Articles by Stephanie K. Jones

Iowa Commissioner Gerhart: Something for Everybody at the Global Insurance Symposium

The state of Iowa on May 20-22 will host its first-ever Global Insurance Symposium, a privately funded event that aims to bring insurance professionals and regulators from around the world together to discuss the challenges facing the global insurance industry …

Arkansas, Oklahoma Hit Hard by Weekend Tornadoes

Arkansas, Oklahoma and parts of the Midwest were pounded over the weekend by deadly tornado-producing storms that touched down in seven states. As many as 30 tornadoes have been reported, half of which touched down in Arkansas. The Arkansas Department …

Nebraska Court: Agent Breached Contract but Client List Not a Trade Secret

The Nebraska Supreme Court upheld the finding of a lower court that a crop insurance agent breached the terms of her contract with a former employer when she went to work for another agency. However, in First Express Services Group …

10 Things to Know About Public Entities

There are 3,141 counties and county equivalents in the 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. (USGS CoreFacts, U.S. Geological Survey) Counties build and maintain 45 percent of the public roads and 230,690 of the nation’s bridges, and are …

Gerhart: U.S. Has a Good Story to Tell at the Global Insurance Symposium

The state of Iowa on May 20-22, 2014, will host its first ever Global Insurance Symposium, a privately funded event that aims to bring insurance professionals and regulators from around the world together to discuss the challenges facing the global …

Oklahoma’s Workers’ Comp Administrative Redesign Takes Effect

The transition of Oklahoma’s workers’ compensation system from a court-based system to an administrative one became effective Feb. 1, 2014, a change that proponents believe will lower costs and help make the state more competitive in attracting businesses. In May …

Nebraska Court: Agent Breached Contract but Client List Not a Trade Secret

The Nebraska Supreme Court recently upheld the finding of a lower court that a crop insurance agent breached the terms of her contract with a former employer when she went to work for another agency. However, in First Express Services …

Workers’ Compensation Fraud and the Insurance Producer

There are essentially two types of workers’ compensation fraud — premium fraud and claimant fraud — and insurance producers can play a role in the discovery and resolution of both, according to one investigator who has brought some 800 cases …

Michigan Congresswoman Miller: Flood Insurance Bill Bad for State

A U.S. Congresswoman from Michigan wants her state to opt out of the National Flood Insurance Program, saying it’s not good for Michigan homeowners. U.S. Representative Candice Miller (MI-10) voted against H.R. 3370, the Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act, which …

A Buyer’s Market for Reinsurance

For insurance companies, now is a good time to buy reinsurance. Prices are down and terms and conditions are favorable, according to Mathew Wulf, vice president, state relations and assistant general counsel, for the Reinsurance Association of America. All in …