Florida’s Citizens Seeks 6.6% Home Rate Hike; Cap on Sinkhole Rates in High-Risk Areas
Florida’s state-backed property insurer requested a statewide average 6.6 percent increase in homeowners’ rates along with a cap on sinkhole rate increases in three high-risk counties at between 20 percent and 50 percent. Citizens Property Insurance Corp. officials signed-off on …
Ames & Gough Names Senior Broker in Virginia Office
Ames & Gough, an insurance broker and risk management consultant serving design professionals, law firms, associations/non-profits and other professional service firms, appointed Allison Barefoot as assistant vice president and senior broker in the firm’s property/casualty department. She will be based …
Penn. Mulls Tougher Demolition Rules in Wake of Fatal Building Collapse
Pennsylvania’s House Republican leaders recently agreed to hold a public hearing on legislation to better regulate the state’s demolition industry. The public hearing is expected to be held in July following passage of the state budget. The bill’s proposals include …
Likely Recall Washington Area Mayor Who Jeopardized City’s Insurance
Votes counted from Tuesday’s special election show that Cy Sun, a Washington area mayor, will be recalled on July 9 when the election is certified, likely removing from office a man who many blamed for endangering the insurance coverage for …
NJM Donates Driving Simulators to Local New Jersey High Schools
New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company (NJM), the largest insurer of private passenger vehicles in the Garden State, donated driving simulators to 55 New Jersey high schools this month. The insurer said these simulators represent an investment of more than $700,000 …
President Declares Disaster For Spring Flooding in Alaska
President Barack Obama has declared a federal disaster for spring flooding in parts of Alaska. Gov. Sean Parnell earlier this month requested the federal designation for the Alaska Gateway, Yukon Flats, Yukon Koyukuk, Lower Yukon and Copper River regional educational …
Mom Sues Monster Over Teen’s Death in California
The mother of a teenager who died from cardiac arrhythmia last year is blaming his death on Corona, Calif.-based Monster Beverage Corp., alleging in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that his death was caused by habitually drinking the company’s energy drink. …
Law Firms See Rise in Malpractice Claim Frequency, Severity
Multi-million dollar payouts for legal malpractice claims are climbing, and so are the total number of claims for law firms, in general. A new study by insurance broker Ames & Gough found that most leading legal malpractice insurers reported more …
Florida Supreme Court Nixes Pre-Surgery Damages Clause without Concession
The Florida Supreme Court has ruled unenforceable a doctor’s financial and arbitration agreement with a patient prior to surgery because it lacked an admission of liability by the medical provider. To be enforceable under Florida’s medical malpractice statute, such an …