Monthly Archives: <span>June 2011</span>

Attend and Grow Your Commercial Lines House Accounts

Some House Accounts Are More Equal Than Others Commercial lines house accounts are traditionally profitable for the average agency. By their nature, these small premium insureds have no assigned producer, hence no commission is paid on them. Furthermore, they are …

Coal Industry Blasts Safety Rules

Coal industry officials have roundly criticized two sets of new safety rules proposed by federal regulators following an explosion that killed 29 West Virginia miners last year. The West Virginia Coal Association and Alpha Natural Resources, the third-largest U.S. coal …

Declarations

Rebuilding Begins “I have been clear from the beginning: We will rebuild Joplin.” โ€”Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon on June 1 announced the start of debris removal in Joplin, Mo., following the devastating tornado that hit the city on May 22, …

Brokers See No Change in Sight for Apartment Market

Rates Remain Competitive Despite Fewer Carriers, More Catastrophe Losses For apartment owners, the insurance market remains as competitive as it gets. Despite the sometimes heavy exposures that encompass the habitational risk, the vast majority of apartment owners see the cost …

Storm Shelters

Rep. Pat Ownbey of Ardmore says Oklahomans were reminded how vulnerable they can be when several tornadoes ripped through the state in May. Ownbey says lawmakers should take a look at incentives for having storm shelters that better protect Oklahomans. …

People

Austin, Texas-based Texas Medical Liability Trust (TMLT) announced that Charles R. (Chip) Ott Jr. will assume leadership of TMLT as president and CEO in late July. He will replace current President and CEO Bob R. Fields, who is retiring after …

Flags Flown at Half-Staff in Louisiana to Honor Slain Insurance Investigators

American and Louisiana flags flew at half-staff outside Louisiana government buildings on June 9 and 10 in a show of respect for two state insurance fraud investigators who were shot to death on June 7. Gov. Bobby Jindal ordered the …

Massachusetts Tornado Claims Now Up to $140 Million

The financial toll from tornadoes that ravaged Springfield and several smaller communities has risen dramatically. The state’s Division of Insurance estimated Thursday that residents have filed 8,200 insurance claims totaling $140 million for damage caused by the June 1 tornadoes, …

Ratings Recap: United Auto/Argus, Doctors Co., GeoVera, Medical Mutual, MAG Mutual

A.M. Best Co. has placed under review with developing implications the financial strength rating of ‘C’ (Weak) and issuer credit ratings of “ccc” of Florida-based United Automobile Insurance Group and its member, United Automobile Insurance Company. Best has also downgraded …

Calif. Appeals Court Declines to Review Workers’ Comp Decision

Fifth District Court of Appeal in California has refused to review the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s(WCAB) en banc decision in State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) v. WCAB (Almaraz). This means that the Sixth District Court’s decision on the Workers’ Compensation …