People Zurich Financial Services Group appointed Maine Insurance Superintendent Alessandro A. Iuppa head of government and industry affairs for General Insurance, and chief government affairs officer for North America. Both appointments are effective Jan. 15, 2007. Neal Odom joined MarketScout, …
New fire science could overturn arson convictions across the nation
The clues were everywhere. A young woman lay dead in a burned church camp cabin in East Stroudsburg, Pa., while her father survived. Most of the lessons taught to budding fire investigators stood out at the scene. The local experts …
California workers’ comp reforms working
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California has completed its report summarizing insurer loss and premium experience through Sept. 30, 2006. The data seems to verify that workers’ compensation reforms are working to bring costs down. However, “there is …
Oregon Archdiocese reorganization plan calls for $75 million settlement
Settling nearly 170 claims of priest sex abuse would cost the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Portland, Ore., about $75 million under a reorganization plan proposed to end. The plan represents the first bankruptcy in the nation filed by a diocese. …
8 Drive Insurance from Progressive lowers Colo. auto rates
Tort system helping to reduce costs 8 Gov.-elects appoint insurance department heads Colorado picks Mayor Morrison, Idaho picks Rep. Deal 8 Calif. workers’ comp reforms working Yet outgoing commissioner says still room for improvement 9 Reinsurance rates falling or flat, …
Fraud Roundup
Arsonists ‘light up’ in pool of gasoline Musa Shteiwi and his son Essa had a clear criminal vision for their Steak Thyme Subs eatery. According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, they wanted to torch the West Chester, Ohio, food …
Ark. starts insurance plan for low-income workers
Enrollment began Dec. 20, 2006, in Arkansas for a program partly paid by Medicaid dollars that will eventually offer insurance to 80,000 low-income workers. The Associated Press reported that health officials hope the initiative will cut down on the number …
Dissecting a claims made policy
You’ve heard the phrase: “If I could predict the future, I would be wealthy.” If our industry truly could do that, underwriting, rating and pricing would become the easiest tasks on the planet. Short of predicting the future, however, underwriters …
Editor’s Note: Credit scoring an issue in 2007
Even though 2006 is safely behind us, some sticky issues are on the horizon as we edge our way into 2007. Case in point is the pending Supreme Court cases of Safeco v. Burr and GEICO v. Edo. The cases …
New Markets
Real Estate Agents and Brokers E&O Nuts & Bolts: London American Professional Liability LLC a program administrator and MGA, introduced a new program for real estate agents and brokers errors and omissions. The program is being offered in most states …
