Business Insurance articles from December 2003

Business Insurance archives from December 2003

CPCU Society meeting draws 3,800 attendees.(Agent/Broker Topics)(Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Hugh B. McGowan stepped into the role of president of the CPCU Society at the group's 2003 Annual Meeting. Mr. McGowan, who is president and chief executive officer of McGowan Insurance Group Inc. in Indianapolis, replaced outgoing...

Producers face growing risk of mold-related E&O claims; CPCU Society 2003 Annual Meeting.(Agent/Broker Topics)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Agents and brokers who ignore the exposure their clients face from mold risk may some day be held accountable for that oversight, according to an expert on the growing liability. Those who place coverage could...

Hard market beginning to ease for smaller risks; CPCU Society 2003 Annual Meeting.(Agent/Broker Topics)(Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters )
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Cracks are starting to appear in the hard market as property insurance prices weaken and some insurers work to beef up their underwriting volume, a panel of experts said. It's the smaller commercial risks that...

Terrorism coverage poses challenges, opportunities; CPCU Society 2003 Annual Meeting.(Agent/Broker Topics)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Despite the fear and uncertainty that surrounds terrorism, careful insurers can provide coverage for the catastrophic exposure and, in fact, may be able to gain competitive advantages by underwriting it properly,...

Approaches to handling IT exposures vary widely; Culture plays role.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD When it comes to protecting their companies from cyber risks, most risk managers are leaving the nitty gritty work to their information technology departments. How involved risk managers become with IT varies....

Economic factors, cycles buffet insurers: Mooney; 2003 World Captive Forum.(News)(Sean F. Mooney of Guy Carpenter & Company Inc. as a speaker)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD NAPLES, Fla.-Even though insurers are reaping gains from higher prices and improving economic conditions, they have not escaped the inevitability of market cycles or convinced investors that they can consistently...

Taking money out of captive is largely uncharted territory; 2003 World Captive Forum.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD NAPLES, Fla.-Captive parents that want to take money out of the facilities must carefully weigh their options to avoid scrutiny from tax regulators. A panel of experts told attendees at the 2003 World Captive...

Suits a stealth tax on corporations.(Commentary)(taxation without representation)(Column)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann If there's one thing Americans don't like, it's taxation without representation. The antipathy runs so deep that we fought a war of independence over it. And while we haven't perfectly adhered to the idea-some...

IRMI conference to be in Orlando in 2004.(News)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... CHICAGO-The International Risk Management Institute Inc. drew more than 1,200 people to Chicago for its 23rd Construction Risk Conference, which was held Nov. 17-20. The conference featured four full-day seminars, one general session and...

Tough reinsurance market creating big challenges for captive owners; 2003 World Captive Forum.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS NAPLES, Fla.-The current hard reinsurance market is proving particularly troublesome for captive insurance companies, though there are some steps they can take and alternatives they can consider to maximize their...

A/BT perspective: Workforce diversity shaping employee benefit needs; Sensitivity to demographic issues can help producers differentiate themselves.(Agent/Broker Topics)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Alejandra Garza In today's increasingly multicultural world, addressing the concerns of plan sponsors with racially and ethnically diverse workforces can help producers gain a competitive edge. Knowing, for example, that an...

Fighting obesity a win-win.(Opinions)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... OBESITY IS A NATIONAL medical problem, and we think employers that are trying to address it should be commended. As we reported on Nov. 17, employers increasingly are trying to help their workers manage their weight and improve health...

Large risks still paper-based; Smaller commercial placements going online.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN The use of the Internet to place large commercial insurance policies remains more a dream than a reality, and it looks likely to stay that way for some time. The complexity of the transaction, the limitations of...

Brokers searching for benefit solutions; Some see consumer-driven health plans increasing value to clients.(Agent/Broker Topics)
December 1, 2003... Byline: AMANDA L. MILLIGAN Facing another 38% health care premium increase at his organization's July 2003 renewal, Mark Watson, director of personnel for the government of Union County, N.C., had reached a crossroads. Union County...

