Articles by Amy O'Connor

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

North Carolina Insurers Want Supreme Court Review of 25% Home Insurance Rate Hike Denial

The homeowners insurance rate increase disagreement between the North Carolina Department of Insurance (NCDOI) and the insurance industry is not over. The North Carolina Rate Bureau (NCRB), which files rates with NCDOI on behalf of insurers writing in the state, …

Florida Watching Hurricane Matthew, Governor Urges Residents to Prepare

As the Caribbean waits for what is expected to be a category 4 Hurricane, Florida is preparing for the possibility of catching the tail end of the strong storm. Florida Gov. Rick Scott released a statement Sunday after he was …

GOLD Best Agency to Work For – Southeast: Peel & Holland

Best Agency to Work For – Southeast Peel & Holland, Benton, Kentucky A Client, Community-First Agency For the third year in a row, employees of Benton, Ky.-based Peel & Holland have made it clear their agency is one of the …

Florida Regulators Approve Rate Increase for Citizens Policyholders

Rates are going up for many Florida homeowners. The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has approved a 6.4 percent overall rate increase for 2017 for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. homeowners’ multiperil policyholders across the state. According to Citizens, the increase …

Florida Approves 14.5% Workers’ Comp Rate Hike in Response to Court Rulings

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has given contingent approval for an overall statewide workers’ compensation rate increase of 14.5 percent to take effect Dec. 1, 2016. The rate increase is in response to two recent Supreme Court rulings …

Florida Regulators Approve Rate Increase for Citizens Policyholders

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved a 6.4 percent overall rate increase for 2017 for Citizens Property Insurance Corp. homeowners’ multiperil policyholders across the state. According to Citizens, the increase is necessary to address what it calls a disturbing …

When the Shooting Stops: The Emerging Risk of Active Shooters

There’s a new insurance market emerging in light of a disturbing reality in today’s world – active shooter risks. The new coverage is meant to address a gray area in insurance policies that may leave insureds vulnerable to claims in …

Florida’s First Hurricane in 11 Years ‘Could Have Been a Lot Worse’ for Industry

The 11-year hurricane drought in Florida is officially over. While preliminary damage estimates and claims are still trickling in from Hurricane Hermine, Florida’s first named hurricane since 2005, the consensus from the insurance industry is it could have been a …

Florida’s First Hurricane in 11 Years ‘Could Have Been a Lot Worse’ for Industry

The 11-year hurricane drought in Florida is officially over. While preliminary damage estimates and claims are still trickling in from Hurricane Hermine, Florida’s first named hurricane since 2005, the consensus from the insurance industry is it could have been a …

Brown & Brown in Florida Denies EEOC Allegations of Pregnancy Discrimination

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has filed suit against national insurance brokerage firm Brown & Brown, based in Daytona Beach, Fla., over allegations it violated the Civil Rights Act by rescinding a job offer to a pregnant woman. …