National News for January 2009 Chubb’s Profits Contracted in 2008 How to Avoid Super Bowl Injuries Salmonella Outbreak Exposes Gaps in Peanut Product Inspection Process S&P Lowers Allstate’s Operating Co. Ratings to ‘AA-’; Outlook Negative State Regulators Deny Life Insurers’ Bid for Looser Capital Requirements Best Affirms Nationwide Group ‘A+’ Ratings, Changes Outlook to Negative Amid Super Bowl Fun, NFL Urged to Take Brain Damage Risk Seriously ACE Makes High Net Worth Policy Available in Kentucky, Ohio Selective Insurance Posts Fourth Quarter Loss Allstate Posts 9% Decline in Profit for 2008; Combined Ratio at 99.4% Ratings Roundup: Nationwide Financial, AFLAC, Crusader National Auto Fraud, Theft Prevention System Set to Go Live Congress Clears Wage Bill for First Obama Signature Former AIG Vice President Sentenced to 4 Years for Reinsurance Scheme Supreme Court: Job Bias Law Protects Workers Cooperating in Probes Obama Taps The Hartford’s Wolin for Key Economic Policy Post Great Northwest Insurance Outlook Revised to Negative by A.M. Best Travelers Reports Solid Q4, Year-End Underwriting; ‘Well Positioned’ for 2009 School Picks Aon Chief as Insurance Leader of the Year Main Street America Unveils New System for Quoting Personal Lines Congressman Seeks National Review of State Workers’ Compensation Laws American E&S Offers Vacant Property Insurance Program Markel Promotes Glisson; Welcomes Crowley to Specialty Unit Report: Upgrading FEMA Flood Maps Would Save Lives, Stem Losses Indiana Pulls Insurance Agent License of Pilot in Florida Jail Haskell, Smyth Join Venture’s Preferred Club Program AIG Global Real Estate to Sell Fund Management Business Study: Recession Pressuring Middle Market to Value Price Over Service Former AIG CEO Greenberg, Ironshore in Joint Excess Casualty Venture Willis HRH Appoints Leaders for South Central and West Regions Who’s Worth What in the Independent Agency System? Ratings Recap: Agency, MGA, SeaBright Lawmakers Press Treasury Nominee to Boost Federal Oversight of Insurance Ex-CEO Greenberg Protests AIG Sale of Asian Life ‘Crown Jewel’ Savvy US Airways Pilot May Have Grounded Lawsuits Liberty Mutual Drops Direct Sales to Middle Market Businesses; Puts Faith in Independent Agents Ironshore Creates U.S. P/C Operation Run By Former AIG Execs Insurer’s Fire v. Pollution Argument Dismissed in Houston Court Survey: Small Businesses Plan for Contingency; Expect Cutbacks in 2009 Abacus Insurance Brokers Offers Online Builder’s Risk Program, Stunt Coverage Record $2.4 Billion in Inter-Company Claims Resolved By Arbitration Firm Catlin US Establishes Casualty Facultative Reinsurance Unit Willis HRH Announces New Executive Appointments Survey: Risk Managers Report Modest Premium Decreases in Q4 Ratings Roundup: Mountain States, HMSC, Woodbrook, Gateway, Fremont, Michigan Millers’ Economic Downturn Driving More Motorists to Ranks of Uninsured Union General Offers Monoline and Package Coverage for Apartments State Farm Severs Ties with Indian Firm Caught in Scandal Family of Minnesota Salmonella Victim to Sue Peanut Butter Firms Smaller Businesses Worry New Toy Safety Law Goes Too Far Kellogg Recalls 16 Products Due to Salmonella Risk Insurance Claims for 2008 U.S. Catastrophes to Top $25 Billion Minico Insurance Adds Enhancements for Self-Storage Specialty Program Zurich Creates Policies for Carbon Capture and Sequestration Needs Motorists Mutual Enhances Identity Theft Protection for Businesses Federal Affairs Chief Merski Latest Executive to Join Zurich from AIG Obama Presidency Could Dramatically Influence Courts, Vanderbilt Prof Says Homeowners Seeking Insurance Discounts Course Outlines What Companies Should NOT Put in Emails AIG Is Lead Insurer on Airplane Downed in Hudson River Insurance Industry Sees Commercial Airlines as Safe Citigroup’s Pretto Joins AIG to Oversee Corporate Media Relations Madoff Scandal to Cost Insurers $1.8 Billion, Aon Benfield Says Venture Offers Monoline Umbrella Coverage to Golf and Country Clubs Former Iowa Commissioner Vaughan Named CEO of State Regulators’ NAIC AFS/IBEX Promotes Two to Assistant VPs Allison to Chair Children’s Program for Insurance Charitable Foundation Why a Small Hairless Lawyer Should be America’s– and Insurers’– First Pet Newly-Launched Vortex Insurance Offering Weather Risk Insurance Older Drivers’ Fatal Crashes Trend Down Even as More Seniors Drive Markel Acquires California’s Child Welfare Insurance Services Lawyers Hope to Fix Catastrophe- Related Insurance Problems Fireman’s Fund Names Barnard Chief Distribution Officer Poll Finds Americans Support Increased Business Regulation Hudson Insurance Group Opens Offices in San Francisco, Chicago Peloso Joins Liberty International Underwriters Former USI CEO Eslick Named Chairman of New Marsh Retail Agency Kronenberg Named President of Target Markets Program Administrators AIG Gets Bids for Aircraft Leasing Unit; Shops Asset Manager U.S. Safety Group Calls for Cell Phone Driving Ban Zurich Names Sagalow as Chief Innovation Officer XL Expands Pollution Coverage for Contractors Toyota to Introduce Driver Assist Service Competing with GM’s Onstar Progressive Redesigns Agents’ Only Web Site FBI Reports Drop in Crime Including Arson Apex Global Names Beck Managing Director – Business Development U.S. Approves The Hartford, Lincoln National Bank Holding Company Bids Corporate Fraud Scandals Can Detonate Anywhere U.S. Halts Two Ponzi Schemes in Wake of Madoff Abacus Adds Stunt Coverage to Program AFCO Credit Corp. to Acquire U.S. Operations of Cananwill Vision Problems Steer Seniors to Put Down the Car Keys Irwin Siegel Agency Enhances Social Service Insurance Package Beecher Carlson Adds Four to National Property Practice Chartwell Introduces Commercial Storage Insurance Program AIG Says Senior Executives Won’t Get $3 Million Deferred Compensation Zurich N.A. Names Dunai to Lead Environmental Unit Aon Completes Sale of Auto Insurance Specialists to Mercury General GenStar Offers Updated Insurance for Architects, Engineers in All States Johnston Named CEO of AIG Environmental; Hanna Named COO AIG’s Lexington to Manage AIG Public Entity Casualty Insurance Accounts U.S. House Panel Postpones Hearing into Use of Bailout Funds Fireman’s Fund Insures Payment Card Security Breach for Retail Stores Two Major Insurance Recovery Law Firms Merge HCC Acquires Massachusetts-Based Lumber Underwriter, VMGU Insurance Marsh Settles Insurance Bid-Rigging Charges with 9 States for $7 Million 2008: Top Stories of the Year After Stormy 2008, P/C Industry Facing Uncertainty in New Year Rockwood, Modern Insurance Create Errors & Omissions Firm Nautilus Promotes Barwick, Levensky National News Archives
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