Latest Construction Headlines
All the headlines from our Construction Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Texas Court Gives New Life to Contractual Liability Exclusion
Jul 27 2010 // Where contractors are involved, one of the most intractable problems for a carrier in negotiating and settling claims are the contract liability issues. How does a carrier identify if a contractual claim is covered? A...
Distressed and Vacant Properties Fill a Void for Insurers
Jul 22 2010 // The vacant and distressed property segment, which was barely thought of two years ago, has been a beacon of light for insurers. This class has boomed over the last couple years as the economy has forced the closure of many...
Contractual Liability Is Just That
Jul 19 2010 // Texas Court: Exclusion Precludes Coverage for Breach of Contract Where contractors are involved, one of the most intractable problems for a carrier in negotiating and settling claims are the contract liability issues. How...
Self-Employed Contractor Cannot Hold Hirer Vicariously Liable for Job Injuries
Jul 12 2010 // Property owners who hire independent contractors are not vicariously liable for on-the-job injuries to the contractor’s employees, the California Supreme Court has ruled. The state high court extended the decision in...
State Auto Western Region Reports Additions, Promotions in Texas
Jul 9 2010 // State Auto Western Region has announced the following staff additions and promotions in Texas: Steve Harmon has joined State Auto as a business insurance account executive. In this role, Harmon will have responsibility for...
Residential Contractor Umbrellas: Tough Sell in Tough Times
Jul 8 2010 // Residential construction is and has been an extremely important class of business for surplus lines insurers and agents. In recent years, however, demand for residential work in this country has dropped dramatically....
People
Jul 5 2010 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) elected David Wood, vice president and partner at Bogan, Dunlap & Wood Insurance in Odessa, to serve as the association’s president for 2010-2011. Other newly...
Construction Claims: Understanding Colorado’s Statutory Notice of Claim Process
Jul 5 2010 // In the construction industry, it is almost inevitable that at some time contractors and design professionals will receive a notice of claim (NOC) letter. This is the first step in the claims process that may lead to an...
How to COPE with Apartments
Jun 21 2010 // COPE is generally associated with property underwriting rather than as a risk class-based underwriting acronym. However, the traditional use and definition of COPE can be broadened to highlight the top concerns of...
Umbrellas for Residential Contractors in Uncertain Times
Jun 21 2010 // Why Commercial Umbrella Coverage Could Save the Day Residential construction is and has been an extremely important class of business for surplus lines insurers and agents. In recent years, however, demand for residential...
Mullis Newby Hurst Adds Wiggins as an Account Executive
Jun 16 2010 // Addison, Texas-based Mullis Newby Hurst L.P., which specializes in construction insurance and surety bonds, recently hired Mike Wiggins as an account executive. Wiggins, who was a top producer for Liberty Mutual in Central...
Anderson to Head U.S. Construction Practice at Marsh
Jun 7 2010 // Marsh has appointed Michael Anderson president of its U.S. Construction Practice. Anderson brings more than 25 years of construction risk management experience to Marsh. He most recently served as surety practice leader at...
Lawsuit Filed over Atlanta Bridge Collapse
Jun 7 2010 // The widow of a construction worker killed when a pedestrian bridge collapsed at the Atlanta Botanical Garden in 2008 has filed a lawsuit against the attraction and several construction companies. The Atlanta...
Texas High Court Sides with Lloyd’s in Contractual Liability Exclusion Case
Jun 7 2010 // The Texas Supreme Court has found in favor of an excess insurance provider in a case involving the contractual liability exclusion in a Commercial General Liability (CGL) policy. In 1993, Dallas Area Rapid Transit...
Mississippi Home’s Concrete Structure Cuts Insurance Cost
Jun 7 2010 // The Dubuisson home will resemble others in the traditional Pass Christian neighborhood when construction is complete this summer yet underneath will be a superstructure built to withstand 200 mile-per-hour winds and cut...
Hiscox USA Adds Underwriters to Los Angeles Regional Office
Jun 4 2010 // Hiscox USA has expanded its business in its Los Angeles, California office with the addition of underwriters in the allied healthcare professional and general liability; architects, engineers and construction managers...
AIR Analyzes Agatha; Despite Damages Insured Losses Not ‘Significant’
Jun 2 2010 // Catastrophe risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide described the early tropical storm Agatha as “short-lived, but deadly,” as it “wreaked havoc in Central America over the weekend. Agatha benefitted “from...
Two Falls in Two Days for New York City Construction Workers
Jun 1 2010 // One worker is dead and another injured after two separate incidents at New York City construction sites last week. In Brooklyn, a construction worker at a building going up died after he lost his balance and fell about 50...
Kaplan to Head Construction Practice at XL
May 21 2010 // XL Insurance appointed Gary S. Kaplan to the newly created position of executive vice president and North America Construction leader. Kaplan, who will be based in New York, joins XL Insurance from Zurich North America...
Mississippi Home’s Concrete Structure Beats Winds, Cuts Insurance Cost
May 19 2010 // The Dubuisson home will resemble others in the traditional Pass Christian neighborhood when construction is complete this summer yet underneath will be a superstructure built to withstand 200 mile-per-hour winds and cut...