Monthly Archives: <span>August 2021</span>

Panel Revives Jurisdictional Question in Louisiana Suits Against Oil Giants

The question of whether lawsuits blaming big oil companies for loss of vulnerable Louisiana coastal wetlands will be tried in state courts, as local parish governments want, or in federal courts, as the oil companies want, has been revived by …

Texas Surplus Lines Premium Total for July 2021: $836.1M

Texas surplus lines premium for July 2021 reached $836.1 million, the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas (SLTX) reported. The number brings the year-to-date total up to $5.42 billion as of the end of July, a 16.1% increase in premiums …

Targets of Canada’s New Sanctions on Belarus Include Insurance

Canada, acting with the United States and Britain, imposed new sanctions on Belarus on Monday to protest against what it called gross violations of human rights under President Alexander Lukashenko. Foreign Minister Marc Garneau said Ottawa would target transferable securities …

GEICO Put a Dent in Berkshire Hathaway Results for Q2

Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance division produced a mixed performance during the 2021 second quarter. Rate increases generally carried the day, though the conglomerate’s GEICO unit dragged down earnings. Berkshire Hathaway’s insurance division produced $376 million in net underwriting earnings during Q2, …

Group Behind Alaska Cyberattack ‘Sophisticated,’ Agency Says

A “highly sophisticated group” known for cyberattacks against governmental and other entities is believed to be behind the attack this spring that targeted the Alaska health department, a spokesperson for the department said. Clinton Bennett, a department spokesperson, said a …

Washington County Paying $1.5M Over Pregnant Mother Shot to Death

King County has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle a civil rights and wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of a young pregnant Muckleshoot mother of three fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies. Renee Davis’ death, which happened while …

Wildfire Weather May Return to Northern California

Thick smoke that held down winds and temperatures began to clear Sunday from the scenic forestlands of Northern California as firefighters battling the largest single wildfire in state history braced for a return of fire-friendly weather. The winds weren’t expected …

Arch Re Closes Acquisition of Somerset Bridge Group

Arch Reinsurance Ltd. has completed the acquisition of Somerset Bridge Group Limited, Southern Rock Holdings Limited and affiliates. Arch Re originally announced its plan to acquire Somerset in June. The acquisition includes Somerset’s motor insurance managing general agent, distribution capabilities …

5 Key Takeaways From Latest United Nations Report on Climate Change

Today, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change delivered its latest comprehensive report on the state of global climate science—just the sixth in the body’s more than 30-year history. The report’s 200-plus authors distilled 14,000 individual studies to produce …

Tokyo Olympics Warns Sharing Videos on Social Media Is Not Allowed

Sharing videos from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games on social media is not allowed, even for athletes, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said on Thursday as it looked to protect broadcasters’ rights. Jamaican double gold medallist sprinter Elaine Thompson-Herah was …