Daily Headlines: Wednesday, March 20, 2013

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March 20, 2013 News By Region  National  International  East  Midwest  Southeast  South Central  West Video Today's Headlines National Insurance Claim-Padding OK with 24% of Americans: Survey Twenty-four percent of Americans believe it is acceptable to increase an insurance claim by a small amount to make up for deductibles they ... Supreme Court Insurance Ruling a Setback for Class Action Claimants The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that a homeowner seeking to sue his insurer could not file suit in a state court considered ... Governments Getting Into Patent Buying Business: Reuters Patent competition in the United States is usually a fierce arena for private companies, but now the South Korean and French governments ... Agency Compensation: Who's Worth What in Your Independent Agency? From top level managers to office and support staff -- every person in an agency has a role to play in helping the agency win in the sales ... FM Global Swings to $774M Net Profit for Full-Year 2012 Johnston, R.I.-based FM Global, one of the world's largest business property insurers, announced $774 million net income for the full-year ... Marsh Partners with NYSE Euronext Units on Enhanced D&O Offering Corpedia and Corporate Board Member, NYSE Euronext (NYX) companies, and Marsh have entered into a strategic alliance to provide directors ... Supreme Court Nixes Bid to Bypass Federal Court on Class Actions A plaintiff seeking class action status for a claim may not bypass federal court for a friendlier state court by agreeing to cap damages ... ISO Commercial Property Changes Coming to a Carrier Near You - Part 1 - Policy Forms Insurance Services Office's (ISO's) form and endorsement filing is actually quite fascinating. The commercial property changes presented... Statutory Filings' Analysis Reveals Adverse Development For Recent Prior Years: Assured Research Twelve of the top-25 insurance groups reported adverse reserve development for accident-years 2010 and 2011 during... More National News East N.Y. Regulators Identify 10 Banks With Worst Sandy Aid Statistics New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state's Department of Financial Services announced the 'bottom 10' banks with the worst statistics for ... Some Massachusetts MetLife Employees Take Work-From-Home Option Insurance giant MetLife Inc. recently announced it will be transitioning some 2,600 jobs from five Northeastern states and California to ... New Empire Group Names Head of Inland Marine Department in New York New Empire Group announced that inland marine specialist Donard Reilly has joined the firm as a senior vice president and will head the ... More East News Midwest Minnesota Bills Would Allow Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants Bills that would let illegal immigrants get a Minnesota driver's license are moving forward at the Capitol. The Senate Transportation and ... Insurance Firm QBE Laying off 113 in Lincoln, Nebraska An insurance company is closing a call center in Lincoln, Neb., and laying off more than 100 people. The Lincoln Journal Star reports QBE ... Missouri Judge Blocks Public Records Request in Insurance Fraud Case A judge has issued an order blocking a newspaper's request for documents about the resignation of the police chief in southeast Missouri. ... Medical Care Costs for Injured Workers Rising in Indiana: Report The costs of medical care for injured workers in Indiana have been growing rapidly at an annual rate of 8 percent, a faster growth rate ... Expert: Repeat of 1913 Indiana Flood Would Be Disaster What would happen if the rare and extreme series of storms that hammered Indiana 100 years ago this month occurred today? There would be ... More Midwest News Southeast Tennessee Aims to Change How Workers' Compensation Disputes Are Settled Tennessee lawmakers have advanced a workers' compensation reform bill that could change how injured workers' claims disputes are handled. ... Florida Senate Medical Malpractice Bill Advances A bill that would make it even harder to pursue medical malpractice claims in Florida has cleared a Senate panel. The Senate Judiciary ... West Virginia Senate Committee Backs Higher Auto Minimum Limits A West Virginia Senate committee advanced a bill this week that would likely increase car insurance premiums for drivers who can least ... Threats Posted on Facebook Are Crimes, Florida Court Rules In an apparent first in Florida law, a state appeals court ruled this week that posting threats on one's personal Facebook page can be ... Insurance Agent to Be Mayor of Gulfport Republican Billy Hewes III will be the new mayor of Gulfport. Hewes' opponent, Democrat Billy Barnes, dropped out of the race last week, ... Childers Named President of Florida's LassiterWare Insurance Doug Childers Jr. has been appointed president of LassiterWare Insurance in Leesburg, Florida. Childers will report to Ted Ostrander Jr., ... More Southeast News South Central Louisiana Civilian Labor Force Largest Since November 2005 Louisiana's civilian labor force grew in January to the largest it's been since 2005, according to seasonally adjusted figures released by ... SIAA Adds 5 Agencies in South Central Region The Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance (SIAA) announced it signed five new member agencies in the South Central region in February. The ... Regulations Proposed in Texas for Lawsuit Financing Texas lawmakers are seeking to rein in lenders who finance lawsuits. Under a bill considered in the Texas House Committee on the Judiciary ... More South Central News West Oregon Trooper uses Facebook to ID driver Oregon State Police say a trooper checked Facebook to determine that a driver whose face didn't match his license was really a fugitive ... Montana Asbestos Victims Object To Attorneys' Fees Some victims of asbestos exposure in northwestern Montana have asked a state judge to deny $4 million in fees and costs requested by ... Colorado Could be Next to Allow Phones To Prove