Monthly Archives: <span>January 2015</span>

Berkshire’s Commercial Insurer Hires AIG, Chubb Execs to Enter Canada Market

Berkshire Hathaway Inc.’s commercial insurance unit is expanding into Canada as it seeks to win over new clients by offering bigger coverage limits than competitors. The unit, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, said it hired Darryl DeSouza from American International Group …

New York City Blizzard Proves Dud as Weather Forecasters Miss Mark

Reopen Broadway, start up the trains, get the commuters back on the road. The great New York City blizzard of ’15 was a bust. Not that there was no snow — Manhattan’s Central Park had 7.9 inches (20 centimeters) as …

Bermuda States It Will Fight to Remain Top Domicile for ILS

The Bermuda Stock Exchange (BSX) has issued a lengthy defense of its primary position as the “domicile of choice” for insurance linked securities (ILS); pointing out that 57 percent of such securities issued in 2014 were handled on the island, …

Texas Bill Would Modify ‘Claimant’ Definition in Medical Liability Cases

Texas state Rep. Chris Turner, House District 101- Grand Prairie, has filed a measure that would clarify the definition of “claimant” in respect to a health care liability claim. HB 956 stems from the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in the …

Oklahoma Senate Proposal Tackles Uninsured Drivers with DUIs

Oklahoma Sen. Ron Sharp has filed legislation to address the state’s high number of uninsured motorists especially those with DUI convictions. Senate Bill 260 would require an individual convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) to have valid auto insurance …

Enstar Completes Acquisition of South Carolina-based Companion

A wholly owned subsidiariy of Enstar Group Ltd. has completed its acquisition of Companion Property and Casualty Insurance Co. from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina. Companion is a South Carolina-based insurance group writing property, casualty, specialty and …

FBI Case Log: The Stolen Stradivarius

When a 300-year-old Stradivarius violin valued at more than $5 million was stolen from Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Frank Almond last year, investigators initially believed the theft may have been the work of sophisticated art thieves. The truth turned out …

Texas-Based Roach Howard Smith & Barton Promotes Buchanan

Keleigh Buchanan was promoted to assistant vice president at Dallas-based independent insurance broker Roach Howard Smith & Barton. Buchanan has 15 years of experience in the insurance industry. She specializes in offering products and services to high net-worth clients with …

Kansas Geologists Seek More Funding for Earthquake Monitoring

Kansas geologists say they need more funding to investigate an unprecedented spike in earthquakes in the state. Kansas Geological Survey Director Rex Buchanan told the House Energy and Environment Committee that about half a million dollars is needed to beef …

1.8M Oklahomans Now Impacted by Drought

The U.S. Drought Monitor says more than 1.8 million Oklahomans are being affected by an ongoing, deepening drought. The Oklahoma Water Resources Board says that in the past month, the percentage of Oklahoma classified as being in exceptional drought has …