Tennessee News

N.H. Modifies Producer, Adjuster Licensing Law, Fees

New Hampshire officials announced changes in licensing fees for insurance producers and adjusters that include a single $210 application and license fee for initial producer licensing replacing what used to be two separate fees. The producer licensing renewal fee remains …

Workers’ Comp Cases Prompt Tennessee City to Deploy Stun Devices

Police in the West Tennessee city of Brownsville will soon be armed with electric stun devices. Mayor Webb Banks said city officials realize the weapons are controversial, but said if police tell people they have them, officials believe officers won’t …

Blogs Can Get Insurance Clients ‘SLAPP’ed!

A Dade County, Florida real estate developer in January 2008 filed a $25 million lawsuit against a real estate blogger alleging, among other charges, defamation of character based on the blogger’s opinion published solely on his blog (MiamiCondoInvestments). Hollo v. …

South Carolina Gov. Gives Bicyclists Permission to Run Red Lights

Gov. Mark Sanford is giving a public green light to a bill that allows motorcyclists and bikers to run red lights after they stop at intersections. Sanford officially signed the bill in May, but held a ceremonial signing at stops …

Tennessee Safety Officials to Investigate Fatal Workplace Accident

A fall from a platform area at Alstom Power Inc. in Chattanooga, Tennessee killed a 48-year-old man. Police said investigators are trying to pinpoint the cause of the fall from a height of more than 30 feet on July 8. …

Meholic to Head The Main Street America Group’s Richmond Region

Jacksonville, Florida-based insurer The Main Street America Group named Joe Meholic president of its Richmond, Virginia region. Meholic, who has extensive background leading property-casualty operations in the mid-Atlantic marketplace, will report to Doug Eden, Main Street America’s senior vice president, …

Tennessee Insurance Chief Files Building Code Emergency Rules

Leslie Newman, commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, filed emergency rules with the Tennessee Secretary of State to allow building plans to be submitted and reviewed under either the 2003 Uniform Fire Code (NFPA 1) or the …

Harleysville Insurance Names Benjamin Southeast Regional President

Harleysville Insurance has appointed Gilbert M. Benjamin as regional president of its Southeast operation. In this position, he is responsible for the underwriting, agency management and support functions throughout the region—which is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., where Benjamin is based, …

People Dayton, Ohio-based Norman-Spencer Agency Inc. named Mark Yearn national program director for its recreational marine division. Yearn will oversee Norman-Spencer’s H2O Headings Program, which serves boat dealers and marina operators across the country. Yearn brings nearly 30 years of …

Fraud Roundup

High Profile Attorney Scruggs Sentenced to 5 Years A high-profile Mississippi lawyer, who became unpopular on Wall Street for battling powerful companies, was sentenced to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to bribe a judge. Richard “Dickie” …