Latest Illinois Headlines
All the headlines from our Illinois Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Closely-Watched Oklahoma Pollution Suit Against Big Poultry Goes to Trial
Sep 23 2009 // David Overbey is no scientist, but he says a person doesn’t have to be to see how much the Illinois River has improved in recent years. Overbey, a 67-year-old retired laborer who spends his days fishing the river in...
Employers Must Keep Company Picnics and Team-Building Activities Voluntary
Sep 21 2009 // When Fun ‘n Games at Work Take a Bad Turn Phyllis Young and her co-worker and friend, Sarah Bales, won the hula-hoop contest and the balloon toss, making them the favorites to also win the three-legged sack...
Illinois Agent Fined $100K for Allegedly Stealing Premiums
Sep 18 2009 // The Illinois Department of Insurance as revoked the license of an agent and his agency, and fined him $100,000 for keeping his clients’ payments and committing several other frauds. Investigators say Earl D....
Illinois Firm Offers New E&O Insurance Program for Roofing Industry
Sep 11 2009 // Lombard, Ill.-based insurance services firm, Norman-Spencer International Inc., and the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) are partnering to provide professional errors and omissions (E&O) insurance...
Foremost Insurance Expands Landlord Program in Illinois
Sep 2 2009 // Caledonia, Mich.-based Foremost Insurance Group has expanded its landlord program in Illinois, effective Sept. 1, 2009 Foremost said it is now positioned to write a broad spectrum of landlord and rental property customers...
FERMA Supports RIMS Position on Brokers Contingent Commissions
Aug 17 2009 // The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has issued a bulletin expressing concerns over a new ruling in the US state of Illinois that allows brokers to resume taking contingent commissions. The...
$200K Penalty Issued Against Universal Casualty in Illinois
Aug 13 2009 // The Illinois Department of Insurance has issued an order against Universal Casualty Company (UCC) for failing to adopt and maintain procedures for the prompt investigation and settlement of consumers’ claims. On Aug....
Illinois AG Settles With Construction Firms Over Worker Classifications
Aug 11 2009 // Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has reached an agreement to settle claims against five Chicago-area construction firms that were falsely classifying their employees as independent contractors, rather than fully...
Illinois Allows Retail Contingent Commissions for Arthur J. Gallagher
Jul 30 2009 // In a filing of financial results for the second quarter 2009, Itasca, Ill.-based insurance broker Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. reported that amended settlement agreements with the Illinois Attorney General and the...
Survey: Illinois Small Businesses Crushed by Rising Health Costs
Jul 22 2009 // Illinois small business owners are being crushed by rising health care costs, and feel left out of the current health care debate in Washington, according to a report recently released by Illinois Public Interest Research...
People
Jul 20 2009 // Illinois Governor Pat Quinn named Michael McRaith director of the newly created Department of Insurance (DOI), which separated from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) on June 1,...
ICW Group Now Offers Workers’ Compensation Insurance in Illinois
Jul 10 2009 // San Diego, Calif.-based ICW Group Insurance Companies is now offering workers’ compensation insurance in Illinois. The ICW’s Illinois workers’ compensation office is led by Suzanne Lysak. Lysak has more...
Southwest Illinois Seeks Senator’s Help in Flood Mapping
Jul 9 2009 // Leaders in southwestern Illinois hope the state’s senior U.S. senator gets the region another delay in the publication of newly drawn Mississippi River flood maps. Once completed, the new Federal Emergency Management...
Illinois’ McRaith Named Director of New Department of Insurance
Jul 8 2009 // Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has named Michael McRaith as the director of the newly created Department of Insurance. As a result of Governor Quinn’s Executive Order 4, the Department of Insurance (DOI) separated from...
Tower Group to Acquire Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance of Illinois
Jul 6 2009 // New York-based Tower Group Inc. has agreed to purchase Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance Inc., headquartered in Chicago, in a transaction valued at approximately $107 million. SUA said the deal will enable it to...
Illinois Insurance Agent Accused in $370K Fraud Scheme
Jun 30 2009 // The Illinois Department of Insurance reported that a licensed insurance agent, Larry Chouinard of Kankakee, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding 13 businesses of nearly $370,000. Bradley, Ill., police arrested...
Illinois Insurance Agent Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Jun 25 2009 // Zion, Ill., resident Reuben Collier Jr. has pleaded guilty to four Class 3 felony charges in Lake County Court, the Illinois Department of Insurance announced. Collier, an insurance agent licensed by the Department,...
Illinois to Subsidize Health Insurance for Laid Off Small Business Workers
Jun 22 2009 // Gov. Pat Quinn has signed legislation designed to make health insurance coverage for workers laid off from small businesses more affordable. Under federal legislation, people who formerly worked at firms of 20 employees or...
Tower Group to Acquire Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance of Illinois
Jun 22 2009 // New York-based Tower Group, Inc. has agreed to purchase Illinois-based specialty insurer Specialty Underwriters’ Alliance, Inc. in a transaction valued at approximately $107 million. Under the terms of that...
Illinois Man Accused of Planning Fish Toxin Death to Collect Insurance
Jun 18 2009 // A suburban Chicago, Ill., man accused of posing as a doctor to buy vials of deadly puffer fish toxin has been charged with planning to use the poison to kill his wife and collect $20 million in life insurance. Edward F....