National News

S&P Changes Outlook on Navigators to Negative; Affirms Ratings

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has revised its outlook on New York-based Navigators Group Inc. and its insurance units to negative from stable. S&P also affirmed its ‘BBB’ counterparty credit rating on Navigators Group Inc. and its ‘A’ counterparty credit …

Liability Lawsuits Against U.S. Rating Agencies Dismissed

The three major U.S. credit rating agencies won the dismissal of lawsuits seeking to hold them liable as “underwriters” for helping banks structure securities transactions to achieve desired ratings. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld …

Ironshore Increases Iron-Starr Financial Lines Capacity to $25 Million

Ironshore Inc. has increased capacity to $25 million for the financial lines division of Iron-Starr Excess Agency, Ltd. The limit increase is written on a gross limit basis and is the result of securing additional insurance collaboration within this specialty …

BOLT Insurance Agency to Distribute Zurich Small Business Products

Business Owners Liability Team (BOLT Insurance Agency) has signed an agreement with Zurich Small Business to distribute its small commercial insurance products to business owners across the country on the BOLT Insurance portal platform. Using BOLT Insurance, small business owners …

Wal-Mart Facing Job Bias Suit from Fired Cuban Warehouse Workers

Former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. warehouse workers of Cuban origin may pursue a lawsuit accusing the world’s largest retailer of discrimination, and of firing them when they complained about their treatment. Monday’s ruling by a federal judge in Chicago came as …

AIG, U.S. Treasury to Sell Nearly $9 Billion in Stock

American International Group and the U.S. Treasury said Wednesday they will sell just under $9 billion in AIG stock, suggesting the government’s exit from its crisis-era investment will be more difficult than originally thought. The $9 billion figure is less …

Surety & Fidelity Association Elects Chubb’s Vispoli as Chair

The Surety & Fidelity Association of America has elected Tracey Vispoli, senior vice president, Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, as chair of the board for 2011-2012. Vispoli is the global manager for Chubb’s financial fidelity insurance business. Under her management, …

Top 10 States for Dog Bite Claims

State Farm Insurance Co. has released its top 10 states for claims involving dog bites, with California on top in number of claims and Florida recording the highest cost per claim. The Bloomington-based State Farm reported that California led the …

AIG Shares Fall Further, Put Pressure on Treasury

Later this month investors will get a chance to buy into the revived American International Group, but dreams of a blockbuster sale have faded with the steady decline in AIG’s shares. The stakes are high for the U.S. Treasury, which …

Federal Appeals Court Questions Virginia Challenge to Healthcare Law

A U.S. appeals court Tuesday sharply questioned whether the state of Virginia could challenge President Barack Obama’s signature healthcare law, which requires Americans to buy insurance in a bid to slow healthcare costs. The Obama administration is trying to save …

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