Latest California Headlines
All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.
AIA Comments on Legislative ‘Highlights’ of Calif. Session’s Final Weeks
Aug 27 2001 // As the West Coast heads into the “dog days of summer,” the California Legislature commenced the final four weeks of its 2001 session on Aug. 20. To mark the occasion, the American Insurance Association (AIA)...
Fear of the Unknown: The Mold Issue Raises More Questions Than Answers, Part I
Aug 27 2001 // Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series dealing with the rising issue of toxic mold claims. These days, an Internet news search on the word “mold” will bring up numerous articles testifying...
It’s Fire Season: Time to Brush Up on Coverage and Prevention
Aug 27 2001 // Take an influx of homeowners moving into what was once open land, add a rainy winter which has fueled the growth of brush and vegetation, and you have a potential recipe for disaster. As of Aug. 15, close to 300 wildfires...
NAMIC Urges Halt to Potential Spread of Prop.
Aug 24 2001 // The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC) wants regulators to reject demands for legislation modeled on California’s Proposition 103. The Improvements to State-based Systems (IS3) Working Group...
AIA Defends California’s Competitive Rate Law
Aug 23 2001 // California Insurance Commissioner Harry Low’s call for legislative changes to California’s competitive rate law is unwarranted, according to the American Insurance Association (AIA). AIA’s analysis shows...
Calif. Legislators Approve AB 1193
Aug 23 2001 // AB 1193, a California bill which would prohibit insurance companies from canceling or failing to renew policies of religious organizations, educational institutions or nonprofit agencies simply due to losses from hate...
Calif. Man Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Scheme
Aug 20 2001 // Five felony counts of insurance fraud, tax fraud and money laundering led to the sentencing of a San Mateo, Calif. man last week. Laurence Bennett Guy, owner of Guy’s Roofing in Redwood City, received a one-year...
Rating Bureau Suggests Premium Increase to Combat Costs
Aug 13 2001 // Noting rising costs and a trend toward insolvencies, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau’s governing committee voted to suggest an 8.5-percent gain in the average pure premium rate as part of its...
‘A-‘ for NIAC
Aug 13 2001 // A.M. Best Co. assigned an “A-” financial strength rating (FSR) to Nonprofits’ Insurance Alliance of California (NIAC) and “B++” ratings to Alliance of Nonprofits for Insurance, Risk Retention...
CDI Continues Probe of Alleged Taxicab Fraud
Aug 13 2001 // In the current commercial auto arena, one of the toughest risks to place is taxicabs. Given that, it is not surprising that certain entities might be attracted to the prospect of luring the gullible or less vigilant by...
Report Says Calif. Benefit Delivery Expenses Absorb Higher Share of W/C Costs
Aug 10 2001 // With workers’ compensation claim costs rising rapidly in California, policymakers look for opportunities to reduce costs without reducing benefits to injured workers. Nearly one in every eight dollars paid for...
Gunmakers Can’t Be Sued for Criminal Acts of Gun Buyers
Aug 9 2001 // Victims cannot sue gunmakers when criminals use their products illegally, the California Supreme Court ruled Aug. 6. According to AP Online, the 5-1 decision, which rejects a suit based on the 1993 massacre of eight people...
Calif. Commissioner Calls for Community Investment Goal
Aug 8 2001 // California Insurance Commissioner Harry W. Low has called on insurance companies doing business in California to invest in low-income communities. Low also asked insurance companies to establish an annual community...
United California Bank, Aon Ally to Provide Expanded Insurance Options
Aug 1 2001 // United California Bank (UCB) announced plans to expand its capability to provide high quality, affordable insurance protection to its retail and small business customers through a strategic alliance with Aon...
Calif. Jockey Thrown for a Loss
Aug 1 2001 // California jockey Carlos Cristo will spend 60 days in home confinement, serve three years formal probation, and pay restitution of $30,000 to the State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) along with a $200 court fine,...
S&P Rates Mercury General Corp
Jul 31 2001 // Standard & Poor’s today assigned its preliminary “A” issuer credit rating to Mercury General Corp. (Mercury). The outlook is stable. At the same time, S&P assigned its preliminary...
CALDERON GOES FOR COMMISH
Jul 30 2001 // Thomas M. Calderon, the chair of the Assembly Committee on Insurance, officially announced his candidacy for California Insurance Commissioner. Calderon’s press office said he has distinguished himself as a reformer...
Hospitality Coverages: Insuring a Safe Visit for Tourists and Owners Alike
Jul 30 2001 // Spending a night at a hotel or motel can seem like a simple thing to do for the tourist or business traveler, but who makes sure that guests will stay in a secure environment? That’s up to the hotel operators, but...
Slogging Away in Workers’ Comp
Jul 30 2001 // When will the workers’ comp market get a break? Claim costs are climbing. Litigation is lingering. Rates are rising but are still insufficient. Legislation has yet to provide a measure of relief for insurers. And of...
Statewide Sweep Investigates Alleged Taxicab Insurance Fraud in Calif.
Jul 27 2001 // An article in the Contra Costa Times reported that California state investigators last week searched three brokers in the East Bay area, including Arvind Insurance Services in Richmond, to check allegations of fraud by...
