PFAS News

Reinsurance Outlook to ‘Neutral’; US to Push for Double-Digit Casualty Increases

Fitch Ratings said reinsurers are likely to push for double-digit U.S. casualty rate increases during January renewals to keep up with loss trends from social inflation. The rating agency in a new report changed its outlook of the global reinsurance …

Trojan Condoms Contain ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Lawsuit Claims

A new lawsuit on Monday claims that Trojan condoms are not safe because they contain toxic “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to cancer. In a proposed class action filed in Manhattan federal court, the plaintiff Matthew Goodman said Church …

Underwriters Wary of PFAS Amid ‘Superstorm’ of Litigation, Regulation

As litigation and regulation increase around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), insurance underwriting is tightening across lines. Insurance professionals who specialize in PFAS say insurers are mandating coverage exclusions and, in some cases, declining to write liability policies at all …

Cleanup Progresses After Spill of Firefighting Foam at Former Navy Base

Firefighting foam in a hangar at Brunswick Executive Airport has been been removed, and mitigation is underway on four retention ponds following Maine’s biggest accidental spill of the fire suppressant on record, officials said Monday. The Maine Center for Disease …

Connecticut Firefighters Sue DuPont, 3M, Honeywell Over Allegedly Contaminated Gear

DuPont, 3M, Honeywell and 16 other defendants were sued on Tuesday by Connecticut firefighters who said their protective gear was contaminated by toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer. Lawyers for the plaintiffs said they believed the proposed class action filed …

BASF to Pay $316 million to Settle PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Lawsuit

German chemical company BASF said on Tuesday it reached a $316.5 million settlement with some U.S. public water systems that claimed toxic “forever chemicals” in firefighting foam made by the company contaminated their water supplies. The money provided by the …

Viewpoint: The 10 Major Risks Shaping Insurance Today

I readily admit that lists of top risks, top threats, and opportunities for insurance are well-trodden ground, and ranking risks in order of importance inevitably triggers debate about which risk should be near the top or bottom, rather than the …

Wisconsin Republicans Ignore Governor’s Call to Spend $125M to Combat PFAS

MADISON, Wis . (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans on Tuesday ignored the latest call from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to spend $125 million to combat so-called forever chemicals, leading Evers to say he might sue over the issue. The moves are …

Time-Tested Loss Reserving Methods Challenged: AM Best

Reflecting on one of the trends that surfaced as property/casualty insurers announced 2023 financial results recently, AM Best expects reserve strengthening for accident years 2015-2019 to continue, the rating agency said in a new report. As companies “finished reporting their …

Several Texas Water Systems Exceed Federal Limits on ‘Forever Chemicals’

In Texas, 49 public water utility systems have reported surpassing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s first-ever limits for five “forever chemicals” in drinking water, according to data submitted to the federal agency. Experts say there are likely more since not …