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

California Agency Failing to Ensure Limo Safety, Audit Shows

Citing incidents like the 2013 limousine fire that killed five women on the San Mateo Bridge, California’s state auditor said Tuesday that the commission responsible for overseeing passenger carriers has failed to ensure consumer safety. State Auditor Elaine M. Howle …

Supreme Court Refines Software Patent Eligibility in Alice Case

The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that implementing an abstract idea using a computer does not make an invention patent eligible. On a 9-0 vote, the court ruled for CLS Bank International, which challenged patents held by Australia-based Alice …

Model Promises to Help Growers Mitigate Costly Droughts

Researchers at the University of Florida say they have created a model that may help growers plant at optimal times and avoid crop-destroying drought, which can cost millions of dollars in a given year. Put simply, if growers know when …

Firing Fear Among New Predictors of Workers’ Comp Outcomes: WCRI

Workers’ compensation researchers have identified anxiety over being fired and other new predictors of worker outcomes that they say can help public officials, payors and health care providers improve the treatment and communication an injured worker receives after an injury …

Florida ‘Hurricane Tax’ Sent to Early Retirement

A1.3 percent surcharge on most property/casualty policies in Florida to help pay for past hurricane claims is coming to an end earlier than originally planned. The Florida Cabinet voted this week to end the assessment on policyholders that was begun …

Last Job Cuts at Travelers’ Syracuse, N.Y., Office Scheduled for September

The last phase of previously announced job cuts at The Travelers Companies’ Syracuse, N.Y., office will begin in September. The company’s Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notice — filed with the New York state Department of Labor on …

Senate Committee to Take Up Cyber Liability Bill Next Week

The U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee is expected to consider a bill next week aimed at encouraging companies to exchange information on hacking attempts and cybersecurity threats with the government, senators said this week as they released a draft of the …

Aspen Opens Miami Hub for Expansion in Latin America

Aspen Insurance said it is expanding its presence in Latin America with the opening of a regional hub in Miami, joining a group of re/insurers that have also located Latin American operations in the city. The Miami office and Aspen’s …

Ratings Recap: AEGIS, Lloyd’s Syndicate 1225, PaCRe

A.M. Best has upgraded the financial strength rating to ‘A’ (Excellent) from ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and the issuer credit rating to “a” from “a-” of Bermuda-based Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited (AEGIS), and has revised its outlook on both …

PCI Encouraged by Progress in ‘Trade in Services’ Agreement

David Snyder, the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America’s (PCI) vice president, international policy, has issued the following statement on the progress in the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and launch of the TiSA Business Coalition. “PCI applauds the progress …