West News

Mother of Teen Who Died Suing Center in Oregon for $13M

The mother of a Portland, Ore., teen who died by suicide shortly after medical staff allegedly evaluated and released him from the Unity Center for Behavioral Health has filed a $13 million lawsuit. Leila Mesch’s lawsuit lists Legacy Health and …

Hogeboom Looks Back on 46 Years Helping Shape California Insurance Landscape

Robert W. Hogeboom has quietly been in the background of making and forming insurance laws and regulations for decades – and he’s seen a lot change in California’s insurance landscape in all of that time. During his 46-year-long legal career, …

Topa Insurance in California Names Kim Controller

Calabasas, Calif.-based Topa Insurance Co. has promoted Jamie Kim to controller and vice president of accounting. Kim will be responsible for representing the company and the finance department on strategic projects, reinsurance reporting, and leading the accounts payable, accounting and …

California’s State Fund Launches COVID Regulations Resource Center

California’s State Compensation Insurance Fund has created a free resource center for employers, whether they are policyholders or not, to prepare their businesses for the next phases of COVID-19 reopening and help to avoid penalties from Cal/OSHA. State Fund’s resource …

Washington Fruit Grower Fined $150K for Virus Violations

A Yakima, Wash., fruit grower and processor has been fined more than $150,000 by the Washington Department of Labor & Industries for violating COVID-19 workplace requirements designed to help keep workers safe on the job. This week, L&I notified Evans …

Seattle OKs Virus ‘Hazard Pay’ for Grocery Workers

Seattle has joined other cities in approving extra pay for grocery store workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The City Council on this week approved legislation requiring large groceries to pay an extra $4 an hour in hazard pay. The Seattle …

Utility Paying $2B Settlement in Deadly 2018 California Fire

Southern California Edison will pay $2.2 billion to settle insurance claims from a deadly, destructive wildfire sparked by its equipment in 2018, the utility announced this week. Edison, which acknowledged no wrongdoing, said the agreement covers all claims in pending …

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers in California Adds James

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers in Woodland Hills, Calif., has added Jessica James to the firm. James focuses on construction, environmental, professional liability, non-profits, cannabis and lessor’s risk. She has more than 21 years of experience in the industry as …

California Alerts Residents in Burn Areas About Flood And Mudslide Coverage

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara is alerting residents to review their current insurance policies in the midst of a forecast of winter weather bringing the possibility of floods, mudslides, debris flows, and other disasters to recent wildfire burn areas throughout …

Montana Virus Liability Bill Advancing Through Legislature

A bill that would protect businesses and health care providers from coronavirus-related lawsuits is advancing quickly through the Montana Legislature, after the state’s Republican governor said the measure was necessary to remove a statewide mask mandate put in place by …

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