Latest Workers' Compensation Headlines

All the headlines from our Workers' Compensation Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Maine Gov. Hails Proposed Reduction in WC Rates

Nov 11 2003 // Maine Governor John Baldacci recently announced that the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has filed a request to decrease workers’ compensation loss costs for policy year 2004 by an average of 3.3...

State Orders Calif. Restaurants to Close Due to Lack of WC Coverage

Nov 10 2003 // State Labor Commissioner Art Lujan ordered the closure of nine International House of Pancakes (IHOP) restaurants in Sacramento and Fresno because the restaurants did not have a valid workers’ compensation insurance...

Calif. Commissioner’s Revision to WC Advisory Rate Excessive, Premature, Says ACIC

Nov 10 2003 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi’s recommendation for a 14.9 percent decrease in pure premium rates for workers’ compensation insurance is both excessive and premature, according to the...

Garamendi Drops Workers’ Comp Advisory Pure Premium Rate 14.9 Percent

Nov 7 2003 // In an effort to provide relief to skyrocketing workers’ compensation premiums in California, Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi lowered the advisory pure premium rate by 14.9 percent, a shift that would return...

Outlook Stable for LUBA Workers’ Comp

Nov 7 2003 // A.M. Best assigned an initial financial strength rating of “A-” (excellent) to Louisiana United Businesses Self Insurers Fund, also known as LUBA Workers’ Comp based in Baton Rouge, La. The outlook is...

Panel Says Attracting Private Specialty Carriers to Calif. Will Stabilize WC Crisis

Nov 6 2003 // The California workers’ compensation system is broken with employers under immense financial strain due to continually rising premiums and employees feeling their legitimate claims being tarnished by the increasing...

Calif. Workplace Fatalities Decline by 8% in 2002

Nov 3 2003 // The number of workplace fatalities in California declined by 8 percent in 2002 according to the Department of Industrial Relation’s (DIR) Division of Labor Statistics and Research. The number of workers who died on...

AFG’s 3Q Earnings Down 14% From Year Earlier

Nov 3 2003 // Cincinnati-based insurer American Financial Group (AFG) reported net earnings for the 2003 third quarter of $41.6 million, or 59 cents per share. These results include an after-tax charge of $23.1 million, or 33 cents per...

Couple Faces Five Years for WC Fraud

Nov 3 2003 // A Grass Valley, Calif., couple faces up to five years in prison and/or a fine of up to $50,000 after an investigation by CDI Fraud Investigators resulted in multiple felony counts of workers’ compensation insurance...

Outlook Stable for LUBA Workers’ Comp

Nov 3 2003 // Best has assigned an initial financial strength rating of “A-” (excellent) to Louisiana United Businesses Self Insurers Fund, also known as LUBA Workers’ Comp, based in Baton Rouge, La.. The rating...

The Garamendi Plan: Workers’ Compensation Reform Phase II

Nov 3 2003 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi outlined the second phase of his workers’ compensation reform plan Oct. 21. The reform legislation that he helped shape during the first phase of this effort is...

Monoline Workers’ Comp

Nov 3 2003 // Nuts & Bolts: The Princeton Agency/United Underwriting Agency is offering a market for monoline workers’ compensation. Dollars: EL up to $1M/$1M/$1M. No minimum premium up to $50,000. Carrier: Rochdale Insurance...

Outlook Stable for LUBA Workers’ Comp

Nov 3 2003 // A.M. Best assigned an initial financial strength rating of “A-” (excellent) to Louisiana United Businesses Self Insurers Fund, also known as LUBA Workers’ Comp, based in Baton Rouge, La.. The outlook is...

Zenith Announces Third Quarter Results

Oct 29 2003 // Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Zenith National Insurance Corp. reported net income of $16.1 million, or $0.85 per share, for the third quarter of 2003 compared to net income of $8.7 million, or $0.46 per share, for the third...

Safeco Produces Strong Underwriting Results in Auto, Homeowners and Surety

Oct 28 2003 // Safeco – which recently announced a clear focus on Property & Casualty insurance – reported strong third-quarter underwriting results in most insurance lines. “We generated healthy underwriting...

Calif. DWC Approves SB 228/AB227 Updates to WC Pamphlets

Oct 27 2003 // The Administrative Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation has approved updates to the California Workers’ Compensation Institute pamphlets and posting notices used by employers and insurers to meet...

Calif. Commissioner Meets with Gov.-Elect Schwarzenegger

Oct 24 2003 // Focusing the spotlight on solutions to California’s economic problems, State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi urged Governor-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger to convene a special session of the legislature on...

Workers Compensation Fund Sues State of Utah

Oct 23 2003 // The Utah Workers Compensation Fund (WCF) announced that it has filed a lawsuit against the State of Utah over the ownership of the assets of WCF. This dispute has been long standing. WCF believes that the assets of the...

Mo. WC Tax Cut to Save Employers $12 Million

Oct 23 2003 // Missouri Gov. Bob Holden announced that the administrative tax on Missouri workers’ compensation insurance premiums will drop 50 percent in 2004, saving employers more than $12 million. The administrative tax will...

Calif. Commissioner Unveils Second Phase of Reform Plan

Oct 22 2003 // California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi outlined the second phase of his workers’ compensation reform plan Oct. 21. The reform legislation that he helped shape during the first phase of this effort is...