West News

New Mexico Current Insurance Regulator To Remain In Office

State Insurance Superintendent John Franchini was selected to remain as New Mexico’s top insurance regulator when his office becomes an independent governmental agency next month. A nine-member committee named Franchini to serve as insurance superintendent for a term that starts …

Likely Recall Washington Area Mayor Who Jeopardized City’s Insurance

Votes counted from Tuesday’s special election show that Cy Sun, a Washington area mayor, will be recalled on July 9 when the election is certified, likely removing from office a man who many blamed for endangering the insurance coverage for …

President Declares Disaster For Spring Flooding in Alaska

President Barack Obama has declared a federal disaster for spring flooding in parts of Alaska. Gov. Sean Parnell earlier this month requested the federal designation for the Alaska Gateway, Yukon Flats, Yukon Koyukuk, Lower Yukon and Copper River regional educational …

Mom Sues Monster Over Teen’s Death in California

The mother of a teenager who died from cardiac arrhythmia last year is blaming his death on Corona, Calif.-based Monster Beverage Corp., alleging in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that his death was caused by habitually drinking the company’s energy drink. …

Montana FWP Ordered To Pay $20K Over Retaliation

A hearings officer for the Montana Human Rights Bureau has ordered the state Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to pay $20,000 to a Kalispell employee for retaliating against him after he questioned his punishment for comments made during an …

Oregon Sued Over Foster Abuse In Salem Home

Lawyers for 11 young children who reportedly suffered sexual abuse at a Salem, Ore., foster home have filed nearly $23 million in lawsuits against the state’s Department of Human Services. The lawsuits represent one of the most sweeping cases brought …

4 Men Sue Boy Scouts, LDS Church in Idaho

Four men are suing the Mormon church and Boy Scouts of America in federal court, saying they were sexually abused while attending scouting functions in Idaho. Attorneys Gilion Dumas, Andrew Chasan and Timothy Walton filed the lawsuit in Boise’s U.S. …

EPLI in Southern California Playing ‘Hard’ to Get

Employment practices in California is a known and growing concern for insurers, agents and employers, and that concern has some carriers ramping up rates dramatically or quietly pulling back from the area, say those familiar with the region’s market. “Employment …

State Fund Selects New Chief Medical Officer

State Compensation Insurance Fund named Dr. Dinesh Govindarao as its new chief medical officer. The move is effective July 8. As chief medical officer, Govindarao will represent State Fund as an advocate for California injured workers. His duties include providing …

Furlough Notices Going To Washington State Workers

Thousands of Washington state employees received furlough notices Monday telling them they face a temporary layoff unless state lawmakers agree on a budget this week to prevent a government shutdown. Washington’s two-year budget comes to a close at the end …

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