Declarations – West

Cautiously Optimistic

“I am cautiously optimistic that it’s a step in the right direction, but it’s the unknowns that concern everybody.”

–Christopher Flatt, New York-based Marsh USA Inc.’s workers’ compensation center of excellence leader, said “uncertainty” is a word he hears from a number of carriers he works with when discussing the potential of California’s new workers’ comp reforms to take a bite out of growing losses carriers are experiencing.

Very Optimistic

“These reforms are engineered to reduce unnecessary costs while redirecting some of the savings to increase benefits for disabled workers.”

–DIR Director Christine Baker promised that a new workers’ comp reform law, much of which took effect on Jan. 1, will save $1 billion on systemwide costs will increasing permanent disability benefits for injured workers.

Tsunami Debris

“You couldn’t really walk through without stepping on some type of foam. It really did look like the debris that you see from the video footage from the tsunami.”

–Jacek Maselko, a biologist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Juneau, Alaska, said that debris that gathered this past summer on Alaska’s Kayak Island made walking on its beaches feel like walking through a natural disaster zone.

No Cool Brees

“ISM will review that complaint and, when required, will be filing a counterclaim setting forth the acts and conduct of Mr. Brees and his agents that constitute breach of contract and misappropriation.”

–David Miller, who is being sued by Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his foundation, commenting on the Brees’ lawsuit that alleges the former organizer of his celebrity golf tournament in southern California cheated benefactors of the foundation out of thousands of dollars to enrich Miller’s Integrated Sports Marketing.