Vermont News

Vermont Road Fatalities Spike in June

The number of traffic fatalities is up in Vermont this year, but state officials say they can’t point to a reason why. There were 12 fatalities in June, up from seven in May and eight in April. Through the first …

U.S. Supreme Court Seen Siding with Business on Key Issues

The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has carved out a reputation for pro-business rulings in a series of important decisions. In its recently ended term, the high court threw out the largest punitive damages award in U.S. history …

New Markets

The following markets were selected from the MyNewMarkets database of 25,000 coverages and programs. To find additional markets, or to submit markets, go to www.MyNewMarkets.com. International Energy Package Market Detail: MarketScout provides a market for clients needing coverage for foreign …

Employers Accused of Using Federal ERISA Law to Deny Benefits

Dying of cancer, Thomas Amschwand did everything he was told to make sure his wife would collect on the life insurance policy he had through his employer. “He was obsessed with dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’,” Texas native …

N.H. Flood Maps Outdated, FEMA-Sponsored Study Finds

Federal maps used by most New Hampshire communities to determine the scope of once-per-century floods are sometimes decades out of date. A study recommends updating them to steer development away from risky areas. “If you have a house you think …

Captive Ratings: American Road, First Beacon, Toyota Motor, Agrinational

A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating of “bbb” of The American Road Insurance Company (TARIC), but with negative outlooks. “The ratings reflect TARIC’s excellent capitalization level, history of positive operating …

Embattled Vermont Hotel Lacked Workers’ Compensation Insurance

The Cortina Inn in Killington, Vermont, which closed two months ago after being linked to Legionnaires’ disease, has filed for bankruptcy. But a bankruptcy court judge in Connecticut dismissed the inn’s case after learning the hotel had failed to maintain …

Vermont Diocese with $8.7M Abuse Verdict Can’t Find Insurance Policy

Many Roman Catholics believe that the worst of the clergy sex abuse scandal is over. But in the Diocese of Burlington, it’s deepening. The case of one cleric, assigned to Vermont parishes in the 1970s despite warnings from an Indiana …

Marsh Previews Report on Captives; Finds Higher Retentions

Marsh has released key findings from its Financial Institutions – Captive Benchmarking Analysis report, to be published in September. The bulletin described the study as the “most in-depth review of the use of captive insurance companies by global financial institutions.” …

Ratings Roundup: Agri-Business, Vantapro, Sooner, Intrepid, Columbia

A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘A-‘ (Excellent) from ‘B++’ (Good) and issuer credit rating (ICR) to “a-” from “bbb” of American Agri-Business Insurance Company (AA-BIC), and has removed them from under review with positive …