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Michael “Mike” R. Donohoe of Mankato, Minn., was installed as vice chairman of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America at the association’s recent Leadership Conference in New Orleans, La. Donohoe is an owner of and an independent agent …

Florida Rates Its Medical Malpractice Market as Competitive

A new report shows a continuing trend of recovery for the medical malpractice industry in Florida that had been experiencing double-digit rate increases and lack of availability prior to legislative reforms enacted in 2003. The report shows a net decline …

Pressure Builds for More States to Ban Cell Phone Use While Driving

The Obama administration reported that nearly 6,000 people were killed and a half-million injured last year in vehicle crashes connected to driver distraction, a striking indication of the dangers of using mobile devices behind the wheel. The Transportation Department recently …

Insurance Brokerage M&A Took a 3rd Quarter Vacation

Deal making wasn’t at the top of the list of summer activities this season, but deal vacation was. Third quarter merger and acquisition (M&A) activity continued declining to just 30 announced transactions between July and September. This quarterly activity follows …

Kerr Named VP of Human Resources at Accident Fund Insurance Co.

Lansing, Mich.-based workers’ compensation insurer, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, has added Darcy Kerr as vice president of Human Resources. Kerr brings more than 17 years of human resources experience to Accident Fund and will lead the Human Resources …

Missouri, Illinois Collateral Source Rules Affect Bodily Injury Claims Differently

The ability to reasonably estimate the amount a plaintiff can recover for medical expenses is a key component in properly evaluating a personal injury claim. Because negotiations between the payor (the patient, a private insurance carrier, Medicare or Medicaid) and …

Insurance Broker Pleads to Embezzling in Colorado

A Hawaii resident has pleaded guilty in Denver to an embezzling charge. Fifty-nine-year-old Barney T. Lyles was accused of embezzling from an employee benefit fund when he was chief executive officer at the defunct insurance broker company BLIS International Group. …

Massa Joins GJS Re

Los Angeles, 9 October 2009 – Lois J. Massa has joined GJS Re as Senior Vice President effective September 8, 2009. Lois is responsible for structuring and managing insurance products/placements on behalf of program administrators and markets. GJS Re is …

Illinois AG Calling for Crackdown on Nursing Homes

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is calling for unannounced inspections of nursing homes and revised criminal histories of identified offenders living in the facilities. Madigan’s sent a letter on Oct. 7 to the state’s public health director, a day before …

Florida Insurance Chief Grilled by Lawmakers

Some insurance companies could go out of business if a major hurricane hits Florida, the state’s insurance commissioner told a Senate panel this week. But after more than an hour grilling by lawmakers, Commissioner Kevin McCarty didn’t provide specifics on …