Articles by Amy O'Connor

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

Revised Kentucky Accident Victim Solicitation Law Under Fire, Again

A Kentucky law revision limiting the solicitation of accident victims within 30 days of a crash has gone into effect but is already being challenged in the state by multiple chiropractic groups that say the law is unconstitutional. The Kentucky …

Kentucky’s Revised Accident Victim Anti-Solicitation Law Under Fire, Again

A Kentucky law revision limiting the solicitation of accident victims within 30 days of a crash has gone into effect but is already being challenged in the state by multiple chiropractic groups that say the law is unconstitutional. The Kentucky …

South Carolina Approves Rate Changes to State Workers’ Comp Plan

South Carolina Insurance Director Raymond Farmer approved an overall revision of +1.9 percent to the state’s voluntary workers’ compensation policy loss costs and a decrease of .3 percent in the assigned risk rate level results for the state’s workers’ comp …

Florida Updates Neutral Evaluation Rules for Sinkhole Claim Disputes

New rules changing the way disputed sinkhole claims are handled in Florida as part of the state’s Sinkhole Neutral Evaluation Program have been approved and took effect July 27. The main changes to the consumer sinkhole claim dispute process include: …

The Doctors Co. Challenges Florida’s Order to Decrease Med Mal Rates

An order by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for medical malpractice insurer The Doctors Co. (TDC) to decrease its rates by 15 percent is being contested by the California-based company. A hearing has been set for Oct. 7, 2015, …

Insurers Warned to ‘Think Before You Snap’ as Florida Drone Privacy Law Takes Flight

The new Florida drone privacy law could have some unintended consequences for insurers looking to use or insure unmanned aircraft systems (UAM) technology. The Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act (FUSA), which took effect in Florida July 1, prohibits a person, …

The Doctors Co. Challenging Florida’s Order to Decrease Med Mal Rates

An order by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation for medical malpractice insurer The Doctors Co. (TDC) to decrease its rates by 15 percent is being contested by the California-based company. A hearing has been set for Oct. 7, 2015, …

Environmental Groups Ask North Carolina Judge to Dismiss Part of Duke Energy Suit

A coalition of environmental groups is supporting Duke Energy’s effort to dismiss part of long-running lawsuit over pollution leaking from the company’s coal ash dumps. The Southern Environmental Law Center filed July 22 in support of Duke’s motion to a …

Tennessee High Court Upholds Dismissal of Health Care Liability Suit Without Prejudice

The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that, in health care liability lawsuits, the obligation to disclose the number of violations of the certificate of good faith requirement does not compel any disclosure if there are no previous violations. The court …

Tennessee Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of Health Care Liability Lawsuit

The Tennessee Supreme Court has determined that, in health care liability lawsuits, the obligation to disclose the number of violations of the certificate of good faith requirement does not compel any disclosure if there are no previous violations. The court …