Builders finding a tough market for umbrella cover; 23rd IRMI Construction Risk Conference.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MEG FLETCHER CHICAGO-Construction companies hoping to find favorable terms and prices on umbrella liability insurance may encounter problems in the market, experts say. "The umbrella market is still a problematic market'' for...

A/BT briefs; Reports offer agents help with sales activities.(Agent/Broker Topics)(The Transition to An Agency Sales Organization-Culture and Process First, Then Technology')(Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America invites Japanese agents to join)(Willis Group Holdings Ltd. opens New York office)
December 1, 2003... ALEXANDRIA, Va.-A new report from the Agents Council for Technology aims to help agents and brokers create a sales-oriented culture. The report, "The Transition to An Agency Sales Organization-Culture and Process First, Then Technology'' is...

Captive forum draws 310.(News)(2003 World Captive Forum)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... NAPLES, Fla.-The 2003 World Captive Forum drew approximately 310 attendees to the Registry Resort in Naples, Fla., Nov. 17-19. The annual conference, sponsored by Business Insurance, The Quest Group of Cos. and Tillinghast-Towers Perrin,...

Hard market, downgrades create challenges for projects; 23rd IRMI Construction Risk Conference.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MEG FLETCHER CHICAGO-The hard insurance market is creating new challenges for the owners of construction projects, contractors and their insurance advisers in finding adequate coverage. Rating downgrades at some insurers have...

High costs, fronting woes prompt captive owners to explore their options; 2003 World Captive Forum.(News)(Panel Discussion)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS NAPLES, Fla.-Difficulties obtaining reinsurance and fronting coverage as well as high costs and stringent collateral requirements when coverage is available are prompting some captive owners to consider other risk...

Panel concurs rates softening.(International)(views of insurance experts at the seminar hosted by Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C)
December 1, 2003... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Rates are softening in many property lines, and the insurance industry has a lot of new capacity, but underwriters are under pressure not to write purely for premium volume, a panel of experts said. It...

Senate puts asbestos reform bill on hold; Delay may give chance to increase support.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Senate majority leader's decision to put off consideration of asbestos liability reform legislation until next March is drawing a mixture of disappointment and hope from those who support a change in...

RMIS options advancing as buyers' needs evolve.(Spotlight: New Technology & Online Solutions)(risk management information system technology)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK The movement toward enterprise risk management is driving change in risk management information system technology. Risk managers increasingly want more than just claims-based RMIS, seeking tools that also do risk...

Comings & Goings.(News)(appointments in insurance industry)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2003... Insurers: Parker W. Rush has been named president and chief executive officer of The Republic Group, based in Dallas. Mr. Rush previously was senior vp, managing director and manager of Chubb Corp.'s business in the southern United States....

School held liable for bullying case; Ruling lowers litigation barrier.(International)
December 1, 2003... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED LONDON-A court ruling in London has lowered one of the legal hurdles for employees seeking compensation for being bullied at work, legal experts say. The Nov. 18 ruling, which awarded u86,487 ($147,300) to a...

Winstonia willing, for a small fee.(the $11.8 billion damage award against ExxonMobil Corp.)
December 1, 2003... Byline: Paul Winston A jury in Alabama last month awarded the state $11.8 billion and change in punitive damages in a dispute with ExxonMobil Corp. We all know it's a big sum; it's a staggeringly large sum. But many people might have a...

Australia may tighten governance rules; Reforms would require greater disclosure by insurers.(International)
December 1, 2003... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY SYDNEY, Australia-Regulators in Australia are considering again stepping up their supervision of property/casualty insurers by requiring higher corporate governance standards, tighter risk management practices and...

Food contamination hazards elude risk management efforts; Hepatitis A outbreak underscores global problem.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK WASHINGTON-Safe food-handling practices-considered the gold standard in restaurant risk management-may not be sufficient to prevent the spread of some diseases, the Food and Drug Administration is warning following...

