Michigan News

Ratings Recap: Am. Physicians, RenRe No. Am. (debt), Century/Brandywine, Ky. Growers

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of American Physicians Group and its primary member, American Physicians Assurance Corporation, the lead subsidiary of American Physicians Capital Inc. …

Michigan Legislator Seeks Workers’ Compensation for Illegal Immigrants

A Michigan state representative has filed a bill to give illegal aliens in the state access to workers compensation benefits if they are injured on the job. State Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, has introduced legislation (H.B. 5952) that would amend …

Survey: Michigan Firms Plan to Hike Wages Over Next 6 Months

While a growing number of Michigan’s small- to mid-size businesses are not satisfied with the economy, a recent survey indicates that more businesses plan to increase wages over the next six months. In the semi-annual Future Business Index, a study …

Ratings Recap: American Community, Washington Fire, DHC Group

A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating to ‘D’ (Poor) from C+ (Marginal) and issuer credit rating to “c” from “b-” of Michigan-based American Community Mutual Insurance Company. The outlook for both ratings is negative. The downgrades reflect …

Society of CISR Adds Members to Board of Governors

Austin, Texas-based The National Alliance for Insurance Education & Research has announced the addition of five new members to the 2010-2016 Certified Insurance Service Representatives (CISR) board of governors. New board members will serve six-year terms. Officers serve one year …

Losses From Latest East Coast Snow Storm Pegged at up to $300M

Boston-based risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide estimated that the insured losses from the winter storm that struck the East Coast between February 23 and 28 will be between $150 million and $350 million. Total Insured losses from two prior storms …

Michigan School District Held Liable for Bullying

A Michigan school district accused of not doing enough to prevent the harassment of a student has been ordered to pay $800,000. Hudson Area Schools, in Lenawee County near the Ohio border, was sued by the parents of a young …

Will Gay Marriage Bring Marketing Opportunities for Agents?

In business, change brings opportunity. And when it comes to the wave of states that have recently legalized gay marriage, some see a marketing opportunity in selling insurance products for same-sex couples. And why not? The “gay market” in the …

Declarations

Scrubbing ‘Gotcha’ Clauses “Our goal is to scrub ‘gotcha’ clauses out of insurance contracts before they’re sold to Michigan consumers.” —Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation Commissioner Ken Ross is requiring insurance companies to submit to OFIR all new …

It Figures

14.6% Auto thefts in Michigan in 2008 declined by 14.6 percent compared to 2007. Michigan’s H.E.A.T. (Help Eliminate Auto Thefts) said 2008 statistics — the latest year for which data is available — released by the Automobile Theft Prevention Authority …