West News

People Moves: Venbrook in California Names Aguilar CFO

Venbrook Group, LLC named Juan Aguilar chief financial officer. Aguilar has 20 years of industry experience, most recently serving 15 years at Aon PLC, where he held leadership roles across finance, operations and business strategy and development. Before Aon, he …

Major New Mexico Transmission Line OK’d for Renewable Energy in West

The U.S. government is greenlighting a proposed multibillion-dollar transmission line that would send primarily wind-generated electricity from the rural plains of New Mexico to big cities in the West. The Interior Department announced its record of decision for the SunZia …

Washington’s Proposed Wildfire Smoke Designed to Protect Workers from Dangers

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries filed proposed permanent wildfire smoke rules and launched a formal process for public input designed to protect people who work outdoor jobs like construction, agriculture, roofing, roadwork and other industries. When these …

People Moves: Velilla Joins Gordon & Rees in California in Insurance and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani hired Rachel T. Velilla as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego, California offices. She joins the firm’s insurance, trucking and transportation and commercial litigation practice groups. Velilla represents individuals, corporations …

Former California Insurance Agent Sentenced for Stealing $220K from Clients Including Late Art Dealer

John Philip Ryan, 64, of Yucca Valley, California, was sentenced and ordered to pay more than $220,000 in restitution to victims after pleading guilty to two felony counts of financial elder abuse and grand theft of insurance premiums. An investigation …

ALKEME Acquires Infinity Insurance Group in Idaho

ALKEME acquired the Infinity Insurance Group in Idaho. Infinity Insurance is an insurance agency with offices in Post Falls. Infinity Insurance broke away from its parent company in 2010 and has focused on providing auto, home, health, life and commercial …

Takeaways from Our Conversation on The Science of Cannabis and Toxicology

Toxicology by definition is the study of adverse effects of chemical, biological, or physical agents on living organisms. Cannabis and toxicology doesn’t sound like a subject that is pertinent to insurance professionals in the specialty, but knowing the business means …

Nevada Secures $152M Opioid Settlement With Pharmacy Chain CVS

Nevada and pharmacy chain CVS have reached a nearly $152 million settlement to be paid over the next decade to end a lawsuit over opioid claims, state Attorney General Aaron Ford announced. “CVS negotiated in good faith,” Ford said at …

Officials: 30 California Workers Getting $437K in from Food Company

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and California Labor Commissioner Lilia Garcia-Brower on Monday announced the resolution of criminal charges filed against Golden Food Inc in a plea agreement in which the company admitted to a litany of labor violations, including …

Seattle Paying $2.3M to Whistleblowers Over Ex-Mayor’s Deleted Texts

The city of Seattle will pay $2.3 million to settle a lawsuit brought by employees who helped reveal that thousands of then-Mayor Jenny Durkan’s text messages had been deleted in 2020 amid protests over George Floyd’s death at the hands …

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