Latest Washington Headlines

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

Non-Resident Blogger Can Be Sued in Florida Over Defamation

Jun 18 2010 // The Florida Supreme Court has ruled that a non-resident blogger can be sued in the state for posting allegedly defamatory comments about a Florida company on her out-of-state Web site. In a unanimous opinion, the court...

BP Cherry Point Will Not Appeal Refinery Citation

Jun 3 2010 // Washington’s Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) has confirmed that the BP Cherry Point petroleum refinery will not appeal a citation issued earlier in May against the company for 13 serious safety...

Washington’s Berend Named FloodSmart Agent of the Year

May 28 2010 // Brian Berend, of Brian Berend Agency in Auburn, Wash., has been named FloodSmart Agent of the Year for 2010. The FloodSmart Award recognizes an agent who has made an outstanding effort to promote the National Flood...

U.S. Trade Chief Urges China to Lower Barriers

May 25 2010 // Potential Chinese moves to lower trade barriers could be as important as exchange rate reforms in easing economic strains with the United States, Washington’s top trade negotiator said as the two powers entered a...

Concern over China’s Protectionism at 10 Year High Says U.S. Chamber

May 24 2010 // Concern among U.S. companies that China is backtracking on opening its economy are at a 10-year high, the head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said on Monday. Chamber President and Chief Executive Thomas Donohue said...

Business Moves

May 17 2010 // Security Planning, CSIPros Salt Lake City-based Security Planning & Insurance Corp., an insurance carrier in the childcare industry, launched Charter School Insurance Professionals (CSIPros), an insurance company to...

Wash. Judge: Insurer Can Be Held Liable for Agent’s Actions

May 3 2010 // In a ruling that’s being closely watched by some insurers, a Thurston County, Wash., judge has affirmed that the state insurance commissioner may hold an insurance company liable for the actions of the...

ACE Adds High Net Worth Policies in Washington State

Apr 22 2010 // ACE Private Risk Services, part of the ACE Group, announced that it has expanded the availability of its ACE Platinum Portfolio policy to Washington state. In addition, Shannon Detroit has been appointed territory manager...

Prostar Insurance Agency Opens Office in Washington

Apr 14 2010 // Prostar Insurance Agency, of Bellevue, Wash., has opened a new office in Gig Harbor, Wash., a few miles south of its main branch. The company also has appointed Frank Rodriguez as the newest agent to join Prostar, bringing...

Parents, Drivers Want Tougher Driving Laws for Teens, Poll Says

Apr 13 2010 // Washington drivers want stricter penalties for teen drivers who violate Washington’s intermediate license law, a recent poll by PEMCO Insurance revealed. The poll, taken by the state’s largest insurance company...

Washington Asks Insurers to Provide Flood Coverage

Apr 12 2010 // Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has asked about 200 insurers to take part in a voluntary “market assistance plan” (MAP) to help businesses in the Green River Valley find adequate flood coverage....

Washington Creates Data Security Law

Apr 8 2010 // Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire has signed legislation into law that encourages financial institutions to comply wtih that data security requirements — or face potential liability if a data breach...

Property Firm Purchases Infamous AIG Party Hotel

Apr 7 2010 // Washington Holdings, a private real estate company, said Tuesday it bought the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, which became infamous after American International Group Inc executives spent lavishly there weeks after a...

When Main Street Met Washington

Apr 7 2010 // Amid wind-whipped exhaust fumes and an early March cold front, Connecticut insurance agent Michael Gergler ducks inside the lobby of the Wardman Park hotel in Washington, D.C. and surveys the lobby where roughly 150 other...

When Main Street Met Washington

Apr 5 2010 // Agents Make Grassroots Lobbying Campaign Amid wind-whipped exhaust fumes and an early March cold front, Connecticut insurance agent Michael Gergler ducks inside the lobby of the Wardman Park hotel and surveys the lobby...

When Main Street Met Washington

Apr 5 2010 // Agents Head to D.C. as Part of Grassroots Lobbying Campaign Amid wind-whipped exhaust fumes and an early March cold front, Connecticut insurance agent Michael Gergler ducks inside the lobby of the Wardman Park hotel in...

Washington Tesoro Refinery Blast That Killed 5 Under Investigation

Apr 5 2010 // A Tesoro Corp. oil refinery blast and fire that claimed five lives is now the subject of state and federal investigations. The company, and the state Department of Labor and Industries has also launched its own probe. The...

Washington P/C Premiums Totaled $9.1 Billion in 2008

Apr 2 2010 // The insurance industry provides nearly 51,000 jobsi n Washington with about a $3.2 billion payroll, according to the Northwest Insurance Council and Insurance Information Institute. In their latest report, “A Firm...

Wash. Approves JUA For Flood Insurance

Mar 22 2010 // The Washington State Senate approved a flood insurance bill that would allow the insurance commissioner to create a market assistance plan and, if necessary, a joint underwriting association if the flood insurance market...

Couple Sues Toyota on Behalf of Wash. Customers

Mar 17 2010 // A Seattle couple has sued Toyota, seeking to have the company take back the vehicle they just bought or reimburse them for lost value. Dana and Douglas Eller filed the lawsuit Monday in federal court, seeking class action...