Latest Massachusetts Headlines
All the headlines from our Massachusetts Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Mass. Jury Awards $24 Million in Childbirth Lawsuit
May 12 2005 // In one of the largest malpractice verdicts in state history, a jury has awarded $23.8 million to the parents of a girl born with cerebral palsy after a traumatic delivery at Massachusetts General Hospital. The Suffolk...
Mass. Tightens Rule on Finite Reinsurance; States Consider Change in Accounting Rules
May 9 2005 // While the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is considering changing the accounting rules for finite reinsurance transactions, Massachusetts is proceeding with a tightening of its own reporting...
INSURERS OPPOSE POLICE LEVY:
May 9 2005 // State regulators and auto insurance companies doing business in Massachusetts are opposed to a legislative proposal that would impose $15 million in new surcharges on insurers to pay for police training. Insurance...
HIGH RISK CHALLENGE IN COURT:
May 9 2005 // Massachusetts insurance company trade associations and companies recently filed a friend of the court brief defending the reforms of the state’s auto insurance system pursued by Insurance Commissioner Julianne...
Mass. Tightens Finite Reinsurance Rules; States Weigh Accounting Change
May 3 2005 // While the National Association of Insurance Commissioners is considering changing the accounting rules for finite reinsurance transactions, Massachusetts is proceeding with a tightening of its own reporting...
Mass. Commissioner Bowler Approves Safe Driver Plan Revisions; Plan Starts in 2006
May 2 2005 // Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Julie M. Bowler has approved changes in the way drivers receive discounts and surcharges to their auto insurance policies based on their driving history beginning in 2006. The revised...
Commerce Group’s IFS, Debt Ratings Affirmed
Apr 28 2005 // Fitch Ratings has affirmed the ‘BBB’ long-term issuer and senior debt ratings of the Commerce Group Inc. (CGI). Additionally, Fitch has affirmed the ‘A’ insurer financial strength ratings on...
Insurers Voice Opposition to Proposed Mass. Auto Premium Surcharge
Apr 21 2005 // A proposal to surcharge auto insurance policyholders $15 million to pay for police training reportedly unfairly forces responsible motorists in Massachusetts to fund a program that benefits every citizen and business in...
AIA: Reform of Mass. Residual Market Vital
Apr 20 2005 // Reforms of the Massachusetts high risk auto insurance pool will benefit the market and consumers, according to the American Insurance Association (AIA). Last Friday, AIA joined with the Massachusetts Insurance Federation...
PCI Urges Court to Uphold Mass. High Risk Pool Reforms for Auto Insurance
Apr 19 2005 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) joined with a group of insurers and insurance trade associations in filing a friend of the court brief on April 15 urging the Massachusetts Superior Court to...
Mass. Weighs Small Rate Hike While Medical Costs Take Toll
Apr 18 2005 // While Massachusetts insurance officials are weighing a request by the industry to inch up workers’ compensation rates by 1 percent, a new study suggests that claim costs are accelerating by leaps and bounds, largely...
Lojack for Motorcycles Addresses Growing Risk
Apr 18 2005 // With spring right around the bend, motorcycle enthusiasts across the nation are gearing up to hit the road. In recent years, the popularity of motorcycle riding has risen to a zenith rivaling that of the “Easy...
Medical Costs Driving Mass. Workers’ Comp
Apr 8 2005 // Workers’ compensation costs per claim in Massachusetts grew rapidly in the two most recent years, according to a new study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI). The major factor driving these costs...
Mass. Political Leaders Unveil Competing Health Plans
Apr 7 2005 // Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Senate President Robert Travaglini rolled out competing health care plans this week, both of which aim to greatly reduce the numbers of uninsured residents. The Republican governor says...
After Years of Hikes, ProMutual Vows No Increase in Med-Mal Rates in Massachusetts for 2005
Apr 5 2005 // The largest writer of medical malpractice insurance in Massachusetts said it will not have to raise rates this year, after several years of double-digit hikes. ProMutual Group credited “improved financial...
Lojack for Motorcycles Addresses Growing Risk
Apr 4 2005 // With spring right around the bend, motorcycle enthusiasts across the nation are gearing up to hit the road. In recent years, the popularity of motorcycle riding has risen to a zenith rivaling that of the “Easy...
Mass. Catches Scofflaw Scaffolders
Apr 1 2005 // A husband and wife who operated a Massachusetts construction scaffolding company pleaded guilty to paying their employees cash “under-the-table” in order to avoid millions of dollars in taxes, workers...
Calif. Consumer Advocate Rosenfield Urges Mass. to Repeal No-Fault, Make Other Auto Changes
Mar 29 2005 // Massachusetts should repeal its no-fault law, end its reliance on uniform state-set rates, and remove the state antitrust exemption for auto insurers if it wants to improve its auto insurance system for consumers. That...
Calif. Insurance Critic to Take On Mass. Auto
Mar 28 2005 // Nationally recognized insurance reformer and Massachusetts native Harvey Rosenfield will return to his home state Tuesday, March 29 to unveil a report he says shows how much more Massachusetts drivers pay for auto...
People & Places
Mar 21 2005 // Douglas McDonough Citizens and Hanover Insurance Companies have named Douglas H. McDonoughregional president of their emerging Mid-Atlantic region. In this role, he will manage all aspects of sales and distribution for the...
