Latest California Headlines

All the headlines from our California Topic Page, ordered by recency.

California Regulators Say Utility Falsified Pipeline Safety Records

Dec 17 2018 // Regulators have accused one of California’s largest utilities of falsifying safety documents for natural gas pipelines for years following its criminal conviction and multimillion-dollar fine for a pipeline explosion...

Allstate’s Shares Fall Under Weight of Wildfire Losses

Dec 17 2018 // Allstate Corp. tumbled for nine straight days, the longest string of losses since 2001, as coverage costs from the deadliest fires in California’s history are tallied. The company seemed to have “out-sized...

Effect of Judge Ruling Affordable Care Act Unconstitutional Delayed for Appeal

Dec 17 2018 // Obamacare was struck down by a Texas federal judge in a ruling that casts uncertainty on insurance coverage for millions of U.S. residents, drawing sharp condemnation from some medical professionals and a vow for action by...

Deadly California ‘Firenado’ Explained in New Study

Dec 17 2018 // A rare fire tornado that raged during this summer’s deadly Carr Fire in Northern California was created by a combination of scorching weather, erratic winds and an ice-topped cloud that towered miles into the...

Report: Return on Net Worth for California Workers’ Comp Insurers Rose

Dec 17 2018 // A new report shows the average return on net worth for California workers’ compensation insurers rose to 9.9 percent in 2017, the fourth consecutive increase. The report comes from the National Association of...

Covering Cannabis in California

Dec 17 2018 // Most of the action on insuring legal cannabis in California is in the surplus lines marketplace. The legalization of cannabis in California created many opportunities for insurers to get in on the ground floor in covering...

Chiropractor in California Pleads Guilty in $150M Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme

Dec 17 2018 // A Los Angeles, Calif., chiropractor has pleaded guilty to taking part in a $150 million workers’ compensation fraud scheme. Paul Turley of Granada Hills pleaded in early December to conspiracy to commit insurance...

People

Dec 17 2018 // NAS Insurance Services LLC has expanded its senior management team with several new appointments, including naming Marcus D’Anna chief financial officer. D’Anna’s appointment as CFO comes after five years...

Special Report: The Industry Industry Gives Back

Dec 14 2018 // Safety National Safety National proudly supports Variety the Children’s Charity of St. Louis, an organization that has been helping children with physical and developmental disabilities for more than 80 years. In...

USG Adds Meek as a Producer in Southern California

Dec 14 2018 // USG Insurance Services Inc. has named Frances Meek a producer/broker in the Irvine, Calif. office. Meek will work to maintain current agent relationships and assist with expanding USG’s California network. Meek has...

Authorities: At Least $3B to Clear Debris from Homes Destroyed By California Wildfires

Dec 14 2018 // State and federal authorities estimate that it will cost at least $3 billion to clear debris from 19,000 homes and businesses destroyed by three California wildfires last month. The disaster relief officials said the...

California Regulators to Look at New Blackout Rules to Prevent Deadly Wildfires

Dec 14 2018 // California regulators have decided they need to step in and help determine when power blackouts are appropriate to prevent wildfires after a series of deadly blazes linked to electrical equipment. Utilities PG&E Corp.,...

California Commissioner Wants Insurers to Waive Inventory Requirement for Wildfire Victims

Dec 13 2018 // California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones is asking residential insurers to pay at least 75 percent and up to 100 percent of personal property or contents coverage in the event of a total loss without requiring...

Hub Acquires Assets of G.P. Barich Insurance Agency in California

Dec 13 2018 // Hub International Ltd. has acquired the assets of G.P. Barich Insurance Agency Inc. in Redlands, Calif. George Barich, president of Barich Insurance, will join Hub California and will report to Jim Jesser, executive vice...

Allstate Says Losses from California Fires $670M, CEO Wants to Address Climate Change

Dec 13 2018 // Allstate this week announced estimated catastrophe losses for the month of November 2018 of $685 million, pre-tax ($541 million, after-tax). Catastrophe losses occurring in November comprised six events at an estimated...

The PURE Group Expands Excess & Surplus Lines Offering Into California

Dec 13 2018 // The PURE Group has expanded its excess & surplus (E&S) high net worth offering, PURE Programs, into California. The coverage is tailored to high value, high-risk homes with broader coverage than is typically found...

Report: Workers’ Comp Premiums in California for First 9 Months of the Year Down 3%

Dec 12 2018 // The Workers’ Compensation Rating Bureau of California issued its quarterly experience report on Wednesday showing premium for the first nine months of 2018 was 3 percent below the same period for 2017. The WCIRB...

Official Figure on Insured Losses for 2018 California Wildfires Reaches $9B

Dec 12 2018 // The official tally for insured losses from this year’s major California wildfires is $9.05 billion – for now. California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones on Wednesday released official figures for losses from the...

AM Best Downgrades Ratings of Mercury in California, Wildfires a Factor

Dec 12 2018 // AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A (Excellent) from A+ (Superior) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICR) to “a+” from “aa-” for the members of Los...

PG&E Gives Details on Tower Damage at Heart of California Fire Probe

Dec 12 2018 // PG&E Corp. revealed that on the day California’s deadliest and most destructive wildfire started, its workers saw damage and a fire near one of its transmission towers, which are the focus of investigations and a...