Currents for May 2006

• Nationwide survey reveals ‘Top 10 Pet Peeves of the Road’
• Hawaii working to improve business climate for insurers
• Auto insurance costs hold steady; industry cites safety, less accidents as the cause
• Post Spitzer, merger activity picking up, says Mystic Capital
• Insurers pleased as Colorado General Assembly keeps auto system intact
• Study: Tort reforms reduce med-mal premiums
• First quarter financial results upbeat, but some note disaster fallout
• Hurricanes spawn E&O troubles for insurance producers
• The Hartford settles with N.Y., Conn. over annuity compensation
• Post Spitzer, merger activity picking up, says Mystic Capital
• Arizona lawmakers pass security breach legislation
• Auto theft declines for second straight year
• Blackmail allegations heat up California auto reforms debate
• Model of New Orleans levee points to layer of clay
• Americans increasingly traveling overseas for cheaper surgeries
• PIA of Florida alerts members about Poe Financial
• Washington lowers fine, penalties against self-insured contractor Skanska
• Fla. legislative package targets Citizens deficits, mitigation; establishes oversight policies
• Safeco adds online distribution strategy to sell direct to consumers
• As Spitzer effects fade, merger activity seen gaining momentum
• Florida officials make 80 arrests, kick off ‘operation spring cleaning’
• Fire safety leaders tackle how to reduce smoking related fires
• Beware of New Jersey!
• Suncoast CPCU topic: How to resolve conflict in the workplace
• Senate Republicans fail again in efforts to cap medical malpractice awards
• Affinity insurance programs meet computer programs
• PIA of Florida obtains answers about Poe Financial, its subsidiaries
• Four out of 10 medical malpractice cases are groundless; majority dismissed without payout
• Mass. high risk historical drama played out in court, on airwaves
• N.M. regulator accused of intervening on daughter’s auto claim
• Insurers should not underestimate next influenza pandemic’s severity, risk experts say
• Liberty Mutual to fight N.Y., Conn. charges over contingent pay for agents
• Alaska Legislature rejects self-insurance bill as session comes to end
• Despite catastrophe losses, soft pricing continues in commercial insurance market, buyers report
• Ins and outs on Beacon Mutual board
• West leads nation in car theft; Auto theft declines for second straight year
• U.S. insurers withstood record catastrophe losses in 2005
• Rensselaer model of New Orleans levee points to layer of clay
• Montana State Fund to remain in Helena
• Highlights of the TMPAA Best Practice Administrator Process:
• Study: Tort reforms reduce med-mal premiums
• Rensselaer model of New Orleans levee points to layer of clay
• Engineers working toward earthquake-proof structures
• Mass. personal lines: a surplus of disagreement
• OSHA cites 14,000 employers for high worker injury rates
• lll. Attorney General, 38 others, oppose health plan pending in U.S. Senate
• Governor claims Calif. workers’ comp changes ‘huge success’
• Texas lawmakers close in on tax reform
• U.S. Senate panel advises scrapping, then rebuilding, FEMA
• The Texas Windstorm Insurance Association: Challenges and solutions
• Survey: Risk managers spent more on disaster preparedness, catastrophe management
• Tornado ploughs across Tenn., Ky., resulting in thousands of claims
• Actuaries to White House: Federal insurance backstop needed
• Critics allege wind modelers following politics over science
• Sound risk management, investment plus for insurers
• $25 million tornado damage in north Georgia
• Former Enron executive admits guilt, says complacency equally bad as committing fraud
• Hood’s comments called ‘hysterical, irresponsible’
• Gallagher praises legislators’ action on rate relief
• Mayfield: ‘2006 hurricane season CAN be worse than 2005’
• Judge orders Southern Family rehabilitation
• Spokane Roman Catholic Diocese settles claims with more insurers
• Gov. Baldacci signs Maine law in effort to curb uninsured motorist claims following court ruling
• International poll finds rising concern among 30 countries over global warming
• Delmarva poultry industry criticizes federal avian flu planning
• ACE settles bid-rigging case for $80 million
• Insurers paid $43 million in Boston clergy abuse case
• Proposed Calif. regulations would stress driving record over zip code in pricing auto insurance

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