Virginia News

East Coast Earthquake Losses Less Than $100 Million: Eqecat

The earthquake that struck Virginia and rattled the Eastern United States Tuesday caused less than $100 million in insured losses, catastrophe modeling company Eqecat said. Eqecat said the relatively weak nature of the earthquake kept losses from being worse. Had …

Virginia Moving Firm to Pay for Hair Discrimination

A Roanoke, Va.-based moving company will pay $30,000 as part of a settlement with a Waynesboro-area man who says he was denied a job because he wouldn’t cut his long, dreadlocked hair. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a …

Virginia ‘Guns in Bars’ Study Finds Little Effect on Crime

The number of gun crimes at Virginia bars and restaurants declined slightly during the first year of a new state law that allows people with permits to carry concealed firearms into establishments that serve alcohol, a newspaper reported Sunday. According …

Bankers Insurance Acquires Gateway Insurance

Bankers Insurance LLC, headquartered in Richmond, Va., has acquired Gateway Insurance Services, Inc., previously owned by Hampton Roads Bankshares Inc. Gateway Insurance Services Inc. has five offices in eastern North Carolina and one office in eastern Virginia. Consideration paid by …

Long-Time Virginia Insurance Commissioner Gross Dies

Alfred W. Gross, who served as insurance commissioner for the state of Virginia for 14 years until he retired last year, has passed away, according to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Gross retired last December at age 64 …

Man Pleads Guilty to Torching Virginia Motel Twice

A former employee has pleaded guilty to setting two fires at a motel in Ashland, Virginia that caused $2 million in damage. Media outlets report that 23-year-old Jose Antonio Ramirez faces up to life in prison when sentenced Sept. 19. …

Virginia County to Charge for Ambulance Trips

Virginia’s Prince William County plans to begin charging health insurance companies for ambulance trips. On July 1, the county will start billing insurance companies when a patient is taken to the hospital by its emergency medical services. The county will …

Virginia Governor Signs School Safety Legislation

Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has signed legislation designed to improve school safety. The new laws signed Tuesday make it illegal for sex offenders to be on school buses and allows video cameras to be installed on them, and increases penalties …

Anderson Joins Gendelman Insurance

The Bruce Gendelman Insurance Co. has hired Linda Anderson as a commercial lines account advisor. She will focus on the agency’s Defense Base Act insurance program as well as its larger commercial lines accounts. Anderson — based in Virginia — …

Virginia Regulators Urge Homeowners to Check Coverage

Virginia regulators are urging homeowners to review their insurance policies with the start of hurricane season this week. The State Corporation Commission, which regulates insurers, said that some companies automatically include a deductible for wind or hurricane losses in their …