Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Mass. Reports More Drunk Driving Arrests, Rehabs Under New Law
Oct 31 2008 // State officials say that since Melanie’s Law was enacted, more suspected drunken drivers are being arrested, and more repeat offenders are completing a program to keep them from drinking and driving. Motor Vehicles...
Wisconsin Dilweg: State Regulation Best for Agents, Consumers
Oct 30 2008 // From flooding and tornado catastrophes to the impact of the AIG bailout or the federal versus state regulation debate, Sean Dilweg has a lot on his plate as Wisconsin’s insurance commissioner. Appointed by Wisconsin...
Missouri Coalition Wants Fewer Than 850 Traffic Deaths
Oct 30 2008 // A Missouri highway safety coalition has set a new goal of cutting annual traffic accident deaths to less than 850 by 2012, which would be the lowest mark since 1949. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety wanted to get...
California Change to Construction Contracts Could Increase Litigation
Oct 29 2008 // California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has approved legislation affecting indemnity for construction defect claims in contracts in residential construction — a decision that could increase litigation when resolving...
FDIC Could Become Federal Insurance Regulator, Says Chief
Oct 29 2008 // The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.’s powers could be expanded if Congress decides to shift insurance companies from state regulation to federal regulation, FDIC Chairman Sheila Bair said Wednesday. Bair said the...
Florida Insurance Commissioner Names Legislative Affairs Director
Oct 28 2008 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty appointed John McBride as legislative affairs director. McBride will report to Chief of Staff Audrey Brown. McBride comes to the Office of Insurance Regulation from his most...
Insurance Affordability: Three East Coast Regulators Weigh In
Oct 28 2008 // For many East Coast homeowners, the difficulty lies not in finding insurance, but paying for it. And that so-called affordability problem affects nearly every state along the coastline. Given their recent history with...
Ohio High Court Ruling Tosses Out Another Asbestos Claim
Oct 28 2008 // The Ohio Supreme Court delivered a second blow to people seeking damages in asbestos-related cases October 22, throwing out a widow’s claim that a company that insulated the pipes at her husband’s workplace...
Texas Lawmakers Critical of Federal Response to Hurricane
Oct 28 2008 // Lawmakers in Texas praised the state’s response to Hurricane Ike but some blasted the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at a recent meeting of the state Senate’s Transportation and...
Minnesota Judge Throws Out I-35W Replacement Bridge Lawsuit
Oct 27 2008 // A judge has thrown out a lawsuit challenging ow Minnesota transportation officials awarded the contract for the recently opened Interstate 35W replacement bridge in Minneapolis. Ramsey County District Judge Edward Cleary...
Ex-Pennsylvania Judge’s Trial Delayed Because Mother Dies
Oct 27 2008 // The trial of a retired Pennsylvania appellate judge accused of insurance fraud has been delayed because of his mother’s death. Former Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce’s mother, Evelyn Cox, died Friday after...
SEC’s Cox Calls for Closing Financial Services Regulatory Gaps
Oct 24 2008 // The credit crisis shows regulatory gaps need to be closed on credit default swaps and investment bank supervision, the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Thursday. “The lessons of the...
Prosecutor: Ex-Pa. Judge Lied to Collect Insurance
Oct 24 2008 // A since-retired state appellate judge used his title and told lies and half-truths about injuries from a slow-speed fender-bender to collect $440,000 from two insurance companies, a federal prosecutor said Wednesday to...
Lawmakers Blast Rating Agencies for Role in Financial Crisis
Oct 23 2008 // The top executive of Moody’s warned his board in 2007 that the quality of credit ratings was in danger due to trends that could “place the entire financial system at risk.” The confidential briefing was...
Jury Seated in Pennsylvania Judge’s Fraud Trial
Oct 23 2008 // Six men and six women have been selected as jurors in the federal fraud trial of a retired Pennsylvania appellate judge in Pittsburgh and opening statements are expected to begin. Ex-Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce is...
Jury Picks, Opening on Tap in Fraud Trial of Former Pennsylvania Judge
Oct 22 2008 // Jury selection is expected to wrap up in the federal fraud trial of a retired Pennsylvania appellate judge in Pittsburgh. Retired Superior Court Judge Michael Joyce is charged with mail fraud and money laundering because...
Illinois Judge Tosses Out Confession in Arson Case
Oct 22 2008 // An Illinois judge has tossed the confession of an East Peoria man accused of setting fire to a Peoria Heights house, ruling it was coerced by police who threatened him with charges of attempted murder. Monday’s...
Survey: U.S. Firms Prepare for Rise in Litigation After Two Years of Declines
Oct 21 2008 // Following two straight years of reporting declines in the number of new lawsuits and regulatory proceedings — including a drop in large-dollar cases — U.S. companies now anticipate an uptick in new actions and...
Global Crisis Dominates A.M. Best’s London Conference
Oct 20 2008 // The by now all too familiar litany of the world’s financial woes took pride of place at A.M. Best’s well-attended conference (over 240 attendees) in London on October 15. Roger Sellek, the rating agency’s...
Bermuda Lauds IMF’s Positive Assessment of Regulations
Oct 20 2008 // The Bermuda Monetary Authority (BMA) issued a bulletin welcoming the recently released report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which gave the island high marks for its regulatory system. The bulletin noted that...
