Latest Legislation Headlines

Wisconsin Governor Doyle Vetoes Med-Mal Cap Legislation

Dec 19 2005 // Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed legislation that would have capped the amount of money medical malpractice victims could win in court for their pain and suffering, an issue that has been a political flash point across the...

Lawmakers Negotiate Liability Protections for Flu Vaccine Manufacturers

Dec 19 2005 // People injured by a vaccine against bird flu or anthrax would have to prove willful misconduct to bring a claim for damages against drug manufacturers or distributors, according to legislation being drafted by...

Why Mass. Should Keep Its Current Auto System with State-Set Rates

Dec 19 2005 // The State’s Independent Agents Explain Why They Oppose a Switch to Competitive Rating I agree with Gov. Romney that improving road designs, dangerous intersections and combating fraud will go a long way to lowering...

Federal Law Puts Brakes on Vicarious Liability for Auto Rental Firms

Dec 19 2005 // Recent N.Y. $21 Million Award May Be Last of Its Kind in the Nation A New York court’s $21 million award last month to a young Wall Street trader paralyzed in an accident involving a Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle may be...

Guy Carpenter Study: U.S. Tort System Less Hostile to Corporate Defendants, Their Insurers

Dec 19 2005 // Guy Carpenter & Company Inc. reported the release of a new study, Recent Legislative and Judicial Trends Affecting the U.S. Casualty Industry, on key legislative and judicial developments and their impact on the U.S....

Meeting Today’s Challenges and Preparing for Tomorrow’s

Dec 19 2005 // Several pressing public policy issues remain to be debated in the Gulf region and across the country. At the forefront is the question of how we, as a nation, will finance losses from future mega-catastrophes. Weather...

Mutuals’ SOX Success

Dec 19 2005 // The insurance industry effects real public policy change when our arguments are based on principle. Presented in an assertive, thoughtful and focused manner, we can succeed. Recent developments in the National Association...

Congress Passes TRIA Renewal; Legislation Sent to President’s Desk

Dec 18 2005 // Congress approved the Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision Act of 2005 late last week after reconciling differing versions passed in both the House and the Senate. The legislation now moves to the President’s desk for...

Mutuals’ SOX Success

Dec 18 2005 // While NAMIC may stand virtually alone, our position has received vital support from the chairmen of the U.S. House Financial Services Committee and state legislative groups. The insurance industry effects real public...

Calif. Court Rules in Favor of Earthquake Policyholders

Dec 18 2005 // An insurance broker was a representative for the California Fair Plan Insurance Co. with regard to the Northridge earthquake revival statute, which gave policyholders another year to file lawsuits against their insurers in...

Lawmakers Negotiate Liability Protections for Flu Vaccine Manufacturers

Dec 18 2005 // People injured by a vaccine against bird flu or anthrax would have to prove willful misconduct to bring a claim for damages against drug manufacturers or distributors, according to legislation being drafted by...

People

Dec 18 2005 // Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Robert Wooley announced that Clarissa A. Preston has been named deputy commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Insurance Office of Property and Casualty, and Scott Kipper is now deputy...

Meeting Today’s Challenges and Preparing for Tomorrow’s

Dec 18 2005 // Several pressing public policy issues remain to be debated in the Gulf region and across the country. At the forefront is the question of how we, as a nation, will finance losses from future mega- catastrophes. Weather...

Dec 18 2005 // Insurers Challenge “Underground Regulations” Insurance companies have filed a lawsuit against California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, challenging what they called “underground regulations”...

Federal Law Puts Brakes on Vicarious Liability for Auto Rental Firms

Dec 18 2005 // A New York court’s $21 million award last month to a young Wall Street trader paralyzed in an accident involving a Budget Rent-a-Car vehicle may be one of the last of its kind. Inserted among the thousands of road...

Wisconsin Governor Doyle Vetoes Med-Mal Cap Legislation

Dec 18 2005 // Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle vetoed legislation that would have capped the amount of money medical malpractice victims could win in court for their pain and suffering, an issue that has been a political flash point across the...

Meeting Today’s Challenges and Preparing for Tomorrow’s

Dec 18 2005 // Weather forecasters predicted that the 2005 hurricane season could be more active than normal, but no one thought it would produce 26 named storms and the most destructive storm on record-Hurricane Katrina. Katrina tested...

News Briefs

Dec 18 2005 // Massachusetts Auto Producer Reassignments Delayed: Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Julianne Bowler has asked that a plan for reassignment of auto insurance producers doing business with the state’s residual...

Why Mass. Should Keep Its Current Auto System with State-Set Rates

Dec 18 2005 // I agree with Gov. Romney that improving road designs, dangerous intersections and combating fraud will go a long way to lowering automobile insurance rates in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. But I disagree with his...

News Briefs

Dec 18 2005 // FLORIDA State Farm of Florida 8.6 Percent Rate Request Approved The Florida Department of Insurance approved an average statewide premium rate hike of 8.6 percent for State Farm of Florida, the largest insurer of homes in...