Boston-based broker and service provider William Gallagher Associates (WGA) announced that David Bardelli has joined the firm as a Senior Vice President in the Property & Casualty Practice. He will serve as the new Casualty Practice Leader, providing resources to …

IBM to Acquire Algorithmics

IBM has agreed to acquire Algorithmics for $387 million. Algorithmics is a risk analytics firm with operations in Toronto, Canada. The company’s risk analytics software and advisory services are used by banks, investment and insurance businesses to help assess risk, …

Jury Awards Student $50K in Tennessee University Rape case

A federal jury last Friday ruled for a former student at Sewanee: The University of The South but decided the college won’t have to pay him millions of dollars sought in a lawsuit over a campus rape accusation. The jury …

Michigan Investigation of Detroit?s Wind-Swept Fires Still Underway

State officials are still investigating the causes behind wind-swept fires that burned last year in a number of Detroit neighborhoods, and the response by a city utility to reports of power outages and downed wires. The Michigan Public Service Commission, …

North Carolina Defends Workplace Safety Record as Inspections Drop

Twenty years after the worst industrial accident in North Carolina history, there are signs that progress in worker safety made after the deaths of 25 people in a chicken plant fire is beginning to wane. The Charlotte Observer reported Sunday …

Alfa Raising Rates for Alabama Homeowners

Alfa Mutual Group has raised insurance rates for homeowners by 20 percent across Alabama, with bigger increases for landlord and farm policies. Charles Angell, the state’s actuary, said the increase isn’t designed to make up for losses from the tornadoes …

Connecticut Asks Insurers to Waive Storm Deductibles for Irene Damages

Connecticut is negotiating with several insurance companies to waive hurricane policy deductibles for coastal homeowners whose properties were damaged or destroyed by Tropical Storm Irene, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said. Malloy said 244 homes had been deemed to be destroyed …

Tennessee Supreme Court Hears General Contractor Liability Case

The Tennessee Supreme Court is considering a case that could change a homeowner’s ability to recover damages when a subcontractor botches a home repair or remodeling job. The case involves a Hamilton County couple whose house was destroyed by a …

Hurricane Katia Now Expected to Miss East Coast

Hurricane Katia powered up to a major Category 4 storm Monday, but was expected to veer away from the U.S. East Coast later this week, avoiding a direct hit on a seaboard already battered by Hurricane Irene. The U.S. National …

States Offer U.S. Banks Deal Over Mortgage Lawsuits: Financial Times

Big U.S. banks in talks with state prosecutors to settle claims of improper mortgage practices have been offered a deal that may limit their legal liabilities in return for a multibillion-dollar payment, the Financial Times reported on Tuesday. The talks …

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Caught square in the path of Irene, the first major hurricane of the season, the coastal insurance plans in North and South Carolina are prepared to absorb what may be their first major losses in years. Both plans appear to …

Michigan Hospital Gets Settlement from Utility Over Freezing Death

About $323,000 has been awarded to a hospital as part of a civil suit filed by the family of a 93-year-old Bay City man who froze to death after a power-limiting device was placed on his electricity meter because of …

Maryland Brothers Face Trial for Murder-for-Hire Insurance Scam

Opening statements are expected this week in the trial of two brothers accused of carrying out the killing of a blind and mentally disabled man as part of an insurance scam in Baltimore. Jury selection has already begun in the …

Court Reinstates Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against California Cop

A federal appeals court has reinstated a wrongful death lawsuit against a Madera police officer who authorities say mistakenly pulled out her handgun instead of her Taser before shooting a suspect in her patrol car. This week’s decision by the …

Directors of Failed Atlanta Bank Sued, Accused of ?Lavish? Spending

Federal bank regulators have sued 17 former directors and officers of the failed Silverton Bank, accusing them of gross negligence and corporate waste. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has accused the Atlanta bank in the lawsuit filed Monday of slipshod …

