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Today's Headlines

 
December 18, 2020
 
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National

 

Hospital Charges Rise Despite Fewer Visits to Emergency Rooms

Auto casualty claimants are avoiding hospital emergency rooms during the COVID-19 pandemic but are generating increased hospital charges...
 

From Insurers to Landlords, Retailers to Restaurants, COVID Reshapes Economies

It would be just a temporary precaution. When the viral pandemic erupted in March, employees of the small digital insurance firm Thimble...
 

COVID Vaccine Rollout Spurs Demand for Extra Insurance Coverage

LONDON - Speedy global delivery of COVID-19 vaccines by air and sea in ultra cold conditions will lead to a jump in cargo insurance rates...
 

Insuring Cannabis Summit: Industry at Diversity Crossroads

Editor's note: This is part of a series of articles based on panels and presentations during Insurance Journal's 2020 Insuring Cannabis...
 

SEC Lawsuit Alleges Biotech Firm, CEO Misled Investors About COVID-19 Tests

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission sued Decision Diagnostics Corp. and its chief executive for allegedly misleading investors by...
 

National Labor Board Says Amazon Illegally Fired Protesting Employee

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday alleged Amazon.com Inc. illegally fired an employee this year who was raising alarm...
 

Origami Risk Tools Track COVID-19 Vaccinations, Outbreaks

Origami Risk, a risk, safety and insurance software as a service (SaaS) technology firm, has developed new online tools for healthcare...
 

Openly, High-End Home Insurance MGA, Secures $40M for National Expansion

Openly, an insurtech managing general agency for high-end homeowners insurance, raised $40 million of venture capital from multiple...
 

Report: Despite Pandemic-Driven Emission Redux, We're Headed to 3-Degrees Warming

A new report finds that despite a brief dip in carbon dioxide emissions caused by the pandemic, the world is still heading for a...
 

Frequency of Cyber Events Targeting Businesses Increasing: Travelers

Nearly one in four respondents (22%) out of more than 1,200 business leaders surveyed in 2020 Travelers' Cyber Risk Index said their firm...
 

Allyship: How to Keep the Momentum Going Beyond the Headlines

We all need allies--and nowhere is that more true than in the cut and thrust of the workplace. A workplace ally is an...
 
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Put up some big numbers.
 
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New member agencies share in that success.
 
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East

 

Federal Court Advances COVID-19 Business Income Suit Despite Virus Exclusion

A federal district court in Virginia has ruled that a spa's COVID-19-related business income loss lawsuit can move forward despite a...
 

'If Not One Thing, It's Another': Storm Rolls into Northeast

A major snowstorm rolled into the Northeast on Wednesday at a key moment in the coronavirus pandemic, days after the start of the U.S....
 

AssetSure Hires Karlunas as Vice President, Personal Insurance Practice Leader

Independent insurance agency AssetSure has hired Ted Karlunas as vice president and Personal Insurance Practice leader. In this role,...
 

Risk Strategies Acquires New York's FBA National

Risk Strategies, a privately held, national insurance brokerage and risk management firm, has acquired FBA National, a specialist in...
 
More East News »
 
 

Midwest

 

Michigan's J.W. Wilson Adds Cole; Promotes 4 in Underwriting Posts

Insurance broker and managing general agent JM Wilson has hired Laura Cole as assistant fleet underwriter in its Portage, Mich.,...
 

Worker Dead After Fall at Michigan Sugar Beet Processing Plant

A man who was helping clean a chute at a sugar beet processing plant in Michigan's Thumb region fell about 120 feet to his death,...
 

Hammond, Indiana, to Pay $80.75K to Resolve Disability Discrimination Charge

Hammond, Ind., has agreed pay up to $80,750 and furnish other relief to resolve a federal disability discrimination finding. The U.S....
 

Iowa Police Chief Sues Law Enforcement Academy Over Toxic Gas Leak in 2018

A police chief is suing the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy for injuries he suffered from a 2018 carbon monoxide leak that exposed dozens of...
 
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Understanding Business Income
 
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Southeast

 

Tornado Causes Damage, Leaves Thousands Without Power in Florida

A tornado damaged vehicles and buildings on Wednesday while leaving thousands without power in Florida's Tampa Bay area, authorities...
 

Fire Kills 240K Chickens at Florida Farm

A fire early Thursday killed as many as 240,000 chickens at a Florida farm operated by one of the nation's largest egg producers. The...
 

4 Georgia Firms Form Southeast-Focused Oakbridge Insurance Agency

Four retail insurance brokers - Founders Insurance, Hutchinson Traylor Insurance, McGinty-Gordon & Associates, and Waites & Foshee - have...
 

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Expands Accountants Policy Into Georgia

Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies has added Georgia to the list of states where it company offers its Accountants Professional...
 

Desjadon to Retire from Florida Peninsula; Adkins to Succeed

Roger L. Desjadon, CEO of Florida Peninsula Insurance family of companies, will retire next year. Desjadon is a co-founder of Florida...
 
More Southeast News »
 
 

South Central

 

Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Texas Benefits Broker, PIATX

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. has acquired San Antonio-based PIATX LLC. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2009, PIATX...
 

Lawmakers: Insurance Disputes, Slow Response Hinder Louisiana Storm Recovery

Southwest Louisiana lawmakers on Dec. 16 criticized the insurance industry's handling of claims from Hurricanes Laura and Delta,...
 

