Latest California Headlines

Calif. Releases Impact of 2004-2005 Increase in State Average Weekly Wage On Workers’ Comp

Jul 21 2005 // The U.S. Department of Labor has announced that California’s State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) rose from $806.11 to $838.42 for the 12 months ending March 31, 2005 – remaining just below the threshold level of...

Russo Promoted at Keenan

Jul 19 2005 // Torrance, Calif.-based Keenan & Associates announced that Tom Russo has been promoted to the position of Northern California Practice Leader for Schools–Property & Casualty. Keenan serves 800-plus...

News Currents

Jul 18 2005 // Two Industry Opposed Bills Die in California Legislature California’s SB 46 and SB 603 both died in the Legislature in late June, allowing insurers to breathe a little easy-for now. SB 46, authored by Sen. Richard...

Opinion: Rare Calif. Policy Success Tries to Survive

Jul 18 2005 // This month new workers’ compensation insurance rates went into effect in California. And thanks to reforms championed early on by State Sen. Charles Poochigian and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, and later pushed by Gov....

Alliance Files Court Briefs On Behalf of Agents, Brokers in E&OCase

Jul 18 2005 // The American Agents Alliance has filed two briefs with the California Supreme Court in an attempt to protect insurance producers from fallout resulting from a recent Appellate Court ruling. On June 30 the state Supreme...

People & Places

Jul 18 2005 // David Porter Majestic Insurance Companyannounced the appointment of David Porter to the new position of marketing manager for Southern California. Porter has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Prior to...

Two Industry Opposed Bills Die in California Legislature

Jul 18 2005 // California’s SB 46 and SB 603 both died in the Legislature in late June, allowing insurers to breathe a little easy–for now. SB 46, authored by Sen. Richard Alarcon (D — San Fernando Valley), would have...

San Jose Chain Store Owners Plead Guilty in Workers’ Comp Scam

Jul 18 2005 // A San Jose, California husband and wife pled guilty to charges of workers’ compensation premium fraud and will serve 14-month jail sentences and pay $2 million in restitution following a multi agency investigation...

Former Calif. Insurance Agent Sentenced

Jul 18 2005 // Cordell Bunton, of Stockton, California, has been sentenced to six months in the San Joaquin County jail after pleading guilty to 10 felony and two misdemeanor counts that included grand theft, insurance fraud, forgery,...

Alliance Files Court Briefs On Behalf of Agents, Brokers in E&O Case

Jul 18 2005 // The American Agents Alliance has filed two briefs with the California Supreme Court in an attempt to protect insurance producers from fallout resulting from a recent Appellate Court ruling. On June 30 the state Supreme...

Business Moves

Jul 18 2005 // State Fund Withdraws Plans for Home Office Expansion California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund has announced it has decided to not move forward with the plans for the construction of a new office building...

A Rare California Policy Success Trying to Survive

Jul 18 2005 // This month new workers’ compensation insurance rates went into effect in California. And thanks to reforms championed early on by State Sen. Charles Poochigian and Assemblyman Abel Maldonado, and later pushed by Gov....

Jul 18 2005 // Majestic Insurance Company announced the appointment of David Porter to the new position of marketing manager for Southern California. Porter has more than 25 years of experience in the industry. Prior to joining Majestic,...

Calif. Legislature Breaks for Summer, Takes Action on Measures

Jul 18 2005 // Following is ACIC’s weekly update on legislative action taken on insurance-related bills last week and the measures scheduled for consideration in the future. Note: Legislature begins its month-long summer recess...

Borisoff Joins Countrywide Insurance as President of Commercial Lines

Jul 14 2005 // Countrywide Insurance Group has announced that Brett Borisoff has joined the organization as president of Countrywide Insurance Services Inc.’s commercial insurance division. Borisoff will run the commercial division...

American Agents Alliance Opposes SB 20 Despite Amendments

Jul 14 2005 // American Agents Alliance Executive Director Ken Nigohosian says the association will maintain its opposition to Senate Bill 20 (Escutia), despite recent amendments to the bill. SB 20 would mandate the continuance of...

Calif. Supreme Court Rejects Third Lawsuit Against Workers’ Comp Issues

Jul 14 2005 // Yesterday, the California Supreme Court denied the writ of mandate in a case filed by a group sponsored by the California Applicant Attorneys’ Association, the American Insurance Association reported today. The case...

Mother-Daughter Team Arrested for Calif. Workers’ Comp Scam

Jul 13 2005 // Two Kern County, California farm labor contractors surrendered to authorities July 12 after a two-year investigation found that they had allegedly under-reported their business’ payroll by $1 million. The...

WellPoint Agrees to Pay $198 M to Settle Dispute With Physicians

Jul 12 2005 // WellPoint Inc. has agreed to pay $198 million to settle a dispute with physicians and medical societies which will give doctors more leeway in determining the types of treatment required and whether or not a given...

California’s State Fund Riverside District Office Hosts Employer Seminar on Workers’ Comp Fraud Prevention

Jul 12 2005 // As part of its commitment to fight workers’ compensation insurance fraud, California’s State Fund will host a free fraud prevention seminar for employers at its Riverside District Office. The seminar will take...