Daily Headlines: Monday, March 4, 2013

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March 4, 2013 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Workplace Bullying Emerging As Major Employment Liability Battleground Margaret Fiester is no shrinking violet, but she says working for her former boss was a nightmare. "One day I didn't do something right and ... Dreamliner Could Affect Future of Airline Safety Self-Regulation Eight years ago, U.S. regulators substantially increased their dependence on the aircraft industry to help keep flying safe. The U.S. ... Best Affirms Fireman's Fund, Subs Financial Ratings; Lowers Credit Ratings A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of 'A' (Excellent), but has downgraded the issuer credit rating (ICR) to "a" ... The Hartford Launches Property Offering For Municipalities, Public Entity Risk Pools The Hartford has expanded its commercial property practice to offer insurance programs for the public entity sector, with a particular ... Abernathy Out, Hooper In as CEO In Shake-Up at Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford In a major personnel move, global wholesale insurance and reinsurance broker Cooper Gay Swett & Crawford has appointed Shaun Hooper as ... AIG Ends U.S. Government Interest with Warrant Buyback Insurer American International Group Inc. eliminated the U.S. government's last financial interest in the company on Friday, buying back ... The Hartford Restates Q3; Full-Year 2012 Bottom Line Reverses To A Loss On Friday, March 1, The Hartford announced that it filed an amended Form 10-Q with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to restate ... Will Wind/Hail Cosmetic Damage Exclusion Endorsements Become the Norm? Cosmetic damage from wind and hail to homeowner and commercial properties may no longer be covered if insurers opt to use new endorsements,... Insurance Ops 'Shoot The Lights Out' At Berkshire, Buffett Says Recognizing the $4.4 billion contribution of Berkshire Hathaway's insurance operations to its overall after-tax profit... More National News East Banks Trying to Expedite New York Storm Insurance Checks The New York Department of Financial Services says five of the state's largest banks and mortgage services will have representatives ... Massachusetts Consumer Agencies Collect $13.9M in 2012 Massachusetts consumer affairs agencies collected over $13.9 million through awards, settlements, refunds and fines in 2012. The Office of ... Judge Allows Travel Insurance Lawsuit to Proceed in Aruba Missing Tourist Case A federal judge has refused to dismiss a suit filed by an insurer against a Maryland man jailed over the suspected death of his traveling ... Connecticut Bill Applies Worker's Comp to Mental Trauma Lawmakers pressed ahead Thursday, Feb. 28, with legislation requiring Connecticut's worker's compensation system to cover treatment costs ... Judge: Second Mile Insurer Not Obligated to Cover Sandusky's Defense Costs The insurance carrier for the children's charity founded by former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky doesn't have to cover ... More East News Midwest Ohio: 3K Medical Professional Liability Claims Closed in 2011 A total of 3,094 medical professional liability claims were closed in 2011 in Ohio, according to data collected by the Ohio Department of ... Meadowbrook Corrective Actions Yet to Sway A.M. Best; Company Reacts On Mar. 1, A.M. Best said that the "A-minus" financial strength ratings of members of Meadowbrook Insurance Group Inc. remain under review ... Woo Named Manager of Wells Fargo Insurance Columbus Branch Wells Fargo Insurance, part of Wells Fargo & Co., named Patricia Woo senior vice president, insurance branch manager for its Columbus, ... Kemper Corp. Announces Sodaro as CFO Kemper Corp. announced that Frank J. Sodaro will become senior vice president and chief financial officer for Kemper effective Mar. 15, ... More Midwest News Southeast Florida's Citizens Sued for Denying Mitigation Discounts A lawsuit seeking class action status filed against the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. alleges the company purposefully ... Suits Against Army Corps Over Nashville Floods Dismissed A federal judge has dismissed a pair of lawsuits claiming the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was responsible for flood damage in 2010 to the ... BrickStreet Auditor, 4 Others Charged with Workers' Comp Fraud A U.S. attorney has charged five men including an insurance company auditor with engaging in a fraudulent scheme that included bribery and ... More Southeast News South Central Oklahoma Speaker Eyes Ways to Make Workers' Comp Bill 'Stronger' House Speaker T.W. Shannon says a Senate bill to overhaul Oklahoma's workers' compensation system could undergo changes in the House. The ... Arkansas House Panel Rejects School Employee Gun Bill An Arkansas House panel rejected a proposal that would have allowed some school employees to carry guns in schools after completing an ... Oklahoma House Panel OKs Plan to Privatize CompSource A plan to privatize Oklahoma's not-for-profit workers' compensation insurer has been approved by a House committee. A bill that would ... LevelFirst Announces New Staff, Houston Operation LevelFirst, a diversified wholesale broker and managing general agency headquartered in Dallas, announced that Wade Wrobel, Jason Victor, ... XL Group Opens Facultative Reinsurance