Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
El Paso Judge Imposes Curfew as Virus Cases Overwhelm Hospitals
Oct 27 2020 // Residents in the Texas border city of El Paso have been urged to stay home for two weeks as a spike in coronavirus cases overwhelms hospitals, prompting the state to dedicate part of the city’s civic center as a...
Judge in California OKs $78M Settlement by Air Medical Company
Oct 27 2020 // A judge has given final approval to a $78 million settlement by a medical helicopter company that was sued by its California flight crew employees over unpaid overtime and missed breaks. The decision last week by Alameda...
Insureds After COVID Premium Cuts Must Ask State Regulator First, Judge Rules
Oct 26 2020 // A federal judge has ruled that State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. does not have to return premiums to a small business customer because of the insured’s reduced business during the pandemic. The judge in Missouri found...
Big Tech Lobby Seeks EU Liability Cover to Tackle Hate Speech, Illegal Content
Oct 26 2020 // Big technology platforms are calling on the European Union to protect them from legal liabilities for removing hate speech and illegal content as government scrutiny over how platforms manage user posts grows worldwide. A...
Pennsylvania Justices Review Priest Abuse Lawsuit’s Ruling on Time Limits
Oct 23 2020 // Pennsylvania’s highest court on Tuesday grappled with whether a woman’s lawsuit on claims of sexual abuse by a priest decades ago should be allowed to proceed – a lower-court ruling that has launched many...
Judge Rules New York City Crosswalks Fail to Protect Blind Pedestrians
Oct 23 2020 // Most crosswalks in New York City violate laws protecting people with disabilities by failing to properly protect blind and low-vision pedestrians, a judge ruled Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in Manhattan...
Judge in North Carolina Favors Policyholders in COVID-19 Closure Lawsuit
Oct 23 2020 // A judge in Durham County, North Carolina has handed down what may be the nation’s first dispositive ruling in favor of policyholders in a COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit. Superior Court Judge Orlando F. Hudson...
Insurers Drop Appeal Against UK Court Ruling on 3 COVID Business Interruption Policies
Oct 22 2020 // Six insurers have decided not to appeal against a London High Court ruling that they were wrong to reject claims from holders of three business interruption insurance policies who have been pushed to the brink of collapse...
After Helping Shepherd Pandemic Loans, Banks Now Brace for Regulatory Risks
Oct 21 2020 // Banks that facilitated the U.S. government’s Paycheck Protection Program at first saw the effort as a small revenue booster with a patriotic bonus, shepherding $525 billion in loans to businesses slammed by the...
Applied Underwriters Sues California Over ‘Bad Faith’ Insurer Conservatorship Plan
Oct 21 2020 // Workers’ compensation specialist Applied Underwriters is suing California Insurance Department officials to halt a state plan its says would force its workers’ compensation partner California Insurance Co....
Trump EPA Saves Coal Plants Millions with Delay on Coal Ash Pond Closures
Oct 20 2020 // The Trump administration will let some leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash storage ponds stay in operation for years more and some unlined ponds stay open indefinitely under a rule change announced last Friday. The...
Judge Rejects North Carolina Insurance Donor’s Prison Delay Request
Oct 19 2020 // An insurance company magnate and major North Carolina political donor convicted on corruption-related counts months ago must begin his federal prison term next week, a judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn...
New Mexico Lawmakers Say Farmers Shortchanged on Disaster Aid
Oct 19 2020 // New Mexico’s congressional delegation is calling for more oversight of a federal agency after some farmers and ranchers were shortchanged on disaster aid and Hispanic farmers who rely on traditional acequias to...
What P/C Insurance Industry Can Expect If Biden Wins or If Trump Is Re-Elected
Oct 19 2020 // If Republican President Donald Trump wins re-election, the property/casualty insurance industry is not likely to see much change from the status quo in Washington. If Democrat Joe Biden wins the presidency, however, the...
South Carolina Looks to Boost Private Flood Market Through New Law
Oct 19 2020 // The state of South Carolina is aiming to foster new flood insurance coverage options through the enactment of the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the legislation,...
FCC Chief Vows to Advance New Social Media Company Liability Rules
Oct 16 2020 // Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai said Thursday the agency will move forward to set new rules to clarify the meaning of a key legal protection for social media companies. The announcement came as...
Michigan Legislature Passes Legal Liability, Unemployment Measures
Oct 15 2020 // Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature on Oct. 14 voted to keep intact longer-lasting unemployment benefits and other coronavirus-related orders issued by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, while also striking a deal...
New South Carolina Law Creates Resilience Office to Address Flooding
Oct 15 2020 // After five years filled with unprecedented flooding, South Carolina has now established an office to marshal the state’s efforts in stemming floodwaters and coordinating recovery and relief efforts. Governor Henry...
Judge Tosses $30M Lawsuit Brought by Wounded Oregon Trooper
Oct 13 2020 // A federal judge has dismissed a $30 million lawsuit filed by an Oregon State Police trooper who was shot 12 times in December 2016. Nic Cederberg and his wife sued Legacy Meridian Park Hospital claiming the suspect, James...
Judge Tells PG&E to Explain Role in Zogg Fire in California Last Month
Oct 13 2020 // PG&E Corp was ordered by a U.S. district judge to explain its role in the ignition of the Zogg Fire in California last month, according to a court order filed on Monday. Last week, the California Department of Forestry...
