Ten Texas Counties Have Soot Levels Above EPA Standards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday finalized a long-anticipated rule aimed at reducing the level of air pollution known as particulate matter — microscopic particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and harm people’s health. Reducing air pollution …
Rio Tinto Faces Pressure From Investors Over Water Contamination Claims
Global mining giant Rio Tinto, which sparked outrage after destroying an ancient Indigenous site in Australia in 2020, faces new pressure from socially conscious investors and lenders, this time on water practices at two of its mines. A group representing …
Texas Supreme Court Rules to Cut Out Attorney’s Fees in First-Party Appraisals
The Texas Supreme Court recently ruled that when an insurance company pays an appraisal award plus any statutory interest in a weather-related first-party property case, there is no liability for attorney’s fees. The court responded to a certified question from …
Minnesota Officials: Lodge That Burned Had Unresolved Inspection Violations
Minnesota regulators said on Feb. 7 that a historic lodge destroyed in a fire had three unresolved violations from a recent fire code inspection, but it wasn’t clear if those violations played a role in the blaze. A staffer at …
Two Dead After Plane Crash on Florida Interstate
NAPLES, Fla. (AP) — A pilot and co-pilot were identified as the two killed in a fiery plane crash on a Florida highway, law enforcement officials said. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office identified Edward Daniel Murphy, a 50-year-old pilot and …
Prime Insurance Avoids $60M Judgment in Liposuction Death Case in Georgia
Prime Insurance Co. is not liable for $60 million in damages after two patients died following liposuction at a Georgia clinic, thanks in part to the clear wording of the insurance policy and timely action by the insurer, a federal …
APCIA Urging No to Utah’s HB 144 Bill on Right of Way
The American Property Casualty Insurance Association wants Utah senators to vote no on HB 144, a bill the APCIA says is confusing and could be interpreted as a drivers’ right of way on a green light is absolute. “Utah senators …
People Moves: BenefitMall Adds Perea to Northern California Team
BenefitMall named Carmen Perea as sales executive for Northern California. Perea has more than two decades of industry experience. Before joining BenefitMall in December 2023, Carmen worked as an account executive at Dickerson Insurance Services, An Alera Group Company, and …
Not Interviewing, Hiring Deaf Job Applicant Cost Distributor $1.6 Million
A seven-person jury in Syracuse, New York, returned a $1.675 million verdict last week in a disability discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of a job candidate who is deaf. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the complaint against …
10 Cars of Cargo Train Carrying Cooking Oil, Plastic Pellets Derail; 2 Land in Hoosic River
Ten cars of a cargo train carrying plastic pellets and cooking oil derailed in upstate New York, with two ending up in a river, authorities said. The cars, part of a 94-car train operated by Berkshire & Eastern Railroad, derailed …
Venbrook in California Expands Student Insurance
Venbrook Group LLC and Student Insurance announced the expansion of their accident coverage program for student-athletes attending universities in California. The Student Athlete Insurance Network is a partnership with Anthem Blue Cross established in 1993, supplying coverage for all students …
Chicken Processing Plant Fined $393K for Endangering Ohio Employees
A chicken processing plant – with a long history of violations ‒ continues to ignore federal safety regulations and expose workers to multiple hazards while they process chickens for commercial sale, federal inspectors found. Inspectors with the U.S. Department of …
Louisiana Furniture Retailer Settles Race Discrimination Lawsuit for $105K
A furniture retailer and lessor based in Louisiana has agreed to pay a former employee $105,000 to settle a race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the federal agency announced. Affordable Rent-to-Own, LLC, doing business …
Court Orders Texas Adjuster to Cease Using Lloyd’s Trademarked Names
A Texas public adjuster committed willful infringement when he formed a corporation and a limited liability company with the names “Certain Underwriters at Lloyds London, Inc.” and “Certain Underwriters of Lloyds London,” a U.S. district court ruled on Feb. 7. …
Amazon Steers Consumers to Higher-Priced Items, Lawsuit Claims
Amazon.com was sued in a proposed U.S. class action accusing the online retailer of violating a consumer protection law by steering hundreds of millions of shoppers to higher-priced items in order to earn extra fees. According to a complaint filed …
AM Best Says Losses from California Storms Largely Uninsured, Underinsured
The economic losses from the latest round of California storms will be significant, with many of these losses may not be insured because only 2% of California residents have purchased flood insurance, David Blades, associate director, industry research and analytics, …
Top AI Companies Join Government Effort to Set Safety Standards
The top US artificial intelligence companies will participate in a government-led effort intended to craft federal standards on the technology to ensure that it’s deployed safely and responsibly, the Commerce Department said Thursday. OpenAI, Anthropic, Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc. …
Owens Corning to Buy Tampa-based Masonite International for $3.9 Billion
(Reuters) – Owens Corning said on Friday it will buy door maker Masonite International for $3.9 billion in an all-cash deal, as it looks to beef up its home-building portfolio and expand its reach. Owens will acquire all outstanding shares …
Alabama Lawmakers Push Sweeping Bill That Would Allow Lottery and Casinos
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A group of Alabama lawmakers unveiled a sweeping gambling bill Wednesday that could authorize a state lottery and 10 casinos across the conservative Deep South state as some Republicans look to get the question before voters …
People Moves: Mitsui Sumitomo EU Appoints Rodden as Interim CEO, Rebrands as MSIG UK; Gallagher Re Promotes Dowlen to Managing Director EMEA
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance (Europe) and Gallagher Re. A summary of these new hires follows here. Mitsui Sumitomo (Europe) Appoints Rodden as Interim CEO, Rebrands as MSIG UK Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. …