Latest Texas Headlines

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

Mold: The Fungus Among Us Is Difficult to Evict

May 5 2003 // Through the use of new policy forms, insurers are trying to evict mold from the insurance landscape. Departments of insurance in 39 states have now approved exclusions for coverage of mold. Will the pesky mold problem...

Tort Reform Advocates Strike While Iron is Hot

May 5 2003 // Only weeks ago it seemed that a series of well-publicized doctor walkouts across the nation had led not only to political pressure to enact malpractice award caps in crisis states but action at the national level as well....

Mold: The Fungus Among Us Is Difficult to Evict

May 5 2003 // Through the use of new policy forms, insurers are trying to evict mold from the insurance landscape. Departments of insurance in 39 states have now approved exclusions for coverage of mold. Will the pesky mold problem...

Texan Sentenced for Workers’ Comp Fraud

May 2 2003 // The 90th Judicial District Court in Texas recently sentenced Eric Beaver to a two-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining workers’ compensation benefits. According to Texas Mutual...

Vesta Reports Improvements in 1st Qtr. Results

Apr 30 2003 // Birmingham, Ala.-based Vesta Insurance Group Inc. reported that for the first quarter 2003, its non-standard auto unit generated $4.9 million in net income and its standard auto division brought down its combine ratio to...

Wallace Cleared of Charges in TX ‘Shadow Company’ Case

Apr 30 2003 // A district judge in Austin recently cleared Larry Wallace of the Wallace Insurance Agency in Rockwall, Texas of all charges related to an alleged workers’ compensation fraud scheme for which he was indicted in early...

Integra Financial Not Connected with Troubled Okla. Firm

Apr 30 2003 // Integra Financial Group, based in Huntington, Texas, issued a statement clarifying that the group is not connected with an Oklahoma domiciled organization of the same name, which was recently issued an emergency order...

SAFECO Introduces New Motorcycle Product in Texas

Apr 24 2003 // Safeco announced it is taking to the open road with new motorcycle coverage designed to compete in a market that’s growing steadily at an estimated 10 percent a year. The new motorcycle product is being phased in...

TAPA: Expert Calls Cap on Noneconomic Damages Essential

Apr 23 2003 // According to the Texas Alliance for Patient Access (TAPA), an organization that supports health care lawsuit reform, testimony before the Texas Senate’s State Affairs Committee by an expert on California’s...

Expanding Hibernia Rosenthal Now Called Hibernia Insurance

Apr 23 2003 // The insurance agency affiliate of Louisiana-based Hibernia National Bank announced it has changed its name to Hibernia Insurance. Specializing in commercial and personal insurance, the agency was formerly called Hibernia...

Hallmark Financial Svcs. Reports Ratings Upgrades

Apr 22 2003 // Dallas-based Hallmark Financial Services Inc. announced the financial strength ratings of its two insurance subsidiaries have been upgraded by A.M. Best. American Hallmark Insurance Company of Texas was upgraded from...

Credit Scoring – Agents, Carriers Look to Bridge Divisions

Apr 21 2003 // Give them credit—both agents and carriers have made credit scoring an issue that the industry can’t turn its back on. From studies to hearings, the issue has soared to become one of the top three or four issues in...

Relationships Between Program Carriers, Administrators Crucial to Success

Apr 21 2003 // The relationship between program carriers and program administrators or managers is fundamental in determining the success of particular program. With the hard market still going strong, the programs marketplace has not...

TEXAN MUST PAY FOR FRAUD

Apr 21 2003 // Jake V. Silva was found guilty of fraudulently obtaining workers’ compensation benefits by the 132nd District Court in Scurry County, Texas. He was sentenced to two years imprisonment (probated to five years on...

STRAINS, SPRAINS LEAD WORK INJURIES

Apr 21 2003 // According to the 2001 Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Annual Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses, conducted in cooperation with the Texas Workers’ Compensation Commission (TWCC), strains and sprains were...

AGENCY ADDED TO ACSR HONOR ROLL

Apr 21 2003 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) awarded the Gilmore Insurance Agency Inc. of Lubbock, Texas, with the “Accredited Customer Service Representative (ACSR) Honor Roll Agency” distinction. IIAT...

Jeter Joins Insurance Journal as Regional VP

Apr 21 2003 // Insurance Journal is pleased to announce the addition of Eric Jeter as regional vice president of Insurance Journal-Texas/South Central. A native Texan, Jeter brings a wealth of experience to his new role. He has held...

Relationships Between Program Carriers, Administrators Crucial to Success

Apr 21 2003 // The relationship between program carriers and program administrators or managers is fundamental in determining the success of a particular program. With the hard market still going strong, the programs marketplace has not...

Credit Scoring – Agents, Carriers Look to Bridge Divisions

Apr 21 2003 // Give them credit—both agents and carriers have made credit scoring an issue that the industry can’t turn its back on. From studies to hearings, the issue has soared to become one of the top three or four issues in...

Hold Your Horses!

Apr 21 2003 // One of the Insurance Journal’s roles is to keep insurance professionals updated on key legal issues affecting the insurance industry. Indeed, the Legal Beat Column often focuses on court cases and trends in the law...