Texas News

Former Texas Insurance Agent Sentenced to 20 Years for Theft from Elderly

A Harris County District Court has convicted Leon “Randy” Sinclair III, of Houston, of first-degree felony Misapplication of Fiduciary Property, according to the Texas Department of Insurance. Sinclair was sentenced to serve 20 years in prison. The conviction follows a …

Making the Most of Mediation

More litigation is resolved by mediation than by jury trials. Because of this, it is very important that insurance professionals understand the mediation process and learn how to make it effective. William Moye, an insurance defense attorney and a partner …

Social Media Is Here to Stay, Texas P/C Professionals Say

The value of social media as a tool for marketing and selling property/casualty insurance may be a matter of debate but one thing is for certain: While the nature of social media may be evolving, it’s not going away. Many …

Texas Town Sues Plant Owner Over Fertilizer Blast

Officials of the small Texas town devastated by an April 17 fertilizer plant blast that killed 15 people has filed suit against the plant owner and supplier. The lawsuit filed by West officials on June 21 seeks unspecified damages from …

Relationships, Expertise Drive Success in Texas E&S Marketplace

During the past 20 to 30 years typical business dealings between wholesale insurance brokers and retail agents have evolved from being purely transactional experiences to those that are highly dependent upon relationships and expertise, according to professionals on both sides …

Texas Tops U.S. in Number of Lost, Stolen Firearms

Federal authorities say Texas has far and away the largest number of firearms in the U.S. reported as lost or stolen. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives issued a report this week showing there were 18,874 firearms lost …

After Fertilizer Blast, Nursing Home Deaths Higher Than Usual

While the fertilizer plant explosion in the town of West, Texas, destroyed much of the nursing home next to it, almost all of its residents survived that first night. But two months after the blast, 14 of the residents have …

Combined Agents of America Elects New 2013 Leadership

Combined Agents of America LLC (CAA), based in Austin, Texas, has elected an new management committee for 2013-14, led by Chairman Bill Kliewer. CAA member agencies are located in Texas, Kansas and Oklahoma. Each CAA management committee member is elected …

Jenns Named President of Austin, Texas-Based Service Group

Service Group, based in Austin, Texas, announced it has named Martin Jenns as its new president. The company also announced the retirements of senior vice presidents Patrick Vance and Gary Holliday. Service Group, including Service Lloyds, is a family-owned insurance …

Sawyer Insurance Agency Merges with Higginbotham in Dallas

Higginbotham announced that Sawyer Insurance Agency has merged with its Dallas office. Sawyer Insurance in Richardson, Texas, has been owned and operated by agent Mike Sawyer since 1975. He and two insurance professionals provide personal and commercial coverage to clients …