Court Upholds Mechanic’s $726M Verdict Against ExxonMobil Over Benzene Exposure
A Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has upheld a Philadelphia jury’s $725.5 million verdict against ExxonMobil in a case of cancer linked to exposure to benzene, an ingredient in gasoline. The court denied ExxonMobil’s post-trial motions and added more $90 …
Tropical System Moving in Carolinas Monday With Winds, Rain, Floods
A potential tropical storm loomed off the coasts of the Carolinas Monday morning, with deteriorating conditions expected for the Wrightsville Beach and Wilmington areas. The National Weather Service and local news reports noted that the disturbance had already brought heavy …
People Moves: Lillelund Named CEO of AGCS; Ardonagh Names Allianz’s Mitchell for Growth in Asia; Carbon Taps Asta’s Gallagher as Head of Syndicate Mgmt.
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty SE (AGCS), The Ardonagh Group, and Carbon Underwriting. A summary of these new hires follows here. Lillelund Named CEO of AGCS and Allianz Commercial Allianz Global …
Senator, Congresswoman Warn of Property Crisis as Climate Change Grips Florida
Florida and much of the country face a real estate crash unless government officials deal with climate change, members of Congress said at a roundtable discussion Saturday in St. Petersburg. U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., chair of the Senate Budget …
Musk Calls Australian Government ‘Fascists’ Over Misinformation Law
Elon Musk, owner of social media platform X, on Friday [Sept. 13] called Australia’s center-left government “fascists” over proposed legislation to slap fines on social media firms for failing to prevent the spread of misinformation online. Australia’s Labor government on …
UK to Classify Data Centers as ‘Critical National Infrastructure’
Britain’s data centers will be classified “critical national infrastructure,” the government said on Thursday [Sept. 12], giving the servers and IT systems that underpin the country’s communications extra protection from cyberattacks. Britain said the move would reassure companies building data …
EU Navy Starts Towing Stricken Red Sea Oil Tanker Hit by Houthis
The European Union’s naval force said it managed to connect tug boats to a burning oil tanker in the Red Sea, and that the vessel is now being towed away. “The tug boats have successfully connected to the vessel and …
Shanghai Slammed by Strongest Typhoon to Hit City Since 1949
The strongest typhoon in more than seven decades has struck China’s financial hub, leading to widespread flight cancellations and disrupting holidaymakers at the start of a days-long national festival. Typhoon Bebinca — known as Beibijia in China — crossed the …
Update: Flood Death Toll Rises in Europe With More Heavy Rain Forecast
The death toll from flooding in central Europe is climbing, with Poland preparing to follow Austria in declaring a state of emergency. Storm Boris has brought torrential rain to the region, with red alerts still in place for parts of …
Walgreens Paying $106.8 Million to Settle Prescription Billing Fraud Charges
Walgreens Boots Alliance agreed to pay $106.8 million to settle charges it fraudulently billed the U.S. government for prescriptions that were never dispensed, the Department of Justice said on Friday. The Justice Department said Walgreens violated the federal False Claims …
Former UPS Driver Wins $238 Million Verdict in Suit Over Firing
A Black UPS driver won a $237.6 million jury verdict in a case in which he alleged he’d been discriminated against and subject to a hostile work environment before being fired. The verdict, rendered Thursday in the US District Court …
23andMe Settles Data Breach Lawsuit for $30 Million
23andMe will pay $30 million and provide three years of security monitoring to settle a lawsuit accusing the genetics testing company of failing to protect the privacy of 6.9 million customers whose personal information was exposed in a data breach …
Boar’s Head Closing Virginia Plant Linked to Deadly Listeria Outbreak
Boar’s Head said Friday it’s closing the Virginia plant tied to a deadly listeria outbreak. The Sarasota, Florida-based company said it will also permanently discontinue production of liverwurst, the product that was linked to the deaths of at least nine …
EverPeak Insurance Launches in Arizona
EverPeak Insurance is launching operations in Arizona. EverPeak specializes in workers’ compensation coverage for small businesses and those in hard-to-place industries. EverPeak workers’ comp insurance is written on Attune, which has more than 400 class codes that enable agents to …
Pittsburgh Offers $500,000 to Settle Bridge Collapse Lawsuits
The city of Pittsburgh is seeking approval of a half-million-dollar payment to settle lawsuits over the collapse of a bridge into a ravine more than 2 1/2 years ago. Deputy Mayor Jake Pawlak said Friday he had asked the Pittsburgh …
Man Charged With Arson in Colorado Wildfire That Destroyed 29 Homes
A Colorado man was charged with arson after an investigation into a wildfire this summer that destroyed 29 homes and caused more than $30 million in property damage, authorities said. Jason Alexander Hobby, 49, was arrested last week, Larimer County …
Texas is Close to Adopting Revised Oil and Gas Waste Rules
Texas is inching closer to adopting revised oil and gas waste management rules for the first time in four decades. The Railroad Commission of Texas announced the draft rule at its Aug. 15 meeting and is now soliciting public comment. …
People Moves: JM Wilson Promotes Underwriters
JM Wilson, headquartered in Portage, Michigan, promoted several team members in its home office. Kristin Bolhuis was promoted to property and casualty manager. She works with carrier underwriters and independent insurance agents in Michigan and Texas. She began her career …
Michigan State Documents Reveal No New Information on Nassar Abuse Scandal
DETROIT (AP) — Thousands of documents turned over by Michigan State University reveal nothing new about what the school might have known about years of sexual abuse committed by Larry Nassar, the campus doctor who assaulted female athletes, the state …
Low Mississippi River Water Levels Force Barge Companies to Cut Cargo
ST. LOUIS (AP) — The water level of the Mississippi River is unusually low for the third straight year, forcing barge companies to put limits on how much cargo they can carry and cutting into farm profits. It was just …