Monthly Archives: <span>March 2010</span>

Lobell Joins Insurance Marketing & Sales Society Designation Programs

Rhonda Lobell has signed on as sponsor for the American Insurance Marketing & Sales (AIMS) Society Certified Professional Insurance Agent (CPIA) designation programs in Louisiana and Mississippi. A 30-year insurance industry veteran, Lobell started her career at the Louisiana Department …

New Hampshire Court Refuses to Reconsider $110M Ruling

The New Hampshire Supreme Court has refused to reconsider its ruling rejecting the state’s claim to $110 million surplus from a fund that underwrites medical malpractice insurance. Gov. John Lynch spokesman Colin Manning said Tuesday the decision was disappointing. Manning …

Ohio Casualty Introduces New Learning Center for Appointed Agents

Ohio Casualty, a Liberty Mutual Agency Markets regional company, has introduced its comprehensive online Agent Learning Center for its appointed agencies. Ohio Casualty appointed agents can now register for classroom workshops and participate in virtual or self-paced online programs, many …

Salina, Kan., Considering Appealing New Floodplain Maps

Salina, Kan., city officials said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s new floodplain map is just plain wrong and they will consider appealing the floodplain maps for the south part of town. Most of the concern regarding the remapping is …

Letter from Iowa Governor Prompts Wellmark to Delay Rate Hike

Iowa’s largest health insurance provider will delay a planned premium increase after Gov. Chet Culver raised questions about the higher rates to the state insurance commissioner. Culver sent a letter to Insurance Commissioner Susan Voss, expressing concern about Wellmark Blue …

Bill Authorizes Towing of Uninsured Vehicles in Oklahoma

Oklahoma motorists who drive without insurance could have their vehicles impounded under a bill approved in the Oklahoma House. The House voted 87-8 for House Bill 2331 by Rep. Steve Martin, a Bartlesville Republican. Martin says the bill authorizes police …

Ratings Recap: American Community, Washington Fire, DHC Group

A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘D’ (Poor) from C+ (Marginal) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “b-” of Michigan-based American Community Mutual Insurance Company. The outlook for both ratings is negative. The downgrades reflect …

Clashes Led to Firings, Discrimination Claims at Ohio Work Comp Council

Internal pressure was mounting for months ahead of the February firings of the staff of an agency charged with protecting the well-being of Ohio’s insurance fund for injured workers. Public records obtained by The Associated Press reveal frustration among the …

Ratings Recap: Swiss Re (Cat Bond), Transmonde, Sagicor, Bahamas First

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services has assigned its preliminary ‘B-‘ credit rating to the class II-CN3 notes series 2010-1 issued under the principal at-risk variable-rate note program, Successor X Ltd. Swiss Re (A+/Stable/A-1) sponsors the program, which “aims to transfer …

Report: Reno Has Good Chance of Big Quake by 2060

The chance of a significant earthquake rocking the Reno-Sparks, Nev., area over the next half century is on the rise, with a 67 percent likelihood a magnitude 6.0 will strike within 31 miles by 2060, a new report said. That’s …