Latest California Headlines
All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Former Agent in S. California Arrested for Identity Theft
Dec 21 2009 // California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner today announced that James Alfred Morris, 66, of Covina, has been arrested and charged with eight felony counts of identity theft and six felony counts of grand theft after...
2009 P/C Insurance Mergers, Acquisitions Large and Small
Dec 20 2009 // Large insurers AIG, Farmers and The Hartford made moves in 2009, as did large brokers Marsh, Aon, Willis, Gallagher, Brown & Brown, Hub and Wells Fargo. So, too, did, many regional insurers and Main Street agencies....
Six Factors Create Volatility in Calif. Workers’ Comp Insurance Market
Dec 18 2009 // “Since insurance rates were partially deregulated in 1995, the California workers’ compensation insurance market has been very volatile. For reasons that go beyond price deregulation, there have been dramatic...
California Commissioner Sends Out Warning of Elderly Scams
Dec 18 2009 // The warning comes on the heels of a $15,000 fine against Annuity Services Insurance Center for deceptive advertising practices targeting senior citizens in California. Poizner said seniors must continue to watch out for...
Health Care Reform To Have Major Impact on Workers’ Compensation
Dec 16 2009 // Workers’ compensation insurers and actuaries need to prepare for upcoming changes arising from proposed healthcare reform and the shifting medical landscape, attendees of the Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS) annual...
Earthquake Early Warning System Possible
Dec 15 2009 // An earthquake early warning system for California is feasible in coming years, according to research being presented at the American Geophysical Union meeting in San Francisco this week. The ongoing study demonstrates that...
Southern California Storms End Undramatically
Dec 14 2009 // Despite concerns late last week that rains might produce severe mudslides in the areas in Los Angeles County denuded by the Angeles National Forest wildfire, the rains apparently have tapered with little damage...
California’s Insurance Executive Bannister Dies
Dec 14 2009 // Wesley Mastin Bannister, 73,of Huntington Beach, Calif., has died. Bannister competitively ran for California Insurance Commissioner in 1990, 1994 and again in 2002. From 1986 to 1990, he served on the City Council and...
Fire Danger Eases in Southern California
Dec 10 2009 // The U.S. Forest Service says fire danger levels in parts of the Angeles National Forest that did not burn this year are being downgraded because of recent rain and snowfall. In a statement, the Forest Service says the...
California Workers’ Comp Insurers Ask for Average 4 Percent
Dec 10 2009 // Workers’ compensation insurance rates in California will be relatively stable and increase by an average of only 4 percent in 2010, the Department of Insurance said. The Department’s announcement comes a month...
S. California Agent Sentenced in Workers’ Comp Theft Case
Dec 8 2009 // Randy Jay Barrett, 41, of Canoga Park was sentenced to 240 days in jail and five years probation after pleading guilty to one count of felony grand theft. Barrett was also ordered to make restitution to his victim and a...
Study Says Increased WC Benefits Lengthens Claim Duration
Dec 7 2009 // States that increase the maximum weekly benefit for workers compensation can expect to see temporarily total disability, injured workers making claims for longer, almost a week longer, according to a new study released by...
California Agent Guilty of $48,207 Theft from Clients
Dec 7 2009 // Insurance agency owner Craig Randall, 52, of Porter Ranch has been found guilty of 13 counts of theft of funds by a broker or agent, two counts of forgery, one count of attempted theft of funds and one count of attempting...
Southern-California Man Sentenced for Pet Insurance Theft
Dec 7 2009 // A Southern California accountant has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for stealing more than $2 million from a pet insurance company. Stephen Anthony Frlekin of El Segundo pleaded guilty in a Santa Ana courtroom Friday...
Southern California Firm Hires Three
Dec 7 2009 // Venbrook Insurance Services, of Woodland Hills, Calif., has hired three new executives. Ana Preston, formerly of Countrywide Insurance Group, was appointed vice president, personal lines. Rose Nordbrock, formerly of Bolton...
State Fund Announces 5% Rate Increase
Dec 6 2009 // California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund announced it has filed a 5 percent rate increase in collectible premium. The revised rate will apply to new and renewal workers’ compensation policies effective on...
People
Dec 6 2009 // The San Diego office of Lockton Cos. hired Bud Cole in the company’s employee benefits practice as vice president and senior consultant. Cole will serve as a liaison between clients and the Lockton benefits team,...
Golden State Faces $20 Billion in Red Ink
Dec 6 2009 // The California Legislative Analyst’s Office recently issued a report stating that the state’s General Fund is going to come up $20 billion short when its present budget ends. The report said officials are going...
California’s Poizner to Subpoena Companies Over Iran Divestment
Dec 3 2009 // California’s insurance commissioner said he intends to subpoena insurance companies that did not comply with his probe of insurance companies and Iran. Commissioner Steve Poizner announced yesterday that he intends...
BridgeStreet Consulting Names Burden to Lead Midwest Business Development
Dec 2 2009 // BridgeStreet Consulting Group, a division of Chicago-based Wells Fargo Insurance Services, has named Christine Burden business development leader for its Midwest operations. BridgeStreet Consulting Group is a national...
