Articles by Andrea Wells and Patricia-Anne Tom

Andrea Wells is vice president of content for Wells Media Group Inc., overseeing coverage for its multiple print and digital platforms. She is a veteran insurance journalist with more than 20 years’ experience covering the property/casualty industry. She has won several awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), including awards for original research for her work on Insurance Journal’s annual salary survey of retail insurance agencies and its annual survey of young insurance agents. She can be reached at: awells@wellsmedia.com.

Mobile Food Vendor Market Explodes as Insurance Market Evolves

In just about every metropolitan area nationwide hungry customers can appease their appetites by visiting the neighborhood taco truck. The traditional taco truck sells more than just tacos these days – a lot more. Today’s mobile food vendors sell everything …

The Nap Defense

Have you ever had your attention wander during a client presentation, forgotten to recommend a coverage, left an account folder at a restaurant or fallen asleep at the wheel on the way to a meeting? Those might be the office …

Calif. State Fund Seeks to Offer Workers’ Comp in Other States

California State Compensation Insurance Fund is pursuing legislation to allow it to offer coverage to California employers who have out-of-state employees. Currently, California-based businesses insured with State Fund must obtain a separate workers’ compensation policy to cover employees who work …

Calif. Agents Group Seeks Auto Insurance Persistency Discount

The American Agents Alliance announced it has submitted for title and summary an automobile insurance discount initiative that would allow consumers to receive a discount for having continuous automobile insurance, regardless of the insurance company with whom they are insured. …

Manning Riddell Co-Owner Pleads Guilty to Bogus E&O Coverage

Margaret Murray Manning of Redondo Beach, Calif., has been found guilty of six felony counts for violating section 550(b) (3) of the California Insurance Code, for allegedly issuing more than 1,000 phony errors and omissions policies for life insurance agents …

Calif. Appeals Court Declines to Review Workers’ Comp Decision

Fifth District Court of Appeal in California has refused to review the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board’s(WCAB) en banc decision in State Compensation Insurance Fund (SCIF) v. WCAB (Almaraz). This means that the Sixth District Court’s decision on the Workers’ Compensation …

Arrowhead General Names Parker VP of Marketing

Arrowhead General Insurance Agency Inc. of San Diego has named Debra Parker vice president of marketing for the Commercial division. She will oversee all commercial lines for marketing. She will also assist producers in developing their book of Commercial Lines …

Finally, Wash. Legislators Agree on Workers’ Comp Reform

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, House Speaker Frank Chopp, Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt and House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt announced the Legislature finally has come to an agreement on workers’ compensation in the special legislative …

Contractors Object to California’s Plan to Rehabilitate Majestic

Former members of the self-insured workers’ compensation program Contractors Access Program of California, which was managed by now defunct Majestic Insurance Co., have filed a formal objection to the California Department of Insurance’s Majestic Insurance rehabilitation plan. The California Department …

From Trash to Treasure: Salvor Can Help to Manage Losses

When crises occur, one person the claims adjuster, insurer and insured should consider calling is a salvor – he or she can be a valuable partner in helping to clean up the trash, and broker the sale of any salvageable …