Latest USA Headlines

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

S&P Affirms AIG’s Ratings; Outlook Still Negative

Apr 2 2010 // Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has affirmed its ‘A-/A-1’ counterparty credit ratings on American International Group Inc, as well as its ‘A+’ counterparty credit and financial strength...

U.S. Navy Captures 5 Pirates; ‘Mother Ship’

Apr 1 2010 // A report from the USS Nicholas, reports that the vessel captured 5 would-be pirates, “after exchanging fire, sinking a skiff and confiscating a suspected mother ship,” while on patrol in the Indian Ocean. The...

The Hartford Returns Taxpayers’ Funds

Apr 1 2010 // The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. said it has repaid the U.S. government for its bailout by repurchasing all of The Hartford’s preferred shares issued to the U.S. Department of Treasury under the Capital...

U.S. Seeks Permanent Ban on Texting by Bus, Truck Drivers

Mar 31 2010 // U.S Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has proposed a federal rule that would to specifically prohibit texting by interstate commercial truck and bus drivers. The proposed rule would make permanent an interim ban...

Lawsuit Alleging AIG Executives Ignored ‘Red Flags’ Dismissed

Mar 31 2010 // A Manhattan federal judge dismissed a shareholder lawsuit accusing current and former American International Group Inc. executives and directors of ignoring “red flags,” leading to the insurer’s near...

U.S. Safety Chief Pressures Mines to Install High-Tech Equipment

Mar 30 2010 // America’s top coal mine regulator says he will redouble pressure on the industry to meet a 4-year-old congressional mandate to equip the nation’s underground mines with high-tech communications and tracking...

Terrorism Insurance Market in State of Uncertainty

Mar 30 2010 // The threat of terrorism in the U.S. is rising but the future of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA) is in question. At a time when top U.S. officials warn of an imminent attack that might be hard to prevent, the...

Relatives of Air France Crash Victims Sue in U.S.

Mar 30 2010 // Relatives of passengers killed in an Air France crash off Brazil have filed nearly two dozen wrongful death lawsuits in Miami against Airbus, alleging that aircraft maker’s A330 crashed because of flaws in the plane...

FEMA Charges Georgia Man with Multiple False Claims

Mar 29 2010 // Desima James would seem to be the unluckiest man in America. In 2005 and 2006 alone, he suffered through three devastating Gulf Coast hurricanes, a tornado in Indiana and flooding in New Hampshire. Or so he told the...

High-Powered Trial Attorneys Compete for Toyota Litigation

Mar 26 2010 // Scores of high-powered U.S. trial lawyers pursuing Toyota in court over the car company’s wide-ranging safety recalls gathered Wednesday to compare notes, strategize and jostle for a prime shot at the legal...

P/C Insurers Can Handle Chinese Drywall Costs, Says Moody’s

Mar 26 2010 // Property/casualty insurers are expected to continue to handle costs for defective Chinese drywall claims in the normal course of business, according to a rating analyst with Moody’s Investors Service. Losses from...

Marsh Joins Aon, Willis in Rejecting Contingent Commission Income

Mar 25 2010 // Giant insurance broker Marsh says its main brokerage unit will not accept contingent commissions on business for U.S. or Canadian clients but its Marsh & McLennan Agency and its affinity and personal lines business...

Insurance Agents, Carriers Make Progress in Modifying Dodd Bill

Mar 24 2010 // Insurance agents and carriers are reporting progress in their efforts to modify a proposed federal financial services regulation bill passed by the Senate Banking Committee, while risk managers have extended their support...

EU Trade Chief Says U.S. Must Make First Move to Restart Doha Round

Mar 23 2010 // The European Union cannot make more concessions on farm trade to restart stalled world trade talks and the United States must make the first move, the EU’s new trade chief said on Monday. The ball was not in the...

How States Are Responding to Healthcare Reform Law

Mar 23 2010 // Many U.S. states are worried that the healthcare overhaul plan approved by the U.S. House of Representatives will usurp their sovereignty and impose more spending on their already stretched budgets. Republican attorneys...

Terrorism Coverage in the Everyday World

Mar 22 2010 // Because of the threshold amount, many acts of domestic terrorism may not be certified. Even under the TRIA, insurers may exclude coverage for loss resulting from ‘non-certified’ acts of terrorism. After the...

Airing Out the Issues of Money Laundering

Mar 22 2010 // Multinationals Face Heightened Compliance Requirements in High Risk Countries As the international community steps up its efforts to fight money laundering, a number of countries are now requiring insurers to obtain...

Declarations

Mar 22 2010 // Kentucky Shock “Shame on you for the blatant, arrogant, self-effacing abuses. Equally shocking is for the board to allow executives involved in the oversight of such abuses to remain.” —Cold Spring Mayor Mark...

Employer Healthcare Costs Rose 7.3% in 2009

Mar 22 2010 // Average healthcare costs for U.S. employers rose by 7.3 percent in 2009, surpassing inflation and the growth rate in overall healthcare spending, Thomson Reuters reported Monday. Overall U.S. healthcare spending, including...

Louisiana’s Rep. Melancon: Chinese Drywall Poses a Fire Hazard

Mar 22 2010 // U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) sent a letter to the nation’s top fire official requesting his assistance in protecting homeowners from toxic Chinese drywall. In his letter to U.S. Fire Administrator Kelvin...