Montana News

Montana State Fund Says Workers’ Comp Rates to Drop Next Year

The Montana State Fund is cutting workers’ compensation insurance rates by an average of 3 percent next year, the agency’s board said. This is the second year in a row the State Fund, a semiprivate branch of state government, has …

Montana Auditor To Negotiate Insurance in China

Montana State Auditor John Morrison will represent U.S. insurance regulators in the U.S.-China Insurance Dialogues in Hangzhou, China, this week. The dialogues, part of trade negotiations between the two countries, are being held May 15-16. Morrison will be joined by …

PIA Western Alliance Names Washington Junior VP

PIA Western Alliance has named Amanda Washington the association’s junior vice president. She will take a greater role in the day-to-day operation of the Western Alliance’s nonprofit operation, including membership, conventions, marketing, education and communications. Washington has been with the …

Earthquakes Raise Questions of Future Shocks, Public Readiness

Just weeks after earthquakes rattled Nevada, the Midwest and the coast of Oregon, and on the heels of the 102nd anniversary of San Francisco’s 1906 earthquake, the public, government officials and insurance industry professionals are wondering whether towns across could …

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. Human Services Nuts & Bolts: Travis Pederesen and Associates is offering general liability, professional, umbrella, …

Appeals Court Sides with Forest Service in 2000 Montana Backfires

U.S. Forest Service firefighters have the discretion to determine the best way to fight fires and cannot be sued for negligence for setting a backfire in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley in 2000 to try to stop an advancing blaze, an appeals …

Northeast States Lead Nation for Low Worker-Death Rates: Report

Two New England States lead the nation in terms of having the lowest rate of work-related deaths and most states in the Northeast rank well above the national average, according to a new report from a major labor group. New …

Liberty Mutual to Acquire Safeco Insurance in $6.2B Deal

Liberty Mutual Group has agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of common stock of Safeco Corp. for $68.25 per share in cash in a deal that will make Liberty Mutual the fifth largest U.S. property/casualty insurer and second largest surety …

USGS: Earthquakes Serious Threat in 46 States, Ups Risks in Washington, Oregon

Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) have updated the USGS National Seismic Hazard Maps, and noted that earthquakes remain a serious threat in 46 of the United States. For some areas such as western Oregon and Washington, USGS increased …

State-Federal Showdown Over Real ID License Averted … For Now

The clash between the states and the federal government over nationwide rules to make driver’s licenses more secure has ended — for now. A truce, of sorts, between the 50 states and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has kicked …