Articles by Jim Sams

Sams is editor of ClaimsJournal.com, the online resource and daily newsletter for property/casualty insurance claims professionals. ClaimsJournal is a member of the Wells Media Group. Sams can be reached at jsams@wellsmedia.com

More States Adopting Professional Standards for Public Adjusters

A movement to establish professional standards for public adjusters gained ground this year, with lawmakers in five states passing bills that impose new controls over a trade that already requires a license in 46 states. Brian S. Goodman, general counsel …

More States Adopted Professional Standards for Public Adjusters This Year

A movement to establish professional standards for public adjusters gained ground this year, with lawmakers in five states passing bills that impose new controls over a trade that already requires a license in 46 states. Brian S. Goodman, general counsel …

Auto Claim Severity Up 35% over Pre-Pandemic Rates – LexisNexis Report

Claim severity for bodily injury and property damage increased by 35% since 2019, while collision claim severity has jumped 40%, LexisNexis Risk Solutions says in a new report. The data broker’s 2023 U.S. Auto Insurance Trends report says the amount …

7th Circuit: D&O Insurer Must Pay Settlement for Drugmaker’s Kickback Case

Federal Insurance Co. must pay the $10 million policy limit in a directors and officers policy issued to Astellas Pharma, despite the carrier’s assertion that Illinois public policy forbids it from reimbursing the drugmaker for the cost of settling allegations …

Employers Grappling With Changing Workplace Where Labor Is Scarce & Workers Feel Isolated

A national labor shortage has created ideal conditions for skilled workers to negotiate for better pay and more flexible work schedules, but also new challenges for employers: Staff members aren’t eager to return to the office; job applicants are demanding …

Texas Court: Exxon Covered by Contractor’s Excess Insurers

Two excess insurers may be liable for the more than $20 million that ExxonMobil Corp. paid to settle lawsuits filed by a contractor’s employees who were badly burned while working at an Exxon refinery, the Texas Supreme Court ruled. The …

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Fines McClenny Moseley $2M

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon on Tuesday issued $2 million in fines against McClenny Moseley & Associates and three of its partners, the maximum amount allowed by law. “The illegal insurance scheme perpetrated by McClenny Moseley & Associates is frankly …

Former Business Partners of McClenny Moseley File 2nd Lawsuit

A company that provided hurricane-damage estimates to embattled McClenny Moseley & Associates says in a lawsuit filed Thursday that the law firm owes it nearly $10 million. Those unpaid invoices allegedly owed to Global Estimating Services come on top of …

Connecticut High Court Affirms Ruling Denying State Troopers’ PTSD Claims

Two state troopers who were struck by a car on an interstate exit ramp cannot collect damages for post traumatic stress disorder, but one of them can recover more money because his trial court award was improperly reduced by the …

Texas Court: Exxon Covered by Contractor’s Excess Insurers

Two excess insurers may be liable for the more than $20 million that ExxonMobil Corp. paid to settle lawsuits filed by a contractor’s employees who were badly burned while working at an Exxon refinery, the Texas Supreme Court ruled. The …