California News

Declarations

Tallahassee Kaleidoscope “It’s like a kaleidoscope. You think you see (the solution) one minute and the next minute it’s different.” —Rep. Bill Proctor, a St. Augustine Republican, speaking on the state’s troubled property insurance marketplace. Proctor is again sponsoring legislation …

IRS, States Target Employer Abuse of Classification of Independent Contractors

The Internal Revenue Service and 37 states are cracking down on companies that try to trim payroll costs by illegally classifying workers as independent contractors, rather than as full employees, The Associated Press has learned. The practice costs governments billions …

Agency Innovators: How Agencies Leverage Social Networking

Technology Trailblazers Build Relationships, Business Receipts There’s no better time for insurance agents and brokers to delve into social networking technologies than now, according to those who study marketing and technology trends. More than four in five U.S. online adults …

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. Outbreak Extra Expense Market Detail: American Underwriting Managers offers a product designed to provide businesses …

CRM Holdings Reports $19 Million Net Loss in Q4

CRM Holdings Ltd., a specialty provider of workers’ compensation insurance products, announced it had a net loss of $19 million in the fourth quarter of 2009. In the same period in 2008, the compnay had a net loss of $6.2 …

Global Warming Litigation Just Getting Started; Costs Will Be Significant

Toward the end of 2009, it appeared that a number of issues with the possibility of creating significant political and social changes were on the verge of becoming law before stalling or imploding. One such issue with serious implications for …

Private Sector Surveys Point to U.S. Jobs Recovery

Three forward-looking surveys of U.S. hiring intentions point to a tentative jobs recovery in coming months. The surveys by U.S. staffing and payroll companies suggest businesses are cautiously rebuilding staff, especially in professional areas such as finance and accounting, information …

Toyota Sued in Caliornia Over Deaths in Crash Blamed on Acceleration

Relatives of a California state trooper and three family members whose fatal car wreck helped spark Toyota’s wide-ranging safety recall have sued the automaker for defects they say caused the vehicle to speed out of control and crash. The lawsuit, …

I.I.I.’s Hartwig Contrasts Impact of Chilean, Haitian Earthquakes

Why was he death toll over 200,000 when an earthquake struck Haiti, while so far less than 1000 people have died from the one that struck Chile, which was approximately 500 times more powerful? One of the answers lies in …

Fireman’s Fund Names Zona Senior VP of Commercial Product Management

Novato, Calif.-based Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co. announces that David Zona has joined the company as senior vice president of product management in commercial insurance. He will be responsible for setting direction and priorities for various commercial insurance product lines and …