National News
News for April 2008
April 30, 2008
- Insurance- 'Green' Coalition Opposes Expanding Government Catastrophe Bailouts
- McCain Pushes Tax Credit, Choice as U.S. Health Care Fix
- Insurance Industry: One Cog in the Cargo Theft Prevention Machine
- Wachovia May Face $1 Billion Charge after U.S. Court Tax Ruling
- Report: Insurance-Related Securities Could Prompt Disaster Coverage
- Cholnoky Promoted to President of General Reinsurance; Board Elected
April 29, 2008
- 9 Catastrophes to Cost P/C Insurers $3 Billion in 1st Quarter
- Va. Tech Research: Inexpensive Roof Vent Could Prevent Wind Damage
- Hartford's 1st Quarter Profit Tumbles 83%; Cuts Outlook
- Ratings Recap: CRM Holdings, Harleysville, Missouri Employers, Illinois State Bar
- Travelers Increases Aviation Insurance Coverage Capacity to $50 Million
April 28, 2008
- Supreme Court Weighs Insurer's Conflict of Interest in Claim Denial
- Experts See Boost to Genetic Testing if U.S. Anti-Discrimination Bill Passes
- Berkshire's Buffett: U.S. Recession May Be Worse than Feared
- Disappointing CNA Insurance Results Hurting Loews
- Chubb Posts Dip in 1st Quarter Profit
- $1.5 Million Pharmacy Robot Promises to Reduce Medical Drug Errors
April 25, 2008
- Survey: Medical Liability Insurers Optimistic About Short-Term Market
- Senate Expected to Pass Genetic Anti-Discrimination Bill
- Ratings Roundup: Greenville, Delphi, First American, American Family, Well Point
April 24, 2008
- Consumer Federation Says Prior Approval Works, Industry Says Not True
- Travelers Earnings Drop 11% in 1Q
- Supreme Court to Hear Oral Arguments on Disability Benefits Case
- Allstate's Profit Drops 77% in 1Q
- Report: 2008 Insurance Agency-Broker Value Forecast
- Zurich Introduces New Environmental Liability Policy
- Liberty's Ratings Remain Unchanged, Says A.M. Best
- Academy of Actuaries Appoints Hinchman as Executive Director
April 23, 2008
- Liberty Mutual to Acquire Safeco Insurance in $6.2B Deal
- S&P Puts Liberty and Safeco on CreditWatch Negative
- Ratings Roundup: Centene, Illinois Casualty, States Self-Insurers
- Fireman's Fund Insurance Expands Liquor Liability for Upscale Restaurants
- Liberty Mutual Unearths 'Green' Commercial Property Coverages
- Breitstone Named CEO of Aon's ASPN
- Former Insurance Safety Executive Ryland Joins Wharton Risk Center
- Surplus Lines Association Launches Employment Web Site
April 22, 2008
- Insurers to Build Research Center for Natural Disaster Property Losses
- U.S. Watchdog Critical of FDA Foreign Drug Oversight
Agents and the Recession: Agents Tend to Fare Better Than Their Customers- Maxum Specialty Names Turner as President and CEO
- AIR Worldwide Expands Consulting Group, Adding Fasking, Zhang
April 21, 2008
- Supreme Court Won't Hear Exxon Appeal of Louisiana Damages Award
- CDC: Mounting Illness Reports Linked to Selenium Supplement
- Harry Potter Case Illustrates Blurry Line in Copyright Liability
- Federal Mine Officials Issue Final Rule on Underground Seals
- Hallmark Financial Services Plans Stock Buyback Program
April 18, 2008
- Rep. Kanjorski: Feds Must Learn About Insurance Before Regulating It
- Sen. Martinez Denies He's Obstacle to Catastrophe Fund Bill
- What's An Agent to Do When a Potential D&O Claim Arises?
