California News

MMD Offers Product Liability Coverage for Medical Cannabis Firms

MMD Insurance Services said it has developed manufacturing standards and product liability coverage for medical marijuana manufacturers. The company’s program is designed to protect dispensaries, wholesalers and product manufacturers from loss due to illness or injury from manufactured cannabis products. …

Business Moves

Markel, Aspen, FirstComp Markel Corp. completed the previously announced acquisition of Aspen Holdings Inc., a privately held insurance group that provides workers’ compensation insurance and related services, principally to small businesses, in 31 states. Aspen, headquartered in Omaha, Neb., operates …

Election Will Mean New Faces in State Insurance Commissioner Jobs

Tuesday’s elections could have ramifications for a number of state insurance commissioner posts across the country. Nationwide, 11 commissioners are directly elected but there are only four such elections tomorrow; the rest of commissioners are appointed, most by governors or …

Fireman’s Fund Ready to Rally

Company Focused on Technology Upgrade, Mass Market Strategy Fireman’s Fund’s financials, like other insurance carriers’, got bruised in the first half of 2010. In particular, the Novato, Calif.-based insurer had significant claims due to heavy flooding and wind damage in …

People

Todd Kilkenny joined the Independent Insurance Agents of Texas (IIAT) as director of agency management resources. He will be responsible for developing, implementing and managing strategic agency management initiatives and programs to support the growth and development of member agencies …

Business Moves

Aon, Hewitt Associates Aon Corp. said it will cut 1,500 to 1,800 jobs over the next three years after acquiring Hewitt Associates. Aon expects to save $355 million per year, including $280 million per year by eliminating jobs. The cuts …

Calif. Iranian Investment Regs Ruled Improper

The California Office of Administrative Law has ruled that state Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner’s Iranian investment regulations were improper. Earlier this year, the California Department of Insurance identified 50 companies doing business with the Iranian energy, nuclear and defense sectors, …

Fire Surcharge X-ed Out of Calif. Budget

For the third year in a row, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to impose a 4.8 percent statewide surcharge on all residential and commercial property insurance premiums for fire suppression efforts did not come to fruition. The governor’s proposal, known …

Calif. State Fund: Getting Better Day by Day

Agents, Brokers Will Have Even Bigger Part in State Fund’s Distribution Strategy In the ever controversial topic of workers’ compensation insurance in California, State Compensation Insurance Fund President and CEO Tom Rowe seemingly offers a bit of Zen. Rowe, who …

It Figures

$300,000 Amount members of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of Washington have put toward the campaign to pass Washington voter initiative I-1082. The initiative would open up the state workers’ compensation insurance system to the private market. Currently, the …