Contractor Faces $4.6 Million in OSHA Fines After Fatal Trench Collapse
A Massachusetts water and sewer line construction contractor is facing $4,699,362 in proposed penalties for safety violations related to a trench collapse that claimed the life of an employee and seriously injured another at a Cape Cod worksite. A federal …
People Moves: Booher Named President & CEO of CopperPoint Insurance
CopperPoint Mutual Insurance Holding Company named Kellen Booher president and CEO. Booher succeeds CEO and Board Chair Marc Schmittlein, who announced his retirement last year. Schmittlein joined CopperPoint in 2016 and was appointed executive chair of the CopperPoint board of …
Berkshire-Owned PacifiCorp Wins Ruling That Could Reduce Oregon Wildfire Damages
An appeals court on Wednesday ruled in favor of Berkshire Hathaway’s PacifiCorp unit over a series of Oregon wildfires in 2020, saying a trial judge erred in letting litigation against the utility proceed as a class action. The decision by …
Judge Trims Wrongful Death Suit Claims Over Spicy Chip Challenge
A federal judge in Massachusetts has dismissed claims against Walgreens but allowed some claims against the The Hershey Co. and its affiliate food manufacturers Paqui and Amplify Snack Brands, Inc. to proceed in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the …
California Workers’ Comp Bureau Upping Fee for Special Inspections
The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau of California will increase the fee for special inspections from $200 to $500 per location inspected. Special Inspections, conducted at the request of an insurer, broker or agent of record to confirm classifications, are …
Nantucket Flight Returns After Part of Cabin Door Opens Midair
A Cape Air flight departing from the Massachusetts island of Nantucket returned safely after part of the main cabin door opened shortly after takeoff, an alarming midair incident that prompted the crew to turn back. The aircraft remained stable and …
Another State, Tennessee, Warns Insurers About the Proper Use of Drone Images
The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance has joined a few other states in urging insurers to be careful about using aerial imagery in making claims and nonrenewal decisions, following some complaints from homeowners. The department is not aiming to …
Texas Cannabis Businesses Sue State to Block Smokeable Hemp Ban
Texas hemp industry leaders and advocacy groups have sued the state to block new regulations that eliminate natural smokeable hemp products and increase licensing fees. The Texas Hemp Business Council, Hemp Industry & Farmers of America, and several Texas-based dispensaries …
South Dakota Construction Company Sued Over Whistleblower’s Firing
The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against a Valley Springs, South Dakota construction contractor for the wrongful termination of an employee who reported a severe work-related injury. An investigation by the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found …
Waco Business Earns TDI’s Lone Star Safety Award
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has honored Laminate Technologies Inc. in Waco, Texas, with the Lone Star Safety Award for exceptional dedication to protecting its employees through a strong and proactive safety program. This facility’s …
Two Firefighters Killed in Collision During Search for Missing Woman
Two firefighters traveling in a utility vehicle along a Pennsylvania road during a search for a missing woman were killed in a head-on crash with a car, officials said. The two members of the Walnuttown Fire Company died after the …
Google Adds Mental Health Tools to Gemini Chatbot After Lawsuit
Alphabet Inc.’s Google plans to introduce new mental health support features for its Gemini chatbot as the company and rivals, like OpenAI, have faced several lawsuits accusing their artificial intelligence tools of leading to harm. Gemini will add an interface …
California AG Opposing Oil Pipeline Special Permit to Waive Safety Regulation
California Attorney General Rob Bonta is opposing efforts to wave safety regulations for the Sable oil pipeline. Bonta filed a comment letter opposing the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s consideration of Sable Offshore Corp.’s request for a special …
Risk Strategies Claims Ex-Employees’ Talent and Customer Raid Has Cost It $900K
Boston-based specialty insurance broker Risk Strategies Co. is suing two former employees and their new employer for allegedly stealing customers and poaching employees in a scheme the firm says has thus far cost it nearly $900,000 in revenue. On March …
Markets/Coverages: INSTANDA MAX Launched for Commercial Lines Insurers; Novacore Launches Aerospace Segment
Artificial intelligence-enabled program administrator INSTANDA said its launch of INSTANDA MAX enables commercial lines and non-admitted insurers to underwrite tens-of-thousands of complex assets under a single policy at both the portfolio and individual item level in real-time. Patent-pending INSTANDA MAX …
Strong Underwriting, Investment Income Bolster P/C Income in 2025, Says Moody’s
Twenty insurers rated by Moody’s reported net income of $69 billion in 2025, up 29% over 2024, as the combined ratio for the group improved in 2025 to 88.4 from 91.7 the prior year. Losses from the Los Angeles wildfires …
House Explosion in Illinois Kills Three People
An explosion at a Troy, Illinois, house and ensuing fire killed three people. The cause is under investigation. Several homes and buildings on the property were still standing, but the home where the explosion occurred was destroyed, according to media …
Kentucky Insurance Agent Charged With Keeping Church’s Premium Payments
A Kentucky insurance agency owner has been charged with diverting premiums from a church client, and the Kentucky Department of Insurance is investigating other clients. Multiple news sites reported that Glen “David” Ramey, 59, an agent and owner of David …
Texas Coffee Bar Owes Back Wages for 36 Workers Over Tip Pool Violations
A Texas coffee bar and lounge must pay $85,197 for operating an illegal tip pool. The U.S. Department of Labor recovered the back wages for 36 employees after an investigation reportedly found a coffee bar and lounge in Buda operated …
India Plans Sovereign Guarantees for Insurers as Iran War Hikes Shipping Risks: Sources
India is planning sovereign guarantees to support insurers that provide cover for vessels traveling in the Persian Gulf, as the Middle East war increases the risks to shipping, said government and industry sources familiar with the matter. The plan includes …
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