East News

Construction Fatalities Drop in New York City

There has been an upside to the slowdown in construction activity in New York City: Fewer fatal workplace accidents. City officials reported Thursday that there were only three fatalities at New York building sites in 2009. That’s down from 19 …

Fenster Named Director of New York Workers’ Comp Board

Jeffrey R. Fenster has been appointed executive director of the New York Workers’ Compensation Board. Prior to joining the board, Fenster served as a litigation associate with the New York law firm of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan, where he …

Sammis Named Interim Maryland Commissioner

Elizabeth “Beth” Sammis has been appointed Interim Maryland Insurance Commissioner, overseeing the regulation of Maryland’s $26 billion insurance industry. Sammis has served as deputy commissioner for the Maryland Insurance Administration since 2007 focusing on legislative and regulatory policy, with an …

Mass FAIR Plans Drops Rates

The Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriting Association (FAIR Plan) will lower insurance premiums by an average of 0.72 percent, the Attorney General’s office said. The FAIR Plan had originally proposed increasing homeowners’ insurance rates by an average of 2.2 percent. That …

Chartis Assumes Ownership of Vermont Ski Resort

The Stowe Mountain Resort in Vermont has a new owner. The resort’s previous owner, the American International Group, had transferred ownership to its P/C insurance division, Chartis. Ski operations, two golf courses and a new upscale lodge are now owned …

Woman Sues New York City Gym over Pole-Dancing Class Injury

A woman says a Manhattan gym left her hanging when she tried a new workout: pole-dancing. Sue Ann Wee filed a lawsuit last week against the companies that run the Crunch fitness center chain. Lawyer Nicholas Warywoda says Wee seriously …

New Jersey Court Expands Sex Discrimination Protection

A New Jersey appeals court ruling has expanded protections against sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. A three-judge panel ruled Wednesday that the female owner of a South Plainfield-based tire business could sue United Rentals North America Inc. for …

Pennsylvania Insurance Agents Accused of Stealing $1M

Two Pennsylvania insurance agents accused of stealing more than $1 million that was supposed to pay for workers’ compensation and liability insurance for six Berks County public school districts, have been arrested by agents from the Attorney General’s Insurance Fraud …

HUD Helps Virginia Homeowners with Suspect Drywall

Some families in Virginia whose homes were built with suspect drywall from China may be eligible for assistance to help rehabilitate their properties. To qualify, families must have insurance through the Federal Housing Administration. Charles Famuliner, director of the U.S. …

Foremost Offers New Auto Product in Maryland

Foremost Insurance Group is offering a new auto insurance program in Maryland that includes increased limit and deductible options. The new program, called DistinctChoice Auto, includes multi-policy discounts (Farmers, Foremost and Zurich Small Business policies qualify) and optional dynamite deductible …

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