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

Argo Surety, SureTec Launch Mid-Market Surety Program

Argo Surety, together with SureTec Financial Corp., is now providing expanded combined capacity for the middle market contract surety segment. Through the new program, Argo Surety and SureTec can extend up to $50 million in contract bond capacity to select …

Supreme Court Limits Bankruptcy Court Authority in Insurance Case

The Supreme Court says bankruptcy courts have limited authority to rule on disputes outside the traditional bankruptcy process. The justices ruled unanimously this week that a Washington state bankruptcy court did not exceed its powers when it considered a lawsuit …

Messer-Bowers’ Donaldson Named Client Service Professional of the Year

Kristina Donaldson, account manager at Messer-Bowers Company, an independent insurance agency in Enid, Okla., was recently named International Client Service Professional of the Year at the annual convention of the International Association of Insurance Professionals (IAIP). The award recognizes an …

Report: Louisiana Nursing Homes Rank Among the Worst

The quality of care at Louisiana’s nursing homes is among the worst in the nation, with high rates of bed sores and physical restraints and low levels of nursing staff, according to a state legislative report released June 9. The …

Texas Doctor Convicted Again on Workers’ Comp Fraud Charges

Texas Mutual Insurance Co. reported that a Travis County jury convicted Howard T. Douglas III, M.D. of Frisco, Texas, on felony workers’ compensation fraud-related charges for overbilling Texas Mutual for functional capacity evaluations. Sentencing is set for June 19, 2014. …

P/C Chief Hancock to Succeed Benmosche as AIG CEO, President

American International Group (AIG) has named Peter D. Hancock as president and chief executive officer, effective September 1. Hancock, who currently serves as executive vice president, AIG, and chief executive officer of AIG Property Casualty will succeed Robert H. Benmosche, …

Washington Commissioner Disciplines Producers for Violations

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued fines to several insurance companies, agents and brokers who violated state insurance regulations during May. The fines totaled $12,250. They are: Insurance companies Benefit Marketing Solutions and Benefit Services Association, Norman, Okla. Kreidler ordered the …

Minor Injuries, Damage From 8 Colorado Twisters

Several tornadoes touched down as a line of severe thunderstorms swept through Colorado on Sunday, with one of the twisters hitting near a junior golf tournament and injuring a caddy. Six of the tornadoes struck in northeast Colorado, while two …

Oklahoma Firm: Blanket Provides Protection from Tornado Debris, Bullets

An Oklahoma company has created a protective blanket that developers say could give children a better chance of surviving debris from a tornado – or bullets from a 9 mm handgun. The Bodyguard Blanket, made by ProTecht, is a bulletproof …

Texas Moves Forward in Becoming an NCCI State

In late March 2014, Texas Insurance Commissioner Julia Rathegeber approved a staff petition to adopt the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) Basic Manual, with Texas exceptions, and the national and Texas-specific endorsements and forms in the NCCI Forms Manual. …