Swett & Crawford has opened an office in Houston, Texas, headed by Senior Vice President and Property Specialist John Konstantinidis. Konstantinidis has relocated from Swett’s New York office to Houston. Swett Executive Vice President Michael Ruhe cites Houston’s strong economy …
A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “a” of Springfield Fire & Casualty Co. of Springfield, Ill. The outlook for both ratings has been revised …
Michigan-based Hastings Mutual Insurance Co. committed $100,000 over four years towards an endowed scholarship fund for Olivet College insurance students. To date, $75,000 has been contributed to the fund with the remaining $25,000 installment to be completed in February 2012. …
Austin, Texas-based medical professional liability insurance carriers Medicus Insurance Co., has lowered its base rates for physicians and medical professionals in Arizona, Kansas, Nevada, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Medicus sells insurance in 24 states from coast to coast. Medicus lowered …
Firefighters in Texas are attempting to contain more wildfires after several blazes broke out across the state and destroyed more than three dozen homes. Hundreds of people were told to evacuate June 19 after fires swept through eastern and central …
A new flood map for Louisiana’s Lafayette Parish is expected to offer a mixed bag, shrinking flood zones in some areas while making large tracts of vacant land more difficult to develop. The final version of the Federal Emergency Management …
Hurricane Beatriz bore down on Mexico’s Pacific coast Tuesday, putting tourist areas and major ports on alert for heavy rainfall and flash floods, the U.S. National Hurricane Center said. The eye of the hurricane was about 50 miles [80 kms] …
In the United States, the blood-alcohol limit may be 0.08 percent, but no amount of alcohol seems to be safe for driving, according to a University of California, San Diego sociologist. A new study has found that blood-alcohol levels well …
A New Jersey fishing boat owner is charged in a botched attempt to sink his vessel to collect insurance money. A federal indictment unsealed Wednesday charges 38-year-old Scott Tran of Cherry Hill, and three other men. Authorities say Tran wanted …
BP has reached agreement with Weatherford U.S., L.P. to settle potential claims between the companies related to the Deepwater Horizon accident. Under the agreement, Weatherford, which manufactured the float collar used in the well, will pay $75 million. BP said …
