Business Insurance articles from February 2004

Business Insurance archives from February 2004

Asbestos reform bid renewed amid debate over plan's terms.(Spotlight: Claims Management)
February 2, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD Congress is gearing up for another run at the mother of all mass tort claims. After falling short last year in efforts to create a national asbestos compensation fund, the U.S. Senate is expected by this spring...

Pennsylvania seeks to limit surplus of four Blues plans.(News)
February 2, 2004... Byline: LAURA B. BENKO Addressing a long-running controversy, Pennsylvania insurance regulators have moved to cap the amount of cash the state's four nonprofit Blue Cross & Blue Shield plans can stash away for a rainy day. The state...

Cities vow to maintain Canadian Rx reimports; Undaunted by FDA threats against reimportation companies.(News)
February 2, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ WASHINGTON-Officials for two U.S cities that are currently reimporting prescription drugs from Canada have vowed to continue despite the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's latest efforts to curb the practice. ...

Avoiding interrupted coverage; Buyers find business interruption market still tight.(Spotlight: Claims Management)
February 2, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS As the tight property insurance market further constricted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, a group of energy companies concluded the time had come to form a mutual insurer to cover their significant...

Tech vendors focused on enhancing existing tools.(Spotlight: Claims Management)
February 2, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD What is old is new again in claims management technology for self-insured employers. Complex and expensive systems developed in recent years to help self-insureds or their third-party administrators manage...

We've got deja vu, all over again.(Commentary)
February 2, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann Monday is Groundhog Day-a holiday of rather obscure origin that commands national attention for a day or two between the Super Bowl and the NCAA basketball tournament. The event-the modern version of which appears...

With market thaw, I say, 'Gopher it!'.(News)
February 2, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston Given the weather situation in the Northeast this past week, air traffic delays and road hazards almost prevented me from getting back in time for the Big Show. You're probably surprised to learn that Punxsutawney...

U.K. legal system blamed for big rate increases in employers liability.(International)
February 2, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Huge rate increases for employers liability insurance in the United Kingdom in recent years have produced a "critical'' situation for British businesses, according to the head of the Confederation of British...

Holocaust claims program progressing toward goal; ICHEIC planning to settle majority of disputed decades-old claims by 2005.(Spotlight: Claims Management)
February 2, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER After a long struggle to develop a fair process for resolving Holocaust-era insurance claims, an international program is starting to win some praise for its efforts and hopes to conclude the majority of its work this...

Comings & Goings.(News)(Canopius Managing Agents Ltd)
February 2, 2004... Insurers New York-based American International Group Inc. has named Kevin Hogan as the senior executive responsible for the cooperative business relationship with China's PICC Property & Casualty Co. Ltd. Mr. Hogan, who will be based in...

Use of captives for benefit funding to surge: Survey.(News)
February 2, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL Spurred on by significant cost savings, more employers are planning to fund employee benefit risks through their captive insurance companies, according to a new survey. Right now, only a handful of employers around...

Benefits programs aim to keep more moms in the (work) family; Employees hope to retain trained, talented employees.
February 2, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD IBM Corp. executive Janet Fischer is a big fan of her company's maternity leave program. Ms. Fischer has used the program three times, including taking nine months off after the birth of twins six years ago. And...

D&O [directors and officers] liability rate increases showing signs of moderation; Tillinghast survey finds decrease in capacity.
February 2, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN The directors and officers liability insurance market, though still hard, is showing some signs of stabilization, according to a report released last week. The percentage of respondents who faced premium...

Brokers adapt to new attitudes on corporate governance.
February 2, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS With a new emphasis on corporate governance and new standards set by the New York Stock Exchange, large publicly held insurance brokers, like most of Corporate America, are moving toward more independent boards of...

Editorial: New chance for asbestos reform.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
February 2, 2004... AFTER A NEAR-DEATH experience, asbestos liability reform is about to re-emerge as a legislative issue in the Senate. We certainly welcome its revival. As we report on Page 3, an initiative to replace the current litigation-based system...

Despite security concerns, coverage available for Iraq; More buyers seeking policies for Iraq risks.
February 2, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED and MICHAEL BRADFORD Iraq may appear to be one of the riskiest places on earth to do business today, but brokers and underwriters say they are helping many organizations to protect employees, equipment and other...

Editorial: Pension bill better than none.(Editorial)
February 2, 2004... GIVEN THE CHOICE between a somewhat flawed pension funding reform bill and no bill at all, we think the best course of action is quick congressional approval and presidential signing of the measure. As we report on page 1, a congressional...

World Updates; U.K. premium volume nears $260 billion.
February 2, 2004... The U.K. insurance industry generated total life and nonlife premium volume of u161.2 billion ($257.92 billion) in 2002, up 2.3% over the previous year, according to a study by International Financial Services London. Gross premiums written in...

