United States News

Obama Defends Including Public Health Insurance Option in Reform

President Barack Obama Monday warned doctors the U.S. healthcare system was a ticking time bomb and urged them to support his overhaul plan, which includes a public insurance program that many of them view with skepticism. Obama took his healthcare …

They Do THAT, Too!

Diversification Spurs San Antonio-Based SWBC to Great Heights Top 100 Agency Profile Ranking No. 13 (ranking based on 2007 figures) Agency Name: SWBC Headquarters: San Antonio, Texas Year Founded: 1976 2008 Total P/C Premium: $645.3 million 2007 Total P/C Premium: …

Supreme Court Nominee Sotomayor Shows Record of Favoring Insurers

Philadelphia-Based Insurance Attorney Finds Rulings to be ‘Very Insurer-Friendly’ The Supreme Court almost never takes up insurance related cases. Even so, President Obama’s recent Supreme Court nominee— federal appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor — brings a long record of decisions favoring …

Mystery Surrounds Air France Crash

Liability Claims to Come Could Exceed $1 Billion, Some Experts Predict The tragic disappearance of Air France flight 447 over the Atlantic early on June 1 remains a mystery. The plane’s 216 passengers and 12 crew members perished as all …

The Globalized Broker Network

Assurex Global Struck Gold with Partners Around the World Assurex Global Year Founded: 1954 Locations: 500 offices on six continents Employees: 20,000 Annual Premium Volume: $28 billion Annual Revenue: $3.4 billion Assurex Global wasn’t fully “global” until the late 1990s, …

Ratings: 1st Choice Auto, Commerce, Dorinco, Battle Creek, Met Life Auto & Home, Toyota

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘B++’ (Good) and upgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to “bbb+” from “bbb” of 1st Choice Auto Insurance Company, Inc., and has revised its outlook on the ratings to …

WHO Poised to Declare First Flu Pandemic Since 1968

The World Health Organization was poised on Thursday to declare that the new H1N1 virus has caused the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years, health sources said on Thursday. The move will trigger heightened health measures in the …

How Might Supreme Court Recusal Ruling Affect West Virginia Judiciary?

This week’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that faults state Justice Brent Benjamin for not recusing himself from a case involving a generous campaign supporter may aid a pending review of West Virginia’s court system, but legal experts differ on its …

USI Holdings Loses Appeal in Graham Co. Copyright Dispute Case

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled that a district court should not have reversed a verdict concerning copyright infringement case William A. Graham Company v. Thomas P. Haughey and USI MidAtlantic Inc. The Graham Co., …

U.S. ‘Pay Czar’ to Have Power to Reject Compensation for Bailed Out Execs

The Obama administration on Wednesday will name a pay czar with the power to reject compensation plans for top employees at companies receiving “exceptional” government aid, an administration official said Wednesday. The administration will also call for “say-on-pay” legislation that …