Wow! We Made It!

This is the last issue for the year 2004. And while it may seem like any other Insurance Journal West, it’s actually pretty special and notable. The end of 2004 marks a remarkable achievement here at Insurance Journal. It is our first year anniversary of leaping to new bounds and heights in the insurance industry by taking our magazine nationally. In addition, our Web presence is always increasing to phenomenal new heights.

So, I have to admit we’re pretty darn proud of our accomplishments. It’s been a rough journey, but I think we’ve been able to finally smooth out some of those bumps in the road and we look forward to going into 2005 armed with a newfound awareness of the industry and how to best serve you, our readers.

For your reading pleasure, we’ve compiled a sort of “Year in Review” highlighting the top stories in the Western region for 2004, beginning on page 36. We reviewed the most talked-about stories of the year and condensed them into brief little summaries, in case you missed any along the way.

As usual, workers’ comp made headlines throughout the year in California, not to be upstaged by the repercussions of the 2003 October wildfires in California. California Commissioner John Garamendi and Attorney General Bill Lockyer competed for the camera in October following New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer’s investigation into broker fee practices.

But while California topped the headlines, other Western states rolled in with their own stories. The med-mal ballot initiatives hit Nevada, Oregon, and Wyoming. In Utah, the State Farm vs. Campbell case made headlines yet again, and in Oregon, workers’ compensation carrier SAIF avoided abolishment.

Did we miss any? What do you think the top story of 2004 was? Send your comments to me via e-mail at cbeisiegel@insurancejournal.com.

And now into 2005–what will we see in the next year? My guess is a little more of what we’ve seen this year (seems workers’ comp and med-mal will never go away!) and hopefully no more big surprises for the industry.

Best wishes to you and your families for a safe and wonderful holiday season. We’ll see you in ’05!

Topics California Workers' Compensation