Monthly Archives: <span>April 2020</span>

Florida Governor Issues Stay at Home Order; Insurance Deemed Essential Business

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued a statewide executive order Wednesday requiring all citizens in the state to stay at home except for those doing essential business or activities. The move comes as the state has more than 8,000 cases of …

Toilet Paper-Hauling Truck Catches Fire on Texas Interstate

A tractor-trailer hauling toilet paper crashed and caught fire near Dallas early Wednesday, spilling the hot commodity all over an interstate. The fire shut down westbound lanes of Interstate 20 near Interstate 45 in Hutchins, the Texas Department of Transportation …

‘I Heard the Roar’: Idaho Hit with 6.5 Magnitude Earthquake

An earthquake struck north of Boise, Idaho, on Tuesday evening, with people across a large area reporting shaking. The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 6.5 temblor struck just before 6 p.m. It was centered 73 miles northeast of Meridian, …

New Orleans Officials, Developer Clash over Demolition of Collapsed Hotel

Plans to demolish the Hard Rock Hotel in New Orleans, which partially collapsed in October, remain in limbo as the city and developers disagree over how to safely bring down the structure. Among other things, the demolition plan is hampered …

Horace Mann Taps Desrochers to Lead Property/Casualty Business

Horace Mann Educators Corp. has appointed Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Actuary Mark Desrochers as head of the company’s property/casualty insurance business on an acting basis. Desrochers will take over from William Caldwell, who has resigned from his role …

Reuters: Banks Cite Liability Risks, May Not Participate in Coronavirus Lending Plan

Thousands of U.S. banks, including some of the country’s largest lenders, have said they may not participate in the federal government’s small-business rescue program due to concerns about taking on too much legal and financial risk, five people with direct …

How Social Inflation May Affect Coronavirus Business Interruption Losses

COVID-19 could produce a big increase in social inflation, according to A.M. Best. The reason: expectations that businesses will sue their insurers in an attempt to access their business interruption coverage for losses relating to the coronavirus pandemic. A.M. Best …

Life-or-Death Decisions by Hospitals, Doctors Come With Threat of Lawsuits

Doctors and hospitals overwhelmed in the pandemic will have to make their excruciating life-or-death decisions meticulously or they risk being second-guessed by a jury when the onslaught is over. Lawyers who defend health care providers are already giving advice on …

Mass. Division of Insurance Approves 6.8% Reduction in Workers’ Comp Rates

The Massachusetts Division of Insurance has approved a 6.8% reduction in the existing overall average workers’ compensation insurance rates for policies effective on and after July 1, 2020. The rate decrease was the result of a compromise reached by the …

Everest Re Group Hires Lodge as Chief Financial Officer of Everest Insurance

Everest Re Group Ltd. has hired Dana Lodge as chief financial officer of Everest Insurance, reporting to Everest Insurance President and CEO Jonathan Zaffino as well as Everest Group CFO Craig Howie. Lodge will be based at the company’s U.S. …