INSURANCE NEWS
US Issues Order Mandating Bird Flu Testing of Milk Supply
The U.S. issued a federal order on Friday mandating that the national milk supply be tested for bird flu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told Reuters, as authorities seek to grapple with rapid spread of the virus among dairy herds. Bird …
Judge Says Southwest Must Face Bias Claims Over Free Flights for Hispanic Students
U.S. judge on Friday said Southwest Airlines must face a lawsuit by a prominent affirmative action opponent claiming a now-defunct program that awarded free flights to Hispanic college students was racially discriminatory. U.S. District Judge Sidney Fitzwater in Dallas said …
Miss. Supreme Court Orders USAA to Pay $15M in Hurricane Katrina Bad-Faith Claim
When hurricanes hit coastal areas, property insurers often breathe a sigh of relief when much of the damage appears to be the result of storm surge and flooding – losses that aren’t covered by most homeowners’ policies. But after Hurricane …
Jury Awards $452 Milliin in Damages For Insulin Patch Trade Secrets Theft
Medical device maker Insulet convinced a jury that Korean rival EOFlow owes it $452 million in damages for stealing trade secrets related to insulin pumps, according to a verdict made public in Massachusetts federal court on Thursday. The jury in …
Antares Announces Leadership Team for New Commercial Division
Antares Global Management Ltd. announced three key appointments for its new Commercial Division, which comprises Syndicate 1274 and Bermuda-based Antares Re. Antares announced in November that it was restructuring its underwriting operations by spitting its Bermuda and UK re/insurance businesses …
Aviva CEO Amanda Blanc Conquers Detractors and Direct Line
Amanda Blanc is determined to steer Aviva Plc to one of the biggest takeovers in its history, a highlight in a storied insurance career where she’s stood up to challenges including activist shareholders and sexist barbs. If her £3.6 billion …
UK Issues Red Warning as Storm Darragh Brings Hurricane-Strength Winds
Storm Darragh has triggered a red weather warning for the west coast of Wales and the Bristol Channel on Saturday, with hurricane-force winds forecast. Wind speeds are expected to reach as high as 90 miles (145 kilometers) per hour, according …
After 23 Years as CEO, Craft Moves to Producer Role at Palomar as Williford Takes Helm
Alabama-based Palomar Insurance, a 70-year-old agency with offices across the state and in Mississippi and Georgia, announced that longtime CEO Tony Craft will step down to be a producer in the company. Replacing Craft at the top is Jim Williford, …
Insured Losses From Natural Disasters Top US$100B for 5th Consecutive Year: Swiss Re
Estimated insured losses from natural catastrophes are on track to surpass US$135 billion in 2024 – for the fifth consecutive year, according to Swiss Re Institute. A warming climate is contributing to the occurrence of many of the natural catastrophes …
Failure to Produce Proof of Purchase Dooms Insurer’s Product Liability Case
A federal court in Pennsylvania recently affirmed that plaintiffs seeking to hold a seller or distributor liable for a faulty product must provide clear evidence of where they purchased their product. In a homeowners insurance subrogation case over water damage …
Goldman Sachs Quits Global Climate Coalition for Banks
Goldman Sachs said it has quit a sector coalition aimed at aligning bank lending and investment activities with global efforts to fight climate change, marking the latest high-profile departure of a U.S. financial firm from the group. The U.S. investment …
Fraud Ringleader in Washington Sentenced, Ordered to Pay $7.1M in Restitution
A Washington man has been sentenced to a dozen years in prison and ordered to pay $7.1 million for leading a fraud scheme that involved staged collisions. A U.S. District Judge sentenced William Oldham Mize to 144 months in federal …