Rate hikes, lower medical costs boost managed care earnings; But employer patience with pricing may be waning.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Continued double-digit rate hikes helped fuel strong earnings growth for managed care firms in the first nine months of 2003, but observers say that the price increases will likely diminish next year. The hikes...

Same-sex marriage's impact on employers is limited.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS BOSTON-Although the ultimate outcome from last month's Massachusetts Supreme Court ruling endorsing gay marriage is still unclear, the impact on employers' benefits plans is not expected to be great. This is...

World Updates; Dex syndicate to exit Lloyd's.(International)(Munich Reinsurance Co.; Hannover Re Group; Kyoritsu Insurance Brokers of Japan Co. Ltd.)
December 1, 2003... Marine hull insurer Dex said it plans to exit the Lloyd's of London market in 2004 because its syndicate's business plan does not comply with Lloyd's new franchise requirements. Dex's syndicate 2241, managed by Thomas Miller Managing Agency...

Editorial: Delay can help reform bill.(Opinions)(Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act)
December 1, 2003... DELAY OFTEN MEANS doom when it comes to legislation. But in the case of the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, delay is the best-and probably only-way to ensure that a reasonable bill eventually makes its way to the Senate floor....

Greater understanding of cyber exposures fuels growth of coverage.(News)
December 1, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS After four years of limited growth, the cyber insurance market is beginning to take off, insurers and brokers say. Not only have underwriters and brokers gained a better understanding of the exposures associated...

Bermuda's reinsurers see growth; Newcomers growing fastest, study finds.(News)(Industry Overview)
December 1, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS Bermuda reinsurers wrote nearly $34 billion in gross premiums in the first nine months of this year, a 39% increase over the prior-year period, according to data compiled by Benfield Group Ltd. Contributing to the...

Late News; Class-action reform deal reportedly reached.(meshed briefs)(combined ratio improves for U.S. reinsurers; cash balance pension plan legislative battle )
December 1, 2003... Businesses are hailing a reported agreement on class-action reform legislation reached as the Senate adjourned on Nov. 25. Details of the compromise were not available and had yet to be drafted into legislative language, according to sources...

Hartford to buy CNA group benefits book.(News)(Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. to buy CNA Group Life Assurance Co.)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS CHICAGO-As part of its plan to shore up its capital, CNA Financial Corp. will sell its group benefits business-CNA Group Life Assurance Co.-to The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. for about $500 million in cash....

Insurance executives skeptical of chances for asbestos reform; 15th Annual Executive Conference.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW YORK-The battle isn't over for asbestos litigation reform despite the failure of the recent proposal in the last session of Congress, legislative experts say. Asbestos has become the most pervasive issue...

Spherion's Web-based SPD proves engaging.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)(summary plan descriptions on the web)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS When Spherion Corp. decided to update its summary plan descriptions, it wanted to provide employees easier access to the information and give them more than just benefits legalese. The Internet provided the...

Between the Lines; Plaintiffs turn up the heat on Chi-Chi's.(News)(retailers hiring security staff)(cameras spot workers compensation fraud)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik You'd think the victims of the recent hepatitis A outbreak at a Chi-Chi's restaurant in Pittsburgh could find a lawyer closer to home. Instead, they went after Seattle-based Marler Clark, whose...

Self-service, consumerism stressed in benefits info.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: AMANDA L. MILLIGAN The message is clear-employers expect their employees to take a greater interest in their benefits than ever before. To accomplish that goal, benefit communication campaigns are pushing employees toward...

DuPont booklet strikes balance of detail, readability.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD A fine balancing act was needed to develop a booklet describing preventive health benefits available to employees of Wilmington, Del.-based E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. "It took thought, and it took a lot of...

Continental Tire site makes it personal.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)(Continental Tire North America Inc. makes employees' personalized information accessible online)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL When Continental Tire North America wanted to drive home the value of its benefits plans, the company knew that the rubber would meet the road if employees' personalized information were accessible online. ...

Kraft booklet strives for year-round relevance; User guide shows how to get maximum benefits.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)(Kraft Foods Inc.)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Kraft Foods Inc. did not want its 2003 benefits booklet to be shoved into a drawer by employees and quickly forgotten. So the company designed its booklet with a variety of features that make it useful all year...

