National News for June 2012 Agents, Insurers Cheer Congress OK of Flood Insurance Reform Bill Congress Agrees on Multi-Year Flood Insurance Extension, Reforms Markel Names New Executives for Marketing, Business Development Business Transitions More Risky for Lawyers: Study ACE Launches New Stand-Alone Product Recall Insurance Unit Study from CNA Analyzes Lawyers Professional Liability Claims Actuaries Say Individual Mandate Key to Viable Health Insurance Market Fitch: U.S. Healthcare Ratings Already Incorporate Healthcare Ruling Corporate Winners, Losers Under Supreme Court Healthcare Ruling Why Chief Justice Roberts Saved Obama’s Healthcare Law Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation to Host ‘Week of Giving’ A.M. Best on Court Ruling: No Effect on Most Health Insurers But Watching Small Insurers AIG to Revive AIG Name; Drop Chartis, SunAmerica Names: Reuters Excerpts from Supreme Court’s Healthcare Opinion BB&T Adds Flood Insurance to Online Offerings Reactions to Healthcare Ruling Coming In; What’s Yours? Supreme Court Upholds Healthcare Law; Read Copy of Opinion Supreme Court to Deliver Obama Healthcare Ruling Today’s Supreme Court Healthcare Ruling: Possible Scenarios, Effects Shareholders Sue Diamond Foods Board Over Financial Problems Checks Not Guaranteed for All Health Insurance Rebates, Experts Say Esurance Extends Discounts to Same-Sex Couples in Domestic Partnerships The Hartford Enhances Sales Support For Small Business Benefit Brokers National Glass Exchange, AmTrust to Offer Windshield Protection Plans Strong Regulatory Systems Recognize Global Differences Vitale Becomes Sole CEO of Aspen Insurance; Villers Named Chairman P/C Industry 2011 Loss Reserve Position Sufficient, but Challenged: Conning Research Best Sees No Change in MAPFRE USA Group Ratings P/C Insurers Profits Rose to $10.1B in Q1 Republican Senator’s Abortion Amendment Holding Up Flood Insurance Bill: Reid Vertafore Unveils Agency Management System with Mobile Capabilties XL Expands Technology Underwriting Staff in New York, Atlanta, Chicago P/C Industry Should Not Expect Traditional Hard Market Soon: Hartwig Obama Lends Support to Senate Flood Insurance Bill Customer Satisfaction with Auto Insurers at New High: J.D. Powers Geico Spends 6.5% of Premiums on Advertising Argo Pro Introduces New Cyber Liability Product Chartis Enhances Network Security Policy Sea Level Rise Accelerating Along Atlantic Coast, Say Scientists Ratings Recap: Iron Horse, Imperial Fire, Plymouth Rock, Bunker Hill Best Affirms, Assigns Ratings to GEICO and Affiliates; Outlook Stable Former AIG, General Re Execs Admit to Reinsurance Fraud, Pay Fines Tropical Storm Debby Heads for Florida Coast, Spares Louisiana Storm Threat Prompts Oil Companies to Evacuate Some Gulf Staff Deal Reached in AIG, General Re Executives’ Fraud Case AIG Names Executive Chairman for ILFC as CEO’s Relationship Reviewed K&K Adds Optional Sexual Abuse Coverage to Sports, Entertainment Programs White Mountains Acquires 2 PICO Holdings Insurers in Run-Off Senate to Finally Debate Flood Insurance Monday Judge Allows Investor Lawsuit Over Goldman CDO Conflicts Lawsuit Seeks to Curb Powers of New Federal Consumer Financial Board Health Insurers to Rebate $1.1 Billion Law Firms’ Insurers to Compensate Investors Hurt by Mortgage Crisis Senate Overhauls Farm Subsidies, Crop Insurance But Time Running Out Looming Agent Retirements: Carriers Face Major Turnover Chartis Introduces Loss Prevention Services for Private Client Group Yacht Clients The Business of Insuring Correctional Facilities Rise of Gadgets Doubles Costs of Lightning Damage – I.I.I. Ratings Recap: Auto Owners, Stonebridge, Tokio Marine (U.S.), Courtesy, Young America, Old Glory Best Affirms Ratings of Eastern Insurance Holdings and Subs Facebook Fiasco, ‘Blank Check’ Companies Disrupt IPO Insurance Market Rockwood Programs Launches New EPLI Product Actuaries: Health Costs to Go Up No Matter What Court Decides on Law Railroad Retaliated By Firing Workers Reporting Injuries: OSHA Ratings Recap: Church Mutual, Ocean Harbor, HSBC (Del.), Golden RRG, Southern Pioneer, Affirmative MetLife Receives Fed Extension on Capital Plans RiskMeter.com Partners With BuildFax to Offer Roof Age Reports to Carriers PURE Introduces Flood Insurance Product for High-Value Homeowners Berkley Life Sciences Launches Coverage for Drug & Medical Device Shortages Rates for Good Drivers in Cities Too High, Too Variable, Says Consumer Group U.S., European Union Struggle to