Latest Texas Headlines

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

Water, Wind and Hail Common Claims in Texas; Liability Costly for Individuals

Jan 27 2010 // Water, wind and hail damage top the list of most common homeowner insurance claims in Texas, according to a review by Allstate Insurance Company of aggregated insurance carrier claims data. Allstate assessed data from 2000...

Tapco Opens Underwriting Service Center in Dallas

Jan 26 2010 // Tapco Underwriters Inc. (TAPCO), a Burlington, N.C.-based MGA specializing in high-volume, transaction-based excess and surplus insurance lines, is opening an underwriting service center in Dallas, Texas. Tapco veteran...

Business Moves

Jan 24 2010 // U.S. Risk, Goss Re U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc., based in Dallas, has expanded into the specialty reinsurance brokerage marketplace with Goss Reinsurance Brokers Inc. Goss Re will operate as a specialty reinsurance...

People

Jan 24 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 Texas....

New Markets

Jan 24 2010 // The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Home Builders & Artisans...

Six CAA Members Retain Best Practice Agencies Status for 2009

Jan 22 2010 // Austin, Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) announced six of its member agencies – Bigham-Kliewer-Chapman-Watts Insurance Agency, The Bridges Group Inc., Bryan Insurance Agency, Ed Berrong Insurance...

Researchers: Climate Change Expected to Increase Storm Activity in Texas

Jan 22 2010 // Climate change will likely increase the frequency and severity of storm activity in Texas, an area of the country that is especially vulnerable to the “triple threat” of hurricanes, hail storms and tornadoes,...

Former Insurance Co. Employee Sentenced for Stealing from Carrier, Agents

Jan 21 2010 // Mark Camacho, 41, of Cedar Hill, Texas, a former employee of Americo Life Insurance Co., was sentenced in federal court for stealing more than $900,000 from the carrier and its agents’ commission accounts. Chief U.S....

College Station, Texas, Expands Auto Theft Prevention Program

Jan 20 2010 // The Insurance Council of Texas (ICT) and the College Station Police Department are expanding a crime prevention campaign aimed at preventing auto thefts and auto burglaries. The program involves the funding and...

Sharp Rise in Motorcycle Deaths Since Repeal of Texas Helmet Law

Jan 15 2010 // In Texas, the repeal of a motorcycle helmet law has been followed by a sharp increase in fatal motorcycle crashes, according to a study in the January Southern Medical Journal, official journal of the Southern Medical...

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...