Articles by Stephanie K. Jones

Whether Public or Private, Flood Insurance Is a Must, Experts Say

Tropical Storm Imelda hit the Texas Gulf Coast on Sept. 17, 2019, as a fairly low-level tropical storm but that doesn’t mean it was an inexpensive one in terms of property damage, especially with regard to flooding. Imelda drenched Southeast …

Oklahoma Court Says Home Warranty Contract Is Insurance, Nixes Forced Arbitration

A home warranty contract is an insurance contract. That’s the conclusion of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in a case in which the plaintiffs challenged a mandatory arbitration provision in a home warranty contract, maintaining such provisions are not legal under …

Reassuring Customers Part of Job for Minnesota Agent in Aftermath of Riots

Dan Gutlovics did a lot of virtual hand holding during the first days of the violent protests in Minneapolis and St. Paul following the death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police on May 25. Gutlovics, sales …

Oklahoma Court: Home Warranty Contract Is Insurance; Forced Arbitration not Allowed

A home warranty contract is an insurance contract. That’s the conclusion of the Oklahoma Supreme Court in a case in which the plaintiffs challenged a mandatory arbitration provision in a home warranty contract, maintaining such provisions are not legal under …

Texas Windstorm Insurer Lays Out Funding Plan for 2020 Hurricane Season

The board of directors of Texas’ property insurer of last resort for wind and hail in the state’s coastal counties in February set a goal of $4.2 billion in catastrophe funding for 2020. At a meeting of the Texas Windstorm …

Texas Windstorm Insurer Outlines Funding for 2020 Hurricane Season

The board of directors of Texas’ property insurer of last resort for wind and hail in the state’s coastal counties in February set a goal of $4.2 billion in catastrophe funding for 2020. At a meeting of the Texas Windstorm …

Texas Insurance Commissioner: Modernization Efforts Paying Off During Pandemic

The employees of the state agency in charge of regulating the insurance industry in Texas might not put it this way, but in a sense, operationally at least, they have been preparing for the current health crisis brought on by …

In a Reversal, Texas Supreme Court Allows Prompt Payment Claim Against State Farm Lloyds

Texas’ high court recently reversed the ruling of an appeals court in a case involving whether an insurer’s payment of an appraisal award negates an insured’s claim against the carrier under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (TPPCA). In …

Texas High Court Allows Prompt Payment Claim Against State Farm Lloyds

Texas’ high court recently reversed the ruling of an appeals court in a case involving whether an insurer’s payment of an appraisal award negates an insured’s claim against the carrier under the Texas Prompt Payment of Claims Act (TPPCA). In …

Illinois Business Groups Sue Over Expanded Workers’ Comp Eligibility Rules

New emergency rules enacted by Illinois workers’ compensation regulators have drawn a lawsuit by a pair of trade associations representing retailers and manufacturers in the state. The Illinois Manufacturers’ Association (IMA) and the Illinois Retail Merchants Association (IRMA) allege in …