Articles by Amy O'Connor

O'Connor is the Southeast editor for Insurance Journal and associate editor of MyNewMarkets.com.

Patriot National Promotes Brewer to SVP in Florida

Patriot National has promoted Nicole Brewer to senior vice president, Marketing and Corporate Operations. She is based in the company’s Fort Lauderdale, Fla., office. In this position, Brewer will continue to provide a variety of management and professional support functions …

GOLD Best Agency to Work For – Southeast: LassiterWare

LassiterWare employee praise of the agency they say is the Best to Work for in the Southeast increased so much this year, the company was selected as Insurance Journal’s 2017 Best Agency to Work For Gold Award winner, a step …

Florida Workers’ Comp Premiums Going Down?

Just under a year since Florida workers’ compensation rates shot up by 14.5 percent, Florida businesses may get some relief in their workers’ comp premiums. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has recommended to Florida regulators an overall premium …

Florida on Alert for AOB Abuse as Irma Recovery Begins

As Florida residents return home after being evacuated by Hurricane Irma, the pressure is on the insurance industry to keep a bad situation regarding assignment of benefits abuse in the state from getting worse. Florida regulators, carriers, industry trade groups …

Update: Insurance Industry Preparation for Hurricane Irma in Full Swing in Florida

Insurers are taking no chances in preparing for Hurricane Irma as the powerful category 5 storm slogs its way through the Caribbean, devastating the communities left in its wake on its potential path towards the U.S. Insurers made a full …

Here’s What a Category 5 Hurricane Could Do to Florida

Florida hasn’t suffered a category 5 storm since Hurricane Andrew hit the north Miami area on Aug. 24 1992, but the risk of such a storm has not gone away or even declined. In fact, the state’s risk of destruction …

Florida Domestic Insurer Sawgrass Mutual to ‘Wind Down’ Operations

Just after being downgraded by ratings agency Demotech, Florida-based insurer Sawgrass Mutual Insurance Company revealed it was placed under administrative supervision by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. According to an Aug. 22, 2017, amended consent order for administrative supervision, …

25 Years Later: How Florida’s Insurance Industry Has Changed Since Hurricane Andrew

Aug. 24, 1992 was anything but a typical Monday for Robert Reynolds as he drove through debris-filled roads and devastation on the way to his family-run agency then located just north of Homestead, Fla. Hurricane Andrew had just barreled through …

Florida Workers’ Comp Premiums Going Down? NCCI Files for 9.6% Decrease

Just under a year since Florida workers’ compensation rates shot up by 14.5 percent, Florida businesses may get some relief in their workers’ comp premiums. The National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) has recommended to Florida regulators an overall premium …

XL Catlin Adds Technology, Excess D&O Coverage for Design Professionals

XL Catlin has added two new enhancements to its professional liability insurance for architects, engineers and other design professionals in the US, including an expanded professional services definition and Principal Protector Coverage for qualifying firms. XL Catlin’s Design Professional team …