Johnson & Johnson puts focus on employees' goals.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL Johnson & Johnson's online interactive benefits-orientation program could easily be titled "Benefits 101: What every employee should know to make optimal plan choices.'' "The New Hire Planner,'' the...

IBM benefits enrollment effort urges workers to 'Think Health'.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL IBM Corp. is helping its employees compute the importance of their benefit decisions to themselves and to their employer. The Armonk, N.Y.-based company conducted a survey in 2002 to learn how...

INTEGRIS highlights total rewards.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ROSEANNE WHITE GEISEL INTEGRIS Health's need to recruit and retain high-quality nurses and other employees in a competitive market prompted the company to look at whether it was painting a complete picture of its employee benefits....

ChevronTexaco site helps track benefits.(Spotlight: Benefits Communication & EBC Awards)
December 8, 2003... Byline: MEG FLETCHER ChevronTexaco Corp. launched its disability management Web site to let all 23,000 U.S.-based employees and managers have prompt, online access to the information they need to report and keep track of various types of...

Insurers take aim at regulation; 15th Annual Executive Conference.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW YORK-Cracking down on insurers through stepped-up regulatory action and rating agency downgrades will not help the industry get out of dire financial straits, industry executives assert. Instead, regulators...

Overall market unlikely to soften soon; 15th Annual Executive Conference.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NEW YORK-While rate increases for property/casualty insurance appear to be moderating for some lines, insurance buyers should not expect the overall market to soften any time soon, industry leaders say. In...

California ruling erodes harassment suit defense.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS SAN FRANCISCO-A California Supreme Court ruling eliminates a defense California employers have sought to use against sexual harassment liability and will put their anti-harassment policies and procedures under a...

220 attend conference.(News)(Annual Executive Conference for the Property/Casualty Industry)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... NEW YORK-The 15th Annual Executive Conference for the Property/Casualty Industry was attended by 220 insurance industry executives. The conference, which is produced annually by The Conference Group Ltd. of New York, was co-sponsored this...

New York seeks to limit liability for ferry crash.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Douglas McLeod NEW YORK-New York City is seeking to limit its liability for the fatal October crash of a Staten Island ferry to the $14.4 million value of the ferry's hull. The city, which owns and operates the ferry service,...

Class action reform compromise reached; Legislation awaited.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Although details of the proposal are scant, a class action reform compromise reached on the eve of the Senate's Thanksgiving recess appears to be no turkey, say reform proponents. In fact, the...

Cost-shifting helping lower health inflation.(News)(cost trends in group health care plans)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JERRY GEISEL Group health care plan cost increases are starting to ease, as employers, especially smaller firms, aggressively shift more costs to employees. This year, group health care costs rose by an average of 10.1% to...

Errors & Omissions.(News)(Correction Notice)
December 8, 2003... * A Dec. 1 story on risk management information systems incorrectly referred to catastrophe modeling company AIR Worldwide Corp. by its former name. Boston-based Applied Insurance Research changed its name to AIR Worldwide in May 2002.

U.K. executives rank key risks; Business interruption tops list in 2003.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY Business interruption and the failure to adapt to change are the biggest risks for businesses in the United Kingdom, according to a survey of risk managers and company executives. For its eighth "Biennial Risk...

Poor returns call for industry changes; Taking stock.(News)(review of Insurer Financial Results 2003 by the Insurance Services Office Inc.)(Industry Overview)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Myron M. Picoult The annual publication "Insurer Financial Results'' by the Insurance Services Office is always a treasure trove of statistical information. The 2003 edition was of particular interest to me, as it helped to...

Editorial: California ruling a setback.(Opinions)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 8, 2003... EMPLOYERS AND the courts have made substantial progress over the past several years in curbing sexual harassment in the workplace. Unfortunately for employers in California, though, the high court in that state has decided to ignore the...

