West News

Teens Need Workplace Safety Training

In recognition of May’s “Safe Jobs for Youth Month, the Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I) is reminding employers to provide safe workplaces for young workers, particularly as the summer hiring season nears. On average, 79 young workers are …

Two Calif. Workers’ Comp Defense Firms Merge

Heggeness, Sweet, Simington & Patrico, a San Diego-based workers’ compensation defense firm and Mentz, Finn & McDowell, a San Francisco-based workers’ comp defense firm, have announced an agreement to combine operations as of June 1, 2010. HSSP provides employers, insurers …

Zenith Announces Commencement of Consent Solicitation

Woodland Hills, Calif.-based Zenith National Insurance Corp. announced it has commenced a consent solicitation relating to the 8.55 percent Capital Securities of Zenith National Insurance Capital Trust I, which holds as its sole assets the 8.55 percent Subordinated Deferrable Interest …

Calif. Agent, Insurer Groups Discuss Homeowners Replacement Cost Regs

To alleviate concerns about homeowner under-insurance, the California Department of Insurance has proposed regulations governing standards and training for estimating replacement value on homeowners’ insurance. CDI hosted a hearing to garner feedback on the regulations on May 17 in Los …

Lawmakers See Expanded Role for Calif. Insurance Commissioner

Two state lawmakers are the leading candidates for the Democratic nomination for California insurance commissioner, the statewide office responsible for regulating insurers at a time of great change and heightened scrutiny for health care coverage. Assemblymen Dave Jones of Sacramento …

Crawford Names Laytin VP of Western Region Claims Operations

Atlanta-based Crawford & Co., an independent provider of claims management solutions, has named Bentley R. Laytin vice president, western regional manager for U.S. Property & Casualty operations. Laytin has worked his entire 14-year career in the insurance industry with Crawford, …

SullivanCurtisMonroe Adds Taylor as Account Executive

Irvine, Calif.-based SullivanCurtisMonroe has added Taylor Lister as an account executive in its Irvine Office. Lister joins SCM from Hub International, where she was an account executive. Prior to that, Lister held the position of senior sales representative at Liberty …

Calif. Insurers Agree to Voluntary Sanctions Against Iranian Government

California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner announced that 1,010 insurance companies — more than 75 percent of insurers licensed to do business in California — have agreed to forgo future investments in 50 companies identified as doing business with Iran’s nuclear, …

Barney & Barney Acquires Virtual Cosourcing Solutions

San Diego-based Barney & Barneyannounced today that it has acquired Virtual Cosourcing Solutions and hired its CEO Stan Lambert as a principal. Lambert has launched the firm’s Specialty Services Divisionto provide the firm a platform to deliver consumer insurance offerings, …

Nevada Insurance Commissioner Resigns; State Seeks Replacement

Nevada’s Business & Industry Director Dianne Cornwall announced that Nevada Insurance Commissioner Scott J. Kipper has resigned from the position, effective June 2, 2010. Kipper has been insurance commissioner since December 2008, when he replaced Acting Commissioner Betty Baker who …

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