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The Roman Catholic Diocese of Trenton, New Jersey has voluntarily withdrawn its lawsuit against four liability insurers over coverage for sexual abuse claims brought against the diocese under the New Jersey Child Victims Act.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 …
J&J Talc Evidence Gets Review by Ex-Judge at Drugmaker Law Firm
A retired federal judge will help decide the fate of thousands of Johnson & Johnson baby powder cancer lawsuits even though her law firm represents the drugmaker in other matters. Freda Wolfson was appointed earlier this summer to re-examine how …
13 Charged in Pennsylvania With Selling Luxury Autos Stolen From Florida
Pennsylvania law enforcement officials have charged 13 people in a scheme of reselling luxury autos stolen from Florida. Attorney General Dave Sunday said the central Pennsylvania-based criminal enterprise involved “vehicle title-washing” that turned a profit of more than $1 million. …
Porsches Destroyed by LA Wildfires Get New Life as Stained Glass Art
Ben Tuna is good at transforming rusted-out, patina-eaten wrecks into art. For the past few months, in a nondescript stucco warehouse on a sleepy street in Glendale, California, he has used stained-glass salvaged from sanctuary tableaus to rebuild the windows …
People Moves: Crest Names Gibbs Commercial Lines Broker and Muehlebach General Counsel
Crest Insurance Group hired Easton Gibbs as a commercial lines broker. He most recently served as a screening solutions specialist at Exact Sciences. Gibbs previously played professional football with the Seattle Seahawks and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Crest also named Matt …
Markets/Coverages: New Marsh D&O Enhancement for Clients’ IPO Pursuit
Marsh announced new investment bank indemnification coverage to its directors and officers liability (D&O) insurance offering for clients pursuing initial public offerings (IPOs). The coverage enhancement comes amid growing client demand for more comprehensive D&O protection during the IPO process, …
Illinois Hospital Sued for Religious and Disability Discrimination
Silver Cross Hospital, based in New Lenox, Illinois, violated federal law when it failed to provide a reasonable accommodation to employees who requested to be exempt from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine because of religious and disability reasons, the U.S. Equal …
Missouri DCI Fills Key Leadership Positions
Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance Director Angela Nelson announced she has filled new leadership for the positions of Deputy Department Director, General Counsel, Division Director of Insurance Consumer Affairs, and Division Director of DCI Administration. Gina Clark has returned …
Louisiana Department of Insurance Launches Enhanced Mobile App
The Louisiana Department of Insurance announced it is launching an updated mobile app ahead of peak hurricane season. The updated LDIConnect Mobile App includes a wide range of innovative features to help citizens stay informed, protected and connected during the …
Insurtech Root Swings to Q2 Profit on Growth in Partnership Channel
Root Inc. swung to second quarter net income of $22 million versus a loss of $7.8 million a year ago during the same time. Results build off net income of $18.2 million for Q1 2025, reversing a loss of $6.2 …
Texas Embraces Second-Life EV Battery Innovation for Grid Stability
East of San Antonio in Bexar County, 500 electric vehicle batteries at the end of their automotive lives will soon be repurposed to provide energy storage for Texas’ electric grid, a California company, B2U Storage Solutions, announced last week. The …
California Wildfire Has Burned 96K Acres and Now Threatens 1,500 Structures
A wildfire burning in two counties, now the biggest fire in California this year, is threatening more than 1,500 structures and has burned more than 96,000 acres. The Gifford Fire burning in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara started on …
Human Responses: Did Jurors React to Musk in Damage Award Against Tesla?
During a webinar this week devoted to analyzing possible factors that fueled a $243 million jury verdict against Tesla, a lawyer not involved in the case fielded a question about Elon Musk’s impact. Did animus toward Tesla’s CEO affect the …
4 People Die in Medical Transport Plane Crash in Northern Arizona
A small medical transport plane crashed and caught fire Tuesday on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona, killing four people, the tribe said in a statement. A Beechcraft King Air 300 from the CSI Aviation company left Albuquerque, New Mexico, …
People Moves: Liberty Names Luis VP and Producer in Miami
The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers, headquartered in Gainesville, Florida, has named Guillermo “Guillo” Luis as vice president and producer. Luis, based in Miami, has more than 30 years experience in surety and construction coverage, including time as head of bonding …



