Declarations

Third-Party Litigation Funding Ban

“Settlements of this size and nature have often attracted the attention of third-party litigation funding entities intending to prey on litigants, including settlement participants seeking litigation funding pending the receipt of potential settlement funds.”

– District Judge M. Casey Rodgers in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida said in an order issued Aug. 29 related to 3M’s $6 billion settlement with U.S. military service members over 3M’s Combat Arms Earplug products. The judge barred attorneys and claimants involved in the settlement from any third-party litigation funding agreements. Rogers noted that such arrangements often include unreasonable fees and interest rates.

Ethical Museum Standards

“We are very thankful for the new information provided to us. … The ethical standards applicable to museums are much changed since the 1960s, and the Museum is committed to managing its collection consistent with modern ethical standards.”

– Matthias Waschek, director of Worcester Art Museum in Massachusetts, said in a statement after a bronze bust believed to depict the daughter of an ancient Roman emperor was seized from the museum by New York authorities investigating antiquities stolen from Turkey. Museum officials said they had “limited information” about the bust’s history when they acquired it in 1966. The bust is known as “Portrait of a Lady.”

Kansas Refunds

“If I can find an efficiency that helps lower the cost of doing business, we’re going to implement it. … This was an unnecessary fee and I’m thrilled we are returning tax dollars to the folks who have paid them.”

– Kansas Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt said in a statement that the Kansas Insurance Department (KID) returned $153,247 to 16 group-funded pools following the enactment of legislation abolishing two assessment fees – the Group-Funded Pools Fee and the Group-Funded Workers’ Compensation Pools Fee. The money has been distributed to the pools on a pro-rata basis, based on premium taxes paid by each pool for Fiscal Year 2022.

Louisiana Citizens Depopulation

“While there may be legitimate reasons to reject an offer for removal from Citizens, Citizens policyholders have the absolute right to make informed decisions about their insurance coverage. … They can’t do that if their agents don’t tell them about the opportunity to save significant dollars on their premium costs by getting out of Citizens.”

– Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon commented on a Sept. 7 directive that orders agents to notify their Louisiana Citizen policyholders when they receive an offer to be placed with a significantly less expensive insurer in the private market. Directive 222 advised property/casualty producers of the ongoing round of depopulation from Citizens, the state’s insurer of last resort.

Kentucky Public Adjusters

“Several public adjusters have submitted contracts for Department approval that include language that would allow them to collect a percentage of claims money negotiated and paid prior to execution of the contract with the insured.”

– Kentucky Insurance Commissioner Sharon Clark, in an advisory opinion, reminded public adjusters that they are not authorized to get paid up front, before a contract with a homeowner is signed, unless approved by the commissioner. Fees are limited to 15% of insurance awards for non-catastrophic claims and 10% for catastrophic events. Most up-front charges are not allowed under House Bill 232, which took effect in June.

Breathing Space

“A lot of us (in the fast-food industry) have to have two jobs to make ends meet, this will give us some breathing space.”

– Said Ingrid Vilorio, a fast-food worker at a Jack In The Box in the San Francisco Bay Area, who also works as a nanny, said about the $20 minimum wage most fast food workers in California would get next year under a deal between labor unions and the industry that will avoid a costly referendum on the November 2024 ballot. The negotiated wage hike represents a raise of nearly $5 per hour.

Topics Louisiana Kansas