Latest New Jersey Headlines

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

N.J. Toughens Penalties for Texting, Talking on Hand-Held Device While Driving

Jun 28 2013 // New Jersey is stiffening the penalties for motorists who use handheld cellphones to talk or text. A bill signed into law Thursday increases the fine to a minimum of $200 and a maximum of $400 for a first offense. A second...

NJM Donates Driving Simulators to Local New Jersey High Schools

Jun 27 2013 // New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company (NJM), the largest insurer of private passenger vehicles in the Garden State, donated driving simulators to 55 New Jersey high schools this month. The insurer said these...

FEMA Boosts Aid to New Jersey Towns Hit by Sandy

Jun 27 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency has OK’d a plan to boost aid to New Jersey towns hit hard by Superstorm Sandy. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who represents Monmouth and Ocean Counties, says FEMA will reimburse...

Vermont Taps N.J. Captive Insurance Chief as New Deputy Commissioner

Jun 25 2013 // Vermont’s Department of Financial Regulation is getting a new deputy commissioner in the Insurance Division. St. Johnsbury, Vermont-native Crosby Sherman is going to start on July 8. Sherman began his career at...

New Jersey Still Looking for Takers for $10K Sandy Grants

Jun 24 2013 // Here’s a problem you don’t hear about that often with a state grant program: New Jersey is giving away $10,000 to 18,000 people, and there are not enough takers. The grant money comes from the Homeowner...

$40M Program to Aid New Jersey Tenants Affected by Sandy

Jun 24 2013 // New Jersey has launched a $40 million grant program to encourage landlords to rent vacant properties to low- and moderate-income tenants affected by Superstorm Sandy. The Landlord Incentive program covers about 30 percent...

N.J.-Based Surety Partners of America Names COO

Jun 24 2013 // Nicholas Solimo has joined Morristown, N.J.-based Surety Partners of America as chief operating officer. He previously served as senior director of global operations for Roche Inc. based in Branchburg, N.J.Nicholas...

Ratings Recap: American European, Liberty Mutual (Notes), Pacific Comp., IFA

Jun 20 2013 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘B’ (Fair) from ‘B+’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “bb+” from “bbb-” for American European Insurance...

New FEMA Flood Maps Bring Some Relief to New Jersey Coast

Jun 18 2013 // More than seven months after Superstorm Sandy devastated parts of the Jersey shore, thousands of homeowners are getting some relief from crushing rebuilding and insurance costs. The federal government has updated its flood...

N.J. to Offer Lifetime Benefits to Spouses of Police, Fire Personnel Killed on Duty

Jun 17 2013 // In New Jersey, a measure that would provide workers’ compensation benefits to spouses of certain deceased fire and police personnel for the entire period of survivorship was signed into law last Thursday. The newly...

Survey: Texting While Driving Common Among N.J. Drivers

Jun 17 2013 // New Jersey auto insurance group Plymouth Rock Assurance released a distracted driving study that found nearly 50 percent of those polled said they have in the past asked a driver to stop texting while the car was in...

Owner Sentenced in Fishing Boat-Sinking Scheme in New Jersey

Jun 14 2013 // A southern New Jersey fishing boat owner has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his role in a botched scheme to sink the boat for insurance money. Scott Tran of Cherry Hill was also ordered Wednesday to pay...

New Jersey Moves Ahead With Buyouts in Flood-Prone Areas

Jun 13 2013 // State officials in New Jersey are moving forward with plans to buy flood-prone properties in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Officials met with 129 Sayreville home and property owners who are approved for...

A New Threat for Hardest-Hit Sandy Victims: Soaring Flood Insurance Costs

Jun 10 2013 // George Kasimos has almost finished repairing flood damage to his waterfront home in New Jersey, but his Superstorm Sandy nightmare is far from over. Like thousands of others in the hardest-hit coastal stretches of New...

FEMA Publishes Latest Data on New Jersey’s Sandy Recovery

Jun 7 2013 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency this week released its latest figures regarding Superstorm Sandy disaster assistance and recovery in New Jersey — including the National Flood Insurance Program claims payments...

Insurer Fairfax Appeals SAC’s Dismissal From New Jersey Suit

Jun 4 2013 // Insurer Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. asked a New Jersey appeals court to reinstate its lawsuit against Steven A. Cohen’s SAC Capital Advisors LP claiming a campaign of false negative information. The appeal, filed...

Survey Says Texting While Driving Common Among N.J. Drivers

May 29 2013 // New Jersey auto insurance group Plymouth Rock Assurance has released a distracted driving study this week that found approximately 50 percent of passengers polled have asked a driver to stop texting while the car was in...

Chubb Subsidiary Approved as N.J. Domestic Surplus Lines Insurer

May 28 2013 // The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies said on May 23 it received approval from the New Jersey Department of Banking & Insurance to convert one of its subsidiaries, Chubb Custom Insurance Company, into a domestic...

New Jersey Homeowners Hit by Sandy Can Apply for Grants

May 26 2013 // New Jersey is now accepting applications from homeowners seeking grants to rebuild homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy.Sandy damage in Ortley Beach, N.J., on Nov. 10, 2012. (Governor's Office/Tim Larsen)The grants are part...

Fireman’s Fund Names Commercial Insurance Field Executive in N.J.

May 24 2013 // Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company appointed Erik Matson to the position of commercial insurance field executive.Erik MatsonIn this role, Matson will be responsible for growing Fireman’s...