Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Pinnacol Exploring Ways to Help Colorado Budget
Apr 10 2009 // Pinnacol Assurance is exploring ways it could use its $2 billion in assets to voluntarily help the state balance its budget even as the state-created insurance company fights legislation that would hand over control of its...
Defamation Award Reviewed over Crooked Pennsylvania Judges’ Role
Apr 10 2009 // A $3.5 million defamation verdict against The Citizens’ Voice. newspaper will be reviewed because of the role in the case played by two former judges at the center of a juvenile justice scandal, the Pennsylvania...
U.S. Lawmakers Seek Ban on Tainted Chinese Drywall
Apr 10 2009 // U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson, D.-Fla., and Mary Landrieu, D.-La., have filed legislation for a recall and immediate ban on tainted building products from China, as more and more people around the country are reporting problems...
Texas Senate Dems Block Insurance Department Sunset Legislation
Apr 10 2009 // Democrats in the Texas Senate have moved to block key insurance legislation as they push for more consumer protections and lower homeowner rates. Using filibuster rules, Democrats refused to allow debate on a measure...
Judge Blocks Michigan’s Challenge to Insurance Rates with Credit Scores
Apr 10 2009 // Barry County Circuit Judge James Fisher issued an injunction on Friday, April 10, preventing Michigan insurance regulators from challenging insurance companies’ home and auto insurance rate filings that use credit...
Push for Transgender Protection Grows in New England
Apr 9 2009 // For Ethan St. Pierre, allowing someone who is biologically female but self-identifies as male to use the men’s bathroom is a no-brainer. “Look at me,” said St. Pierre, who was born a woman but is now a...
Florida Lawmaker Chides Lobbyist during Committee
Apr 8 2009 // A hurricane insurance bill that would help Florida reduce its multibillion-dollar exposure in the state’s tenuous insurance market moved through a Senate committee Monday — with sparks flying. The Senate...
Wife of Convicted Pennsylvania Ex-Judge Challenges Fed Forfeiture
Apr 8 2009 // The wife of a retired Pennsylvania Superior Court judge convicted of insurance fraud is challenging efforts by federal prosecutors to seize the judge’s home. Prosecutors claim former Judge Michael Joyce bought the...
Federal Judge in Arkansas Dismisses Stranded Passenger Lawsuit
Apr 7 2009 // A federal judge in Fayetteville, Ark., has dismissed a lawsuit by an Arkansas woman that claimed she was illegally imprisoned on an American Airlines airplane for 91/2 hours in 2006. In an 18-page ruling, U.S. District...
U.S. Judge Halts Washington Mutual Fraud Lawsuit
Apr 7 2009 // A federal judge on Monday halted a consumer class-action fraud lawsuit against Washington Mutual Inc, saying it may be more appropriate for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp to handle claims against the failed savings and...
Texas High Court Reaffirms Controversial Entergy Workplace Ruling
Apr 6 2009 // After agreeing to a rare rehearing, the Texas Supreme Court on April 3 upheld its decision that – despite what some lawmakers say – a “premises owner” cannot be sued by injured employees of a...
Nebraksa Rules Insurance Exclusion Applies to Liquidator
Apr 6 2009 // A regulatory exclusion in a directors and officers liability insurance policy applies to an insurance regulator acting as liquidator, according to the Nebraska Supreme Court. The ruling is believed to be the first by any...
Defending Data
Apr 6 2009 // Data Security Breaches Present Emerging Risks and Opportunities for Agents Data security represents both a new market opportunity to sell insurance coverage and a new risk – especially for independent insurance...
Judge Orders State To Rework North Carolina Beach Plan Hikes
Apr 6 2009 // A Wake County judge has ordered North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin to reconsider deductible and surcharge increases for coastal homeowners in the state insurance pool called the Beach Plan. Wake County...
Florida Finds People Can’t Trust People’s Trust Insurance
Apr 6 2009 // One of Florida’s new startup property insurance companies that was expected to help pick up the slack when State Farm Florida exits the market has been barred from selling any new policies. The company was found to...
Declarations
Apr 6 2009 // Federal Aid “We need a more disciplined, structured plan for providing federal assistance following any major natural disaster.” —U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D.-Fla, in asking the U.S. Treasury to provide...
Declarations
Apr 6 2009 // Frankly Mad “It’s very, very disappointing. I’ve just pretty much run out of patience.” —Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland. Holland said she is “grossly disappointed and frankly...
Liaisons Highlight Consumer Insurance Concerns
Apr 6 2009 // Consumer Advocates Focus on How Insurers Treat Insureds in Difficult Economic, Credit Climate Insurance agents, brokers and regulators should be aware that when it comes to insurance, consumers are concerned with such...
An Awakened Washington Promises More Stress for Directors & Officers
Apr 6 2009 // Corporate Leaders Brace For Fallout From Heightened Regulation, Even Corrupt Foreign Practices Corporations and their directors and officers are living in fear. Fear of the next financial scandal, the next stock market...
Obama Plays Up Role as Consensus Builder at G20
Apr 3 2009 // Where President George W. Bush was known for his “cowboy diplomacy,” his successor, President Barack Obama wants to be known as a listener and a builder of bridges. Taking his first major foreign trip since...
