June 19, 2006
The Supreme Court said this month it will decide if tobacco giant Philip Morris must pay nearly $80 million in damages to the family of a longtime smoker, a case that could shield companies from large jury awards if the …
June 19, 2006
Allstate Insurance Co. says it is dropping earthquake insurance to most of its 407,000 quake customers nationwide as a part of a larger move to reduce exposure to catastrophic losses. Allstate Spokesman Mike Siemienas in Chicago said four states require …
June 19, 2006
Stock Prices: Broker stock prices shifted down 5 percent in April and May. The most dramatic change came from Aon Corp., whose stock closed down 14 percent from the previous two month period due mainly to flat first quarter earnings. …
June 19, 2006
Today’s younger producers seek more power. Since they can’t control the market changes swirling around them, many demand more influence within the agencies where they work. There is concern that their production efforts go primarily towards retiring the agency’s current …
June 19, 2006
Safeco Outlook Positive Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services affirmed its “A+” counterpart credit and financial strength ratings on the Safeco Intercompany Pool members. S&P also affirmed its “BBB+” counterparts credit and senior debt ratings and “A-2” commercial paper ratings on …
June 19, 2006
The integration of the U.S. insurance market and global financial market will have a profound impact on business, according to Dave Zwiener, president and chief operating officer of Property and Casualty Operations for The Hartford. Evaluating the industry, Zwiener shared …
June 19, 2006
Modesto, Calif. Las Vegas/Paradise, Nev. Stockton, Calif. Phoenix/Mesa/Scottsdale, Ariz. Visalia/Porterville, Calif. Seattle/Tacoma/Bellevue, Wash. Sacramento/Arden-Arcade/ Roseville, Calif. San Diego/Carlsbad/ San Marcos, Calif. Fresno, Calif. Yakima, Wash.
June 19, 2006
Every day, the Equal Employment Opportu-nity Commission receives some 200 new employment practices liability complaints alleging discrimination based on race, sex, national origin, religion, retaliation, age and disability. Even if an employment-related claim is baseless, defense costs can be significant. …
June 19, 2006
Agents can make a difference in the perception of the insurance business if, instead of tracking and billing delinquent accounts, they turn everything around and call good customers, Kat Davis of Tower Hill Insurance in Gainesville, Fla., told Professional Insurance …
June 19, 2006
California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi has recommended a 16.4 percent decrease in the workers’ compensation pure premium rate. The decrease would be applicable to new and renewal policies as of the first anniversary rating date of a risk on or …