Latest Claims Headlines

All the headlines from our Claims Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Florida Extends 1% Hurricane Surcharge Until 2014

Jun 11 2008 // The Florida Cabinet voted to extend a 1 percent insurance policy surcharge to cover hurricane claims that began in 2007 for two additional years through 2014. The assessment covers outstanding claims that originated during...

Final Approval Granted for Generali Holocaust Claims Settlement

Jun 10 2008 // The final approval of a settlement has been granted to thousands of Holocaust victims and their heirs against Italian insurer Generali over unpaid insurance policies during the Holocaust era. A U.S. appeals court Friday...

American Family Says Losses in Midwest $143 Million Since May 1

Jun 10 2008 // One insurance company based in the Midwest says weather-related losses are adding up quickly. Madison, Wis.-based American Family Insurance Company says that claims are mounting in the Midwest since tornados, windstorms,...

Study: Businesses Making Early Offers for Injury Claims Save

Jun 5 2008 // There are strong advantages to a system in which businesses facing personal injury lawsuits could promptly pay injured parties for out-of-pocket medical expenses and lost wages while avoiding long court battles, high legal...

Oklahoma Hail Damage Claims From Recent Storm Could Top $20M

Jun 5 2008 // Hail damage claims from this past weekend’s storm could easily top $20 million, an insurance industry source says, matching the cost of a similar area storm in April. Meanwhile, nearly 1,260 electric company...

Court Turns Maryland Condo Insurance Upside Down

Jun 3 2008 // A dispute over $6,400 in damage to a Maryland townhouse led to an unexpected court decision that has reversed 26 years of standard industry practice, and left insurers, agents, lawmakers and condominium associations...

Case Watch

Jun 2 2008 // Exclusions United Fire & Casualty Co. v. Keely & Sons, Inc. Ill. App. May 2, 2008 Commercial policy does not provide coverage to policyholder for claims of spoliation of evidence. A policyholder was sued when...

More Catastrophe Fund Surcharges Likely for Florida Policyholders

Jun 2 2008 // Florida residents could soon be faced with increased surcharges on their home, auto and other insurance policies because the state’s catastrophe fund needs more money to pay claims from past hurricanes. The Florida...

$50M in Insured Losses Expected From May Storm in Austin

Jun 2 2008 // Earlier North Texas storms rack up more than $200 million in damages Trees downed in May 14 storm damaged this house in central Austin. Back-to-back storm systems that surprised Central Texas overnight May 14-15 with...

Claims of Agent’s Professional Negligence Can Be Assigned To Third Party

Jun 2 2008 // The Supreme Court of Arizona ruled that an insurance agent’s clients may assert claims for professional negligence against the client and may assign such claims to third parties. According to D. Jere’ Webb v....

Insurance Companies Face Global Warming Claims

Jun 2 2008 // Corporations exposed to liability for greenhouse gas emissions The industry is about to enter an era of global warming insurance claims. Scientists have been warning about the impact global warming could have if greenhouse...

California Report Details How to Reduce Fraudulent Insurance Claims

May 30 2008 // Following a meeting with his Advisory Task Force on Insurance Fraud, Blue Ribbon Review Committee, California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that he will implement five actions to help reduce fraudulent...

State Regulators Call for More Study of Credit Scoring Use in Insurance

May 28 2008 // State regulators recently told Congress that more study of the use of credit scoring by insurance companies is needed to determine if the practice is unfairly discriminatory. “As state regulators, it is our sincere...

Colorado Tornado, Hail Damage Adds Up To Estimated $147M in Damage

May 28 2008 // Colorado residents in Windsor and surrounding communities are starting the process of repairing and rebuilding their homes, following May 22’s tornadoes and hail and wind storm. Meanwhile insurance companies have...

Anti-Bias Laws Cover Retaliation Claims, U.S. Supreme Court Rules

May 27 2008 // Employees who complain of racial bias in the workplace and then face retaliation can sue under a post-Civil War-era law barring discrimination, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. In a second similar decision, the high...

Celina Insurance Group Promotes Wissman to Vice President, Claims

May 23 2008 // Rod Stapleton, vice president of operations, recently announced that Ted Wissman has been promoted to vice president of claims effective immediately. Celina’s board of directors approved the promotion on Monday, May...

Claims of Agent’s Professional Negligence Can Be Assigned To Third Party

May 23 2008 // The Supreme Court of Arizona ruled that an insurance agent’s clients may assert claims for professional negligence against the client and may assign such claims to third parties. According to D. Jere’ Webb v....

Insurers Market Private Workers’ Comp on U.S. Defense Projects

May 19 2008 // As the need for U.S. government foreign-based support personnel increases, so does the need for workers’ compensation coverage for contractors involved in U.S. funded projects. Contracts for insurers wanting to...

Floridians Could See Increased Surcharge on Insurance Policies

May 19 2008 // Florida residents could soon be faced with increased surcharges on their home, auto and other insurance policies because the state’s catastrophe fund needs more money to pay claims from past hurricanes. The Florida...

Defense Base Act: Doing Business Outside the Box

May 19 2008 // As the need for and presence of and U.S. government foreign-based support personnel increases, so does the need for workers’ compensation coverage for contractors involved in U.S. funded projects. As such, the...