- Ratings Roundup: Indemnity, Safety, HCC, NAICO
- Drinkwater Succeeds Smith as President of AmWINS Brokerage
- Thornton Named Chairman of Berkley Regional; Rohde President of Acadia
April 17, 2008
- States Tell Congress They Can Handle Insurance Regulation
- Better Data Needed to Fight Cargo Thefts, Say Insurers, Law Enforcement
- U.S. Report Questions Safety of Chemical Used in Plastic Bottles
- Liberty International Underwriters Appoints Seven New Execs
- Final Call: Agent Survey on Wholesale Market
April 16, 2008
- Legislation to Expand Liability Risk Retention Act Introduced into Congress
- Ratings Recap: Interstate Auto, EMC, Amica Mutual, CAPCO, CMG Mortgage, Clarendon
- Lighthouse Underwriters Introduces ElderCare Plus Program
- Swett & Crawford Appoints Sadler as Chief Operating Officer, EVP
- Wells Fargo Names Shopoff VP of Motorsports Race Team Programs
April 15, 2008
- Tech-Backed Patent Lawsuit Bill in Trouble in U.S. Senate
- Total Bank Insurance Revenue Up Slightly in 2007
- New Storm Monitoring Technique Adopted by Hurricane Forecasters
- S&P, Best See no Ratings Changes as Brandon Leaves Gen Re
- Ratings Recap: National Fire, Alliance Mutual, Farmers Branch, Millers Capital, First American
- Hargrove Joins AmWINS as General Counsel
April 14, 2008
- Report: Lobbyists Spend $17 Million a Day on Congress; Insurance Ranks Second
- Analysts See Increase in P/C Mergers Ahead; Rate Climate Change Top Issue
- Berkshire Says General Re Chief Brandon Resigns
- Invasive Weed Adds Fuel to Fire Risk in Drought-Parched Southeast
- Generation Xers More Glum than Boomers on Retirement Finances
- Berkshire Hathaway Municipal Bond Insurer Wins Top S&P Rating
- S&P Rates Berkshire Hathaway Assurance 'AAA'; Outlook Stable
- CCC Information Services and Mitchell International Merge
April 11, 2008
- Rush of Mortgage Lawsuits Expected, But Winning May be Tough
- State-Federal Showdown over Real ID National License Averted
- Prosecutors Allegedly Pressing Berkshire to Remove Gen Re Head
- Report: Underwriting Hurt Insurers' Bottom Lines in 2007
- Mid-Size Cars Show Improved Safety
- Zurich North America Cuts 400 Jobs
- OneBeacon Agents Can Access Hagerty Collector Car, Boat Coverages
- AIG Names Executives for New Commercial Insurance Group
- Agent Survey: Views on Wholesale Market
April 10, 2008
- Hurricane Forecasters Issue April Update for 2008 Season
- Mines Lack Safety Equipment 2 Years After Sago Tragedy, U.S. Says
- Judge Approves $4.5M Settlement Against Tyson Foods Directors
- Report: Obesity Costing Firms $45B a Year in Work Loss, Medical Costs
- Ratings Roundup: Imagine, Amerigroup, American Modern/Midland
April 9, 2008
- S&P Warns Soft Market Could Mean Downgrades for Commercial Insurers
- Credit Agency Downgrades U.S. Mortgage Insurers
- Auto Insurer Progressive Reports Q1 Profit Down 34%
- S&P Lowers Ratings on 4 Mortgage Insurers; Conference Call Today
- Markets Calm Reaction to Financial Restatements, Treasury Study Finds
- Sloan Mason Offers New Coverage for Marine Risks
April 8, 2008
- Insurers Keen on NCAA's Basket-Full of Opportunities
- Bear Stearns, Deloitte & Touche Sued over Hedge Fund Losses
- Fireman's Fund Expands Yacht and Watercraft Coverage
April 7, 2008
- Survey: 1Q Commercial Lines Premiums Drop Most Since 2005
- Citigroup Confirms $33 Million Smith Barney Gender Bias Settlement
- Pinnacle Wins Partial Settlement over Katrina Damage to Mississppi Property
- As Young Insurance Agents Look to Future, Many Eye Ownership
- AIG Cuts CEO Sullivan's Pay 48% to $14 Million
- Ratings: SeaBright, Park, Zenith
- Fireman's Fund Expands Medical Facilities Market Coverage
- AIG Rebrands Domestic Insurance as P/C Group; Shuffles Executives
- Main Street America Adds States to Personal Auto Program
- Collectify Offers Home Inventory Software to Agents
- USGS Creates Flood Tracking Map
April 4, 2008
- Clinton Plan Would Cut Tax Benefit for Foreign Insurers Competing for Business in U.S.
- Court Says Web Site Can't Ask Discriminatory Questions
- U.S. Disaster Agency FEMA Improved But Still Lacking, Report Says
- FBI: Dollar Loss from Internet Crime Reaches All-Time High
- U.S. Appeals Court Tosses $800 Billion Tobacco Class Action Suit
- What America's Young Insurance Agents Like Most About Being Agents
- Ratings Recap: RSUI Group, Covington, AMERISAFE, Combined, UNAIC
April 3, 2008
- Individual Year Hurricane Forecasts Found Weaker Than Multi-Year
- U.S. Class Action King Weiss Pleads Guilty to Racketeering, Apologizes
- America's Young Insurance Agents Love Their Jobs
- Mitchell to Acquire Fair Isaac's Workers' Comp Medical Cost Business
- Monoline Downgrade: Triad Guaranty
- Liberty Mutual Launches Specialty Products Group
- Fireman's Fund Expands Coverage in Medical Facilities Market
- RLI Opens Its Small Fleet Trucking Insurance to More Agents
- Ohio Casualty Offers New Custom Protector Products
April 2, 2008
- Actuaries Identify Hurricanes as Top Insurance Risk for 2008
- Congress Seeks Review of SEC's Enforcement Division Staffing, Funding
- Unitrin Completes Acquisition of Fire and Life Insurer Primesco
April 1, 2008