British Airways among U.K. employers seeking ways to ease pension funding; Airline looking at further pension plan changes.
February 2, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-British Airways is considering further changes to its pension plans as part of an effort to cut its overall operating costs. The London-based airline last week said that, as part of an effort to trim u300...

KWELM creditors agree to close runoff of insurers ahead of schedule.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Creditors of the KWELM group of companies have voted in favor of closing the runoff of the five collapsed London market insurers ahead of schedule. Under the early closure plan, creditors would receive the...

Sears scales back defined benefit, retiree med access.
February 2, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.-Sears Roebuck & Co., once a symbol of corporate benefits generosity, is phasing out its defined benefit plan and is cutting back its retiree medical benefits. The Hoffman Estates, Ill.-based...

Pension bill moves to committee; Funding relief measure draws veto warning.
February 2, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Despite a veto warning, stop-gap pension funding reform legislation that could cut employers' pension contributions by tens of billions of dollars over the next two years is headed to a congressional...

Equitas reaches Halliburton asbestos deal for $575 million.(Brief Article)
February 2, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Equitas Ltd. has reached a $575 million settlement with Halliburton Co. over the energy company's asbestos claims against certain Lloyd's of London syndicates. The deal will resolve the largest remaining...

Judge rejects reorganization, citing unfair asbestos deal.
February 2, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD WILMINGTON, Del.-Bankrupt asbestos defendant ACandS Inc. says it will fight a judge's decision to reject its reorganization plan on the grounds that the plan was unduly influenced by asbestos plaintiffs' lawyers and...

Late News; ExxonMobil to appeal revised punitive award.
February 2, 2004... ExxonMobil Corp. will appeal a federal judge's decision to increase punitive damages levied against the oil company in connection with the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off Alaska. U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland increased a punitive...

Employees aid in cost cutting; 2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference.
February 9, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NEW YORK-Several companies have significantly cut the rate of increase of their health care costs by encouraging employee involvement in health care decisions and offering incentives for healthier lifestyles. ...

Employee surveys aid in tailoring plans; 2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference.
February 9, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NEW YORK-Several companies are using employee surveys to tailor benefit packages, incorporating the benefits employees value most while attempting to reduce benefit costs. Dr. Miles Snowden, director of health...

American Benefits Council plan takes aim at rising health costs; 2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference.
February 9, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NEW YORK-The president of the American Benefits Council presented a 10-year plan to reduce health care costs, provide more Americans with quality health care and ensure that more than 90% of nonelderly Americans...

'Pollution exclusion' definition still elusive.
February 9, 2004... Byline: Deborah Deitsch-Perez and William A. Brewer Because of the enactment of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 and the large damages and cleanup requirements that can be imposed under it,...

Workers comp fraud reports increasing; Dramatic rise in compensation claims, higher legal, medical costs affect industry.(Column)
February 9, 2004... Byline: Derrick Amato and Tewabe Joro Ayenew Can't find affordable workers compensation insurance? You are not alone. There's been a dramatic increase in fraudulent workers comp claims-up to 40% to 50% higher in 2003 alone, according to...

Book review: 'Kimchi' dishes up recipe for global success.(Book Review)
February 9, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann "The Kimchi Matters'' By Marvin Zonis, Dan Lefkovitz and Sam Wilkin Agate Publishing, distributed through Consortium Book Sales & Distribution 1045 Westgate Drive St. Paul, Minn. 55114 ...

Interested in submitting an article for the Perspectives section of BI?(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Business Insurance accepts articles from experts in commercial insurance, risk management and employee benefits management for publication in its Perspectives section. The section is intended to be a forum for readers' opinions and a forum...

P/C accounting obscures current profitability.(Column)
February 9, 2004... Byline: Howard C. Alper A version of this article originally appeared in the June 27, 1988, edition of Business Insurance, and the concept is as sound today as it was then. It doesn't make much sense to assume a commercial property...

Products & Services; Liberty Mutual introduces Family and Medical Leave Act compliance product.
February 9, 2004... BOSTON-The Liberty Mutual Group has designed an administration tool to help benefit managers comply with federal and other Family and Medical Leave Act requirements. The Boston-based company offers a dedicated unit and proprietary database...

20 years later, Employers Reinsurance Corp's role in General Electric may be near end.
February 9, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD OVERLAND PARK, Kan.-Employers Reinsurance Corp. is not expected to remain a General Electric Co. subsidiary over the long term. Although ERC is expected to remain under GE's umbrella for at least the next two...

Between the Lines; Boys in blue (movies).
February 9, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik A San Diego police officer has been given the green light to sue his employer for wrongful termination even if his off-duty activities are considered off color by the department. The 9th U.S. Circuit...

