Mississippi News

Miss. Insurance Commissioner Race Money Difficult to Trace

Republican Mike Chaney said he spent around $1 million to win the Mississippi insurance commissioner’s race in 2007. “It’s obscene to spend that much money on an election for a job that pays less than $100,000 a year,” Chaney said, …

New Markets

The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Karate Sports & Fitness Insurance, a national underwriting facility specializing in sports and fitness facilities, …

It Figures

13 Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe declared 13 counties state disaster areas due to the damage caused by powerful tornadoes and violent thunderstorms on Feb. 5. The counties are Baxter, Conway, Franklin, Independence, Izard, Marion, Newton, Pope, Randolph, Sharp, Stone, Union …

Business Moves

Higginbotham & Associates, ATMD Higginbotham & Associates announced a partnership with Allred-Thompson-Mason-Daugherty (ATMD) in an effort to broaden its Texas presence. ATMD is a general lines insurance agency based in Wichita Falls, Texas, with two offices in Granbury and Henrietta, …

It Figures

$79.5 Million The Oregon Supreme Court for a third time upheld a $79.5 million punitive-damages judgment against Philip Morris, an award twice struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, which suggested it was excessive, the Associated Press reported. A Portland, …

New Markets

The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. Canine Security Nuts & Bolts: MarketScout is offering coverage for bomb and drug sniffing dogs. …

Judge Declines Indictment Dismissal of Miss. Attorney in Bribery Case

A federal judge on Wednesday in Mississippi declined to dismiss an indictment in a judicial bribery case against powerful attorney Richard “Dickie” Scruggs and two others. Scruggs, his son Zach and law partner Sidney Backstrom are accused of trying to …

E-mail May Scuttle Truce Between State Farm, Miss. Attorney General

With the press of a button, a lawyer for the nation’s largest insurance company may have ended a brief truce in its bitter dispute with Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood. In an e-mail mistakenly sent to reporters Tuesday, a lawyer …

Katrina Lawyer Scruggs Faces Hearings in Miss. Judicial Bribery Case

A motions hearing took place this week in the highest profile judicial bribery trial in Mississippi in years. Famed plaintiffs lawyer Richard “Dickie” Scruggs, his son Zach, and an associate are accused of trying to bribe a Lafayette County Circuit …

Aegis Insurance Co. Resumes Writing New Business In Mississippi

In a move he sees as another sign of a stabilizing insurance market, Mississippi Commissioner of Insurance Mike Chaney announced Wednesday that Aegis Security Insurance Co., will resume writing new manufactured housing and dwelling policies in the state beginning March …