Monthly Archives: <span>June 2021</span>

Tennessee Mining Company Accused of Firing Employee Over Safety Complaints

Federal regulators have brought a complaint against a zinc mining company, claiming that an employee in Tennessee was illegally fired for making safety complaints about the mine. U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh filed the complaint earlier this month with …

North Carolina Looks to Protect Outer Banks Highway from Storms, Sea Level Rise

A task force has been formed with the aim of saving the main highway on North Carolina’s Outer Banks from storms, erosion and sea level rise. The Virginian-Pilot reported last week that the task force will focus on protecting seven …

People Moves: Howden Australia Hires 3 from Marsh; Strategic Risk Solutions Appoints Schons in Luxembourg; Quinn Promoted at Liberty Specialty

These international People Moves include recent appointments at Howden Australia, which hired three people from Marsh; a new hire at Strategic Risk Solutions in Luxembourg and a promotion at Liberty Specialty Markets in London. A summary of these new hires …

Oklahoma City Doc Pays $325K to Settle Civil Penalty Claims

An Oklahoma City physician has paid more than $300,000 to settle civil penalty claims related drug abuse prevention and control laws, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma reported. Albert T. Nguyen, M.D., paid $325,000 to settle …

Severe Storms, Tornadoes Cause Damage in Iowa, Missouri, Ohio

A tornado damaged several buildings and knocked down power lines and trees in eastern Iowa Sunday night; a tornado near the Ohio-Indiana border damaged houses and other structures; and several parts of Missouri were cleaning up Monday after strong overnight …

Mercury Launches Usage-Based Car Insurance App Oklahoma

Mercury Insurance has made its usage-based insurance app, MercuryGO, available to drivers in Oklahoma. The app acts as a virtual driving coach, providing skill scores that give real-time feedback about driving behavior, the company said. Mercury auto insurance policyholders who …

Seeking More Money, Cities Opt Out of Indiana’s Suits Against Opioid Makers

Several Indiana cities have opted out of the state’s pending lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors, reasoning that they will likely see more cash from their own litigation filed in response to the nation’s opioid epidemic. The suburban Indianapolis cities …

Illinois Casualty Gets AM Best Ratings Upgrade

AM Best has upgraded the Financial Strength Rating to A- (Excellent) from B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) to “a-” (Excellent) from “bbb+” (Good) of Illinois Casualty Co. (ICC), based in Rock Island, Illinois. Concurrently, AM …

Europe’s Insurers Expect Robust M&A Activity and Strong Earnings in 2021: Moody’s

Europe’s insurance industry is emerging from the coronavirus crisis with a stronger appetite for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), along with expectations for strong earnings growth in 2021, according to Moody’s annual survey of chief financial officers (CFOs) from 21 leading …

Judge Rules in Favor of New Hampshire Hotel Group in Insurance Dispute

A judge has ruled in favor of a group of hotels whose owners sued their insurance carriers over lost business during the coronavirus pandemic. Businessman Mark Stebbins of Schleicher & Stebbins Hotels LLC, one of the plaintiffs, said the pandemic …