Monthly Archives: <span>January 2014</span>

Alabama Spike in Fire Deaths This Year Linked to Cold Weather

Alabama fire officials said the state has seen an alarming increase in fire deaths. Al.com reported that 19 people have died in fires across the state so far this year. In 2012, 71 people died in Alabama fires. Only six …

Worries Mount Over Winter Wildfire Season Not Soon to End

A winter wildfire season offers some unique challenges for firefighters like Mike Lopez. Lopez is president of CDF Firefighters, which represents the employees of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire as it’s best known. Lopez has …

Clark Insurance Promotes Cote to Vice President in New Hampshire

Clark Insurance, an employee-owned independent insurance agency with offices in Maine and New Hampshire, announced Bret Cote has been promoted to vice president. Cote is based in the Manchester, N.H., office. Cote has served with the agency’s business insurance department …

Maryland Senate Approves Bill to Remedy Health Exchange Problems

The Maryland Senate has passed a measure to provide health insurance for people who tried to enroll online in the state’s health exchange, but couldn’t due to computer problems. The Senate voted 38-8 for the emergency measure Tuesday. The emergency …

Marsh’s Dixon Joins Lockton in Nashville

Privately-held global insurance broker Lockton has added long-time Nashville financial services executive Kristin Dixon to its team. Dixon has been named assistant vice president-account executive. She will be responsible for financial services insurance program development, negotiation, placement, and service for …

N.Y. Gov. Calls for Medical Bill Dispute Protection

New York hospital patients would no longer wake from surgery with the bad surprise of big bills from an anesthesiologist outside their insurance networks under legislation unveiled this week by the New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration. Instead, they would …

Commentary: Insureds’ Agreement to Read Insurance Policy

A shock wave was recently sent through the insurance agent/broker community in Connecticut. In a surprising case at the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, O&G Industries, Inc. v. Aon Risk Services Northeast, Inc., 922 F.Supp.2d 257 …

Burand’s Agency E&O Blog: Tip #53

TPA Activities. Some agencies are unknowingly conducting TPA activities. Others are knowingly offering these services without knowing whether their E&O policy will provide coverage. Many insurance agency E&O policies specifically exclude coverage for TPA activities/services. TPA services can create significant …

Willis Acquires Benefits Division of Alabama’s Capital Strategies Group

Willis North America said it has acquired the employee benefits consulting division of Birmingham, Alabama-based Capital Strategies Group Inc. Capital Strategies Group’s employee benefits consulting division, led by George Gould, offers employee benefits plan design, consulting and brokerage services to …

Munich Re to Buy Hartford Steam Boiler Unit’s Headquarters Building in Conn.

Munich Re, the world’s largest reinsurer, said its Hartford Steam Boiler agreed to buy the 24-story building that serves as the unit’s headquarters. The structure at One State Street in Hartford, Connecticut, will be purchased from the Hines real estate …