California News

Cavignac & Associates Appoints Brouwer Surety Department Manager

San Diego-based risk management firm Cavignac & Associates has named Gerrit (Gary) Brouwer surety department manager. A 29-year veteran of the surety bond industry, Brouwer will serve as the primary liaison between the agency’s surety accounts and surety companies, responsible …

Voters Select Whitman Over Calif. Commissioner Poizner, Reject Prop. 17

Republican Meg Whitman will face off against Democrat Jerry Brown in the race for California governor in November. Whitman won the Republican ticket for governor with 64.2 percent of the vote, defeating Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner who received 26.9 percent …

California Workers’ Comp Premium Down Nearly 10%

California workers’ compensation total direct written premium (DWP) fell nearly 10 percent last year, dropping to a nine-year low of $6.9 billion, according to market share data from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) released by the California Department …

Change in Michigan Law Opened Door to Lawsuits Against Hooters

An attorney for two former waitresses in Michigan who said Hooters fired them because of their weight told a newspaper the case is about civil rights. But Hooters said the appearance of its waitresses is a legitimate business concern. “This …

Preferred Concepts Buys Wholesale Broker Mercator

The restructuring of the property/casualty insurance wholesale and specialty brokerage market continues as Preferred Concepts, LLC, a national program administrator, announced it has acquired of Mercator Risk Services, a wholesale broker. Mercator Risk Services is now a wholly owned subsidiary …

State Farm Won’t Add New Flood Policies but Agents Will Still Sell Them

State Farm Insurance Co. has decided to discontinue writing new flood insurance policies with the National Flood Insurance Program but the company says it will still service existing policies and State Farm agents will continue to help their customers with …

Pinnacol Officials Face Colo. Lawmakers

Officials from Colorado’s state-chartered workers’ compensation insurer Pinnacol Assurance have some explaining to do. The Legislative Audit Committee recently met to go over the company’s financial performance and lawmakers want to ask CEO Ken Ross about a golf trip to …

People

Aliso Viejo, Calif.-based LaBarre/Oksnee insurance brokers promoted Jeff Leane to the newly created vice president of sales position. He is charged with leading the development and implementation of sales strategy and growing the company’s sales organization. He has more than …

Schafnitz Purchases Brakke-Schafnitz

Matthew F. Schafnitz, co-founder and CEO of Brakke-Schafnitz Insurance Brokers Inc. in Laguna Niguel, Calif., announced the completed purchase of Brakke-Schafnitz Insurance Brokers Inc. and the formation of the holding company, Signature Insurance Group. After the purchase of Brakke-Schafnitz Insurance …

New Markets

The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Speaker and Entertainer No-Show, Cancellation Coverage Market Detail: HCC Specialty Underwriters can provide coverage for …