Latest Texas Headlines

Bulk of Texas Tax Reform Package Passes Senate

May 3 2006 // The Texas Senate has given final approval to House Bills 2, 3, and 4, which propose to change the way the state pays for its public school system. These bills would broaden the business tax, taxing gross receipts of most...

Pierson & Fendley Joins Texas’ CAA

May 2 2006 // Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA), headquartered in Austin, Texas, Pierson & Fendley Insurance Agency LLC of Paris, Texas, joined CAA as its 34th member. “Pierson & Fendley Insurance Agency brings to CAA...

Texas DOI Lists March Enforcement Actions

May 1 2006 // The Texas Department of Insurance announced enforcement actions taken by Commissioner Mike Geeslin that became final during March. The actions include five license revocations, three license denials and fines and...

NOAA Aircrew Begins Hurricane Awareness Mission in Texas

May 1 2006 // With the impact of a record-breaking 2005 Atlantic hurricane season still etched on the coastline from Texas to Florida, and recovery on the minds of its residents, forecasters from the NOAA National Hurricane Center will...

Texas Workers’ Comp Division to Hold Public Hearing May 10

Apr 27 2006 // The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation will hold a public hearing on Wed., May 10, 2006, in the Tippy Foster Room of the division’s central office located at 7551 Metro Center...

Texas Fraud Committee Warns of Accident ‘Runners’

Apr 27 2006 // You’re involved in a minor traffic accident where there was little damage to either vehicle, no one was hurt, but police were called and a traffic accident report was filled out. Much to your surprise, someone...

PWIB Texas Adds Huffman, McCall

Apr 27 2006 // Beckie Huffman and Andrea McCall have joined Dallas-based insurance wholesale firm PWIB Texas, according to Robin Stough, PWIB president and chief executive officer. Huffman, associate underwriter, has 16 years’...

Texas Agent Group Announces Support for Governor’s Tax Plan

Apr 27 2006 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas, representing nearly 1,800 independent insurance agencies statewide, announced it has endorsed the Perry-Sharp tax relief and school finance plan. Tax reform and school financing...

Trade Group Says Many Texas Homeowners are Underinsured

Apr 27 2006 // Reliable estimates reveal that between 50 to 70 percent homeowners do not have enough insurance to rebuild their homes in the event it is completely destroyed, according to a Texas-based insurance industry trade...

Tucker Joins Houston’s Tryton as Associate Director, Marketing

Apr 26 2006 // Tryton Insurance Group LLC, based in Houston, Texas, announced the addition of Becki Tucker as associate director of marketing. In this position, Tucker’s responsibilities include the promotion of Tryton to...

Insured Losses to Top $100 Million in Texas Hail Storm

Apr 26 2006 // The hailstorm that struck Central Texas on April 21 is expected to exceed $100 million in insured losses, according to the Insurance Council of Texas. Baseball-size hail pounded the city of San Marcos smashing vehicles at...

McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP Adds Benefits Consultant in Austin

Apr 26 2006 // Insurance and risk management firm McQueary Henry Bowles Troy LLP (MHBT), announced the appointment of Trey Halbert as a consultant in the employee benefits group in the company’s Austin office. “We are pleased...

SIIS Unveils Program for Annual Conference

Apr 26 2006 // Southwestern Insurance Information Service announced the program for its 53rd Annual Educational Conference, June 27-28, 2006, at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Dallas, Texas. “We have arranged an outstanding array of...

Republic Launches HO- 3 Homeowners Product in Texas

Apr 24 2006 // The Republic Group, based in Dallas, has introduced a new Homeowners Form 3 product for Texas homeowners. “We are pleased to announce the introduction of our HO-3 product”, stated Parker Rush, Republic’s...

Merck Says It Will Appeal $32 Million Texas Vioxx Case

Apr 23 2006 // A Texas state jury found Merck & Co. liable for the death of a 71-year-old man who had a fatal heart attack within a month of taking its since-withdrawn painkiller Vioxx and ordered the company to pay $32 million...

Allstate Objects to Texas Ruling It Overcharges Homeowners 10%

Apr 20 2006 // Two judges have ruled that Allstate Insurance charges excessive rates for homeowners insurance and should reduce them. State insurance regulators want the company to reduce its homeowners rates by 10 percent and refund its...

New Markets

Apr 17 2006 // Excess Auto Liability Nuts & Bolts: Freberg Environmental, Inc. has announced an excess automobile liability program. The program is designed to provide excess limits over FEI’s hazardous material and hazardous...

Apr 17 2006 // People Hub International Ltd., a Chicago-based brokerage has named Jonathan Axel senior vice president of the Kagan-Kozberg Division at Hub International of California Insurance Services Inc., a subsidiary of the insurance...

The language gives rise to a chicken or egg conundrum: Must the ensuing loss follow the mold, or is mold covered if it e

Apr 17 2006 // The debate over ‘ensuing loss’ continues Mold ‘crisis’ put spotlight on policy language Despite all the recent changes in policy forms, a number of claims still exist under policies using...

Business Moves

Apr 17 2006 // Republic, American Vehicle Dallas-based Republic Companies Group Inc. announced an agreement in principal with American Vehicle Insurance Company, a wholly-owned subsidiary of 21st Century Holding Company, an insurance...