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Texas’ property insurer of last resort in coastal counties may have a difficult time remaining intact during the 2013 legislative session. Claims from 2008′s Hurricane Ike still trickle in and ongoing Ike-related lawsuits against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) …

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The Acquisition Cycle

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Insurance agency mergers and acquisitions were up last year, at an all-time high in fact, according to the Chicago-based M&A advisory firm OPTIS Partners. A recent survey conducted by the financial services consulting firm showed there were 291 reported agency …

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The Woodlands Financial Group Has a Focus on Growth

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The Woodlands Financial Group Has a Focus on Growth Richard “Gordy” Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, readily concedes that starting a personal lines-focused insurance business in Texas in 2001 – while the state was in the …

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Bill Proposing Property Assigned Risk Plan Filed in Texas

Stephanie K. Jones — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 17:28:10 +0000

A bill has been filed that would drastically change the structure and/or funding for Texas’ insurer of last resort for wind and hail along the coast. Senate Bill 18 by Sen. John Corona would create the Texas Property Insurance Program, …

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Will Texas Windstorm Insurer Remain After the Legislative Session?

Stephanie K. Jones — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 06:32:34 +0000

Texas’ property insurer of last resort in coastal counties may have a difficult time remaining intact during the 2013 legislative session. Claims from 2008’s Hurricane Ike still trickle in and ongoing Ike-related lawsuits against the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) …

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Cyber Vulnerabilities

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Cyber hackers are on the attack. Yawn, so what else is new? Nothing, except those attacks are happening more and more frequently and at higher and higher levels. A study released this month by the Government Accountability Office showed that …

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Oklahoma Lawmaker Wants Audit of Insurance Department

Stephanie K. Jones — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:55:14 +0000

An Oklahoma state senator wants the governor to request a performance audit of the agency that regulates insurance in that state. Sen. Harry Coates sent a letter to Gov. Mary Fallin requesting the audit because Republican senator feels that the …

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Dallas-Based Prize Insurer Sues Lance Armstrong for $12M

Stephanie K. Jones — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 16:03:18 +0000

A Dallas-based firm that specializes in insuring promotions and prizes has filed suit against Lance Armstrong seeking to recoup millions in prize money awarded to the former professional cyclist for winning the Tour de France beginning in 2002 through 2004. …

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The Climate Change Conundrum

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

For many people, the jury is still out on whether climate change is a man-made phenomenon, or even if it exists at all, and if so, that it is responsible for the spate of devastating weather and wildfires the world …

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Foodborne Illness Cases Present Complex Coverage Questions

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

One of the most heavily litigated insurance issues in coverage liability cases related to outbreaks of widespread foodborne illnesses is the determination of occurrence where multiple people in multiple states are affected by a contaminant that seems to stem from …

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Managing Underwriter Bill Creates Unwelcome Surprise for Some Texas Agents

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A bill passed during the 2011 session of the Texas Legislature is creating havoc for some independent insurance agents in the state. House Bill 3410 creates a definition of a managing underwriter, and addresses the filing of surplus lines policies …

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Foodborne Illness Cases Present Complex Coverage Questions

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

The article Foodborne Illness Cases Present Complex Coverage Questions appeared first on Insurance Journal.

Tasty, Healthy and Safe

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 00:00:00 +0000

We are what we eat, the saying goes. So let’s hope what we eat is not only tasty and good for us, but safe as well. To that end, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed new food safety …

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Food Borne Illness Cases Present Complex Coverage Questions

Stephanie K. Jones — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 06:31:02 +0000

One of the most heavily litigated insurance issues in coverage liability cases related to outbreaks of widespread food borne illnesses is the determination of occurrence where multiple people in multiple states are affected by a contaminant that seems to stem …

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Texas Mutual Looks to Sever Last Ties to State Oversight

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 06:29:30 +0000

The insurer of last resort for workers’ compensation coverage in Texas is seeking to cut its last ties to the state government that created it. Texas Mutual Insurance Co. was established by the Texas Legislature in 1991 as the result …

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Weathered Income

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Do poor- and middle-income residents in the United States suffer more, economically, from extreme weather than affluent people? According to a new report on the impact of extreme weather events that have occurred over the past few years they do. …

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Surplus Lines Premiums on the Rise in Texas

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

The amount of surplus lines insurance premium written in Texas rose by 25 percent as of the end of October compared with the same period the year before, signaling a boost to companies operating in this sector. Texas also stands …

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Indiana Court: Compensation Fund May Not Dispute Liability in Med Mal Case

Stephanie K. Jones — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Indiana’s high court has ruled that the state’s fund established to cover excess damages in medical malpractice cases may not dispute the existence or cause of a plaintiff’s injury in a case in which the medical providers previously settled the …

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