Articles by Stephanie K. Jones

Former Illinois Insurance Broker Sentenced to Prison, Must Repay Nearly $1M

The former owner of multiple property/casualty insurance operations in northern Illinois has been sentenced to more than four years in prison and ordered to pay nearly $1 million in restitution for insurance fraud. U.S. District Judge Frederick J. Kapala on …

Moonrise, American Family Aim to Boost Customer Engagement, Financial Security

At first glance, an insurance company’s investment in a staffing company might seem, well, a little off-base. But according to principals at American Family Insurance and its staffing agency subsidiary, Moonrise, it’s a symbiotic relationship that makes perfect sense because …

Auto Insurer Loses Appeal for Dismissal of Complaints in Louisiana Claims Dispute

In late June, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled against an insurer and its insureds seeking summary judgement dismissing complaints against them in a case involving auto insurance claims. At issue was whether or not the defendants were parties to an …

AF Group Drives into Commercial Auto with Fundamental

Lansing, Michigan-based AF Group is branching out from its traditional base in workers’ compensation into the specialty commercial auto insurance niche, driven by a new operating company, Fundamental Underwriters. With a focus on commercial trucking, Fundamental had a soft launch …

U.S. Appeals Court Takes Up American Family Agent/Employee Classification Case

A federal appeals court in Ohio on July 31 heard arguments by opposing attorneys in a class action involving whether agents working for an insurance carrier on an exclusive basis should be classified as independent contractors or as company employees. …

Auto Insurer Loses Appeal for Dismissal of Complaints in Louisiana Claims Dispute

In late June, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled against an insurer and its insureds seeking summary judgement dismissing complaints against them in a case involving auto insurance claims. At issue was whether or not the defendants were parties to an …

AF Group Drives into Commercial Auto with Fundamental Underwriters

Lansing, Michigan-based AF Group is branching out from its traditional base in workers’ compensation into the specialty commercial auto insurance niche, driven by a new operating company — Fundamental Underwriters. With a focus on commercial trucking, Fundamental had a soft …

Dealing with It: Texas’ Never Ending Hail Problem

Texas has a hail problem. OK, from an insurance perspective, Texas has a weather problem, period, but that’s another story altogether. Back to hail. On June 6, a hailstorm walloped heavily populated areas of North Texas with baseball sized hail …

Dealing with It: Texas’ Hail Problem Is Not Going Away

Texas has a hail problem. OK, from an insurance perspective, Texas has a weather problem, period, but that’s another story altogether. Back to hail. On June 6, a hailstorm walloped heavily populated areas of North Texas with baseball sized hail …

Insurance Exec Rescues Elderly Louisiana Woman From Kidnapping, Robbery

He wouldn’t call himself a hero, but the 83-year-old woman Dennis P. Neyland rescued from a carjack/kidnapping and robbery on the streets of downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana, probably would. Neyland, an insurance professional and reserve officer for the Slidell, Louisiana, …