10 Die in German Ice Rink Collapse
At least 10 persons have been confirmed dead, and more are feared to have died, following the collapse of the roof of an ice rink in the Bavarian town of Bad Reichenhall. The BBC reported that at lest 50 people …
Tropical Storm Zeta Roils the Atlantic
The “hurricane season” ends in November – right? Maybe not. Miami’s National Hurricane Center is currently tracking Tropical Storm Zeta – the latest (earliest?) tropical cyclone ever recorded since record keeping began in 1851. Fortunately Zeta is in the middle …
Australian Bushfires Rage Uncontrolled
A series of bushfires during the hot Australian summer – temperatures well above C40°(F102°) – have destroyed more than a dozen homes north of Sydney, and are threatening hundreds more. The BBC reported that one emergency worker had died, apparently …
Gemstar Sues Insurer for Allegedly Failing to Cover Court Judgments
Gemstar-TV Guide International Inc. has sued an insurer, seeking to recover $50 million (euro42.3 million) in liability coverage the media and technology company claims it is due to help cover judgments stemming from lawsuits over inflated revenues. In its complaint, …
Farmers Enters Rose Bowl Parade
Farmers Insurance Group participated in the 2006 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., the 47th year the company has participated in the parade. This year, the parade theme is “It’s Magic” and Farmers’ float is titled “Protecting Your Family.” …
WellPoint and WellChoice Complete Major Merger
WellPoint, Inc. and WellChoice, Inc. have completed their merger that they first announced on Sept. 27, 2005. The value of the transaction at that time was estimated to be $6.5 billion. “Our focus as a combined company is to become …
ProSelect Loses Conn. Rate Bid
The Connecticut Department of Insurance has reaffirmed an October decision denying a 12 percent increase in medical malpractice insurance rates requested by ProSelect. ProSelect had appealed the earlier rejection of the increase that it originally field for in June. But …
Florida’s PIP, No-Fault Sunset Concerns Council Members
There is no support among Florida Insurance Council members for the outright reenactment of the no-fault/PIP statute, Sam Miller, FIC executive vice president told Insurance Journal. Florida’s PIP/no-fault auto insurance system is scheduled to sunset (expire) Oct. 1, 2007 unless …
Drivers living near restaurants pose higher risks than church neighbors
Why people who live close to restaurant are more likely to pay more for auto insurance. Drivers who live within a mile of a church are far less likely to have a car accident than drivers who live more than …
Operator of Employers Mutual Convicted of Fraud Scheme
A Southern California man was found guilty of federal fraud charges for bilking the customers of Employers Mutual LLC, which purported to provide healthcare coverage to more than 20,000 people nationwide, but left more than $20 million in unpaid claims …
