INSURANCE NEWS

US Personal Lines Insurers Ask for Less Rate After Period of Catch-Up

It appears as though auto and home insurers have caught up, appropriately matching premium to risk in their portfolios. According to a new report from insurance industry rating agency AM Best, rate increases for homeowners and private passenger auto insurance …
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California Fire Spread Slows But Dangerous Conditions Linger

Winds that drove a fast-moving brush fire across Southern California’s Simi Valley eased overnight, slowing the blaze’s spread, but dangerous conditions persist as hundreds of firefighters tackle the flames. Fire activity decreased significantly overnight due to calmer winds along with …
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Judge Blocks Trump DOJ’s Demand for Rhode Island Transgender Kids’ Medical Records

A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s sweeping demands for confidential transgender patient information from Rhode Island’s largest hospital that provides gender-affirming care to minors. U.S. District Judge Mary McElroy’s Wednesday ruling is the latest setback for the U.S. …
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Jury Awards $49.5M to Massachusetts Family of Woman Killed in 2019 Boeing Max Crash

A federal jury has awarded $49.5 million to the family of a 24-year-old global nonprofit worker killed in the 2019 crash of a Boeing 737 Max jet in Ethiopia while traveling to her first major assignment. The verdict, reached last …
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World Bank Prices $200 Million Catastrophe Bond for Jamaica

The World Bank has priced a new catastrophe bond designed to help Jamaica cope with the threat of hurricanes. The $200 million bond was oversubscribed by investors, the World Bank said in a statement. The deal comes less than a …
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Starr Europe Insurance Opens Office in Hamburg, Germany

Starr, the New York City based insurance group, announced the opening of a new office in Hamburg, marking the further expansion of Starr’s presence in Germany and representing an important milestone in the company’s European growth strategy. The new office …
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Pollution From Coal Is Hurting Global Solar Output, Study Finds

Pollution from coal-fired power plants that can block sunlight is significantly cutting global solar output, and potentially causing an overestimation of climate progress, according to a new study. Aerosols — tiny particles released from the burning of fossil fuels as …
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Few Foreign Ships Seen in Hormuz Amid Reports of Iran’s Insurance Plan

The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed to commercial shipping, with maritime traffic reduced to a trickle and dominated by Iranian-linked vessels. There were few notable foreign-affiliated movements amid reports of Iran’s Bitcoin-backed insurance program for shipping companies willing to …
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StanChart to Cut Over 7,000 Jobs, Boost AI to Replace ‘Lower-Value Human Capital’

Standard Chartered will eliminate more than 7,000 jobs over the next four years as it seeks to replace “lower-value human capital” with technology, becoming one of the top names in finance to target headcount cuts using artificial intelligence. The London-headquartered …
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IICF Names Lowery-Biggers CEO

The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) announced the appointment of LoriAnn V. Lowery-Biggers as CEO. Lowery-Biggers brings more than 30 years of experience to the role, having previously served as president of Lloyd’s North America along with executive leadership positions …
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Tech, Modeling Prove Value-Add to Broker-Client Relationships: McGill’s Karg

Due to the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence, data, and analytics, brokers are gaining the ability to treat the risk of each client separately, said Ashley Karg of McGill and Partners. “There’s more opportunity for brokers to embrace individualizing our …
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Jury Trial is There if Corporations Need it, Appeals Court Finds in WV Opioid Case

Corporations facing high-profile negligence lawsuits have been known to request a bench trial—held before a judge only and without the risks of plaintiffs’ lawyers playing on the emotions of a 12-person jury. But in West Virginia, the pharmacy benefits manager …
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