Five Charged in Multi-Million-Dollar Insurance Fraud Case
Five people have been charged in a large-scale insurance fraud scheme involving misrepresented life insurance policies that resulted in fraudulent commissions totaling over $1.4 million. The five, which include a former insurance agent, reportedly fraudulently obtained more than $1.4 million …
FAA Grounds Helicopter Company After Fatal New York Crash
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered New York Helicopter Charter Inc. to cease operations while it conducts a review of the tour operator’s license and safety record following a deadly crash last week. The regulator’s decision, announced on X, came just …
Could Utility Gear Set Your Neighborhood on Fire? California Risk Maps Are 8 Years Old
Weeks after deadly fires swept through Los Angeles County, the state regulator in charge of overseeing utility companies declined a request that would have required California’s largest utilities to update maps showing high fire threat areas. Consumer advocates argued for …
Idaho Bail Agent Convicted of Insurance Fraud for Mishandling Funds
An Idaho man pleaded guilty to one count of felony insurance fraud for diverting fiduciary funds for personal use. Johnny Mateo Robles, Jr. of Twin Falls, pleaded guilty to one count of felony insurance fraud for diverting fiduciary funds that …
Allstate Agent Can Be Sued Over Nonrenewal of ‘Grandfathered’ Flood Insurance Policy
A Connecticut agent for Allstate Insurance may be sued by an insured who faults the agent for not renewing a flood insurance policy in a timely fashion, thereby depriving the insured of the benefit of “grandfathered” lower premiums on flood …
AM Best: Tariff Uncertainty Could Lead to Credit Rating Changes for Insurers
According to AM Best, the balance sheets of insurers can be pressured by the stock and bond market volatility caused by recent tariffs, resulting in financial exposure that could lead to some changes in credit ratings. The industry financial strength …
Ransomware Hits DaVita, Kidney Care Provider Serving Hospitals
DaVita Inc. said it has been impacted by ransomware that had locked down parts of its network. The company, which specializes in providing kidney dialysis to patients at more than 700 hospitals in the US, said in a statement Monday …
People Moves: Arch Insurance Taps Seip From LSM as Head of Fine Art & Specie, Europe; Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Promotes Gormley and Reddin in Ireland
Arch Insurance Taps Seip From LSM as Head of Fine Art & Specie for Europe Arch Insurance announced the appointment of Paul Seip as head of Fine Art & Specie, European Markets, with immediate effect. Seip joins Arch Insurance (EU) …
NAMIC, Big ‘I’ Join Call to Do Away With Federal Insurance Office
The National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America are the latest from the industry to join a call in support of a measure to abolish the Federal Insurance Office. The trade groups …
Hays County, Texas Sheriff’s Office Recovers $220K of ‘Cloned’ GMC Denalis
The Hays County, Texas Sheriff’s Office said it has recovered four stolen trucks with cloned vehicle identification numbers. The Hays County Sheriff’s Auto Theft Unit worked with the Hays County Tax Assessor’s Office and partnering agencies to recover four VIN-cloned …
Trump’s Trade War Is Making US Farmers Anxious About Demand Risk
Josh Yoder, a fifth-generation farmer in Ohio, has been watching gyrations in the crop markets as Donald Trump moved to dramatically escalate his trade war with China this week. Yoder is still an ardent Trump supporter, but he’s also getting …
Arizona Reported 15% Decrease in Vehicle Thefts in 2024
The Arizona Automobile Theft Authority reported that Arizona vehicle thefts decreased by 15% in 2024, marking a second straight year of decline. Data compiled by the AATA’s Auto Crime Tracking shows that Arizona had 17,010 vehicles reported stolen in 2024, …
Brown & Brown Charges Former VP With Poaching Clients, Breaching Agreements
Florida-headquartered Brown & Brown, one of the largest insurance brokerages in the country, this week filed a federal lawsuit against a former vice president, charging him with secretly setting up a competing business and poaching clients. The lawsuit in the …
Lawsuit Alleging Environmental Racism in Louisiana Parish Allowed to Proceed
A civil rights lawsuit alleging a south Louisiana parish engaged in racist land-use policies by placing polluting industries in majority-Black communities can move forward, a federal appellate court says. On Thursday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New …
Cleanup Underway in Keystone Oil Pipeline Spill in North Dakota
Trucks and workers started cleaning up the Keystone oil pipeline spill in rural North Dakota, though its cause and the project timing is unclear. The pipeline ruptured Tuesday morning in southeastern North Dakota and was shut down within two minutes …
Amish Communities Quickly Repair Tornado Damage in Michigan and Indiana
No contractors, no repair estimates, no haggling with the insurance company: After a tornado struck an Amish community in Michigan, the work was underway even before the National Weather Service could assess the damage. Meteorologists make site visits to determine …
Update: UN Shipping Agency Strikes Deal on Fuel Emissions, CO2 Fees
Countries at the U.N. shipping agency struck a deal on Friday on a global fuel emissions standard for the maritime sector, which will impose an emissions fee on ships that breach it and reward vessels burning cleaner fuels. The U.S. …
Arthur J. Gallagher Completes Buy of Woodruff Sawyer
Just over a month since insurance brokerage Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. said it had a definitive agreement in place to buy Woodruff Sawyer for $1.2 billion, the deal is closed. Gallagher said April 10 that the acquisition of San …
Novatae Risk Buys Up Ajax Specialty Insurance in Atlanta
Dallas-based Novatae Risk Management, part of World Insurance Associates, has purchased Ajax Specialty Insurance, a wholesaler based in Atlanta. Andy Bierbaum is the owner of Ajax. He founded the company in 2012 and in 2018 brought in co-owner and partner …
Markets/Coverages: Cyber MGA Resilience Launches Tech E&O Cover in UK and EU
Resilience, the specialist in cyber risk solutions, announced the introduction of coverage for technology errors and omissions (tech E&O) in the UK and Europe, supported through a new partnership with Accredited Insurances. Resilience now offers tech E&O coverage for clients …