News Briefs

Arkansas

Crash Records Available Online

The Arkansas State Police reported that Arkansas Uni-form Highway Crash Records are now available online through the Arkansas State Police Web site, www.asp.arkansas.gov, and the Arkansas state Web portal, www.arkansas.gov.

The Arkansas State Police is statutorily charged with the responsibility of maintaining a repository of all crash records prepared by certified Arkansas law enforcement agencies. Annually, an estimated 80,000 crash records are submitted to the state police repository.

There is a $12 fee for accessing an online crash record. The online service is a cooperative effort of the Arkansas State Police and the Information Network of Arkansas. Online users will be able to search the crash record database using the driver’s name, the county in which the crash occurred, or the date of the crash.

Once the record has been located, the full report can be purchased online for instant viewing or printing. The current online record repository dates back to January 2000. Individuals searching for crash records that pre-date the online repository should contact the Arkansas State Police Crash Records Section.

The ASP said it now takes 30 – 45 days before the most recent crash reports are delivered to the repository and loaded into the online system. As state and local law enforcement agencies begin to deliver the reports to state police headquarters in an electronic format, the lag time in posting the reports is expected to be significantly reduced.

Louisiana

Lake Charles Producer Arrested

The Louisiana Department of Insurance investigators and law enforcement officers recently shut down a Lake Charles producer, charging her with misappropriation of funds.

Michelle Pappillion, 31, was arrested by the State Police Insurance Fraud Unit and booked into Calcasieu Parish Jail. At the same time, she was served a cease and desist order by DOI Fraud Unit investigators. The C&D alleges that Pappillion violated the Louisiana Insurance Code by failing to timely remit premiums she had collected and for unlawfully obtaining and depositing for her own use two “cash surrender” insurance company checks that should have gone to two of her policyholders.

DOI records show that Pappillion was licensed to sell property/casualty insurance from April 2003 to May 2005 and licensed to sell life/health insurance from September 2002 to May 2004. Her address is recorded as 1018 Royal St., Lake Charles, LA 70607.

Oklahoma

Medical Protective Expands Options

Medical professional liability insurer Medical Protective has introduced a new product to protect Oklahoma doctors from liability when their carrier is unable to meet its obligations. Medical Protective will now offer Contingency Prior Acts coverage to Oklahoma doctors. Contingency Prior Acts would protect doctors in the event that their previous insurer could no longer honor its commitments. The coverage will contain the same consent-to-settle provisions currently offered in Oklahoma.

With Contingency Prior Acts coverage, more Oklahoma doctors will have access to Medical Protective’s financial security, claims defense and risk management programs, the company said. Medical Protective noted that claims experts manage over 15,000 claims yearly, more than 80 percent of which are closed without a loss payment, and its doctors win at trial nearly 90 percent of the time.

Medical Protective’s shareholder, GE Insurance Solutions, has said it intends to sell 100 percent ownership of Medical Protective to a unit of Berkshire Hathaway. Medical Protective’s management team will remain in place. The transaction, which is subject to regulatory approvals, is expected to close by June 30, 2005.

Texas

MHBT Wins Regional Charity Challenge

The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies reported that Dallas-based McQueary Henry Bowles Troy won the Chubb Charity Challenge’s regional tournament at the Cowboys Golf Club and will move on to compete for a $50,000 donation to the Swope Health Foundation in the national championship in Half Moon Bay, Calif.

On Sept. 26, McQueary Henry Bowles Troy will compete against 43 other regional tournament winners from the U.S. and Canada in the national championship. The team consists of McQueary Henry Bowles Troy’s Pat Arthur, partner; Walter DeLaRosa, partner; David Parker, partner; and Drew Porter, risk manager at Cinemark. The McQueary Henry Bowles Troy team is competing for the Swope Health Foundation. The Foundation is dedicated to raising funds and building community awareness in support of Swope Health Services, an organization working to provide accessible, compassionate and affordable primary health care, outreach and behavioral health services to those in need.

In this year’s Dallas tournament, 12 teams raised a total of $30,000 for charity. Swingle Collins & Associates finished second, earning $4,000 for The Salesmanship Club of Dallas. McGriff, Seibels & Williams finished third, earning $3,500 for The Cystic Fibrosis Center of North Texas.

Since 2000, the Chubb Charity Challenge has raised nearly $3 million for charities throughout the U.S. and Canada. Last year, the tournament raised $800,000. This year, it is expected to raise $1 million.

TSLA to Hold Mid-Year Meeting in Colo.

The Texas Surplus Lines Association announced it will be hosting its 2005 Mid-Year Meeting at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo., July 24-27.

Scheduled speakers are: Paradigm

Shift – Mike Jones, Mike Jones & Associates; State of the Industry – Tom Stamm, Markel Southwest Under-writers Inc.; and Creating Alignment – David Rucker, All Risks Ltd. In addition, updates will
be provided by AAMGA, NAPSLO, IIAT, FIWT and the Surplus Lines Stamping Office of Texas.

General information, a schedule of events and registration materials for this meeting are available online at www.tsla.org or by calling (512) 343-9058.

Topics Texas Louisiana Law Enforcement Oklahoma Arkansas