The Hanover Adds D.C. Area Branch Office

The Hanover Insurance Group added a new D.C. Metro branch office in Reston, Va. Located in the Reston Executive Center at 12100 Sunset Hills Road, the new branch office will address commercial insurance needs of the business communities of the …

Massachusetts Judge Refuses to Quash Fatal Arson Evidence

A Massachusetts judge has rejected a plea to suppress evidence in the case of a Northampton man accused of setting 15 fires that left two men dead and damaged property and vehicles more than a year ago. Prosecutors allege the …

Tennessee Governor Resists Calls to Tweak New Cap on Damages

Republican Gov. Bill Haslam doesn’t intend to rework the state’s new law limiting payouts in successful lawsuits against doctors and other businesses, despite calls from some members of his own party for changes to be made in the upcoming legislative …

Allstate Files $5 Million Insurance Fraud Case in New York

Allstate Insurance Company is seeking to recover $5 million against 10 New York area defendants in its fourth insurance fraud lawsuit of 2011. Since 2003, Allstate has filed 31 fraud lawsuits in New York State, seeking more than $170 million …

Earthquake Tested Safety of East Coast?s Nuclear Plants

The largest earthquake to hit the East Coast of the United States in 67 years raised concerns on Tuesday about the safety of the country’s nuclear power plants. The 5.8 magnitude quake’s epicenter was just a few miles from the …

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Drainage problems can lead to unusable landscape, musty odors, lingering pools of water, as well as property damage, some of which may not be covered by your home insurance.

Here is the video on Youtube:

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There are no long-term health effects of submerged oil from last year’s spill in southern Michigan’s Kalamazoo River, a new study from the state says. Results of the Michigan Department of Community Health toxicology study were released Aug. 17 at …

Chicago Must Hire 111 Black Firefighters; Distribute $30M in Back Pay

Some 6,000 African Americans who passed a Chicago Fire Department entrance exam nearly 16 years ago will walk away with either jobs or cash under a federal court order entered Aug. 17. The city of Chicago must hire 111 of …

CEO of Arkansas-based Heifer Foundation Sues Board Members, Insurer

The chief executive of the foundation that supports the hunger-relief organization Heifer International has sued four foundation board members, alleging that he was suspended in retaliation for raising questions about internal policies. Domingo Barrios, CEO of Heifer International Foundation, alleges …

Illinois Court: Homeowner Suit Against Flood Determination Firm May Proceed

A flood determination company may be sued by Illinois homeowners for failing to determine the couple?s home was in a flood plain, a state appeals court has found. The Illinois Court of Appeals for the Third District reversed a lower …

Most Doctors Sued Sometime in Career

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine this week says that one in 14 doctors faces a malpractice suit every year. Moreover, almost every physician will face a malpractice suit — or more than one — …

Conger Joins Lockton Employee Benefits Consulting Practice

Lockton Companies, LLC added Steve Conger to its Washington, D.C. brokerage team as vice president and producer. The addition of Conger expands Lockton?s Washington, D.C.-based employee benefits practice and mergers and acquisitions capabilities. Prior to joining Lockton, Conger was an …

Teens Arrested in Nevada Fire

Authorities have arrested two teens on felony third-degree arson charges as firefighters continue battling a wildfire burning about 3 square miles south of Gardnerville, Nev. Douglas County Sheriff’s officials say two 15-year-old boys were taken into custody Wednesday after allegedly …

Flooding Emergency Declared in Tombstone

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has declared a state of emergency in Tombstone because of flooding in the wake of a recent wildfire. The governor’s office says the Monument Fire in southeastern Arizona destroyed vegetation that normally would have prevented flooding …

Towers Watson Hires Reinsurance Agent in San Francisco

Global professional services company Towers Watson, the global professional services company has appointed Conrad Lagasca vice president in its reinsurance brokerage business. Lagasca, who will be based in San Francisco, will be responsible for working with Towers Watson?s clients in …

Survey Says Washington Drivers Go Slow to Save

A recent poll from Northwest insurer PEMCO Insurance reveals that while a majority of drivers say they take steps to reduce the amount of gas they use, about eight out of 10 drivers in Washington and the greater Portland area …

