The most-read stories in Insurance Journal’s Midwest region in 2018 covered agent fraud, a fatal tourist boat sinking in Missouri, court cases and opinions, and even a pair of stolen — and returned — ruby red slippers that Dorothy wore in the Wizard of Oz.
Agent Fraud
Stories about fraud committed or allegedly committed by insurance professionals dominated the list of most popular, or most clicked-on, stories in the Midwest during 2018. They include:
- Chicago Insurance Exec Accused of $13.5M Fraud
- Michigan Fines Agent $25K, Revokes License in Auto Insurance Fraud Case
- Former Illinois Insurance Broker Sentenced to Prison, Must Repay Nearly $1M
- Wisconsin Orders Agent to Repay More than $1M; License Revoked
- Kansas Insurance Agent Accused of $108K Fraud Scheme
- Former Iowa Insurance Agent Sentenced for Ongoing Criminal Conduct
Missouri Duck Boat Sinking
The sinking of a tourist “duck boat” on Missouri’s Table Rock Lake in July 2018 in which 17 people were killed was the subject of myriad news articles last year. That sad event was also the source of many lawsuits, the details of which caught the attention of many IJ readers.
- Duck Boat Owner, Missouri Family Settle Suit Over Fatal Sinking
- Duck Boat Operators Fight Back, Call Missouri AG’s Lawsuit ‘Irresponsible’
- $100M Lawsuit Filed in Fatal Missouri Duck Boat Sinking
- Coast Guard: Missouri Duck Boat in Violation of Inspection Terms
- Duck Boat Company Wants Some Missouri Boat Death Lawsuits Dropped
- Firms Sued Over Missouri Duck Boat Sinking Seek Mediation, Cite 1851 Law
Court Cases and Opinions
Insurance-related court cases, verdicts and opinions were popular news stories for IJ’s Midwest readers. Among the most clicked-on stories in the genre included a class-action against American Family Insurance over employee classification, U.S. Appeals Court Takes Up American Family Agent/Employee Classification Case, and an Illinois high court ruling backing an agent in a policy dispute, Illinois Supreme Court Sides with Agent in Policy Dispute.
Other cases that caught Midwest readers’ attention include:
- Suit Over Woman’s Fall at Party Reaches Michigan Supreme Court
- Wisconsin Court: Bulldog Attack Not Covered by Insurance Policy
- Property Owner Not Liable for Wisconsin Hunter’s Injuries
- RICO Case Against State Farm Set for Trial in Illinois Federal Court
- Michigan Court Backs Insurer Denying $300K Payout in Head-On Crash
- Ohio Supreme Court: Subcontractor’s Faulty Work Not Covered by Contractor’s Policy
- Policy Language Leads to $200K Loss for Insurer in Michigan Lawsuit
- Michigan Court Rules No Liability for Bank in Wrong-Way Driver’s Crash
Miscellaneous Items of Interest
The above mentioned article about the recovery and return of a pair of Dorothy’s ruby slippers, Stolen From Minnesota Museum, Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers Recovered in Sting Op, was the second most popular story in the Midwest last year. Not far behind at number four was a story about insurer CNA’s new headquarters in Chicago, CNA Hosts Grand Opening of New Global Headquarters.
Topics Lawsuits Fraud Agencies Michigan Illinois Wisconsin Missouri
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