It Figures
5,500 The Oklahoma Employment Security Commission reported that the Social Security numbers of more than 5,500 people are on a flash memory drive that was lost by an employee who put the information on it after his laptop was infected …
Crime Warp: Recession Driving a Rise in Vehicle Give-Ups
As America’s economy slogs through this once-in-a-generation recession, stressed-out consumers are literally being driven to desperation. Growing numbers of drivers are illegally dumping their vehicles for insurance money. Blackened hulks are turning up in remote deserts outside of Las Vegas, …
California Remains Top Spot for Vehicle Thefts
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reported that 2008 marked the nation’s fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts in the United States. Although most areas experienced a reduction in vehicle theft, there were several noteworthy exceptions in states that …
Being Prepared
Don’t Lose Sight of the Greater Risks We Face No one could fail to have noticed that we are in the grip of a recession. With unemployment affecting 2 million in the United Kingdom, interest rates almost at zero and …
Rader Elected American Association of Insurance Services Chairman
Jack M. Rader, executive vice president and COO of Farmers Alliance Companies in McPherson, Kan., was elected chairman of the American Association of Insurance Services (AAIS) at the association’s annual meeting held in Half Moon Bay, Calif. Rader succeeds James …
Fairfax Posts $60 Million Q1 Loss on Investment Woes
Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. said Thursday that it had a net loss in the first quarter as investments shed value in volatile markets. [Amounts are in U.S. $, unless otherwise indicated]. The Toronto-based insurance holding company said it had a …
Captain Phillips Tells Congress Arming Crews Could Help Fight Pirates
Richard Phillips, the U.S. ship captain held hostage by Somali pirates, told Congress Thursday he thought arming some members of commercial ship crews could help beat back pirate attacks. But shipping executive John Clancey opposed crews getting into an arms …
Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation Gala to Honor Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Jim Woods
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation will be hosting its 16th Annual Western Division Gala Dinner at 6:30-10:30 p.m., May 16 at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco for professionals in the insurance industry. The event will honor James Woods, …
Study Links Wildfires in Sierra to Climate Change
A warming climate will fuel larger, more frequent wildfires in the Sierra Nevada and other parts of the West, and the fires will contribute to climate change, according to a new study. More than 20 international scientists, in the report …
WHO Raises Flu Threat Level, Warns Pandemic Imminent
The World Health Organization said Wednesday the world is at the brink of a pandemic, raising its threat level as the swine flu virus spread and killed the first person outside of Mexico, a toddler in Texas. “Influenza pandemics must …