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California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced $3.2 million in grants to California District Attorneys aimed at combating fraudulent disability and health claims against insurance carriers and to protect consumers from various crimes related to the sale of life insurance …

BancorpSouth and First National Bank Enter Sale Agreement

BancorpSouth, Inc. announced that its banking subsidiary, BancorpSouth Bank, and the First National Bank of Hughes Springs, Texas, have entered into an agreement under which BancorpSouth will sell to First National its two banking locations in Maud and Redwater, Texas. …

Chartis Expands Building Services Contractors? General Liability Coverage

Chartis introduced a new general liaiblity product for building services contractorsto address several target casualty exposures in a single endorsement. As part of a full suite of primary casualty solutions for the real estate sector, this new coverage endorsement expands …

LA Car Arson Suspect May Have Set Fires in Japan

Fire investigators tried to determine Wednesday whether a man arrested for investigation of a serial arson spree in the San Fernando Valley served time for torching bars and restaurants in Japan a decade ago while he was in the Marines. …

AIPSO Appoints Western Region Manager

AIPSO has appointed Roberta Haskins to serve as the manager of its Western Region, which includes the California Automobile Assigned Risk Plan (CAARP), the California Low Cost Program, and the Western Association of Automobile Insurance Plans (WAAIP). Effective August 15, …

XL Insurance Appoints Western Property Executive

XL Insurance has appointed Wade Pitman as senior vice president and Western senior executive for property. Pitman will be based in Los Angeles and will be responsible for managing property underwriting activities in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. …

AIG Plans to Keep Mortgage Insurance Unit

Bailed-out insurer American International Group plans to hold on to its mortgage insurance business even as the rest of that industry struggles with rising claims, AIG’s chief executive said Friday. Mortgage insurers have been struggling, with losses mounting and capital …

Wells Fargo to Pay $590 Million to Settle Wachovia Claim

Wells Fargo & Co. plans to pay $590 million to settle a class action lawsuit regarding Wachovia preferred securities and debt, the company said Friday. The 2009 class action case was filed in a federal court in New York City …

Illinoisan Admits $2.4 Million Investment Scheme

A judge has set a November sentencing date for a southwestern Illinois businessman who’s admitted orchestrating a scheme that swindled $2.4 million from two dozen would-be investors. Sixty-three-year-old Edward Moskop of Belleville pleaded guilty Wednesday in U.S. District Court in …

European Insurers? Greek Hit Fuels Debt Concerns

Allianz and Generali followed rivals in aggressively writing down holdings of Greek government bonds on Friday, fuelling investor concerns about the possible impact on insurers of a worsening sovereign debt crisis. Analysts say major European insurers have moderate exposure to …

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Hank Watkins, president of Lloyd’s America Inc., smiles like he has a big secret he wants to spill. The history of Lloyd’s of London is no secret: originated in Edward Lloyd’s coffee shop in London; underwriter of exotic risks including …

Western Insurance Agents Association Names New Chair

Carol Connors of Ck Specialty Insurance Associates based in San Jose, Calif., was installed as chairman of Western Insurance Agents Association for the 2011-2013 during the association?s annual business meeting held last month. Ms. Connors said she is looking forward …

Conn. Demands Unemployment Payments from Businesses

Tens of thousands of businesses in Connecticut are receiving bills from the state to pay $30 million in interest this year for state borrowing from the federal government for unemployment insurance benefits. About 73,000 employers have been assessed $1.70 per …

N.M. Snowstorm Cost $55 Million in Gas Claims

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) _ The natural gas shortage that slammed the state last winter cost insurance companies $55 million in claims. A memo from the state Public Regulation Commission’s Insurance Division says homeowners received the most help representing 7,422 …

New York Stops Tour Bus Operators Following Crashes

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, following a recent rash of tour bus crashes, said he will suspend the operating licenses of eight charter and tour bus companies and their 100 buses after repeated failures in safety inspections. “The frequent and …