Editorial: Move class action reform into light.(Opinions)(Class Action Fairness Act)(Editorial)
December 8, 2003... SOMETIMES, YOU HAVE to beware the light at the end of the tunnel-it might be the light of an oncoming freight train. With that admonition in mind, we certainly hope that a sketchy compromise on class action reform is the real thing, truly...

Most insurers see big profits; But pricing momentum may slow in 2004.(News)(Industry Overview)
December 8, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Most of the major U.S. property/casualty insurers reported gains in nine-month profits from disciplined underwriting and another year of double-digit rate hikes, though observers expect the increases to moderate next...

Court allows suits against tour firm.(International)(Thomson Holidays Ltd.)
December 8, 2003... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED CARDIFF, Wales-Dozens of vacationers, traumatized after their aircraft crash landed, can seek compensation from the tour operator that organized their vacation, without having to first prove liability against the...

Rehab called key to cutting injury costs.(International)
December 8, 2003... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Giving injured employees better access to rehabilitation is necessary to curb the rising cost of employers liability insurance premiums in the United Kingdom and to get injured employees back to work, according...

Marriott settles claim for 9/11 property loss.(News)(Host Marriott Corp.)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Douglas McLeod BETHESDA, Md.-Host Marriott Corp. has agreed to a $370 million settlement of property damage and business interruption claims stemming from the Sept. 11, 2001, destruction of its World Trade Center hotel and damage...

Equitas may boost asbestos reserves again.(International)(Equitas Holdings Ltd.)(Brief Article)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Sarah Veysey LONDON-Equitas Ltd. has warned that it may again need to increase its reserves for asbestos-related claims at the end of the year. London-based Equitas, the runoff reinsurer for Lloyd's of London's pre-1993...

World Updates.(International)(meshed briefs)
December 8, 2003... JLT acquires HLF aviation team Heath Lambert Group P.L.C. has sold part of its aviation portfolio to London-based Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group P.L.C. in a restructuring. The business represents about u12.5 million ($21.5 million) in...

Santa may not be coming to town.(News)(risk management at Santa's North Pole operations)
December 8, 2003... Byline: Paul Winston It's been a rough year for North Pole Inc. Like many other multinationals, this year it has had to contend with rising liabilities, expensive or scarce insurance, restrictive government regulations, health care...

Increased hurricane activity cycle may last decades.(News)
December 8, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Hurricane forecasters at Colorado State University predict that the increased Atlantic basin hurricane activity since 1995 will continue not only next year but also probably for the next two decades. In a report...

Late News; OneBeacon buying Atlantic Mutual books.(meshed briefs)
December 8, 2003... OneBeacon Insurance Co. has agreed to buy Atlantic Mutual Insurance Co. subsidiary Atlantic Specialty Insurance Co. and the renewal rights to Atlantic Mutual's commercial insurance business. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Gross written...

Rx savings may be costly.(News)(study shows some employees not taking required medications)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK New research shows that tiered drug plans are prompting employees to just say "no'' to some maintenance medications, and benefits experts warn that employers' successful efforts to reduce utilization may have...

Weak insurer balance sheets seen for near future; Assn. of Risk & Insurance Managers of Australasia conference.(International)
December 15, 2003... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY CAIRNS, Australia-Rates will remain high for some time, and risk managers and insurers should all stop talking about when they will begin to ease, according to a panel of industry leaders at the annual conference of...

Severability creating new D&O challenges.(Perspectives)(directors' and officers' insurance)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Dan A. Bailey Generally, courts have held that a misrepresentation made by one insured in the directors and officers liability insurance application can void the policy for all insureds, including those who had no knowledge of the...

Collateral rules provide solvency protection.(Perspectives)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Steven A. Bennett The Oct. 27 Business Insurance editorial "Reconsider Collateralization Rules'' failed to address the critical role that collateralization plays in safeguarding solvency in the insurance market. By suggesting that...

COSO gives a good start to implement ERM; Ask a Risk Manager.(Perspectives)(Committee of Sponsoring Organizations enterprise risk management framework document)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Christopher E. Mandel Q: What is the COSO enterprise risk management framework document, and how should risk managers view and potentially use it? A: The Board of the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway...

