Georgia News

Enforcement Issues Complicate Mississippi’s Efforts on Texting Drivers

Undoubtedly bills will be filed to strengthen Mississippi’s texting-while-driving ban during the 2011 legislative session, and questions about enforcement are sure to be raised. A law enacted in 2009 banned beginning teenage drivers from sending text messages from behind the …

Knight Assumes Role as CEO for Georgia Independent Agents

Aubie W. Knight has assumed the role of chief executive officer of the Independent Insurance Agents of Georgia (IIAG). Knight has been with IIAG since 1996. During his tenure, he has been responsible for most of IIAG’s for-profit operations and …

Florida Medical Malpractice Insurance Market Found in Good Health

Medical malpractice insurers writing in Florida earned an average return on surplus of 6.6 percent in 2009, their sixth straight profitable year, although their profits were lower than in 2008. That’s one of the news items in the state’s 2010 …

House Joins Senate in Extending Flood Insurance for 1 Year

The U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have both approved a one-year reauthorization of the nation’s flood insurance program. The measure, S. 3814, will extend the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) until Sept. 30, 2011. As of press time …

Surplus Lines Premiums Down in 2009; But Brokers Say Market is Stabilizing

The surplus lines industry continues to experience a decline in direct premiums written (DPW). For a third consecutive year in 2009, the surplus lines industry’s DPW fell 4.1 percent, an improvement over 2008 where the DPW fell 6.2 percent. Despite …

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. Trucking Market Detail: USAssure Insurance Services. Inc. provides monoline or package program for commercial automobile. …

Cotnoir Joins Safety National’s Large Casualty Unit

St. Louis, Mo.-based Safety National announced that Stephen H. Cotnoir has joined the company’s Large Casualty unit. His hiring coincides with the founding of Safety National’s regional underwriting office in Atlanta, Ga. A 25-year industry veteran, Cotnoir brings a wealth …

Michigan Young Agents Earn ‘Outstanding’ Award from Big ‘I’

The National Young Agents Committee (YAC) of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIABA or the Big “I”) presented its Outstanding Young Agents Committee of the Year for 2010 award to the Young Agents Council of the Michigan …

Surplus Lines Premiums Fall, Again, But Brokers Remain Optimistic

The surplus lines industry continues to experience a decline in direct premiums written (DPW). For a third consecutive year in 2009, the surplus lines industry’s DPW fell 4.1 percent, an improvement over 2008 where the DPW fell 6.2 percent. Even …

Senate Extends Flood Insurance for 1 Year; Measure Goes to House

The U.S. Senate last night passed by unanimous consent a measure extending the National Flood Insurance Program for one year until Sept. 30, 2011. The Senate one-year reauthorization must now pass the House of Representatives, which in July passed a …