Pennsylvania Arson Bill Caught Up in Mandatory Sentencing Debate

A proposal to stiffen sentences for arson in Pennsylvania has run afoul of a debate over the use of mandatory minimum sentences in the commonwealth. State Sen. John Rafferty Jr., R-Chester, introduced the measure in March in response to the …

BrickStreet Bids to Keep West Virginia Workers? Comp Accounts

BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Co. has decided it wants to continue providing workers’ compensation insurance to state agencies. BrickStreet had said earlier this year that it wasn’t interested in continuing the coverage. The state then began seeking bids from other insurers. …

Chinese Drywall Supplier Told to Release Insurance Details

A South Florida judge has ruled that a Miami-based supplier of tainted Chinese drywall must disclose more details about a proposed $55 million class-action settlement. A Broward County judge ruled that Banner Supply Co. must release more information about its …

Florida?s Citizens to Seek Big Rate Hike for Sinkholes Today

Florida’s largest insurer of homes and businesses, state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., will ask its board to approve a sizable premium increase — 400 percent– for providing coverage on sinkhole policies, a company spokeswoman said this week. The company will …

North Carolina House Joins Senate to Override Veto of Malpractice Cap

Victims of North Carolina doctors guilty of medical malpractice will be limited to $500,000 what they can collect for pain, suffering and lost body parts under legislation the state House passed into law over a veto by Gov. Beverly Perdue. …

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Kansas Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger is seeking applicants for five $1,000 scholarships to be awarded to African-American students enrolled in Kansas universities or community colleges during the 2012 spring semester. The deadline for spring semester 2012 applications is Oct. 1, …

Ohio?s Losses From 2011 Storms Top $500M

A handful of major storms that damaged parts of Ohio this year have caused more than a half-billion dollars in insured losses, and that number is expected to increase. Five storms have led to an estimated 125,000 claims and losses …

California Updates Pure Premium Rates Filing Process

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced that the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) has proceeded with his directive to revise its filing of pure premium rates in order to provide more meaningful and understandable information regarding insurer rates …

Bresnahan Named President of Lexington Insurance

David J. Bresnahan has been named president of Lexington Insurance Co., the surplus lines unit of Chartis Insurance. He is succeeding Peter Eastwood, who is mving into his new role as president and chief executive officer of Chartis for the …

Japan Committee Clears Nuclear Compensation Bill

A lower house committee of Japan’s parliament on Tuesday passed a bill to help Tokyo Electric Power pay billions of dollars in compensation to those hurt by the Fukushima nuclear disaster, ensuring a law will soon be in place to …

California WC Appeals Board Takes Back Physician Ruling

  Just a few months after the California Workers? Compensation Appeals Board ruled that a non-approved physician?s report cannot be used to support workers? compensation eligibility, it is reconsidering that ruling. The case has big implications for attorneys and physicians …

Allstate Agents Hope Unionization Sparks Changes at Insurer

Some unhappy Allstate Insurance agents who say the insurer controls them like employees even though they are independent contractors are moving to affiliate with a union. The National Association of Professional Allstate Agents (NAPAA) claims that the giant insurer is …

One Year Later, Hard Times for Kentucky Flood Victims

Along a newly paved road at Harless Creek in Kentucky’s Pike County, dozens of new vehicles and a handful of new modular homes point to progress since severe flooding hit the area a year ago. At Raccoon Creek, freshly cut …

More U.S. Lawsuits Target Chinese Reverse Mergers

Accounting debacles at U.S.-listed Chinese companies have prompted a surge of securities fraud lawsuits, but investors might have trouble recouping their losses even if they win. More than one-fourth of the 94 U.S. securities fraud lawsuits seeking class-action status and …

China Launches Safety Campaign After Deadly Train Crash

China’s rail minister, facing public outrage over Saturday’s deadly train crash, has ordered a two-month safety review of railway operations and apologized for the accident which killed 39 people, state media reported on Tuesday. Internet users have flooded websites and …

