Higginbotham Adds South Florida Benefits Agency to Team
Texas-headquartered Higginbotham, one of the largest independent insurance and benefits firms, has added Adams Benefits of Boca Raton, Florida, to its team, the company said in a news release. The move marks an expansion into south Florida for Higginbotham, which …
US Probes Tesla Recall of 2 Million Vehicles Over Autopilot, Citing Concerns
U.S. auto safety regulators said Friday they have opened an investigation into whether Tesla’s recall of more than 2 million vehicles announced in December to install new Autopilot safeguards is adequate. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said it …
NC Agent, Missouri Lawyers Convicted in $4M Tax Shelter, Insurance Scheme
A federal jury on Thursday found a North Carolina insurance agent and two Missouri lawyers guilty on all counts in a $4 million tax evasion scheme that also defrauded an insurance carrier. The jury in Charlotte, said licensed agent and …
Ban on Worker Noncompetes Faces Uphill Legal Battle
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s ban on “noncompete” agreements commonly signed by workers is likely vulnerable to legal challenges, experts said, as some courts have grown increasingly skeptical of federal agencies’ power to adopt broad rules. The commission in unveiling …
Report: Cybercrime ‘A Thriving Business’ as US Claims Frequency Rises
Cyber claims frequency in the U.S. rose 13% last year, a new report shows. According to Coalition’s 2024 Cyber Claims Report, released this week, cybercrime is “a thriving business that adversely impacts” the economy. In 2023, there were more than …
Class Action Opposes Limiting Ship’s Liability for Baltimore Bridge Collapse
A Baltimore small business has filed a class action against the owner and operator of the cargo ship Dali that crashed into the Francis Scott Key Bridge last month. The suit, filed Thursday by the Karen Austin, the founder of …
Missouri House Backs Legal Shield for Weedkiller Maker Facing Cancer Lawsuits
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The manufacturer of a popular weedkiller won support Wednesday from the Missouri House for a proposal that could shield it from costly lawsuits alleging it failed to warn customers its product could cause cancer. The …
Central US Braces for Severe Weather Outbreak
An active weather pattern could bring destructive tornadoes, heavy rains, large hail and strong wind gusts to parts of the central United States over the next several days, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service and Accuweather. Two strong …
Judge Won’t Dismiss Lawsuits Against Travis Scott Over Deadly Astroworld Concert
HOUSTON (AP) — A judge has declined to dismiss hundreds of lawsuits filed against rap star Travis Scott over his role in the deadly 2021 Astroworld festival in which 10 people were killed in a crowd surge. State District Judge …
Here’s Why Experts Don’t Think Cloud Seeding Caused Dubai Flooding
With cloud seeding, it may rain, but it doesn’t really pour or flood — at least nothing like what drenched the United Arab Emirates and paralyzed Dubai, meteorologists said. Cloud seeding, although decades old, is still controversial in the weather …
US Revives Net Neutrality to Establish Authority Over Internet
US regulators reinstated net neutrality rules that aim to ensure everything on the internet is equally accessible, reclaiming authority over broadband service and setting the stage for legal challenges. The Federal Communications Commission’s Democratic majority adopted rules that bar broadband …
Lockton Re: Hypothetical Cyber Event Offers Carriers an Opportunity to Review Risks
A simulated cyber catastrophe highlights the benefits and problems cyber insurance carriers will encounter as a result, according to a report released by Lockton Re. The report, “A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities: Preparing for Ivan Wiper,” focuses on the consequences of …
Price or Safety? Priorities Change for Small Businesses After a Workers Comp Claim
Previous workers’ compensation claims can present an opportunity for agents serving small-business clients. The Hanover’s “2024 Small Business Risk Report: A Focus on Workers’ Compensation,” which surveyed 300 small business owners, found that a workers’ compensation claim experience can influence …
EU Should Revisit Bank and Insurer Capital Rules: French President Macron
French President Emmanuel Macron called on Thursday for a revision of how Europe applies minimum capital rules to banks and insurers so that they are not too risk-averse and Europe is put at an economic disadvantage. The Basel Committee of …
Employer Can’t Deny Comp Claim in Shooting Then Argue Immunity, Court Says
An employer cannot deny a workers’ compensation claim on the grounds that a shooting injury was not work-related then turn around and argue it has immunity from a tort lawsuit because the incident happened at work, a Florida appeals court …
Family of Nigerian Businessman Killed in Helicopter Crash Sues Charter Company
The family of a Nigerian business leader who died in a Southern California helicopter crash that killed five others in February filed a lawsuit claiming the flight should have been grounded because of treacherous weather. Relatives of Abimbola Ogunbanjo, the …
Boston Agent Charged With Creating Fake Insurance Policies to Collect Commissions
A Boston man has been charged with a fraud scheme in which prosecutors say he collected about $45,000 in unearned sales commissions on insurance policies he created using personally identifiable information stolen from individuals. The state attorney general’s office announced …
Orion180 Launches Homeowners Insurance in Arizona
Orion180 is expanding its homeowners insurance services to Arizona under a push by the company into the Western U.S. Orion180 currently operates in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina through its two insurance carriers. The company …
Connecticut M&A Advisor Agrees to Pay $1.5M to Settle Data Breach Class Action
Merritt Healthcare Advisors, a Connecticut mergers and acquisitions (M&A) advisory firm for healthcare practices, has agreed to a $1.525 million settlement of a class action stemming from a 2022 data breach. The money will go into a fund to compensate …
Jury Rejects Sex Abuse Claims Against Virginia School System by Former Student
A jury on Wednesday rejected a woman’s lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars from Virginia’s largest school system over allegations that she was raped multiple times as a middle schooler. The woman, who was identified in court papers only …
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