Severity of Ransomware Attacks Rose 68% in First Half of 2024, Report Shows
Ransomware claims severity spiked by 68% to an average loss of $353,000, according to a new report by a cyber insurance provider. Coalition published its 2024 Cyber Claims Report: Mid-Year Update, which details emerging cyber trends and their impact on …
Group of Scientists Say Climate Change Drove Helene Impacts
Climate change was a key driver of the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene, a group of scientists said this week. Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 major hurricane west-southwest of Perry, Taylor County, Florida on Sept. 27, with …
Anaheim Marriott Cited $12.5M for Violating California Worker Recall Law
A state investigation found that Anaheim Marriott hotel violated California’s worker recall law, resulting in estimated damages for the violations of $12.5 million. The damages will go to 28 workers who were laid off during the pandemic and were reportedly …
Former California Agent Pleads Guilty to 90 Counts of Insurance Fraud
A former insurance broker has pleaded guilty to a number of charges including insurance fraud for collecting premiums without placing coverage. Karen Marie Dondanville, 56, a former broker from Mission Viejo, pleaded guilty to 90 counts including grand theft auto, …
Ex-New York Fire Chief Pleads Guilty to Accepting Bribes to Speed Inspections
A former New York City Fire Department chief pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal conspiracy charge, admitting that he and others solicited tens of thousands of dollars over two years to give preferential treatment in scheduling safety inspections. Brian Cordasco, …
American Water Cyberattack Renews Focus on Protecting Critical Infrastructure
A cyberattack continues to affect the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States, renewing a focus on the importance of protecting critical infrastructure sites. New Jersey-based American Water paused billing to customers as it announced the …
Second Umpire Sues MLB, Alleges Retaliation for Sexual Assault Complaint
A second minor league umpire joined a lawsuit against Major League Baseball, alleging he was fired after he reported he was sexually assaulted by a female umpire. Brandon Cooper, an umpire who worked in the minor league Arizona Complex League …
Louisiana Contractor Charged for Allegedly Damaging Homeowners’ Roof
On an early August morning, a roofing contractor arrived at a Lafayette, Louisiana couple’s house and requested permission to inspect the home’s roof. The roofer’s arrival wasn’t unexpected. The couple, who go by Jordan and Sarah, had been approached days …
5 Dead After Small Plane Crashes on Island off Southern California Coast
Five people were killed when a small plane crashed during takeoff from Santa Catalina Island off the Southern California coast, authorities said. The twin-engine Beechcraft 95 crashed shortly after 8 p.m. Tuesday, just moments after it departed from Catalina Airport …
First MainStreet Adds Two Agencies
First MainStreet Insurance L.C. (FMSI) announced addition of two new agencies, one in Minnesota and the other in Iowa. Joining in September was Kozlowski Insurance Agency, headquartered in Pipestone, Minnesota and two satellite offices in Luverne, MN and Brookings, SD. …
Exxon Granted Largest US Offshore Carbon Storage Site in Texas
Exxon Mobil Corp. won the right to pump carbon dioxide beneath Texas state waters in the Gulf of Mexico, in what will be the largest concession of its kind in the US. The lease granted by the Texas General Land …
J&J’s Court-Shopping Strategy Pits New Jersey Home Against Texas
Johnson & Johnson’s bold move to skirt a US court in New Jersey and seek a potentially friendlier venue in Texas to settle claims its baby powder gave women cancer faces a key decision as soon as Thursday. A federal …
Harris County Officials Say Texas Law Limits Settlements Against Polluters
It wasn’t immediately clear what chemicals erupted into the air from the Channelview fire. The most anyone knew was that the large plume of black smoke billowing across the late afternoon sky — visible for miles just east of Houston …
Two Iowa Men Charged With Insurance Fraud
Michael Vecchio, age 50, of Sioux Center was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Presenting False Information (Class D Felony) and Todd Meendering, age 61, of Boyden was charged with one count of Insurance Fraud – Conspiracy (Class …
Milton Brings Winds, Flooding to Florida but Damage May Not Be as Heavy as Feared
Hurricane Milton made landfall Wednesday night, centered near Sarasota as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph, a less-powerful storm than had been feared but one that brought some storm surge, flooding, multiple tornadoes and property …
Catastrophe Bonds Dodge Worst-Case Scenario After Milton
After fearing the worst from Hurricane Milton, investors in catastrophe bonds appear to have sustained losses well below those predicted as recently as Wednesday. Estimates that had indicated the bonds would lose as much as 15% have now been replaced …
Balance With ‘Micro-Actions’ in Commercial Market But Milton Could Disrupt
WTW characterized commercial insurance rates as balances and stable but, as Hurricane Milton approached, the broker warned of upcoming disruption. “The current state of affairs might only be one major hurricane away from being upended, and with Milton knocking on …
Russian Strikes on Ukraine’s Ports Push Up Insurance Rates: Market Sources
A series of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian Black Sea port infrastructure and commercial vessels has led to a jump in insurance costs and forced some shipowners to cancel bookings, insurance sources and a broker said on Thursday. Russian ballistic …
Hurricane Milton Could Use Up P/C Insurers’ 2024 Catastrophe Budgets
S&P Global Ratings said potential losses from Hurricane Milton could fully deplete the 2024 natural catastrophe budgets for rated U.S. property/casualty insurers, affecting underwriting margins and earnings. In a report titled “Hurricane Milton: The Implications For Rated U.S. Insurers And …
Delaware High Court Rescues Insurance Agency’s Malpractice Suit Against Law Firm
Six months after a three-judge panel of the Delaware Supreme Court said an insurance agency deserved another shot at proving its claims of professional negligence against a law firm, the full state high court has agreed. On October 8, the …
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