Latest Texas Headlines

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

Ladner Named Vice Chair of Texas Property/Casualty Guaranty Assoc.

Jan 13 2010 // The Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association has appointed Gerald Ladner to vice chair of its Board of Directors. His term runs through Dec. 31, 2011. Ladner, a resident of Austin, is the regional...

Universal Insurance Holdings Abandons Plan to Form Texas Subsidiary

Jan 13 2010 // Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. announced it has withdrawn its application to form and license a new Texas subsidiary, to be named Texas Platinum Property and Casualty Insurance Company, which...

A.M. Best Upgrades Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Co. of Texas

Jan 12 2010 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to A (Excellent) from A- (Excellent) and issuer credit rating to “a” from “a-” for Farm Bureau County Mutual Insurance Company of Texas...

Farmers to Reduce Rates for Family Home Policy in Texas

Jan 12 2010 // The Texas Department of Insurance, the Office of Public Insurance Counsel and Farmers Insurance Company have reached a settlement in a dispute over a homeowners insurance rate increase filed by Farmers in June...

Thompson Coe Appoints Yacuk Partner in Insurance Section

Jan 11 2010 // Texas-based Thompson, Coe, Cousins & Irons has appointed Jason M. Yacuk as a partner in its Insurance Litigation and Coverage section. Yacuk has been with Thompson Coe since 2006. Yacuk maintains an active litigation...

From Zero to 200 in 5

Jan 10 2010 // The Rise of Kansas City-based Ascension Insurance Len Kline and his business partners, the private equity firms Parthenon Capital and Century Capital Management, had an ambitious goal when they created Kansas City,...

People

Jan 10 2010 // The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) elected Craig Sparks chairman of its board of directors. Sparks has been president of the Union Standard Insurance Company in Irving since 2000. Sparks’ insurance career began the...

Business Moves

Jan 10 2010 // TAPCO Insurance agents in Alabama and Louisiana may now access the services provided by TAPCO Underwriters Inc. (TAPCO), a Burlington, N.C.-based MGA that specializes in high-volume, middle-market excess and surplus...

From Zero to 200 in 5

Jan 10 2010 // The Rise of Kansas City-based Ascension Insurance Len Kline and his business partners, the private equity firms Parthenon Capital and Century Capital Management, had an ambitious goal when they created Kansas City,...

Texas, Louisiana Homeowners Insurance Pricey; Florida Most Expensive

Jan 10 2010 // Louisiana remains the third most expensive homeowners insurance market in the nation behind Florida and Texas, according to newly released data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The average premium...

It Figures

Jan 10 2010 // $70 Million A Texas court in San Antonio affirmed the jury award of $70 million plus interest in a workers’ compensation/bad faith case against Discover Property & Casualty Insurance Company, a St. Paul Travelers...

Louisiana Files Suit Against Surety Bond Insurer with Texas Ties

Jan 10 2010 // The Louisiana Department of Insurance filed a lawsuit in late December 2009 against Infinity Surety of Louisiana Inc., Infinity Surety Agency LLC and George D. Black (collectively, Infinity Surety) alleging the firm has...

People

Jan 10 2010 // Virginia-based specialty insurer Markel Corp. announced that its President and Chief Operating Officer Paul W. Springman resigned. Springman had been on a leave of absence since late October. The Independent Insurance...

Richardson Named State Auto Middle Markets Western Region VP

Jan 6 2010 // Todd Richardson has been promoted to regional vice president – State Auto Middle Markets Insurance (SAMMI) for the company’s Western region, which includes Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Oklahoma and...

Louisiana Homeowners Insurance Pricey; Texas, Florida More Expensive

Jan 5 2010 // Louisiana remains the third most expensive homeowners insurance market in the nation behind Florida and Texas, according to newly released data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. The average premium...

Main Street America Acquires Texas Surety Business from CAIC

Jan 4 2010 // Houston-based CAIC Holding Co.Inc. (CAIC) has sold its surety division to property/casualty insurance carrier The Main Street America Group, based in Jacksonville, Fla. The firms said the agreement is effective Jan. 4,...

USHT Offering Texas Homeowners Deductible Buy-Back Coverage

Jan 4 2010 // USHT Inc., a managing general agent and surplus lines agency based in Dallas, is now offering a homeowners deductible buy-back policy in Texas. The Texas Homeowners Deductible Buy-Back Policy is a separate policy that is...

January 1 Is Deadline for ‘Fire Safe’ Cigarettes in Texas

Dec 30 2009 // As of Jan. 1, 2010, all cigarettes sold in Texas must be certified fire standard compliant (FSC), the Texas Department of Insurance and the State Fire Marshal’s Office announced. All FSC cigarettes will be marked...

Texas Imperial Sugar Settles Property Claim for 2008 Georgia Explosion

Dec 29 2009 // Sugarland, Texas-based Imperial Sugar Co. has settled the property insurance claim for the February 2008 industrial explosion at its Port Wentworth, Georgia refinery for an aggregate of $345 million. A final $45 million...

Special Reuters Report: America’s Route to Recovery

Dec 29 2009 // When Bob Hagan was a boy in Youngstown, Ohio, people equated the coke dust they swept off their doorsteps each day with opportunity, for it came from the steel mills that built this city. After graduating from high school...