West News

$10M Penalty in Wells Fargo California Case, Can’t Do New Business Until at Least 2020

Wells Fargo has agreed to pay a $10 million penalty as part of a settlement agreement with the California Department of Insurance. The settlement with the CDI, announced on Wednesday, resolves the department’s accusation alleging improper insurance sales practices related …

5.0M Quake That Hit Alaska Was Aftershock, Experts Say

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake has rattled Alaska residents on New Year’s Eve but no damage or injuries were reported. The Alaska Earthquake Center confirmed the quake occurred Monday around 6 p.m. in the Cook Inlet region. It was widely felt …

Oregon Mulling Marijuana Exports to Other States

Marijuana could take the next step toward joining pinot noir and craft beer on Oregon’s list of famous exports, under a proposal likely to go before state lawmakers in the new year. The Statesman Journal reports that the Craft Cannabis …

Prosecutors Say California Fires May Mean PG&E Violated Criminal Sentence

A California utility’s role in igniting wildfires last year could allow a judge to find that it violated terms of its criminal sentence in a 2010 gas pipeline explosion that killed eight people, federal prosecutors said. In a court filing, …

Warren G. Bender Adds Makis as Personal Lines Account Executive in California

Warren G. Bender Co. has named Stephen Makis an account executive in its personal lines department. He has more than 16 years of experience in providing personal insurance consultation throughout California and other Western states. He was previously a personal …

Ascot Expands U.S. Marine Team With Johnson and Factor in California

Ascot has named Chris Johnson and Jocelyne Factor as underwriters in the U.S. marine team. Both will be based in the new San Francisco office, expanding Ascot’s geographic footprint to the West Coast. Johnson, senior vice president, joins from Navigators, …

Lawyers Scramble to Get Piece of the Action in California Wildfire Lawsuits

In a conference room 13 miles from Paradise, California, Doug Boxer explains to survivors of the state’s worst wildfire why they should choose his law firm to sue PG&E Corp. He walks a fine line between listening to victims coping …

Insurance Journal West’s Top Stories for 2018: California Commissioner Race, Hawaii Lava, Wildfire Losses

Another year down, and too many fascinating news headlines to count. Hawaii’s lava, the race for California insurance commissioner, and a $23 million ruling in a lawsuit against Geico were among the most popular stories in Insurance Journal’s Western region. …

Woodruff Sawyer in California Names Schmidt Senior Vice President

San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff Sawyer has named Dan Schmidt a senior vice president in the healthcare practice. Schmidt will be a member of the San Francisco team and will also be implementing an office based in Reno, Nevada. He has …

CIA-Leavitt in Colorado Names Rodriguez a Co-Owner

CIA-Leavitt Insurance Agency in Colorado Springs, Colo. Has named Gabe Rodriguez an owner/partner of the firm. Rodriguez has worked for the agency as an insurance consultant since 2014 and specializes in commercial insurance for contractors, recyclers, metal dealers, trash haulers, …

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