East News

Vermont Insurance Agents Association Elects Plunkett as President

The Vermont Insurance Agents Association (VIAA) has elected Paul E. Plunkett, senior vice president and principal of Hickok & Boardman Insurance Group in Burlington, Vt., as its president. Plunkett’s involvement as VIAA’s president follows an active involvement with the association …

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants Acquires New York’s Vanbridge

EPIC Insurance Brokers and Consultants, a national retail insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, has acquired the assets, employees and operations of Vanbridge LLC, a specialty insurance intermediary, program management and risk advisory services business. Headquartered in New York, …

3 Massachusetts Towns Rocked by Series of Gas Explosions, Home Fires

Three northern Massachusetts residential communities were rocked last night by dozens of gas-fueled explosions and fires that erupted within minutes of each other, straining fire crews and forcing evacuations. One man was killed and about 25 injured, including at least …

Hurricane Florence Could Pressure Congress to Extend NFIP, IIAV’s Bradshaw Says

Hurricane Florence could put pressure on U.S. Congress to extend the National Flood Insurance Program, but “it is still an open question as to whether it will lead to a comprehensive reform bill passing,” Robert Bradshaw, president and CEO of …

Virginia Insurers ‘Actively Preparing’ for Florence; State’s Top 10 Home Insurers

The Virginia Bureau of Insurance says it is “confident that insurers are actively preparing for this storm” as the potential impact of Hurricane Florence is anticipated in the state. “The Bureau’s focus is first – to encourage everyone to prepare …

Alera Group Acquires Burnham Benefit Advisors, VantagePoint Benefit Strategies

Alera Group, a Deerfield, Ill.-based employee benefits, property and casualty, risk management and wealth management firm, has acquired Burnham Benefit Advisors and VantagePoint Benefit Strategies. Burnham Benefit Advisors, located in Lake Placid, N.Y., is an employee benefits firm offering compliance …

Nurse Fired Over Back Brace Wins Lawsuit Against Delaware Hospital

A Delaware hospital will have to pay damages to a longtime nurse who wasn’t allowed to go back to work wearing a back brace after surgery. The News Journal reports former neonatal intensive care unit nurse Suzanne Wilgus won nearly …

N.J. Governor Murphy Urges Safety as Hurricane Florence Approaches East Coast

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and emergency officials urged caution Tuesday as Hurricane Florence approaches the East Coast even though the worst effects of the storm are expected to miss the state. Murphy even jokingly channeled former Gov. Chris Christie’s …

Rhode Island Woman Charged With Stealing Funds from Auto Dealer

A 45-year-old Rhode Island woman has been charged with forging business checks and stealing as much as $400,000 from a Cranston, R.I., auto dealership where she worked. Federal prosecutors say Michelle Saritelli of South Kingston is charged with bank fraud …

Massachusetts Woman Sues Utility, Town After Child Hurt by Falling Branch

A Massachusetts woman whose 2-year-old child was injured when a tree branch fell on her SUV has filed a lawsuit alleging utility Eversource and the town of Southampton, Mass., knew of dangerous tree limbs yet didn’t cut them down. The …

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