Texas / South Central News

Texas Sets Workers’ Comp Weekly Benefit Rates for Coming Year

The workers’ compensation state average weekly wage for dates of injury from Oct. 1, 2018, through Sept. 30, 2019, has been set at $937.70, the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation reports. The maximum weekly benefit rates for …

Brad Pitt’s Foundation Sues Architect Over Defects in ‘Katrina’ Houses

Actor Brad Pitt’s foundation has sued a New Orleans architect, saying defective design work led to leaks and other flaws in homes built for residents of an area that was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina. The lawsuit says …

1 Dead as Record Rain Swamps Texas and Oklahoma

A storm system dumped record amounts of rain in parts of Oklahoma and caused flooding in Texas, including in the Dallas area, where floodwaters swept a man from a bridge to his death near the University of Texas’ campus in …

Lockton’s Lumelleau Joins EPIC Insurance Brokers in Houston

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants has added Matt Lumelleau as a principal in the firm’s property/casualty practice. Based in Houston, Lumelleau will be responsible for new business development, the design, placement and management of property/casualty insurance programs; and providing risk …

Texas Workers’ Comp Study Finds Improvement in Worker Access to Medical Care

The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation reported in a newly released study that access to medical care for injured workers has improved slightly and that a high rate of doctors who treat workers’ comp patients has remained …

Austin Drops Workers’ Comp Lawsuit Against Firefighter with Cancer

The city of Austin, Texas, has dropped a lawsuit challenging the determination by state workers’ compensation officials and an appeals panel that a firefighter diagnosed with cancer is eligible for workers’ comp benefits. According to the Austin Firefighters Association, Lt. …

Former Insurance Company Exec Named Chief Actuary at Oklahoma Insurance Dept.

Andrew Schallhorn has been appointed as chief actuary at the Oklahoma Insurance Department (OID), effective Sept. 24. Schallhorn formerly was president of Reserve National Insurance Co. In a departmental press announcement, Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak called the position …

Donelon: Louisiana Auto Insurance Rate Hikes Lower This Year

Louisiana’s insurance commissioner says the state’s auto insurance market may be stabilizing, with a smaller rise in premiums expected this year compared with prior years. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says Louisiana’s auto market has seen a 2.1 percent average increase …

Ayala Joins Alliant Employee Benefits Group in Oklahoma City

Alliant Insurance Services has added Brady Ayala as senior vice president in its Employee Benefits Group in Oklahoma City. Ayala will service a growing portfolio of regional clients, deploying a full range of benefits consulting solutions focused on strengthening operations …

Sullivan Tapped to Lead Transportation Unit at Midlands Management

Wholesale insurance services firm, Midlands Management Corp., headquartered in Oklahoma City, appointed Mark Sullivan as leader of its Transportation team. He is based in Dallas. Sullivan joined Midlands in 2010 as an associate marketing representative and later was promoted to …

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