INSURANCE NEWS
Flight Delays, Cancellations Accelerate as Air Traffic Controller Shortages Surge
Airlines canceled more than 2,200 U.S. flights on Sunday and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned air travel will fall to a “trickle” in the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday as air traffic control staffing shortages surge. Major airlines were dealing …
US Justice Department Probes Meatpackers, Attorney General Says
President Donald Trump on Friday accused meatpacking companies of driving up U.S. beef prices, which have hit records, through manipulation and collusion, and ordered the Justice Department to investigate. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in an X post the probe …
Oil Tanker Boarded by Suspected Pirates in Indian Ocean
An oil tanker was boarded by suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean to the east of the Somali coast, the most serious in a string of recent incidents in the area. The attackers were operating from a nearby mothership and …
What Progressive and GEICO Q3 Results Reveal About Auto Insurance Profit, Growth
Analysts’ projections of slower growth and smaller underwriting margins ahead for personal auto insurers started to play out ever so slightly in third-quarter results of two giant auto insurers this week. Both Progressive and GEICO reported higher personal auto combined …
As in Florida, Georgia Saw Big Jump in Lawsuits Ahead of Major Litigation Limits
Florida insurers will no doubt remember the time more than two years ago when one of the largest plaintiffs’ law firms in the state gave notice that it was planning to file tens of thousands of claims lawsuits ahead of …
Fire Destroys Miami Heat Coach’s $6.5M Home in Coral Gables. No One Hurt.
Fire destroyed Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra’s home last week, with officials saying more than 20 units were dispatched in what became a frantic, futile effort to save the property. Nobody was in the home when the fire broke out, …
Jamaica Catastrophe Bond Headed for Full Payout After Hurricane, World Bank Says
Investors in Jamaica’s catastrophe bond now face a 100% payout after Hurricane Melissa set off a full trigger event, according to the World Bank. Jamaica’s $150 million cat bond, which was arranged by the World Bank, is designed to provide …
People Moves: MMA Appoints Balentine as President of National Business Insurance
Marsh McLennan Agency (MMA), headquartered in White Plains, New York, appointed Adam Balentine as President of National Business Insurance. Based in Kansas City, Missouri, Balentine leads the development of strategic growth initiatives for MMA’s property and casualty business, oversees the …
Markets/Coverages: Fidelis Launches Construction Consortium to Cover AI Data Centers
The Fidelis Partnership (TFP), the Bermuda-based managing general underwriter, announced the launch of a consortium that targets risks associated with the construction of AI data centers. With estimates suggesting that the AI data center market could rapidly represent billions in …
Explosion at Mississippi Chemical Plant Causes Ammonia Leak, Evacuations
An explosion at a hydrogen and nitrogen product manufacturer in Mississippi on Wednesday caused an ammonia leak and forced nearby residents to evacuate, officials said. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said in a post on the social platform X that emergency …
Louisiana Farm Bureau to Benefit From Demutualization, AM Best Says
AM Best has placed under review with positive implications the Financial Strength Rating of B++ (Good) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of “bbb” (Good) of Louisiana Farm Bureau Mutual Insurance Company (Louisiana Farm Bureau), an action that follows the …
Former Injury Lawyer and SC House Member Indicted on Charges of Defrauding Clients
A former South Carolina state lawmaker and injury lawyer has been indicted on federal allegations that he schemed to defraud his legal clients. According to court papers, a federal grand jury on Wednesday indicted former Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, a Democrat …