Declarations

Scammers Go Online

“A con artist can take advantage of how easily people share background and personal information online by using this information to make a highly targeted pitch to ‘friends’ within that social group.”

—William White, Commissioner of Washington, D.C., Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking, on how con artists are increasingly using Facebook, Twitter and other social networks to find potential victims. He says con artists can quickly establish trust and credibility by mimicking other people’s likes and interests before luring them into scams.

Sun Glare Emergency?

“Under the circumstances presented, there is no reasonable view of the evidence under which sun glare constitutes a qualifying emergency. We find that, under these circumstances, it was error to give the jury the emergency instruction.”

—A statement from a decision by New York State Court of Appeals on Oct. 13. The court said a motorist who struck and killed a pedestrian while being temporarily blinded by sun glare cannot invoke a common-law emergency doctrine. The court said an attentive driver would have anticipated occasional sun glares, and therefore the driver’s situation was not an unexpected circumstance.

Still Going Strong

“I always try to do what’s best for the client. I will never retire. I don’t know what my clients will do when I die because they really need me.”

—Ted Krause, an AXA Equitable insurance agent in New Jersey who recently turned 100 years old. He has been with the insurer since 1947 and still remains one of its most productive agents, according to CNN. Planning for 100 years of living is increasingly important. In 2010, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 70,000 people were aged 100 or older. The United States has the most centenarians in the world.