Latest USA Headlines
All the headlines from our USA Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Man Released from Aruba Jail Still Suspect in Traveler’s Death
Nov 30 2011 // U.S. businessman Gary Giordano is getting out of jail but he isn’t in the clear. Investigators still consider him a suspect in the presumed death of his travel companion — a case seemingly bedeviled by the same...
Arbitrators Near Jurisdiction Call in Chevron-Ecuador Pollution Case
Nov 29 2011 // Arbitrators expect to rule as early as next month on whether they can hear a dispute between Chevron Corp. and Ecuador related to a marathon pollution liability case, according to a letter to the lawyers involved. The...
Thai Flood May Hit Asia Harder Than Japan Disaster: Official
Nov 29 2011 // The impact from Thailand floods on Asia’s production networks may last longer and be deeper than that from Japan’s March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, a senior Asian Development Bank official said on...
Judge Rejects Citigroup-SEC Mortgage Settlement; Orders Trial
Nov 28 2011 // A federal judge angrily threw out Citigroup Inc.’s proposed $285 million settlement over the sale of toxic mortgage debt, excoriating the top U.S. market regulator over how it reaches corporate fraud...
U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts Won’t Seek Re-election
Nov 28 2011 // U.S. Democratic Representative Barney Frank, who helped to craft the landmark overhaul of financial regulations that bears his name, will not seek re-election in 2012, Democratic aides said Monday. Frank, one of the most...
Ratings Roundup: Hiscox (US), Western Mutual
Nov 28 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Chicago-based Hiscox Insurance Company, Inc. (HICI), both with stable outlooks. The...
Supreme Court to Decide Whether Harm Needed in Kickback Suits
Nov 28 2011 // In a dispute pitting big business against consumer groups, the U.S. Supreme Court hears arguments Monday on whether a person has to suffer legal harm to sue a company over an alleged kickback it got. Cleveland home buyer...
Last Chance to Save Kyoto Deal at Durban Climate Talks
Nov 28 2011 // Countries will make a last ditch effort to save a dying Kyoto Protocol at global climate talks starting on Monday aimed at cutting the greenhouse gas emissions blamed by scientists for rising sea levels, intense storms and...
Black Friday, Cyber Monday Bring Out the Risk Grinch
Nov 23 2011 // The rush is the risk on Black Friday and Cyber Monday in the eyes of a retail insurance and risk expert who previously worked in retail for 22 years. Kelly Brown of Zurich North America doesn’t go so far as to...
Two North Texas Men Sentenced in Arson for Insurance Case
Nov 23 2011 // Two men in Texas have been sentenced to prison for conspiring to commit arson in order to obtain insurance proceeds, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced. Blaise Hancock, of...
Report Links Wildfires to Immigrants in Arizona
Nov 23 2011 // A study by Congress’ investigative arm shows investigators have linked 30 fires that erupted in a five-year period in Arizona’s border region to people who crossed into the United States illegally — a...
Ratings Recap: Standard Casualty, Grinnell, Erie & Niagara, Northwest GF Mutual
Nov 23 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating to “a-” from “bbb” of Texas-based Standard Casualty...
Thanksgiving Day is Top Day For Cooking Accidents
Nov 23 2011 // Serafino Alfe was deep-frying turkeys for an annual fundraiser dinner recently and ended up at the Loyola Burn unit with third-degree burns – the worst – on his leg. “I tripped and fell right into the...
Federal Judge Sides with Netflix in Antitrust Case
Nov 23 2011 // A U.S. judge granted Netflix’s bid to resolve all claims in its favor before trial in an antitrust class action, in which plaintiffs had sought hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. Netflix was sued in 2009,...
Best Affirms Zurich American and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable
Nov 22 2011 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Zurich American Insurance Company (Zurich US), headquartered in...
U.S. Healthcare Cuts Minimal, More Pain Looms
Nov 22 2011 // The breakdown of deficit talks in Congress will exact little pain on the U.S. healthcare industry, but it’s a temporary reprieve from steeper cuts that could be put back on the table in 2013. The failure of the...
Transatlantic Agrees to be Acquired by Alleghany for $3.4B
Nov 21 2011 // Transatlantic Holdings Inc., a reinsurer which has been at the center of a buyout battle, has now agreed to be acquired by Alleghany Corp. The cash-and-stock deal is valued at around $3.4 billion. The announced deal could...
Starr International Files $25B Suit Against U.S. Over AIG Takeover
Nov 21 2011 // A company run by former American International Group Inc Chief Executive Maurice “Hank” Greenberg sued the U.S. government for $25 billion, calling the 2008 federal takeover of the insurer unconstitutional. The...
Supreme Court Names Lawyers to Argue Healthcare Case
Nov 21 2011 // The Supreme Court has named an attorney to argue that challenges to President Barack Obama’s healthcare insurance requirements must wait until after that part of the law has taken effect in 2014. The high court also...
Pressman Appointed to Aspen’s Board of Directors
Nov 18 2011 // Aspen Insurance Holdings Limited announced that the Company’s Board of Directors has appointed Ron Pressman to the Board in a non-executive capacity with immediate effect. He has also been appointed to the...