Legal briefs: Loss of neglected property not 'fortuitous': Court.(Perspectives)(liability for unpaid employer contributions to pension fund)(ITPE Pension Fund vs. Hall)(Johnson Press of America vs. Northern Insurance Co)
December 15, 2003... The collapse of the roof on a policyholder's dilapidated warehouse was not a fortuitous event under a property insurance policy, according to an Illinois appellate court. Johnson Press of America Inc. owned a warehouse in Pontiac, Ill. The...

Comings & Goings.(News)(Liberty Syndicate Management Ltd. names Mark Butterworth chief operating officer)(St. Paul Companies Inc. and Travelers Property Casualty Corp. merger)(Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. names Joseph Boures division president)
December 15, 2003... Insurers The St. Paul Cos. Inc. and Travelers Property Casualty Corp., which have announced plans to merge (BI, Dec. 8), have made several executive appointments. The appointments will become effective on completion of the merger, which is...

Errors & omissions.(News)(Correction Notice)
December 15, 2003... * Due to incorrect information supplied to Business Insurance, a Dec. 8 chart of the largest gains and losses by companies in the BI Stock Index contained errors. A corrected chart appears on page 23 of this issue. * Due to a reporting...

Business-government pairing needed on terror risks; Assn. of Risk & Insurance Managers of Australasia conference.(International)
December 15, 2003... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY CAIRNS, Australia-Australian companies are ill prepared for terrorist risks because of the federal government's failure to pass on critical intelligence, according to Neil Fergus, a plenary speaker at last week's 27th...

Employers can face manslaughter charge in deaths; Australia, Canada, U.K. review laws.(News)
December 15, 2003... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED Companies in the British Commonwealth face an increasing exposure to corporate manslaughter charges when employees are killed, as a result of recent legislative activity around the world. Legislation was adopted...

Spirit of the season slightly skewed.(Commentary)(economic wishes for the New Year)(Column)
December 15, 2003... Byline: Dave Lenckus Weeks ago, this holiday season's spirit of giving set in motion the crass commercialism that many complain defiles the season-but which is such an important component of our economy. In keeping with that kind of...

ARIMA, AIRM merger draws praise, some criticism; Assn. of Risk & Insurance Managers of Australasia conference.(International)(Association of Risk & Insurance Managers of Australasia Ltd. plan to merge with Australasian Institute of Risk Management)
December 15, 2003... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY CAIRNS, Australia-The Assn. of Risk & Insurance Managers of Australasia Ltd. at its recent annual conference approved plans to merge with the Australasian Institute of Risk Management, despite opposition from some...

MMC board makeup assailed; Pension fund shareholders seek to nominate directors.(News)(Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc.)
December 15, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS NEW YORK-Four large pension fund shareholders of Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. are looking to gain more influence over the makeup of the company's board of directors following the improper trading scandal at Putnam...

California weighs comp overhaul; Employers back Schwarzenegger reform package.(News)(reform of workers' compensation plan)
December 15, 2003... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Battle lines are being drawn in California as legislators meet in a special session to weigh an extensive workers compensation reform package proposed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. The...

Time is right for tort changes.(Opinions)(Brief Article)(Editorial)
December 15, 2003... A PERSISTENT criticism leveled against tort reform advocates is that they rely more on anecdotes than on hard data to make their cases. We happen to disagree with that, although we admit that there have been some tort reform horror stories...

Credit report act aids probes.(News)(Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 allows easier employer investigations)
December 15, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD WASHINGTON-Employers will find it much easier to conduct effective workplace investigations of employees suspected of sexual discrimination, harassment, threats of violence, fraud and other wrongdoing under...

Pass pension funding reform.(Opinions)(Editorial)
December 15, 2003... IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT not to be disappointed by Congress' failure to enact stop-gap pension funding reform legislation before adjourning. Legislators have known since early 2002-when they last adopted a temporary reform measure-that they...