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.

City of Baltimore Sues Big Tobacco to Recover Costs of Cigarette Litter Damage

The city of Baltimore has filed a lawsuit seeking to hold cigarette manufacturers accountable for cleanup costs and environmental damages it says are associated with tobacco product litter. Baltimore wants to recover expenses and losses resulting from cigarette filter litter …

New York Permitting Out-of-State Adjusters to Expedite Snowstorm Claims

The New York Department of Financial Services announced it will issue temporary permits to qualified out-of-state independent insurance adjusters in order to expedite insurance claims in light of the winter storm that hit the state over the weekend. DFS Superintendent …

Insurers Told Expunged Crimes Off-Limits as New York Licenses First Cannabis Shops

New York has approved its first 36 retail marijuana dispensary licenses, awarding them to 28 applicants with prior cannabis convictions and eight nonprofits that serve those formerly incarcerated. New York officials wanted the state’s first legal adult-use retail dispensaries to …

United Airlines to Pay Buddhist Pilot $305K to Settle Religious Discrimination Claim

United Airlines will pay $305,000 to a Buddhist pilot and will provide other relief to settle a religious discrimination lawsuit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency’s New York office announced. According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, …

New York Declares State of Emergency as Upstate Braces for Intense Snowstorm

New York Governor Kathy Hochul on Thursday declared a state of emergency for 11 counties as a winter storm is forecast to slam the Buffalo area and other upstate counties with intense “lake effect” snow through Sunday. The most significant …

Insurer FM Global Upheld in Firing of Longtime Executive Who Claimed Age Bias, Retaliation

Rhode Island-based Factory Mutual Insurance Co. properly handled the firing of a long-time employee who claimed his axing in 2018 was due to age discrimination and retaliation for his complaints about the company taking no actions against another employee accused …

Judge Approves $56M Settlement Over COVID Deaths in Veterans’ Home in Massachusetts

A federal judge in Springfield has given the green light to a $56 million settlement between the state of Massachusetts and families of 76 veterans who died from COVID-19 while living in the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home in 2020. The families …

Chubb Agrees to Defend Basketball Hall of Fame Against Unlawful Funding Claims

The Basketball Hall of Fame has succeeded in getting Chubb subsidiary Federal Insurance Co. to defend it in a case accusing the museum of unlawfully securing funds for renovations to its facility. Documents filed in the U.S. District Court for …

Beware of Foraging Bears in Hyperphagia Dealing With Acorn Shortage

Wildlife officials in Connecticut are warning residents against feeding bears particularly over the next few months as the animals step up their hunt for the extra food they will need before hibernating for the winter. According to the Connecticut Department …

Georgia Ex-Insurance Chief Oxendine Denies Knowing of Fraud, Seeks Dismissal of Charges

Former Georgia Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine denies knowingly being involved in any fraud scheme and has moved to have the criminal charges brought against him dismissed. A November 4 defense filing in federal court in Atlanta claims that the indictment …