Louisiana News

Rates, Claim Frequency Still Declining in Workers’ Comp; Medical Costs Rise

States Are Not Equal in Handling Worker Injuries Prices for workers’ compensation insurance in the United States declined in 2008 and, in general, that trend is likely to continue in throughout 2009, according to the National Council on Compensation Insurance …

Business Moves

Grain Dealers/Main Street Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance Co., an Indiana-domiciled regional property/casualty insurance company, will become an affiliate of Florida-based Main Street America if approved by the Indiana Department of Insurance. Financial terms were not disclosed. Grain Dealers Mutual operates …

It Figures

$692,000 The Louisiana Department of Insurance owes $692,000 for legal fees and other costs in a dispute with the Office of the Legislative Auditor over access to internal documents. Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon sued the auditor’s office in 2007 in …

Louisiana Commissioner: Don’t Raise Taxes on Reinsurers

Now that the hurricane season is well underway, Louisianans remember when Katrina came ashore, late in August 2005, with a storm surge that eventually flooded New Orleans and leveled many Gulf Coast towns, costing more than 1,500 lives and causing …

Louisiana Insurance Chief Seeks Lawsuit Protection for Citizens

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says that he’ll support legislation to give the state’s “insurer of last resort” immunity against certain lawsuits, a proposal that could retroactively negate the firm’s payout if it loses its appeal of a $95 million …

How Changes to Federal and State Law Impact Golf and Country Clubs

Changes to state and federal law over the past few years may prove to be no gimme for golf and country clubs. In fact, since many club owners and managers are unaware of the potential impact of these laws, a …

Texas Releases Performance Results for Workers’ Comp Carriers

The Texas Department of Insurance Division of Workers’ Compensation has posted on its Web site the 2009 Performance-Based Oversight (PBO) Results for workers’ compensation insurance carriers and selected health care providers. For this PBO assessment, TDI-DWC evaluated insurance carriers’ performance …

Progress Celebrated on Fourth Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

Gulf Coast officials and residents marked the fourth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina with a mix of solemn remembrances and celebrations of how far the region has come in its recovery from the storm’s devastation. In New Orleans, the day began …

Louisiana Insurance Bait Car Nabs New Orleans Murder Suspect

Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon says two men wanted in connection with a murder in New Orleans were captured after stealing a bait vehicle provided by the Department of Insurance Louisiana Automobile Theft and Insurance Fraud Prevention Authority (LATIFPA). …

Beacon Hill Associates Opens South Central Regional Office in Texas

Beacon Hill Associates Inc. has opened a new regional office in Plano, Texas, and has added Brett Amick as assistant vice president. The company serves agents in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and New Mexico. Beacon Hill describes itself as being experienced …