Monthly Archives: <span>February 2004</span>

South Dakota Legislature Kills Auto Liability Increase Bill

The South Dakota legislature has killed a House bill that would have reportedly increased the cost of auto liability insurance by as much as 20 percent. “South Dakota is Number 46 among the 51 states in auto insurance policy cost, …

TDI Recognizes IMSA as a Best Practices Organization

The Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA) commended the Texas Department of Insurance for issuing a Commissioner’s Bulletin affirming that its examiners routinely use information provided by IMSA-member companies. According to the IMSA, Texas Commissioner of Insurance Jose Montemayor reported in …

Skywire Names Schultz as CIO

Frisco, Texas-Skywire Software, which counts among its customers leading insurance carriers and MGAs throughout the U.S., recently promoted Karl Schultz to the position of chief information officer. He most recently served on the company’s senior vice president, Software Development. In …

State Farm’s Monroe Center to Close After All

Despite the new governor’s efforts, State Farm Insurance will apparently go ahead with plans to close its operations center in Monroe, La. According to Associated Press reports, the company will close the facility by the end of the summer of …

Argonaut Reports Underwriting Profit for Q4 2003

San Antonio-based Argonaut Group Inc. announced financial results for the three months and full year ended Dec. 31, 2003. Highlights for the 2003 fourth quarter and full year include the following: · Argonaut Group’s continuing business segments during the fourth …

Safeco Declares Regular Dividend

Safeco declared a regular dividend of 18.5 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable April 26, 2004 to shareholders of record on April 9, 2004.

Fla. Man Posing as Psychotherapist Charged with Fraud

A Pompano Beach, Fla. man reportedly posing as a psychotherapist is facing numerous felony charges for filing insurance claims for counseling sessions. Lubomir Lacho, 52, reportedly collected more than $11,000 after billing $18,000 in claims to United Healthcare Insurance Company. …

Chubb Reports Q4 Net Income of $72.3 Million

The Chubb Corporation reported that net income in the fourth quarter of 2003 was $72.3 million or $0.38 per share, compared to net income of $56.6 million or $0.33 per share in the fourth quarter of 2002. Operating income, which …

Unitrin Nets $131 Million in 2003

Chicago-based Unitrin Inc. reported today net income of $44.4 million, or 66 cents per common share, for the fourth quarter of 2003, compared to a net loss of $3.7 million, or 5 cents per common share, for the same period …

Westfield Appoints Small Business Account Exec

Ohio-based Westfield Insurance has named Martha Oakes senior executive of small business accounts. Her responsibilities include overall management responsibility for the growth and profitability of the small business accounts department. Oakes began her career at Westfield in 1986 as a …