INSURANCE NEWS
NC Residents Can Now Seek State Aid After Tropical Storm Chantal
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Individuals in central North Carolina counties whose homes and belongings were damaged by massive rains last month from Tropical Storm Chantal can now seek state-funded financial grants for temporary assistance. The aid for residents in eight …
2 South Carolina Deputies Hurt by Live Rounds Kept in Baggie in Desk Drawer
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Two deputies shot and injured in a training exercise in South Carolina were wounded by ammunition taken from a plastic bag in a desk drawer and not property tested to see if they were blanks, a …
ALKEME Acquires Innovative Insurance Group
California-based insurance brokerage ALKEME announced its acquisition of Innovative Insurance Group, one of Virginia’s largest insurance agencies. This acquisition marks a significant expansion of ALKEME’s commitment to the East Coast, according to Curtis Barton, CEO of ALKEME. The Innovative team …
Great Barrier Reef Records Largest Annual Coral Loss in 39 Years
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced its greatest annual loss of live coral across most of its expanse in four decades of record-keeping, Australian authorities say. But due to increasing coral cover since 2017, the coral deaths — caused mainly …
Ontario Teachers’ Sells Stake in French Broker Diot-Siaci to Private Equity Firm Ardian
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan has signed a definitive agreement to sell its stake in Diot-Siaci, a Paris-based corporate insurance brokerage group, to French private equity firm Ardian. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. As a long-standing shareholder of …
People Moves: Kingstone Appoints Patten CFO
Kingstone Companies Inc., headquartered in Kingston, New York, appointed Randy L. Patten as chief financial officer (CFO), effective August 25. Patten joins Kingstone Companies, Inc. from NEXT Insurance Inc., where he most recently served as vice president, chief accounting officer, …
Australia’s Privacy Regulator Sues Optus Over 2022 Data Breach
An Australian regulator has sued Optus, alleging the Singapore Telecommunications-owned carrier breached privacy laws during a 2022 cyber attack that compromised the personal data of millions of customers, both parties confirmed on Friday. Optus, one of Singtel’s largest overseas investments, …
BHP, Vale Offer $1.4B Settlement in UK Lawsuit Over Brazil Mining-Dam Disaster: FT
Global miners BHP Group and Vale have offered around $1.4 billion to settle a class action lawsuit in the United Kingdom tied to one of Brazil’s worst-ever environmental disasters, the Financial Times reported on Thursday. The lawsuit stems from the …
Fires Ravage Southern French Vineyards Ahead of Harvest Season
French wine makers have seen extensive damage to vines that were almost ready to be harvested after the worst fires in more than 70 years burned through the south of the country. “The situation is catastrophic”, Franck Saillan, general secretary …
Digging Into Tesla’s Liability in Crash Case: Where’s the Data?
Two experts on autonomous vehicle safety recently dove into legal arguments and engineering factors that shaped last week’s landmark jury decision against Tesla, at one point surfacing an important takeaway about insurance for Tesla drivers. “Your insurance company most likely …
Surplus Lines Sector Shows 13.2% Rise in Premium Mid-Year: WSIA Report
Surplus lines sector continues to grow with mid-year premium reaching $46.2 billion from the 3.7 million items filed so far in 2025, according to data from U.S. surplus lines service and stamping offices in 15 states. These figures represent a …
Trenton Diocese Withdraws Lawsuit Against Insurers Over Sex Abuse Coverage
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey has voluntarily withdrawn its lawsuit against four liability insurers over coverage for sexual abuse claims brought against the diocese under the New Jersey Child Victims Act. The diocese sued in February alleging …