Soaring drug costs spur benefit changes; 2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference.
February 9, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ NEW YORK-The rising cost of prescription drugs has forced employers to implement a variety of cost-control strategies. Benefit managers described their efforts to overhaul their prescription drug programs at the...

Bad-faith lawsuits challenging exclusive-remedy provisions.
February 9, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS Bad-faith lawsuits by injured workers against workers compensation insurers and self-insured employers are rare, but recent legal cases show ongoing attempts to circumvent state exclusive-remedy laws. The...

Cash balance rules spark controversy; Treasury proposes conversion mandate.
February 9, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Employers that convert their pension plans to cash balance plans would be hit with a new and unprecedented benefit mandate if a Treasury Department proposal becomes law. Released last week at a Treasury...

Bush revives proposal to ease 401(k) testing.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Byline: Jerry Geisel WASHINGTON-The Bush administration is recycling an earlier proposal to make it easier for 401(k) plans to pass a basic nondiscrimination test and, as a result, for highly paid employees to defer to the plans. As...

World Updates; U.K. bans former execs over accounting.
February 9, 2004... The United Kingdom's financial services regulator has banned six former insurance executives from working in the U.K. market for their role in misrepresenting company accounts. The six individuals were all, at varying times, directors of...

Cedents, reinsurers face growing tension over asbestos losses.
February 9, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD Insurers' relationships with reinsurers will become increasingly strained as huge asbestos and other liabilities trigger coverage disputes and threaten potentially large unrecoverable reinsurance balances, Standard &...

Editorial: Medicare program on the mend.(Editorial)
February 9, 2004... ONE DOESN'T NEED a Ph.D. in economics to understand a basic economic principle: If a business takes in less in revenues than it pays out in expenses, eventually it will exit the market. That is exactly what happened to many companies...

AIDS/HIV hurting employers.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Byline: Sarah Veysey Increased employee benefit costs, lower productivity and increased absenteeism are among the biggest effects HIV and AIDS are having on businesses in South Africa, a study reveals. A survey of 1,006 South African...

FDA forces policy changes on drug import programs.(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ TEMPLE, Texas-Three companies that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accused of facilitating the illegal reimportation of prescription drugs from Canada say they will inform their members that they must deal...

Allianz to pay HIH liquidator to end spat over joint venture.
February 9, 2004... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY SYDNEY, Australia-Allianz A.G. Holding has agreed to pay $120 million Australian ($90.0 million) to settle its financial obligations stemming from a joint venture it entered with HIH Insurance Ltd. prior to the...

Status of weather hedges debated.
February 9, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER A dispute is heating up over a proposal by state insurance regulators that temperature-related weather risk hedges be reclassified as insurance products and their sale be limited to state-regulated insurers. ...

New risks are just new opportunities.
February 9, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston The history of commercial insurance is truly one of innovation and creative response to risk. That continues to be true today, as new risks emerge and present new opportunities. From its early days, insurance has...

Clubs' missed financial goals hitting insurers; Woes put finance deals in question.
February 9, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED Several insurers have become embroiled in the financial problems of some of Europe's cash-strapped soccer clubs. The soccer deals that have left insurers exposed to some large losses take two principal forms,...

Conference draws 250 attendees.(News)(2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference)(Brief Article)
February 9, 2004... NEW YORK-About 250 people attended the 2004 Annual Employee Healthcare Conference, held Jan. 29-30 at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. "Benefiting from Experience-the Next Wave in Employee Healthcare'' was the theme of the event,...

Armstrong World Industries Inc. challenges panel ruling.
February 9, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD PHILADELPHIA-Bankrupt Armstrong World Industries Inc. has asked a federal judge to vacate an arbitration award that would deprive it of $40 million in coverage for asbestos bodily injury claims under policies written...

Late News; Mutual Risk Management Ltd. sues John Hancock Life over reinsurance dispute.
February 9, 2004... Mutual Risk Management Ltd. is charging in a lawsuit that John Hancock Life Insurance Co. intentionally refused to pay reinsurance claims in an effort to force financially troubled MRM to renegotiate the reinsurance treaties' terms. From 1992...

Tort reform efforts not confined to United States.(Litigation Reform.)
February 16, 2004... Despite the global appetite for U.S. exports ranging from entertainment to business services, the U.S. tort system remains decidedly an acquired taste. Even though many tort systems are far less generous than their U.S. counterpart, some-like...

Q: At which level of government are tort reforms best aimed?(Litigation Reform.)(Column)
February 16, 2004... Craig Berrington Senior Vp and General Counsel American Insurance Assn. Washington The American judicial system needs reform at the federal and state levels. For example, a federal approach makes sense to make sure that...

