Latest Agencies Headlines

Former franchisees challenge Brooke agent dealings

Oct 8 2007 // Overland Park, Kan.-based insurance agency franchisor Brooke Corp. has been hit with a number of lawsuits that raise questions about its business dealings with agents who bought into its nationwide operation, which now...

SPECIAL REPORT: Salute to Program Managers

Oct 8 2007 // Some of today’s most successful program managers have pulled the plug on association endorsements. They’re not anti-association but they have decided that these endorsements are not always worth the trouble or...

Niche writing and the soft market

Oct 8 2007 // Program diversification helps to lighten the effects during increased competition As the property casualty market softens, insurance carriers will strive to figure out new ways to maintain recent levels of profitability....

BOPs deliver more now than in the old days

Oct 8 2007 // Today’s small, medium-sized owners get more and better coverage options in their business owners policies The business owner policy (BOP) of today is not the BOP of yesterday, industry experts agree. When the first...

House-passed flood insurance bill provides optional windstorm coverage

Oct 8 2007 // The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure updating the nation’s flood insurance program that will give homeowners the option of purchasing windstorm coverage as part of their flood policy. The...

News Currents

Oct 8 2007 // Plaintiffs fail to prove racketeering by Marsh, insurers and brokers Dismissal of corruption conspiracy charges follows earlier dismissal of antitrust complaint The same federal judge who early in September dismissed all...

People

Oct 8 2007 // The Insurance Marketing Communications Association named its 2007/2008 slate of directors and officers, with Cora Barran of Farmers Insurance Group continuing as IMCA president for her second year. Barran is director of...

News Currents

Oct 8 2007 // Former franchisees challenge Brooke agent dealings But fast-growing franchisor denies misleading any agents Overland Park, Kan.-based insurance agency franchisor Brooke Corp. has been hit with a number of lawsuits that...

People

Oct 8 2007 // The Insurance Marketing Communications Association named its 2007/2008 slate The Insurance Marketing Communications Association named its 2007/2008 slate of directors and officers, with Cora Barran of Farmers Insurance...

Case Watch

Oct 8 2007 // Agent/Broker Liability Lin v. Metro Allied Ins. Agency Tex. App. 1st Dist., Aug. 31, 2007 Insurer liable under DTPA for its agent’s failure to procure insurance. An insured accepted a commercial general liability...

People

Oct 8 2007 // Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) promoted Jamie Bourg to claims manager for the company’s large accounts team. Bourg will manage and direct the claims department, including claims handling and...

Texas agents: Be ready for financial responsibility verification

Oct 8 2007 // In early 2008, most drivers in Texas (read, “many of your insureds”) will come under the new Financial Responsibility Verification Program aimed at reducing the number of drivers without proper proof of...

News Currents

Oct 8 2007 // Former franchisees challenge Brooke agent dealings But fast-growing franchisor denies misleading any agents Overland Park, Kan.-based insurance agency franchisor Brooke Corp. has been hit with a number of lawsuits that...

Oct 8 2007 // People The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America has named Deputy Secretary of Commerce David A. Sampson to serve as the association’s president and chief executive officer. Sampson takes over the reins...

Former franchisees challenge Brooke agent dealings

Oct 8 2007 // Overland Park, Kan.-based insurance agency franchisor Brooke Corp. has been hit with a number of lawsuits that raise questions about its business dealings with agents who bought into its nationwide operation, which now...

State of Louisiana clears Brooke of wrongdoing

Oct 8 2007 // The Louisiana Department of Insurance investigated complaints earlier this year against Brooke from former franchisees in that state and cleared the company of all wrongdoing except for a few minor licensing snafus. The...

News Currents

Oct 8 2007 // California clarifies surplus lines rules for retail agents California retail agent-brokers not transacting insurance on behalf of surplus line broker organizations are not required to follow a new law affecting surplus...

Niche writing and the soft market

Oct 8 2007 // The wise program manager takes yet another step forward and commits their organization to multiple niches. As the property casualty market softens, insurance carriers will strive to figure out new ways to maintain recent...

Programs Unplugged

Oct 8 2007 // Some of today’s most successful program managers have pulled the plug on association endorsements. They’re not anti-association but they have decided that these endorsements are not always worth the trouble or...

News Currents

Oct 8 2007 // House-passed flood insurance bill provides optional windstorm coverage The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a measure updating the nation’s flood insurance program that will give homeowners the option of...