insurance claims News

West Virginia Man Convicted of Burning Duplex for Insurance

A federal jury in West Virginia has convicted a Logan County man of burning his duplex to collect insurance money. U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin said on that 58-year-old Michael L. White of Chapmanville, W. Va., was found guilty of conspiracy …

N.J. Commissioner: Residents With Unresolved Sandy Claims Can Turn to Mediation

New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski said on May 1 that New Jersey residents with unresolved non-flood insurance claims related to Superstorm Sandy can have their cases mediated through the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Application forms …

Lloyd’s Sues N.H. Utility Company, Says Electrical Glitch Caused Fire

The insurer for a business at New Hampshire’s Hampton Beach has sued a utility, saying a February 2010 fire that destroyed a block of businesses was sparked by an electrical glitch. The suit says before the fire, an electrical fault …

N.Y. Regulators to Examine 3 Insurers for Claims Practices Related to Sandy

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Thursday that the Department of Financial Services is investigating the claims practices of three insurers following the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. The three insurers are: Narragansett Bay Insurance Company, Tower Insurance Company and Kingstone …

2011 Joplin Tornado Losses Could Reach $2B

State regulators say insurance claims from the May 2011 Joplin, Mo., tornado are likely to reach $2 billion. The tornado killed 161 people, injured hundreds of others and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. The Joplin Globe reports …

Commentary: Lessons From Recent Decisions on Bad Faith Litigation

A rising tide of first-party bad faith decisions is defining the contours of the bad faith cause of action. Recently, three courts have found first-party insurance companies liable for bad faith claims handling. However, there are also two recent bad …

Arizona Judge Oks $3.7M In Restitution For Wildfire

A judge says two cousins who accidentally started the largest wildfire in Arizona history will have to pay more than $3.7 million in restitution. The amount covers the loss of homes and other property, cleanup from the Wallow Fire and …

Got a Gripe? Massachusetts Consumers Had Many in 2011

Home improvement contractors, used cars, insurance claims and foreclosure scams were among the top consumer complaints lodged by Massachusetts residents in 2011. Several state and federal agencies gathered Tuesday to release their lists of the top five consumer gripes of …

Mass. Now Estimates Tornado Claims at $175 Million

Massachusetts insurance officials have updated estimates on insurance claims resulting from this month’s Western and Central Massachusetts tornadoes, with 9,500 claims totaling an estimated $175 million having been reported by insurance carriers. According to the Division of Insurance, insurance companies …