Latest Legislation Headlines
All the headlines from our Legislation Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Judge in North Carolina Favors Policyholders in COVID-19 Closure Lawsuit
Oct 23 2020 // A judge in Durham County, North Carolina has handed down what may be the nation’s first dispositive ruling in favor of policyholders in a COVID-19 business-interruption lawsuit. Superior Court Judge Orlando F. Hudson...
Insurers Drop Appeal Against UK Court Ruling on 3 COVID Business Interruption Policies
Oct 22 2020 // Six insurers have decided not to appeal against a London High Court ruling that they were wrong to reject claims from holders of three business interruption insurance policies who have been pushed to the brink of collapse...
After Helping Shepherd Pandemic Loans, Banks Now Brace for Regulatory Risks
Oct 21 2020 // Banks that facilitated the U.S. government’s Paycheck Protection Program at first saw the effort as a small revenue booster with a patriotic bonus, shepherding $525 billion in loans to businesses slammed by the...
Applied Underwriters Sues California Over ‘Bad Faith’ Insurer Conservatorship Plan
Oct 21 2020 // Workers’ compensation specialist Applied Underwriters is suing California Insurance Department officials to halt a state plan its says would force its workers’ compensation partner California Insurance Co....
Trump EPA Saves Coal Plants Millions with Delay on Coal Ash Pond Closures
Oct 20 2020 // The Trump administration will let some leaking or otherwise dangerous coal ash storage ponds stay in operation for years more and some unlined ponds stay open indefinitely under a rule change announced last Friday. The...
Judge Rejects North Carolina Insurance Donor’s Prison Delay Request
Oct 19 2020 // An insurance company magnate and major North Carolina political donor convicted on corruption-related counts months ago must begin his federal prison term next week, a judge has ruled. U.S. District Judge Max Cogburn...
New Mexico Lawmakers Say Farmers Shortchanged on Disaster Aid
Oct 19 2020 // New Mexico’s congressional delegation is calling for more oversight of a federal agency after some farmers and ranchers were shortchanged on disaster aid and Hispanic farmers who rely on traditional acequias to...
What P/C Insurance Industry Can Expect If Biden Wins or If Trump Is Re-Elected
Oct 19 2020 // If Republican President Donald Trump wins re-election, the property/casualty insurance industry is not likely to see much change from the status quo in Washington. If Democrat Joe Biden wins the presidency, however, the...
South Carolina Looks to Boost Private Flood Market Through New Law
Oct 19 2020 // The state of South Carolina is aiming to foster new flood insurance coverage options through the enactment of the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the legislation,...
FCC Chief Vows to Advance New Social Media Company Liability Rules
Oct 16 2020 // Federal Communications Commission chairman Ajit Pai said Thursday the agency will move forward to set new rules to clarify the meaning of a key legal protection for social media companies. The announcement came as...
Michigan Legislature Passes Legal Liability, Unemployment Measures
Oct 15 2020 // Michigan’s Republican-led Legislature on Oct. 14 voted to keep intact longer-lasting unemployment benefits and other coronavirus-related orders issued by Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, while also striking a deal...
New South Carolina Law Creates Resilience Office to Address Flooding
Oct 15 2020 // After five years filled with unprecedented flooding, South Carolina has now established an office to marshal the state’s efforts in stemming floodwaters and coordinating recovery and relief efforts. Governor Henry...
Judge Tosses $30M Lawsuit Brought by Wounded Oregon Trooper
Oct 13 2020 // A federal judge has dismissed a $30 million lawsuit filed by an Oregon State Police trooper who was shot 12 times in December 2016. Nic Cederberg and his wife sued Legacy Meridian Park Hospital claiming the suspect, James...
Judge Tells PG&E to Explain Role in Zogg Fire in California Last Month
Oct 13 2020 // PG&E Corp was ordered by a U.S. district judge to explain its role in the ignition of the Zogg Fire in California last month, according to a court order filed on Monday. Last week, the California Department of Forestry...
After Court Ruling, New Emergency Orders Issued to Stem Virus in Michigan
Oct 12 2020 // A week after Michigan’s Supreme Court ruled Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lacked the authority to act unilaterally to slow the spread of the coronavirus, the state health department issued its own emergency order keeping...
Judge Finds Strems Guilty of Misconduct; Advises 2-Year Suspension, Probation
Oct 12 2020 // After finding Florida attorney Scot Strems in violation of numerous rules regulated by The Florida Bar last month, the court-appointed referee overseeing his case has recommended a 24-month suspension followed by one year...
German Lawmakers Agree to Corporate Accounting Reforms After Wirecard Scandal
Oct 7 2020 // Germany’s coalition parties have agreed a package of reforms to financial and accounting rules aimed at avoiding another Wirecard scandal, a document seen by Reuters shows. Lawmakers launched a parliamentary inquiry...
Feds Fault Operator, Regulators in New York Limo Crash That Killed 20
Oct 6 2020 // State regulators repeatedly failed to properly oversee a poorly maintained stretch limousine with corroded brakes that hurtled down a hill at more than 100 mph and crashed in a ravine, killing 20 people, federal...
Top EU Court Rules Mass Spying on Phone, Internet Data Is Unlawful
Oct 6 2020 // The European Union’s top court ruled on Tuesday that unrestrained mass surveillance of phone and internet data is unlawful, in a move which could curb the powers of spying agencies in France and other EU...
South Carolina Passes Flood Insurance Law to Boost Private Market
Oct 6 2020 // The state of South Carolina is aiming to foster new flood insurance coverage options through the enactment of the South Carolina Private Flood Insurance Act. South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster signed the legislation,...
