Latest Texas Headlines

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

Other Agency/Brokerage Transactions in 2008

Dec 21 2008 // Transactions involving agencies and brokerages other than the Brown & Brown, Arthur J. Gallagher and Hub International (see below) deals in the months announced or completed: January California: R.E. Chaix &...

2008 Quotes to Remember… and Forget

Dec 21 2008 // “You always find out who’s been swimming naked when the tide goes out. We found out that Wall Street has been kind of a nudist beach.” —Warren Buffett on the credit crisis “As a strong supporter...

The Busiest Agency Buyers in 2008

Dec 21 2008 // Brown & Brown December: Stewart & Tunno Insurance Agency Inc., Portland, Ore. November: Small Business Unit of Conner Strong, Cherry Hill, N.J.; Agency Associates Inc., Zionsville; Health Insurance Exchange,...

Top Regional Stories of 2008

Dec 21 2008 // West California Passed Agent-Broker Law The most notable bill affecting California agents was AB 2956, which clarifies the duties of an insurance agent versus a broker. Prior to the new law, confusion existed within the...

Coleman Named Director and Limited Partner at Texas Wasatch Group

Dec 18 2008 // Texas auto and home insurance broker, Texas Wasatch Insurance/TWG Insurance, has promoted Cleveland Coleman to director. He also was named a limited partner of the firm. The promotion reflects the ongoing success of the...

Texas Agent Group Revising Essentials Training Program

Dec 18 2008 // The Independent Insurance Agents of Texas is updating its training program designed to provide agents with a foundation in commercial and personal lines insurance. Beginning in January, IIAT is taking the best elements of...

TWFG Offers to Replace Coverage for Customers of Failed Texas Insurer

Dec 16 2008 // The Woodlands Financial Group (TWFG) announced that TWFG will offer replacement coverage for the homeowners business of Austin Indemnity Lloyds Insurance Company, effective Jan. 29, 2009. TWFG General Agency, a subsidiary...

Hallmark Financial Services E&S Carrier Expands Into Texas, Louisiana

Dec 16 2008 // Hallmark Financial Services Inc. (Hallmark), based in Fort Worth, Texas, reported its subsidiary TGA Insurance Managers Inc. (TGA) will start issuing excess and surplus lines policies through its affiliate Hallmark...

3 Months After Ike: 730K Claims Filed; 2,300-Plus Complaints Received

Dec 16 2008 // By Dec. 13, 2008, the three-month mark since Hurricane Ike’s landfall on Galveston Island, more than 730,000 insurance claims had been filed, a number that will continue to climb in the year ahead, the Texas...

FEMA Extends Deadline to Ask For Hurricane Help in Texas

Dec 15 2008 // The Federal Emergency Management Agency is giving Texas victims of Hurricane Ike an extra 29 days to ask for financial help. FEMA extended the application deadline for homeowners, renters and business owners to Jan....

Texas Regulators to Liquidate Austin Indemnity Lloyds

Dec 15 2008 // The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) announced it has filed a petition for the liquidation of Austin Indemnity Lloyds Insurance Company (Austin Indemnity). The company sold homeowners and personal auto coverage in...

Texas AG: GAB Robins Among Firms Settling ID Theft Charges

Dec 12 2008 // GAB Robins, a firm that provides risk management and claims services to the insurance industry, is one of three firms cited by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott for failure to protect customers’ identities,...

Texas Windstorm Insurance Association: 63% of Ike Claims Closed

Dec 11 2008 // Texas’ insurer of last resort for wind and hail coverage along the coast reports that 63 percent of claims from Hurricane Ike have been closed and that more than $519 million has been paid to policyholders so...

CAA Expanding to Oklahoma, Kansas

Dec 10 2008 // Austin, Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) announced plans to expand outside of Texas with potential new members from Oklahoma and Kansas. “With 4 new members so far in 2008 and the potential of more in...

Grob Joins Texas Wasatch Group as President and COO

Dec 10 2008 // Texas Wasatch Insurance/TWG Insurance announced that Jay Grob has joined the company as president and chief operating officer. A former senior partner of Bain & Company, Grob brings a wealth of experience to...

Job Injuries and Illnesses Requiring Days Off Decrease in Texas

Dec 10 2008 // Employers in private industry in Texas reported a total of 69,320 nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses involving days away from work for 2007, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics...

Medicus Adds Reissman as Regional Market Manager

Dec 10 2008 // Austin, Texas-based physician liability insurer, Medicus Insurance Company, has added Harry Reissman as Regional Market manager, effective Dec. 1. Reissman is responsible for business development and market analysis, with...

Commercial Alliance Insurance Names Deal as Bond Manager in Dallas

Dec 8 2008 // Commercial Alliance Insurance Company (CAIC Surety) has named Richard Deal as the Bond manager of its Dallas office. Deal joined CAIC Surety in July 2008 to expand the company in the North Texas region. From Dallas, CAIC...

Number of Complaints Against Insurers Continues to Drop in Texas

Dec 8 2008 // For the fifth year in a row Texas consumers filed fewer complaints against their insurance companies with the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI), the Insurance Council of Texas reported. The total number of closed...

Officials: Texas Should Have Storm Recovery Plans

Dec 5 2008 // The future of the state’s oldest medical school – hard hit by Hurricane Ike – and whether Texas should fund recovery programs to complement federal assistance were two of the highlights of a legislative...