Car Insurance License, registration and proof of insurance. The officer's request could soon be met in part using a smartphone in Colorado. The Colorado ... Oregon Governor Signs Medical-Error Mediation Bill Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a bill creating a new mediation process for patients injured by medical mistakes. Kitzhaber signed ... Suit Filed By Parents of California University Student In Hazing Death The parents of a California State University, Fresno freshman who died in 2012 of alcohol poising while pledging for a fraternity have ... University Of Arizona Develops App For Dust Storm Warnings The University of Arizona has created a mobile application for iPhones that provides dust storm alerts and safety tips. Available for free ... More West News International Munich Re Study Sees Asia Pacific Dominating Insurance Growth by 2020 "Asia-Pacific will be the dominant driver of world insurance growth by 2020," according to a study published by Munich Re's Economic ... FERMA Calls on EU Parliament to Enforce Minimum Disclosure Standards for All Broker Business The Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) is calling on the European Parliament to ensure that all insurance buyers ... ACE Provides Insights on Challenges, Solutions for Cross-Border Marine Insurance ACE Insurance, part of the ACE Group of insurance and reinsurance companies, based in Singapore, recently released a report on Structuring ... Ratings Recap: Sun Hung Kai, Jamaica International, Palms, Watania A.M. Best Asia-Pacific Limited has upgraded the financial strength rating to 'A' (Excellent) from 'A-' (Excellent) and issuer credit rating ... Ironshore Canada Increases Capacity for Specialty Casualty Lines Ironshore Canada Ltd., a subsidiary of Ironshore International, has increased capacity to $30 million for its specialty casualty lines for ... More International News Insurance Journal Blogs Burand's Agency E&O Blog: Tip #26 Bond Specifications & Company Ratings. Do you check? When commercial clients need a bond, they almost always have a contract that requires ... More Blogs Join the Insurance Journal Network Insurance Journal TV Gordy Bunch on Growth at The Woodlands Financial Group Richard "Gordy" Bunch, president and CEO of The Woodlands Financial Group, readily concedes... Watch Now 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 Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv New Discussions in the Forums What is your biggest pain as an agent? Posted: Tue Mar 19 -- Silly requests on COI's from people who think they know what they are doing. Examples: Requiring a 2/4 GL limit, nothing else, when insured... kevinraz Insurance agencies for sale ? Posted: Mon Mar 18 -- I've got an idea or two. First, contact your broker who handles your E&O agency policy...they're going to know first when an agency is ready... d's insurance store Insurance directories?? Posted: Sun Mar 17 -- I agree the BBB is a great directory to use and it will provide a boast to the rankings Google applies to your site. The more trusted the... BestCarCoverage AI request on form 126 - where do you Posted: Sat Mar 16 -- I was talking to some agent friends this week, they each work at a different agency. We started discussing completed Acord forms. One agent... etimer Arizona broker fees Posted: Fri Mar 15 -- As a general rule unless there is specific regulation prohibiting or limiting fees on surplus lines there is "freedom of rate and form" and... INTLXS Astonish Results or Squid Posted: Fri Mar 15 -- NYagent301- I'm also a 24 year veteran industry professional...while its true everyone is Entitled to their personal opinion, and It's true... Pathwayinsurance Online Competition Posted: Fri Mar 15 -- "I believe you are incorrect in your assumption. Clients do want value. You just need To take steps to educate them on why they need value.... Robert742 Trailer Interchange 75k Delaware Posted: Tue Mar 12 -- Does anyone have a market for $75k in trailer interchange coverage, and $250k cargo coverage that would include the insured hauling 3 -5... DIG2013 Go to Forums Reader Comments Applying for Obama Health Care Plan Daunting Task Posted: Fri Mar 15 -- Planet: I already posted a CBO link on regarding the Iraq war spending. Those are the numbers. When numbers don't line up with what you... Bob Mississippi House Revives Guns in School Proposal Posted: Thu Mar 14 -- Moore, a small government Republican, thinks it would be just great to have the government put trained snipers at all schools to 'protect'... ExciteBiker New Mexico Drunken Driver Explains Suit Against Friend, Restaurants Posted: Fri Mar 15 -- Absurd Rationale. SteveB ACE Private Risk Survey: High Net Worth Families Overpaying to be Underinsured Posted: Thu Mar 14 -- So I can just conduct my own "study", determine that other companies' products and agents suck compared to mine and then get IJ to write a... phoenix Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Refuses to Enforce Affordable Care Act Posted: Mon Mar 18 -- I understand what you're saying, and those are interesting points. However, this article is not about those things you mention. This is only... jw Go to Popular Comments Subscriber Tools Send this to a friend Subscribe Unsubscribe Submit News Contact Us Current Issue March 11, 2013 Hospitality Risks Directory; Homeowners & Auto; Public Entities More Newsletters Choose Newsletters Daily Headlines Weekly Reader Picks Magazine Update Insurance Journal TV Classifieds Breaking News MyNewMarkets Daily Claims Daily Enter Your E-mail Market Directories Excess & Surplus Markets Programs Workers' Comp Markets New Insurance Jobs Vice-President of Member Experience Sales Person P&C Commercial Underwriter Commercial Transportation Underwriter Have a job opening? List it on our Web site. How to Advertise For information about advertising on this newsletter and Insurance Journal magazines, contact Julie Tinney at (800) 897-9965 x148. View our Media Kit for advertising options in our magazines and online properties. 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