North Carolina News

Today is ‘Distracted Driving Awareness Day’ in Virginia

AAA Mid-Atlantic and Drive Smart Virginia, along with the insurance industry and other partners, are calling on Virginians to take action today on Distracted Driving Awareness Day and make a pledge to pay attention while driving. Distracted Driving Awareness Day …

Texas to Host Southern Workers’ Comp Administrators Meeting

The Texas Department of Insurance and Commissioner of Workers’ Compensation Albert Betts are hosting the 59th Annual Southern Association of Workers’ Compensation Administrators (SAWCA) Convention on July 14-18, 2007, in Austin. Insurance carriers, health care providers, employers and employee organizations …

Katrina-Like Storm Could Wipe Out N.C.’s Outer Banks, Experts Warn

For more than 200 years, the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has guided sailors through the “graveyard of the Atlantic” — the shallow shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks. But not even the nation’s tallest lighthouse is safe from the merciless grind …

N.C. department declines to probe malpractice rates

The North Carolina Insurance Department said it won’t further investigate the state’s largest medical malpractice insurer, saying it disagrees with a trial lawyers’ association report accusing the company of excessive physician rates. The department said it reviewed data prepared for …

Business Moves

Titan, Eastwood THI Holdings (Delaware) Inc., a Nationwide company, through one of its agency subsidiaries, has acquired the assets of Anaheim Hills, Calif.-based Eastwood Insurance Services Inc. for $217 million. Eastwood Insurance operates 47 multi-line agencies in California, Texas, Florida, …

Hurricane forecasters agree: busy season ahead

Weather forecasters differ somewhat in their methodologies and numbers but appear to agree on one matter: the 2007 hurricane season looks to be a busy one along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. They predict that anywhere from seven to 10 …

Figures

50% Under rules in place at Arkansas-based retailing giant Wal-Mart, panels that screen applicants for driver positions should be racially diverse by at least 50 percent. However, the Associated Press reported that a judge in Little Rock found that none …

Leader Profiles

Personal Lines Profile American Auto Club Ins. Agency Charlotte, N.C. 2006 personal lines premium: $41.0 million No. of personal lines insurers: 10 Founded in 1998, American Auto Club Insurance Agency has 24 locations in North and South Carolina. The firm …

Texas’ April Enforcement Actions Result in Nearly $1M in Fines, Restitution

The Texas Department of Insurance recently announced enforcement actions taken by Commissioner Mike Geeslin that became final during April. The actions include six license revocations, a license denial and fines and restitution totaling more than $993,000. Only final orders are …

Personal Lines Leaders

Agency Name 2006 Personal Personal Total 2006 Main Office Main Office Web site Lines Lines P/C Premiums City State Premium Revenue Written 1 Keystone Insurers Group $316.0 million $39.5 million $790.0 million Northumberland Pennsylvania www.keystoneinsgrp.com 2 The Leavitt Group $300.0 …