Government News

Kansas to Receive $500K in AIG Workers’ Comp Settlement

A signed legal settlement with American International Group will net the State of Kansas general fund $500,000, according to Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance. “The AIG settlement for Kansas was part of a nationwide $146 million agreement over alleged misreporting …

White House Oil Spill Report: Firms’ Decisions Saved Money, Raised Risk

BP and its partners made a series of cost-cutting decisions that ultimately contributed to the oil spill that ravaged the Gulf of Mexico coast over the summer, the White House oil spill commission said Wednesday. In its final report on …

Defense in Kentucky Insurance Regulator Death Cites Mental Defect

Defense lawyers for former Kentucky lawmaker Steve Nunn may argue that he had a mental or emotional defect when his former fiancee was shot to death. The Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Nunn attorneys have filed documents showing they intend to …

North Carolina Insurers Seek Rate Hike on Dwelling Fire Policies

North Carolina insurers are looking to raise rates from 7 percent to 25 percent, or an average 20.9 percent statewide, for 2011 on dwelling fire and extended coverage policies. If approved the higher rates would affect about 570,000 policyholders, with …

Southeast Texas County Defends Hurricane Ike Spending

Chambers County officials are defending their spending of tens of millions of federal dollars for cleanup from Hurricane Ike after a federal audit questioned whether the money was properly used in the Southeast Texas county devastated by the September 2008 …

Calif. Commissioner Jones to Enforce Medical Loss Ratio Rule

Almost immediately after being sworn into office on Tuesday, California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones signed an emergency order to enforce the medical loss ratio. the MLR rules require insurers to annually disclose the percentage of premium revenue spent on reimbursement …

Florida Workers’ Compensation Market Remains Competitive: Report

Florida’s workers’ compensation market remains competitive with more than 250 private insurers writing coverage and only a fraction of business being funneled to the residual market. Also, availability does not appear to be a major concern in the aggregate, although …

Oklahoma Law Protecting Health Care Volunteers Now in Effect

A new state law protecting health care professionals who volunteer at school sporting events from being sued has gone into effect in Oklahoma and its author wants schools to take advantage of it. State Rep. Joe Dorman says House Bill …

AmerInst Professional Launches E&O Coverage for Small Law Firms

When it comes to the legal profession, there are two known facts: claims against lawyers tend to increase in an economic downturn; and small firms (with fewer than five attorneys) are extremely vulnerable to legal malpractice and damaging lawsuits. To …

Nickel Named Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has appointed Ted Nickel, an insurance company veteran, as commissioner of insurance and Dan Schwartzer, an association executive, as deputy commissioner. Nickel replaces Sean Dilweg. Nickel has spent nearly his entire career in the insurance industry …