Estee Lauder Sued by Beauty Tech Startup for Alleged Theft
Estee Lauder was sued by a self-described “disruptive” startup that accused the cosmetics giant of effectively putting it out of business by stealing technology to boost sales from jet-setting travelers in hotels. In a complaint filed on Friday night in …
People Moves: EverPeak Insurance Names Kranz President; Arrowhead Intermediaries Appoints Davis as CMO; Owens Joins Alliant as SVP
EverPeak Insurance Names Kranz President EverPeak Insurance created a unified leadership team headed by Kathy Kranz. Kranz most recently served as interim COO at EverPeak. She previously served a long tenure as CFO of Pinnacol Assurance. The new EverPeak Insurance …
Texas Officials Say State Is Ready for Winter Storm
Nearly five years after Winter Storm Uri sparked widespread power outages and killed hundreds of Texans, officials and residents are once more girding for a round of severe winter weather that will blanket large parts of the state. Dangerously cold …
Kentucky DOI Warns Agents to Be Careful Giving Investment Advice
The Kentucky Department of Insurance is reminding insurance agents to be careful when advising clients on securities transactions. State law requires that investment advisors be registered with the state. And when an insurance agent advises a consumer to “sell, surrender, …
People Moves: Cottingham & Butler Names Hessling President; Blessing Named Office President of CRC Group Kansas City Operation
Cottingham & Butler Names Hessling President Cottingham & Butler, headquartered in Dubuque, Iowa, named Mike Hessling as president. Hessling joins Cottingham & Butler from Gallagher Bassett, where he served as CEO of North America. As president, Hessling develops and executes …
Pennsylvania Blocked $227.9 Million in P/C Insurance Hikes in 2025, Says Regulator
The Pennsylvania Insurance Department (PID) said it saved residents $227.9 million by blocking proposed property/casualty insurance premium increases from taking effect in 2025. Through the rate review process in 2025, PID reported that its review of property/casualty (P/C) rate filings …
Appeals Court Allows for Separate Loss-of-Consortium Damages
A Missouri spouse can collect loss-of-consortium damages separate from her husband’s underinsured-motorist benefits, a federal appeals court ruled. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals concluded that an Auto-Owners Mutual Insurance Company auto policy was poorly drafted. Therefore, its ambiguity …
People Moves: Howden Launches US Cyber Practice
Howden today announced the launch of a U.S. cyber practice, with Juliet White hired as head of cyber and Lou Botticelli as cyber brokerage leader. Since May 2022, White has been head of cyber at E&O at Vantage Risk Cos. …
Outlook on Reinsurance Has Changed; Pre-2023 Property Pricing Is Back: AM Best
AM Best’s outlook for the global reinsurance segment is no longer positive, the rating agency announced Monday, citing the uptick in property reinsurance price drops and concerns about casualty reinsurance loss trends. The outlook is now stable, AM Best said …
Risk Advisory Zurich Resilience Solutions Starts Data Center Practice
Zurich Resilience Solutions (ZRS), a risk advisory and engineering service and part of Zurich Insurance, announced the formation of a specialized Data Center Risk Advisory practice, which brings together more than 100 expert risk engineers with experience supporting complex data …
Kalshi Cannot Operate Sports-Prediction Market in Massachusetts, Judge Rules
A Massachusetts judge on Tuesday ruled prediction-markets operator Kalshi cannot let state residents bet on sports through its online platform, after the state’s attorney general accused it of running afoul of gaming regulators. Suffolk County Superior Court Judge Christopher Barry-Smith …
Snowstorm Sparks 100-Vehicle Pileup in Michigan
More than 100 vehicles smashed into each other or slid off an interstate in Michigan on Monday as snow fueled by the Great Lakes blanketed the state. The massive pileup prompted the Michigan State Police to close both directions of …
Severe Convective Storms Become Costliest Insured Peril of 21st Century: Aon
Severe convective storms (SCS) have surpassed tropical cyclones to become the costliest insured peril of the 21st century, according to Aon plc. Total economic losses reached $260 billion — 23% below the 21st-century average and the lowest since 2015, said …
Consumer Group Got $1.4M Intervening in California Rate Filings, CDI Says
California Department of Insurance data show one consumer advocacy group earned $1.4 million in fees last year from a program that pays people and advocates to intervene in rate hearings. Consumer Watchdog received $1,427,280.80 in fees from the state’s inventor …
Travelers Q4 Net Income Up 20% on Underwriting, Lower Catastrophe Losses
Fourth quarter 2025 net income at The Travelers Cos. increased about 20% compared with the same period a year ago, to about $2.5 billion. Underwriting, lower catastrophe losses, and more favorable prior year reserve development bolstered financial results for the …
Wells Fargo to Move Wealth Headquarters to West Palm Beach
Wells Fargo & Co. is moving the headquarters for its wealth-management business to West Palm Beach, becoming the first big bank to run that operation from the heart of the wealth boom in South Florida. The San Francisco-based firm signed …
New Regulations for Texas Hemp Industry Approved
New regulations for the consumable hemp industry were approved by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission on Tuesday, concluding the agency’s involvement in a yearlong effort to more tightly regulate the products in the state. The rules change little for the …
Texas Faces Freeze While Weekend Snow Risks Rise in New York
A massive winter storm will sweep across a huge swath of the US starting Friday, freezing Texas before roaring up the East Coast, where New York City and Boston are seeing a strong chance of heavy snow by Sunday. Air …
Trucordia Continues Expansion With Acquisition of Florida Insurance Inc.
Trucordia, ranking in the top 20 largest U.S. insurance brokerages, has again expanded its reach, this time with the acquisition of Florida Insurance Inc. in Dunedin, near Tampa. Trucordia, based in Lindon, Utah, offers commercial and personal lines and employee …
Insurtech Lemonade Starts Autonomous Car Product With Tesla’s Data
Insurtech Lemonade said it has launched Lemonade Autonomous Car insurance, and will begin with a technical collaboration with Tesla that gives the insurer access to vehicle data. For starters, Lemonade said the new offering cuts per-mile rates for Tesla’s full …