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Ironshore, Equinox to Provide Additional Credit Insurance Capacity

Ironshore Inc. is broadening its relationship with Equinox Global Limited to extend additional underwriting capacity to its trade credit insurance market program. Ironshore will provide increased capacity on a facultative basis for all eligible territories to meet the growing insurance …

Combined Agents of America Named State Auto?s Fastest Growing Agency

Austin, Texas-based Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA) has been identified as the fastest growing agency in terms of sales growth and profitability with insurance partner State Auto Insurance Co. CAA is State Auto’s President Award winner in 2010, State …

$62M Louisiana Road Home Settlement: $0 for Lead Plaintiffs

Two lead plaintiffs won’t get any money from a recent $62 million settlement in a case alleging discrimination in Louisiana’s ?Road Home? program, which was established to help people rebuild after the 2005 hurricanes. The Times-Picayune reports that Almarie Ford …

8.8% Reduction in Voluntary Advisory Rates Filed in Illinois

In response to the recent enactment of the Illinois workers? compensation reform measure, House Bill 1698, workers? compensation insurance database manager National Council on Compensation Insurance Inc. filed for an 8.8 percent decrease in voluntary advisory insurance rates in Illinois. …

NIF Group Launches Nursery, Garden Center Program

NIF Group, Inc., a program administrator and specialty brokerage firm, has a new program designed for the nursery and garden center industry. NIF Insurance Services of California, a division of NIF Group, will act as the program administrator in partnership …

Howalt+McDowell Adds Reinhart as Marketing Manager

Stacey Reinhardt has recently taken the position of marketing manager/sales analyst with Howalt+McDowell Insurance Inc. in Sioux Falls, S.D. Reinhardt relocated from Appleton, Wis,. and previously worked in marketing for SECURA Insurance Co. in Appleton and Kaplan Professional in La …

Moran Named to California Workers? Compensation Administrator Post

Rosa Moran, 50, of Oakland, has been appointed administrative director of the California Division of Workers? Compensation by Gov. Jerry Brown. Moran has served as a workers? compensation judge since 2005. Previously, she was an attorney in private practice from …

U.S. Building Supply Firm Sues Chinese Drywall Maker

A Florida building supply company is suing a German conglomerate for $100 million over defective Chinese drywall installed in tens of thousands of homes. Banner Supply Co. charged in the lawsuit that Knauf Gips made false claims about the quality …

Michigan Golf Course Sues DuPont Over Herbicide

DuPont was sued last Friday by a Michigan golf club that alleges its widely used Imprelis herbicide kills trees, reflecting a growing nationwide problem being investigated by a top U.S. regulator. Imprelis, conditionally approved for sale last October by the …

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Swett & Crawford opened an office in Houston, Texas, to support and enlarge its book of property business in Texas and the surrounding area. John Konstantinidis, senior vice president and property specialists, has moved from Swett?s New York office to …

PG&E to Pay $26M Fine for Sacramento-Area Blast

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. has agreed to pay $26 million in penalties after acknowledging safety violations in a fatal natural gas explosion that destroyed one home and damaged several others in a Sacramento suburb on Christmas Eve 2008. The …

Wash. Regulator Fines Insurers, Agents $750,000

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has fined insurance companies, agents and brokers more than $750,000 in 2011. Violations included charging unapproved rates and submitting false documents. From January through mid-June, the insurance commissioner?s office has imposed $787,815 in fines. The …

Wildfires Continue to Plague Arizona, New Mexico

Fourteen homes have been destroyed in Arizona yesterday, after the Monument Fire burning near Sierra Vista went south into neighborhoods. All told, there are six fires burning in Arizona, and five in New Mexico. As of June 21, the six …

President Bush to Address Insurance Program Administrators? Meeting

Former President George W. Bush will address the Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA) at its annual summit this October, according to the insurance group. The annual summit is scheduled for October 24-26 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The keynote address by …

