Latest Texas Headlines
All the headlines from our Texas Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Large Sinkhole Forms in Intersection in Texas
Feb 2 2011 // A 10-foot-deep, 20-foot-wide sinkhole has formed in an intersection in eastern Austin, Texas. Austin Water Utility officials tell the Austin American-Statesman that they expect the 30-foot-long sinkhole at the intersection...
Dean & Draper Recognized for Employee Workplace Satisfaction
Jan 31 2011 // Houston-based Dean & Draper Insurance Agency LP, one of the largest independent insurance agencies in Texas, announced it recently received the honor of being named one of the Best Companies to Work for in Texas...
Texas Jury Orders J&J to Pay $482M in Patent Lawsuit
Jan 31 2011 // A federal jury in Texas on Jan. 28 ordered Johnson & Johnson and a subsidiary to pay $482 million in damages to an inventor who claimed the health care giant infringed on his patent for a cardiac stent. Jurors hearing...
Texas Windstorm Insurance Assoc. to Begin Paying Commissions Monthly
Jan 28 2011 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association, the property insurer of last resort along the Texas Gulf Coast, reports that in the second quarter of 2011 it will begin paying agents’ commissions monthly. TWIA will...
Texas Commission to Report on Willingham Arson Case
Jan 25 2011 // A Texas commission looking into an arson investigation that led to the execution of the man convicted of starting the fatal fire decided last Friday to move ahead with a report on the case even though its authority is not...
Business Moves
Jan 24 2011 // Combined Agents, Elliott Insurance, HC&H Insurance Austin, Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) has added two new agency members, one located in Kansas and one in North Texas. With the addition of the two...
Judge Imprisons 2 for Life in Texas Church Arsons
Jan 24 2011 // A judge has sentenced two men to life in prison after they pleaded guilty in a series of fires at churches in Smith County in East Texas last year. Judge Christi Kennedy ordered the prison terms for 20-year-old Jason...
People
Jan 24 2011 // Incoming Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John Doak has appointed 10 members of his staff to lead the Oklahoma Insurance Department: Mike Rhoads is deputy commissioner of Health Insurance; Denise Engle is deputy...
Texas Insurance Commissioner Geeslin to Step Down
Jan 24 2011 // Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin announced in early January that he will not seek another term as head of the Texas Department of Insurance. His term ends Feb. 1, 2011. Commissioner Geeslin has been with TDI for...
TWFG Opens Locations in Texas, Oklahoma, Oregon
Jan 24 2011 // Texas-based retail and managing general agency, The Woodlands Financial Group Inc. (TWFG), has opened three new branch locations — one each in Texas, Oklahoma and Oregon. Berry Olinghouse has opened a new branch location...
Florida Commissioner McCarty Accused of Vendetta by Texas Insurer
Jan 24 2011 // A Texas insurance company and its owner are suing Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty, accusing him of being vindictive and defamatory in his efforts to ban the company from writing workers’ compensation in...
Florida Competitive in Workers’ Compensation Market Arena
Jan 24 2011 // Florida’s workers’ compensation market remains competitive with more than 250 private insurers writing coverage and only a fraction of business being funneled to the residual market. Also, availability does not...
Court Upholds Florida Regulator in Denial of Texas Insurer
Jan 23 2011 // A Texas-based workers’ compensation insurer has lost its appeal of rulings by the Florida insurance commissioner that have blocked it from doing business in the state. On Jan 20, without explanation, a three-judge...
New Employee Benefits Analyst Joins Texas Associates Team
Jan 20 2011 // Texas Associates Insurors has added Grace Jaen as its newest Employee Benefits analyst. Jaen focuses on developing and implementing solutions that help businesses attract and retain the right employees. “With...
Ryan Specialty Intros New CAT/Construction Risk Facility in Texas
Jan 20 2011 // Chicago-based Ryan Specialty Group LLC (RSG) has launched Technical Risk Underwriters (TRU), a specialty managing general underwriter (MGU) focused on providing best in class underwriting for complex construction and...
Agents Notified of TWIA, Texas Fair Plan Information Requests
Jan 19 2011 // The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) and Texas FAIR Plan Association (TFPA) recently notified insurance agents that the organizations have received a formal request to inspect or copy some of their files. The...
Texas Lawmaker Proposes Bill Aimed at Reducing Drunk Driving
Jan 19 2011 // Texas state Rep. Bill Callegari (District 132, Katy) has introduced House Bill 506 to require that all persons convicted of driving while intoxicated have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicle. The bill...
Texas Work Comp December Enforcements Include Fines Up to $78K
Jan 18 2011 // Final enforcement actions taken by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (TDI-DWC) for December 2010 include fines of up to $78,000. Division of Workers’ Compensationfinal...
Texas Governor Calls for Expanded Lawsuit Reform
Jan 14 2011 // Texas Gov. Rick Perry is urging state lawmakers to further expand the lawsuit reforms that the state has enacted in recent years. Texas lawmakers meet every two years. The 82nd Legislature Regular Session convened earlier...
Sleeper Sewell Adds Dabboussi as VP
Jan 13 2011 // Sleeper Sewell Insurance Services Inc., an independent insurance agency with nearly 50 years serving the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, has added Nader Dabboussi as vice president. Dabboussi performs risk management,...