Overcome Regulatory Barriers Public Companies Underestimate Risk of Directors and Officers Lawsuit: Survey Best Affirms Kemper Corp., Subs and Affiliates Ratings Best Affirms Tower U.S. Pool and Affiliated Companies Ratings How Predictive Modeling Has Revolutionized Insurance Best Affirms General Reinsurance Corp’s ‘A++’ Ratings; Outlook Stable Facebook Outlines Defense in Messy IPO Case ACE Expands Data Breach Team for Privacy Protection Policies Study Finds Little Earthquake Risk from Fracking WellPoint to Settle Class Action Over Anthem Demutualization for $90 Million Facebook, Banks Want Shareholder Lawsuits in New York Court Senators Call for Bipartisan Support for Cap on Crop Insurance Subsidies Last Loans Used to Buy AIG, Bear Stearns Assets Repaid: Fed Reserve Ratings Recap: DTRIC, Kansas Bankers, ProAssurance, American Federated Chubb Adds Covert Shipment Tracking to Suite of Security Services Philadelphia Insurance Launches Commercial Flood Protection Ex-Partner Sues Dewey, Says Law Firm Was Ponzi Scheme Small Business Owners Dismiss Risk of Data Breach: Survey Better Vehicle Design Is Saving Lives, Reducing Injuries Fitch: Workers’ Compensation Weakest Segment; Combined Ratio Worst in 10 Years In Expanded Internet Naming Game, Who Will Own .insurance? Cellcontrol, PURE Insurance to Offer Free Distracted Driving Technology to Members Law Firms Facing Rise in Large Malpractice Claims: Study Best Affirms Ratings of The Hanover Insurance Group and Subs Hylant Group Acquires AGIS ACE Adds Accident Coverage to Integrated Pollution, Casualty Form HCC Medical Insurance Services Expands Travel Insurance to Sports Travel Climate Change Will Alter Risks of Wildfire Worldwide: Study Undoing Health Care Law Could Produce Ripple Effects Big Corporate Political Spenders Often Worst Market Performers: Study Ratings Recap: Toyota Motor, Medical Protective, AMERISAFE Health Insurer UnitedHealth Vows to Keep Reforms Whatever Court Decides Dads Worth Less Than Moms Around House: Study Commercial Insurance Prices Continue to Rise: Towers Watson Transfer of Pension Risk to Insurers Gaining Favor Talking Cars, or V2V, May Help Humans Avoid Crashes Colony Specialty Launches Environmental Auto Product LinkedIn Risks Reputation Damage Over Password Leaks, Silence Judge Questions Evidence in Gender Bias Claim Against Wal-Mart AIG’s Benmosche Says Chartis May Readopt AIG Brand as Insurer Rebounds AAIS Revises Mobile-Homeowners Forms, Endorsements, Manual AmWINS Group Completes Recapitalization Deal Workers’ Comp Market Injured But Still Standing 8 Things Independent Agents Can Learn From Sam Walton U.S. to Issue More Waivers on Iran Sanctions Next Week Administration Ready to Respond on Healthcare Reform Ruling U.S. Insurers’ Reserves Redundant by $11.7B: Aon Benfield Study Dowdy Elected President of Insurance Premium Auditors Society Best Affirms Fireman’s Fund Ratings, Removes from Review; Outlook Stable Bear Stearns $275 Million Claims Settlement Reached Nasdaq Offers $40 Million to Cover Facebook IPO Losses Consumer Group Says Auto Insurers ‘Lowball’ Injury Payments with Computerized Systems Best Affirms AXA U.S. FSR; Upgrades ICR; Off Review; Negative Outlook Markel Joins Cargo Theft and Recovery Service Brown & Brown Names Downs, Lydecker to Top Posts New Gulf Oil Spill Claims Process to Begin Financial Reporting Improved Under 10-Year Old SOX Law: Survey States Collecting on $146 Million AIG Workers’ Comp Settlement Marsh Launches Product for Cloud Computing Risks Towers Watson Launches Network for Chief Risk Officers in North America Insurance Exchange Ebix Acquires PlanetSoft for $40 Million U.S. Drug Recalls Common But Not Well-Publicized: Study Claims Against MF Global’s Corzine, Other Executives May Depend on Insurance MF Global Trustee Recommends Insurance Fund for Futures Customers Rockhill Launches E&S Primary General Liability Underwriting Unit Argo Insurance, Britt/Paulk Form New Pest Control Program Best Affirms State Farm Mutual, Affiliates & Subs Ratings President Obama Signs Flood Insurance Extension Senate Favoring End to Direct Payouts to Farmers Colorado Researchers Raise Atlantic Storm Forecast ACE Private Risk, Generac Power Systems Launch Personal Lines Program R Street Institute Launches ‘Right Street Blog’ on InsuranceJournal.com Feds Shut Down 26 Bus Operators in Safety Crackdown Oracle Suffers Setback in Java Copyright Battle Against Google Professional Liability Risks Evolve with Changes in Healthcare System National News Archives