Articles by Andrew G. Simpson

Simpson is a freelance writer and editor. He retired as Chief Content Officer for Wells Media Group in July, 2022 after 18 years with the company.

New York Court Upholds Nursing Home COVID-19 Immunity

A New York state appellate court has ruled that an April 2021 state law repealing a March 2020 grant of immunity to nursing homes over their handling of COVID-19 patients is not retroactive. The ruling means a nursing facility in …

Frederick Mutual Exiting Personal Lines; Signs Renewal Deal

Frederick Mutual, which is exiting the personal lines market and focusing strictly on commercial lines in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions, has reached a renewal rights agreement with another insurer for the bulk of its personal lines business. Beginning Jan. …

Fishing Community Mayor, Top Officials Off the Hook in Retaliation Claims

The mayor and other city officials in the fishing community of Gloucester, Massachusetts are protected under qualified immunity against claims by the city’s harbormaster that they violated his First Amendment rights. The harbormaster sued the mayor, city solicitor, chief administrative …

Woman Sues Restaurant Claiming She Found Piece of Human Finger in Chopped Salad

When Alison Cozzi was eating the salad, she sensed something wasn’t right. It did not take long for her to realize that she was chewing on a portion of a human finger that had been mixed into the salad. It …

Lawsuit Blames Negligence by Plant Owner, HVAC Contractors for Cannabis Worker’s Asthma Death

A lawsuit has been filed over what has been identified as the cannabis industry’s first asthma workplace death. The mother of a worker who died from an asthma attack at a Massachusetts cannabis processing plant in 2022 has brought wrongful …

Supreme Court Won’t Hear Delaware’s Captive Insurance Documents Battle With IRS

The state of Delaware has lost its fight with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the release of information on captive insurers, a fight the state took all the way to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court on Monday declined …

Harvard Claims Marsh Is to Blame for Its Loss of $15M in Coverage for Admissions Fight

Having lost two bids to recover $15 million from its insurer to cover costs related to its failed defense of its admissions policy, Harvard University is now looking to hold its insurance broker, Marsh, responsible. Harvard’s excess insurer Zurich American …

Judge Upholds $24M Award in Suit by Employee With Social Anxiety Disorder

A federal district court judge in Massachusetts has upheld a $24 million jury award for a woman who sued her employer for retaliation and discrimination because of her social anxiety disorder. The employer, PPD Development, has criticized the outcome handed …

Frederick Mutual Exiting Personal Lines; Signs Renewal Deal With Farmers of Salem

Frederick Mutual, which is exiting the personal lines market and focusing strictly on commercial lines in the Mid-Atlantic and Southern regions, has reached a renewal rights agreement with another insurer for the bulk of its personal lines business. Beginning January …

Supreme Court to Hear Free Speech Complaint by NRA Against New York Regulator

The U.S. Supreme Court last Friday agreed to hear an appeal by the National Rifle Association of a case in which it accuses a New York insurance regulator of violating its free speech rights when she urged insurance companies and …