Illinois News

Best Upgrades Am. Country, Am. Service after Kingsway Public Offering

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘B’ (Fair) from ‘B-‘ (Fair) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) to “bb” from “bb-” of American Country Insurance Company and American Service Insurance Company, Inc., both domiciled in Elk …

Lydecker, Downs Named Brown & Brown Regional Presidents

Brown & Brown Inc. reports that Charles H. Charlie Lydecker has been elected regional president responsible for a number of the company’s retail operations in the state of Florida and for certain of its retail operations in Arizona, New Jersey, …

Illinois Begins Probe of Prison’s Worker Comp Claims

Illinois state insurance fraud officials have launched an investigation of a southwestern Illinois prison where nearly $10 million in worker’s compensation and paid medical leave have been paid out to more than half the staff over the past three years. …

Florida Workers’ Compensation Market Remains Competitive: Report

Florida’s workers’ compensation market remains competitive with more than 250 private insurers writing coverage and only a fraction of business being funneled to the residual market. Also, availability does not appear to be a major concern in the aggregate, although …

Alliant Acquires T&H Group

Specialty insurance brokers Alliant Insurance Services has acquired New York city-based T&H Group for an undisclosed sum. T&H Group, which operated as Tanenbaum-Harber Co. until changing its name last year, was established in 1860 and primarily targets upper middle market …

2010 Was U.S. Coal Industry’s Deadliest Since 1992

The U.S. coal industry had its deadliest year in nearly two decades in 2010, with much of the death toll stemming from a single explosion. As of last week, 48 miners had died in the nation’s 1,500 coal mines over …

Illinois Official Calls for Probe of Workers’ Comp Claims at Prison

The head of Illinois’ workers’ compensation commission is calling for an investigation of nearly $10 million paid out in claims to more than half the staff of a southwestern Illinois prison over the past three years. The Belleville News-Democrat reported …

Insurance Program Managers Group Opens St. Louis Office

Insurance Program Managers Group LLC of St. Charles, Ill., has opened a St. Louis, Mo., location. The office is operating under the name IPMG St. Louis. The company said the St. Louis office will greatly expand IPMG’s St. Charles location’s …

Best Affirms Progressive and Subs ‘A+’ Ratings; Outlook Stable

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” of the Progressive Agency Pool, Progressive Direct Pool and Progressive Commercial Auto Group (collectively known as Progressive) and their respective …

Inspections Reducing Mine Safety Violations: U.S. Official

Conducting special inspections to crack down on mines with poor safety records appears to be working, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said last week. The agency said it issued 250 citations and orders during so-called impact inspections at …