Office in Dallas XL Group plc's reinsurance operations opened a Dallas, Texas, office led by Dean Wolfe who was recently promoted to manager of XL's newly ... More South Central News West Simpson Named VP of Underwriting, Marketing for CompWest in California CompWest Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Accident Fund Holdings Inc., named Gene J. Simpson vice president of underwriting and marketing. ... Hawaii Landfill Operator Fined $1.1M Under EPA Settlement Honolulu and the operator of the city's only landfill have agreed to make changes that will reduce the risk of a fire breaking out at the ... Ex-Officer Wins $750,000 in Suit Against Oregon City A federal jury has awarded a former sergeant $750,000 in a lawsuit over his departure from the Roseburg police force. The Roseburg ... Man Seeks $3 Million From Washington City After K9 Attack A Tacoma man is seeking $3 million from the City of Lakewood for injuries he says he suffered during a police dog attack in 2011. The ... Krishnan 1st Chief Information Office at Woodruff-Sawyer in California San Francisco, Calif.-based Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. named Ravi Krishnan as the firm's first chief information officer. Krishnan will be ... California Bill Battles Workers' Comp Claims from Athletes A California legislator has introduced a bill that would address a "loophole" in which pro athletes, mostly National Football League ... More West News International White House Says Will Seek 'Fast-Track' Trade Authority The White House on Friday said it would work for approval of politically contentious legislation that would ease the way for new trade ... Amlin to Acquire P&I MGA RaetsMarine The UK's Amlin plc announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire RaetsMarine, "a managing general agent ranked in the top three ... TransRe Appoints Saville Manager, Sr. VP-Underwriting in Singapore TransRe, the brand name for Transatlantic Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, announced that Robert Saville has been appointed Sr. VP - ... More International News Sponsored Content King Introduces New Mobile Home and RV Park and Resort Program San Juan Capistrano, CA, 03/04/13 - King Insurance is now the exclusive MGA for the AmTrust RV & Mobile Home Park program.  The program is ... More Sponsored Content Insurance Journal Blogs Burand's Agency E&O Blog: Tip #25 Binder Knowledge. What is a binder? I ask this question of most agency staff and many producers I interview. Less than 10% of staff and ... More Blogs Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Cost of Disaster Relief: IBHS CEO Rochman Why does it seem easier for society and, in particular, government to respond by spending lots... Watch Now How Improving Agency Processes Boosts Profitability To boost their profitability, agencies make investments all the time in people and technology,... Watch Now Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums Carrier technology Posted: Fri Mar 1 -- This will probably be a common answer, but Progressive is among the best. Germania's program (TX carrier) is really great. Allstate is... Smalltownagent Insurance Noodle vs. Superior Access vs. Agent Secure Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- Read the fine print on contracts with the clusters and aggregators. Most have a clause where you can't directly or indirectly contract with... newportins CA after-school GL and Auto Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- Looking for GL/Auto market for an after-school in California. Its daily operation like: Use its own mini van to transport elementary student... antagent QuickBooks Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- just as an FYI - the new agency platform from Quikfuzion.com will be announcing a tight integration with Quickbooks. That will handle the... jtmgolf00 SEO and buying back links Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- Google has made some massive changes Is of January 17, 2013 for backlinks, one agent went from page one to page 13 for many of hi keywords... Pathwayinsurance Imprezzio Marketing: SEO Firm Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- "I agree with much of what d says. Here is a good thread about SEO from a few years back... Pathwayinsurance What marketing efforts are generating business? Posted: Thu Feb 28 -- "Our LinkedIn group has a... Pathwayinsurance Go to Forums Reader Comments Alabama Woman Sues Wal-Mart, Alleges Moldy Mr. Goodbar Posted: Fri Mar 1 -- Goodbar gone bad. Badbar? ExciteBiker Lawsuits by Fans Injured at NASCAR Race Face Obstacles Posted: Fri Mar 1 -- Wait...you mean sitting 10-20 feet away, in the first row near cars zooming by at 200 MPH is dangerous? I did not know that! DJ Panel Kills South Dakota Plan to Ban Texting While Driving Posted: Fri Mar 1 -- I cannot believe this bill failed. What were they thinking?? Stupid is as stupid does. Alwasy Amazed A University Health System Says It Will Stop Hiring Smokers in Pennsylvania Posted: Tue Feb 26 -- Bob, You need to find a sense of humor. Again, lighten up. You're wound tighter than a 95 year old virgin. I don't think Planet was doing... jw No Yahoo, Insurer Likes Work-at-Home Employees Posted: Fri Mar 1 -- Being a telecommute employee would be nice, but it makes it tough to shut the door behind you when you leave work at the end of the day. Huh! 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