Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Judge Sentences Milberg Weiss Lawyer for Class-Action Kickbacks

Jan 31 2008 // A retired attorney who pleaded guilty in a lucrative kickback scheme involving class-action lawsuits against some of America’s largest corporations was sentenced this week in Los Angeles to six months home detention...

National Trade Group Urges Wis. Senate to Reject Credit Ban Proposal

Jan 30 2008 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) recently announced that it is opposing legislation scheduled for a vote by Wisconsin Senate Thursday, Jan. 31st, that would prohibit insurers from using...

Ex-N.M. Deputy Insurance Superintendent Found Guilty

Jan 30 2008 // Federal jurors have convicted former state Deputy Insurance Superintendent Joe Ruiz of trying to coerce insurance companies to donate money to charity in exchange for reducing regulatory fines. The jury returned 30 guilty...

Iowa Counties Urge Lawmakers to Address Liability Issues for Bikers

Jan 30 2008 // The route for this year’s bicycle race, RAGBRAI, is set and counties along its path want lawmakers to address the issue of their liability. The issue arose after Crawford County settled a lawsuit with a woman whose...

NYC Judge Throws Out $1M Jell-O Wrestling Lawsuit

Jan 30 2008 // There’s no room for this Jell-O wrestling lawsuit. A Manhattan judge has thrown out $1 million suit against New York University by a former student who claimed he broke his hip at a Jell-O wrestling dorm party. Avram...

Sen. Sununu Exits Banking Committee

Jan 29 2008 // One of the U.S. senators who has sponsored legislation to give insurance companies the option of being regulated by the federal government instead of by states is leaving the Senate Banking Committee that deals with many...

Wash. AG Supporting Cell Phone Privacy, Internet Safety and Ethics Bills

Jan 29 2008 // Five bills requested by Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna are scheduled for public hearings today and Wednesday of this week. The bills would help keep cell phone numbers private, make it a crime to view child...

Insurers to Fight Credit Scoring Ban on Colo. House Floor

Jan 28 2008 // Legislation that would prohibit insurers’ use of credit information narrowly advanced out of the Colorado House Business Affairs and Labor Committee Thursday on a 6-5 vote. According to the Property Casualty Insurers...

Some Ohio Officials Say Too Soon to Measure Impact of Tort Reform Efforts

Jan 28 2008 // Some Ohio state officials aren’t quite ready to say that legislative efforts to cap award amounts and other tort reform efforts are having an impact on dropping claims numbers. The state insurance director said last...

Judge: Miss. Attorney General Must Testify in State Farm Lawsuit

Jan 28 2008 // Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood must testify in a lawsuit filed by State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. that accuses him of violating an agreement to end a criminal investigation of the insurer’s handling of...

Utah Bill to Add Sexual Orientation to Anti-Discrimination Law Still Alive

Jan 28 2008 // Bryan Horn is convinced he recently lost his job at a Utah County credit union because he’s gay. He said he was forced to resign, four days after telling his boss he intended to marry his partner. “They were...

Munson-Regala to Head Minn. Market Assurance Division

Jan 28 2008 // Minnesota Insurance Commissioner Glenn Wilson recently announced that Manny Munson-Regala has been named deputy commissioner and will lead the Market Assurance Division at the Minnesota Department of Commerce....

Calif. High Court Rules Employers Can Fire Workers Using Medical Marijuana

Jan 28 2008 // Employers can fire workers found to have used medical marijuana even if it was legally prescribed, the California Supreme Court ruled last Thursday, dealing the state another setback in its standoff with U.S. law...

N.J. Eases Investment Rules for Carriers

Jan 27 2008 // Garden State lawmakers recently approved rules that give insurance companies greater flexibility in their investments. Signed by Gov. Jon S. Corzine earlier this month, the new law allows domestic property and casualty...

Okla. Lawmakers Return Donations Linked to Convicted Former Commissioner

Jan 27 2008 // Three Oklahoma state representatives, all Republicans, say they are returning campaign contributions given to them by the son of a man linked to convicted former state Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher. Reps. Jeff...

Judge Sanctions Texas Mutual, Company to Appeal Decision

Jan 27 2008 // The judge’s “sanctions order is simply wrong. Texas Mutual did not falsify any documents, did not deceive the court, and did not take any improper actions to gain an advantage.” Texas Mutual Insurance...

State Officials Not Sold on New License Rules Under Real ID Act of 2005

Jan 27 2008 // States have five more years to verify identity, reissue licenses; even so some states continue to refuse compliance State officials and some in Congress remain skeptical about new federal rules for driver’s licenses,...

European Risk Managers, Industry Face New and Not so New Challenges

Jan 27 2008 // FERMA conference highlights growing importance of risk management in complex global business environment The insurance industry’s “traditional model” has become outdated and is so abstruse that the...

The Pressure’s On

Jan 27 2008 // Washington State’s Kreidler believes now’s the time for the industry to face climate change Washington State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has proven adept at balancing the many demands placed upon state...

Democrats Blast FDA Labeling Rule as Product Liability Shield for Drug Makers

Jan 25 2008 // The Bush administration wants to limit the situations where drug companies can change warning labels when they know of unsafe conditions without waiting for government approval. But Democrats charge that the recent...