National News

Another View: Yes, P/C Industry Underwriting Profit Will Be Back in ’24

Not all analysts think an underwriting profit is out of reach for 2024. While a recent forecast from Fitch Ratings puts the 2024 combined ratio above 100, an improvement from 2023, a report by Swiss Re Institute projects both 2024 …

Mother of Child Who Died in TikTok ‘Blackout Challenge’ Asks Court to Revive Lawsuit

A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday wrestled with whether the video-based social media platform TikTok could be sued for causing a 10-year-old girl’s death by promoting a deadly “blackout challenge” that encouraged people to choke themselves. Members of a three-judge …

10 Largest Auto Insurers Each Raised Rates by Double Digits in 2023

According to S&P Global Market Intelligence’s RateWatch, Farmers Insurance instituted double-digit rate increases in 43 states in 2023 for a weighted average rate increase of 17.6%—and its private-auto insurance peers in the U.S. did the same. All 10 of the …

Fishing Fee Case May Lead Supreme Court to Limit US Agency Powers

The US Supreme Court questioned a longstanding legal doctrine that gives federal agencies wide berth to interpret unclear laws as the justices heard two appeals that would constrain environmental, consumer-protection and financial regulators. The court is considering overturning a watershed …

Secondary Perils Drive Global Insured Losses to Estimated $123B in 2023: Gallagher Re

Non-peak (secondary) perils and record-setting weather and climate events drove global insured losses from natural catastrophes to an estimated $123 billion in 2023, the fourth consecutive year to exceed $100 billion, according to Gallagher Re’s annual Natural Catastrophe and Climate …

People Moves: Zimmer to Take Alliant CEO Reins From Corbett; WTW Names Forms Client Growth Team; Xceedance Hires Flynn for Personal Lines

Alliant Insurance Services named Greg Zimmer chief executive officer, taking over for Tom Corbett, who has served as CEO for more than 30 years. The new leadership roles will take effect April 1, 2024. Zimmer joined Alliant in 1998 as …

Viewpoint: The Time to Modernize Building Codes, Protect Communities Is Now

As we’ve seen for the past several years, severe weather is no longer a seasonal or geographic issue—climate risk has now made these events possible all year long and in every state. The statistics back up this frightening reality. November’s …

Majority of Underwriters Predict Cyber Risks Grow ‘Greatly’ in 2024: Survey

Underwriters who thought the growing cyber risk landscape of the past several years would level off soon might want to think again. Woodruff Sawyer’s annual survey of cyber insurance carriers found all underwriters surveyed believe cyber risk will increase in …

Freelancers File First Lawsuit Challenging Independent Contractor Rule

A group of freelance writers and editors has sued the U.S. Department of Labor, claiming the Biden administration’s new rule making it more difficult for companies to treat some workers as independent contractors is illegal and should be struck down. …

Bill Introduced to Keep CFPB Out of State Insurance Regulation

New bi-partisan legislation meant to keep the regulation of insurance companies with state regulators was introduced in the Senate on Jan. 16. The Business of Insurance Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 from senators Tim Scott, R-S.C., and Joe Manchin, D-W.V., …

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