Zantac Not a Cause of Woman’s Cancer, Jury Says in First Trial Over Drug
A jury in Chicago on Thursday rejected an Illinois woman’s claim that the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac caused her colon cancer, in the first trial out of thousands of lawsuits making similar allegations. The jury in Cook County, Illinois …
Boeing Faces ‘Long Road’ on Safety Issues, FAA Says
U.S. planemaker Boeing faces a “long road” to address safety issues, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said on Thursday as it prepares to receive the company’s plan to address concerns. In late February, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker gave …
WV Coal Mine Where Miner Died Had Multiple Safety Violations
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A coal mine in West Virginia had a long history of safety violations before a miner was fatally injured this week operating an excavator, according to local news reports. Virgil Paynter, of Lynco, was operating an …
After Wildfire, Hawaii Fire Crews Take Stock of Their Ability to Communicate in a Crisis
Fire departments across the state are reevaluating their emergency communication capabilities after the Maui wildfires, when the vulnerability of the island’s cellular network — and a lack of advanced communication tools in fire vehicles — complicated efforts by first responders …
People Moves: SAIF Names Graneto Chief Financial Officer; Chapman and Crandall Join Alliant Employee Benefits; Huihui Joins Alliant’s Hawaii Team
SAIF Promotes Graneto to Chief Financial Officer SAIF, headquartered in Salem, Oregon, promoted Todd Graneto to chief financial officer. In his new role, Graneto will be responsible for the financial services division, including financial reporting, budgets, corporate accounting, and billing …
Family of Black Teen Wrongly Executed in 1931 Seeks Damages
The family of the youngest person ever executed in the state of Pennsylvania — a Black 16-year-old sent to the electric chair in 1931 and exonerated by the governor in 2022 — is suing the county that prosecuted him. Alexander …
Brooklyn Zoo Re-Opening May 25 After Being Closed for 239 Days Due to Flood Damage
The Prospect Park Zoo in Brooklyn, New York City is re-opening to the public on Saturday, May 25, after being closed for almost eight months due to extensive flood damage to its facilities and infrastructure. The flooding occurred as a …
California Janitorial Company Owners Arraigned for $2.4M Insurance Fraud
The husband-and-wife owners of a janitorial company were arraigned on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud after an investigation allegedly found the couple underreported payroll for their company by more than $2.4 million to illegally save on workers’ compensation insurance …
Mother Appeals Dismissal of Case Against School Over Teen’s Gender Secret
A Maine woman is appealing the dismissal of her lawsuit that accused school officials of encouraging her teen’s gender expression by providing a chest binder and using a new name and pronouns, without consulting her. Amber Lavigne filed her notice …
Virginia Insurance Agent Sentenced for Writing Policies Without Clients’ Consent
A Virginia insurance and annuities agent was sentenced to one year and three months years in prison for mail fraud after swindling his employer and clients in multiple schemes. According to court documents, from August 2017 through March 2020, Joseph …
Tornado Devastates Iowa Town, killing Multiple People
GREENFIELD, Iowa (AP) — Multiple people died Tuesday and at least a dozen were injured when a powerful tornado tore through a small Iowa town, carving a bleak landscape of destroyed homes and businesses, shredded trees, smashed cars, and widely …
Norfolk Southern to Pay $15M Civil Penalty, Cleanup Costs Over 2023 Ohio Derailment
Norfolk Southern NSC.N agreed to pay a $15 million civil penalty and $57.1 million in past government cleanup costs on Thursday, as well as millions in future costs to resolve a U.S. government lawsuit over a 2023 train derailment in …
Are You a Top Account Manager/CSR? Submit a Nomination Today
Customer service representatives and account managers are the heart of agencies. That’s why Insurance Journal wants to recognize these valuable players for the critical work they do! We’re looking for the 2024 MVPs: Account Managers/CSRs. The ones who retain valuable …
Plans to Spend Billions on a Flood-Prone East Texas Highway May Not Solve the Problem
LUFKIN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Highway 59, a major evacuation route from Houston, has been a problem for East Texas for decades. And as flooding rivaling that of Hurricane Harvey inundated the region in April, the highway closed in several …
Texas Manufacturer to Pay $35K for Denying Job to Applicant with Opioid Use Disorder
The Modern Group, Ltd. (TMG), headquartered in Beaumont, Texas, and one of its subsidiaries, Dragon Rig Sales and Service, LLC, a manufacturing and service company which builds oilfield service equipment for energy and industrial companies, will pay $35,000 and furnish …
Vermont Updates Its Captive Insurance Law Again
Vermont Governor Phil Scott has signed into law legislation updating certain sections of the state’s captive insurance statute including sections governing minimum capital requirements for agency captives and captives’ use of parametric contracts. The new law (H. 659) adds explicit …
NOAA Chimes in With Prediction of Above-Average Atlantic Hurricane Season
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) today predicted an 85% chance of an above-average Atlantic hurricane season, with up to 25 named storms. “The upcoming Atlantic hurricane season is expected to have above-normal activity due to a confluence of …
Texas Braces for More Heat, Storms and Floods: Weather Watch
Parts of the central US stretching from North Dakota to northern Texas, including Dallas, face an enhanced risk from severe thunderstorms, strong wind, hail and possibly tornadoes on Thursday, the US Storm Prediction Center said. Flood watches have also been …
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Acquires Minnesota’s CCI Surety
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced that its U.S. wholesale brokerage, binding authority and programs division, Risk Placement Services, Inc. (RPS), has acquired Golden Valley, Minnesota-based CCI Surety, Inc. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded by Michael Williams …
US Sues to Break Up Live Nation-Ticketmaster
The U.S. Justice Department and a group of 30 states and the District of Columbia Thursday sued to break up Live Nation, arguing the big concert promoter and its Ticketmaster unit illegally inflated concert ticket prices and hurt artists. “It …