2 Dead in Louisiana Salt Mine Ceiling Collapse

Two people died when the ceiling in a salt mine fell in Louisiana, authorities and the mine operator said. A portion of the ceiling in a...
 

9 Appeals Court Judges Recuse Themselves in Louisiana Church Sex Abuse Suit

All nine judges in Louisiana's Second Circuit Court of Appeal have recused themselves from a sexual abuse lawsuit against the Catholic...
 
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Our Agents Were a Bright Spot in 2020
 
Thank you for doing so much to make a safer, stronger Texas and for giving us every reason to look forward to a healthy and prosperous 2021.
 
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West

 

Oregon Judge Allows Suit Filed by 29 Women to Proceed Against Ex-Doctor

A judge has denied a request by a former suburban Portland, Ore. doctor to put a two-year hold on a civil case filed against him by 29...
 

$1M Settlement in Pricey California Beach Hotel Dispute

The owners of a Santa Monica beachfront hotel built without proper permits have agreed to pay $1 million in penalties and restitution to...
 

Topa Insurance Group in California Names Eyre to Board

Calabasas, Calif.-based Topa Insurance Group has named William Eyre to the board of directors. Eyre has more than 40 years of experience...
 
More West News »
 
 

International

 

COVID Vaccine Rollout Spurs Demand for Extra Insurance Coverage

LONDON - Speedy global delivery of COVID-19 vaccines by air and sea in ultra cold conditions will lead to a jump in cargo insurance rates...
 

Climate Change Poses Much Greater Existential Risk for the World Than COVID-19

Similar to the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change ultimately will be managed by "bending the curve" of temperature rises and greenhouse...
 

S. African Insurer Guardrisk Will Not Challenge Court Ruling on COVID-19 Claims

JOHANNESBURG - South African insurer Guardrisk will not further challenge a court process that has found it liable to pay clients'...
 

Brexit Trade Talks Reach Impasse with Both UK and EU Demanding Compromise

BRUSSELS/LONDON - The European Union said on Friday there were just hours left to strike a Brexit trade deal while Britain called on the...
 

Judgment in UK COVID Business Interruption Appeal Will Be Handed Down in January

LONDON - There will be no judgment in an appeal over business interruption insurance this year, Britain's markets watchdog said on...
 

COVID-19 Fuels Abandonment of Ships - and Their Cargoes and Crews

From the deck of their tanker, Captain Samig Nabiyev and his crew could see the smoke and fire rising over the Port of Beirut, 900 meters...
 

Willis Towers Watson Partners with Polecat Intelligence on Emerging Risk Analysis

Willis Towers Watson, the global advisory, broking and solutions company, announced a partnership with Polecat Intelligence Ltd,, a...
 

AXA XL Names Marsh's Barker to Lead Aviation Insurance Business in Canada

AXA XL has appointed Alex Barker to lead its aviation insurance business in Canada. Barker will report to Eric Donofrio, chief...
 
More International News »
 
 
 
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Business Income Insurance Demystified
 
Business income coverage is arguably one of the most important coverages your commercial clients should have. Get THE book on the subject.
 
Get the Book
 
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Research and Webinars

 
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How the Best Agencies Stand Out

Independent agencies today face an increasingly commoditized market, with new competitors constantly on the rise, and technology...
 
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Seismic Changes Ahead for D&O Insurance Segment

AM Best expects that the Directors and Officers (D&O) segment will soon undergo radical changes based on an examination of...
 
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Real world examples of the modern insurance agency

Let's face it—the distribution channel has treated carriers, agents, and customers well in the past, but the digital world we...
 
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Building the Bionic Insurer: Coming out of Covid-19 Better, Faster, Stronger

Even before COVID-19, insurers struggled to keep up with increasing demand and disconnected, inadequate technology. Read the...
 
More research and webinars »
 
 

Insurance Journal TV

 
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ICS20 Soundbite: Capacity, Vaping Among Issues in Cannabis Industry Going Forward

Norman Ives, a wholesale insurance broker at Worldwide Facilities LLC specializing in custom...
 
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EP. 2: Forget the Stars, Insurers are Shooting for the Cloud

Recent research shows that more insurers are taking advantage of cloud technology for data...
 
Watch more videos at InsuranceJournal.tv »
 
 

Reader Comments

 

Zurich and Farmers Agree to Buy MetLife's U.S. P/C Business for $3.94 Billion

Posted: Fri Dec 11 -- You take two pieces of bread and jamming it together and you still have no meat....Farmers was a disaster after the AIG PL purchase. I guess... Sandwich
 

EEOC Releases Updated Guidance on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Employment Laws

Posted: Wed Dec 16 -- This and other reports go into detail on the subject of, If an employer requries vacinations. However I have really not seen anything... Mark B
 

Free Shots, Cash Bonus, Firing. Employers Weigh How to Get Employees Vaccinated

Posted: Fri Dec 11 -- Another way to read the headline is Good, Bad, Worst. Other than health officials, who are now delegating with unbelievable and... Mr. Integrity
 

Impact of Coronavirus on U.S. Economy Could Be $3-$5 Trillion Over 2 Years: USC Study

Posted: Mon Dec 14 -- Correction to the Headline: "Impact of Government Over-reaction on U.S. Economy Could Be $3 to $5 Trillion . . ." For those who approve of... craig cornell
 

Don't Force Employees to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine: Viewpoint

Posted: Wed Dec 16 -- Absolutely yes, employers should mandate that all their employees take the COVID-19 vaccination. Barry Rabkin
 
Go To Popular Comments »
 
 
 
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