South Dakota News

Claims against insurance agents and brokers: Timing is everything

In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many insurance agents and brokers in Louisiana and Mississippi and, to some extent, in Texas have found themselves being sued for allegedly failing to advise their customers of the availability of flood …

Claims against insurance agents and brokers: Timing is everything

Flood policies at heart of many cases against Gulf Coast producers In the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, many insurance agents and brokers in Louisiana and Mississippi and, to some extent, in Texas have found themselves being sued for …

2007 Property/Casualty State Specialist Insurers

1 Brickstreet Mutual Insurance Co. WV 765,963 2 Texas Mutual Insurance Co. TX 743,095 3 Old American Cty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. TX 491,641 4 SAIF Corp. OR 449,794 5 Universal Property & Casualty Insurance FL 371,755 6 Physicians Reciprocal …

S.D. Governor Seeks Presidential Disaster Declaration

The governor has asked for a presidential disaster declaration for homes and businesses in a dozen South Dakota counties hit by storms and flooding May 4-5. If approved, it would free up programs that include Federal Emergency Management Agency grants …

FEMA Assessment Teams to Check S.D. for Storm Damage

South Dakota and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will undertake a preliminary damage assessment in a dozen South Dakota counties affected by last weekend’s tornadoes and flooding. Not every home or business will be inspected. The state will use the …

Minn. Western National Announces 1st Quarter Financial Results

Western National Insurance Group today reported on its financial results for 2007 through March 31. These numbers reflect the pooled results of Western National Mutual Insurance Co., Western National Assurance Co., Farmers Home Mutual Insurance Co., Western Home Insurance Co. …

S.D. Appeals Court Overturns $27 Million Insurance Verdict

A former insurance agent awarded more than $27 million, one of the largest jury verdicts ever in South Dakota, is entitled to nothing, a federal appeals court ruled in reversing it. The three-judge decision from the 8th U.S. Circuit Court …

S.D. Officials Question When Drunk Driving Records Become Public

State officials are not sure whether arrests for drunken driving are public records before charges are filed in court, Public Safety Secretary Tom Dravland told South Dakota lawmakers this week. But the names of people arrested for drunken driving and …

Western National Insurance Announces Launch of Specialty Co.

Western National Insurance Group recently announced its plan to launch a new property/casualty insurance company with a focus on specialty lines of business. The Group currently has a wholly-owned company shell, Pioneer Insurance Co., which will be renamed “Pioneer Specialty …

Tornado Destroys Kansas Town, Insurers Send Claims Personnel

A F5 tornado, one of the most powerful to hit the U.S. in years, swept through the small town of Greensburg, Kan. late Friday night destroying 95 percent of the town’s homes and businesses. Ten deaths have been blamed on …