P/C Insurers? Profits Fell in Q1 as Underwriting Losses Grew

Private U.S. property/casualty insurers? net income after taxes dropped to $7.8 billion in first-quarter 2011 from $8.9 billion in first-quarter 2010, with insurers? annualized rate of return on average policyholders? surplus decreasing to 5.6 percent from 6.8 percent. Reflecting insurers? …

Virginia County to Charge for Ambulance Trips

Virginia’s Prince William County plans to begin charging health insurance companies for ambulance trips. On July 1, the county will start billing insurance companies when a patient is taken to the hospital by its emergency medical services. The county will …

Mississippi County Covered for Misused Funds

The bonding company for Alcorn County supervisors is repaying the county more than $95,000 to repay funds the state auditor said were misused by former supervisor Danny Crotts. Board of Supervisors President Gary Ross says the state auditor’s office has …

3 Men Rescued from Collapsed Kentucky Mine

Three men who spent more than half a day trapped underground in a flooded southeastern Kentucky coal mine waded out and were on their way home after just a quick hospital evaluation. Relief was on the faces of Pernell Witherspoon’s …

Mining Rule on Coal Dust Becomes Permanent

Federal regulators are making permanent an emergency rule implemented last year requiring underground mines to do more to control explosive coal dust. The Mine Safety and Health Administration announced the final rule this past Monday. The rule was issued last …

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Margaret Murray Manning of Redondo Beach, Calif., has been found guilty of six felony counts for violating section 550(b) (3) of the California Insurance Code, for allegedly issuing more than 1,000 phony errors and omissions policies for life insurance agents …

Sperbeck Appointed Calif. Deputy Insurance Commissioner

Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones announced that he has appointed Erika Sperbeck as the new deputy insurance commissioner of the Administrative and Licensing Services Branch. Sperbeck comes to CDI from the California Health and Human Services Agency, where she has served …

Court Approves Majestic Insurance Rehabilitation Plan

A San Francisco Superior Court has approved California Insurance Commissioner’s rehabilitation plan for Majestic Insurance Co., a failed workers’ compensation insurance carrier. Under the plan, Majestic?s insurance liabilities and certain assets will be transferred to AmTrust North America Inc., which …

Woodruff-Sawyer Names Pierson VP in Southern California

San Francisco-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co., an independent insurance broker, has named John Pierson vice president, account executive, in the company’s Southern California Office. He will focus on client service and specialize in assisting with their risk management needs. Pierson has …

McMullen Insurance Agency Joins ISU Network

McMullen Insurance Agency of Elko, Nev., has joined the ISU Network. The agency was established in 1952 by Hugh D. McMullen and is currently owned by his son H. Russell McMullen and Russ’ wife, Anne. The agency provides personal, commercial …

Florida?s NSI Insurance Merges with Royal Marine

Miami Lakes, Florida-based NSI Insurance Group it has merged with another Miami-based brokerage, Royal Marine Insurance Group. The combined agency will continue to be known as NSI Insurance Group. The executives and staff of Royal Marine bring a specialty and …

Calif. State Fund Seeks to Offer Workers? Comp in Other States

California State Compensation Insurance Fund is pursuing legislation to allow it to offer coverage to California employers who have out of state employees. Currently, California-based businesses insured with State fund must obtain a separate workers’ compensation policy to cover employees …

Late May Storms to Cost Insurers Up to $7 Billion: AIR

The severe thunderstorms that struck the United States from May 20 to the 27 will result in insured losses to residential, commercial, and industrial properties and their contents, and to automobiles of between $4 billion and $7 billion, according to …

Supreme Court Rules in Halliburton Case

Halliburton Co. suffered a legal setback Monday when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to make it harder for shareholders to proceed with some class-action securities-fraud lawsuits against publicly traded companies. The justices unanimously ruled that a U.S. appeals court erred …

Buffett Lunch Bids Topping $1.5 Million

Double-dip recession or not, people will still pay any price to have lunch with Warren Buffett. The annual charity auction for lunch with the legendary 80-year-old investor began Sunday night, and by Monday morning bids already topped $1.5 million. The …

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