Latest Agencies Headlines

Recession, Soft Market Forcing Western Agents to Refocus

Apr 22 2008 // Whether the nation is in a true recession may still be up for debate, but it’s difficult to ignore the signs of economic slowdown throughout the West — and its effect on the insurance industry. New home...

American E&S Appoints Broker in Vacaville, California

Apr 22 2008 // Carole Brown has rejoined American E&S Insurance Brokers as vice president and financial services broker. She will be working in the Vacaville, Calif., branch and has more 15 years experience specializing in directors...

Recession? In South Central States It Depends On Location

Apr 22 2008 // With some notable exceptions – southern Louisiana for one – the economies of the South Central states seem to be holding steady against the looming prospect of a nationwide recession. Populations are growing in...

Mass. Agents Balk Over 6-Month Auto Policies

Apr 21 2008 // Massachusetts will permit auto insurers to sell six-month policies in another change under the state’s newly operational managed competition system that gives insurers more freedom. Independent agents have balked at...

Mass. Auto Web Site Misleads Consumers, Say Agents and AG

Apr 21 2008 // A state Web site intended to educate consumers about Massachusetts’ newly deregulated auto insurance market instead gives them inaccurate rate comparisons, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley. Coakley argued...

Soft On Top

Apr 21 2008 // We were reminded in our last issue’s stories on how agents are faring in the recession that the effects of the economic downturn vary by agency and region. Some agencies and customer are feeling the slowdown more...

Soft On Top

Apr 21 2008 // We were reminded in our last issue’s stories on how agents are faring in the recession that the effects of the economic downturn vary by agency and region. Some agencies and customer are feeling the slowdown more...

Apr 21 2008 // People Michigan-based J.M. Wilson recently announced three new staff members, Danielle Crandell, Eric Maus and Jeanne Callan. Crandell was hired as a transportation underwriter. She will service commercial trucking...

Insurers Keen on NCAA’s Basket-full of Opportunities

Apr 21 2008 // The Hartford and XL Insurance pursue insurance industry’s love affair with sports-related, 360-degree marketing The University of Kansas men’s basketball team may have been the big winner in the recent NCAA...

Florida Agent Bucks Trends With Growth, Recruitment Strategies

Apr 21 2008 // Riemer’s on a collecting spree that includes new employees, green offices, Rolex watches and cookie jars When Fireman’s Fund introduced its Green-Gard program covering environmentally sound commercial building...

Federal Charter: A Future ‘Insurance Subprime’ Debacle?

Apr 21 2008 // The banking and securities industry is facing worldwide subprime mortgage-related losses which knowledgeable sources – including the International Monetary Fund — now suggest could top $1 trillion, according to...

Case Watch

Apr 21 2008 // Additional Insured Evanston Insurance Co. v. Atofina Petrochemicals Inc., Texas Feb. 15, 2008. Contract provision requiring that refinery “shall be named as additional insured” sufficient to trigger additional...

Apr 21 2008 // People Mullis Newby Hurst L.P., an Addison, Texas-based provider of construction insurance and surety bonds in Texas, promoted Jan Johnson to senior vice president and director of insurance. Johnson, a 26-year veteran of...

Contractors and Certificates of Liability Insurance

Apr 21 2008 // Your E&O claim waiting to happen Certificates — not again. Haven’t we heard enough about this topic? Apparently not. Certificates are issued for all sorts of insureds, but contracting risk is the most...

Court Throws Out Nevada’s Insurance Agent Countersignature Law

Apr 21 2008 // The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has invalidated Nevada’s insurance producer countersignature law, in what could be the final nail in the coffin for these requirements on nonresident producers. U.S. District...

Insurers Keen on NCAA’s Basket-full of Opportunities

Apr 21 2008 // The Hartford and XL Insurance pursue insurance industry’s love affair with sports-related, 360-degree marketing Quite a few insurers’ names have been bounced and bandied about like basketballs on TV lately, and...

Federal Charter: A Future ‘Insurance Subprime’ Debacle?

Apr 21 2008 // The banking and securities industry is facing worldwide subprime mortgage-related losses, which knowledgeable sources – including the International Monetary Fund — now suggest could top $1 trillion, according to...

People

Apr 21 2008 // Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. named Michael LaRocco president and CEO. He will report to Chuck Kavitsky, president and CEO of Allianz of America, parent of Fireman’s Fund, and will also...

Declarations

Apr 21 2008 // P/C Consolidation “The logic of consolidation within the property and casualty industry, particularly in North America, may be gaining favor as the economy slows and as rates soften. However, our research suggests...

State v. Federal Fight Heats Up

Apr 21 2008 // In the face of growing economic turmoil, the Bush administration is calling for an overhaul of the system regulating the nation’s financial services industries — including insurance. The reform proposal announced...