Comings & Goings.(News)
February 16, 2004... Agents/Brokers: Thomas Hicks Armor has been appointed managing director of brokerage Synaxis Killebrew Lyman & Woodworth in Chattanooga, Tenn. Before joining Synaxis, Mr. Armor was president and chief executive officer of Galaxy Health...

Q: What aspect of society is hurt the most by our current legal system?(Litigation Reform.)(Column)
February 16, 2004... Jeff Driver President American Society for Healthcare Risk Management Chicago All of us-as patients in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices and long-term care facilities-suffer due to inequities that result when plaintiffs...

Q: Are businesses doing enough to promote tort reform efforts?(Litigation Reform.)(Column)
February 16, 2004... Ken Crerar President Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers Washington Frankly, the business community could do a better job of building relationships with legislators who can make a difference on these issues. The problem is...

Tort reform opponents tout rights of plaintiffs; Access at issue.(Litigation Reform.)
February 16, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS If it ain't broke, don't fix it, say tort reform opponents. In fact, they claim that tort reform is unnecessary because the existing legal system works well and does what it's supposed to, which is to give...

Movement began with med mal crisis in early 1970s.(Litigation Reform.)
February 16, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN It all began with the medical malpractice crisis of the early 1970s. A spike in liability insurance costs led physicians to seek relief from some legal liability they thought had been unfairly imposed upon...

Challenges in passing reforms show value of simple approach.(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)
February 16, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Simplicity is a virtue when it comes to enacting federal tort reform legislation. Carefully targeted bills stand a much better chance of passage than sweeping measures, legal observers say. But reformers also...

Courtrooms playing role in reforming tort system; Gavels hold clout.(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)
February 16, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Limiting unimpaired plaintiffs' access to the courts. Forcing plaintiffs to meet tougher evidence standards. Restricting punitive damage awards. Curbing joint-and-several liability. Tort reform advocates have seen...

Q: What single tort reform would have the most beneficial impact on reducing the cost of our civil justice system?(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)
February 16, 2004... Dr. Richard E. Anderson Chairman and Chief Executive Officer The Doctors Co. Napa, Calif. Limits on pain- and-suffering awards, now intangible, incalculable and unpredictable, would eliminate the element of destructive...

Q: What must reform advocates do to improve their strategies?(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)(key legal minds respond to the question)
February 16, 2004... Ted Boutrous Partner Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher Los Angeles Tort reform advocates should set three top priories-establishing limits on punitive damages, setting limits on noneconomic damages and limiting state class actions...

Texas, Florida watching effects of med mal reforms.(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)
February 16, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD In a tale of two states' medical malpractice reforms, proponents in one are calling it the best of times, while those in the other say that not much is likely to change. While tort reformers can claim success...

Employer concerns slow growth in mandatory ADR.(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)
February 16, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS The number of employers mandating alternative dispute resolution for workplace disputes is not growing, despite employers' success with such programs. Although mandatory arbitration agreements have helped save...

Protection & Indemnity rate hikes seen 'til 2006, but breaks likely for good risks.
February 16, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Although most protection and indemnity clubs plan to raise rates at Feb. 20 renewals to offset poor underwriting results, shipowners with favorable loss experience still might find some pricing flexibility,...

Hull committee focuses on safety of shipyards.(International)(Joint Hull Committee created JH 143)
February 16, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-A series of shipyard accidents in recent months is prompting London marine underwriters to request more detailed risk information from the facilities when issuing or renewing hull insurance policies. The...

Medicare Advantage federal funding boost renews plans' interest.(News)(Cover Story)
February 16, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-The potential of Medicare managed care plans to cut employers' costs, while providing retired workers with richer benefits, is looking brighter thanks to a big infusion of government money. Earlier this...

Miller joins BI staff in London bureau.(News)(Peta Miller)(Business Insurance)(Brief Article)
February 16, 2004... LONDON-Business Insurance has added to its editorial staff in London. Peta Miller has joined the magazine as an associate editor. Ms. Miller will report on risk management and employee benefit issues for both the weekly newsmagazine...

The "Stella Awards" for 2003.(Spotlight: Litigation Reform)(recognize the most outrageous lawsuits of the year)
February 16, 2004... The Stella Awards recognize the most outrageous lawsuits of the year. The awards-named for Stella Liebeck, who was awarded $2.9 million in compensatory and punitive damages for spilling McDonald's coffee on her lap (an amount later slashed by a...

Election risks tough to manage.(Commentary)(Editorial)
February 16, 2004... Byline: Dave Lenckus A staunch Republican friend and I, an equally rabid independent, were discussing Democratic primary results and Bush administration policies. We conjectured what all that might mean in the November elections and how...

Colorado Springs votes against partner benefits, going against trends.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.-The recent Massachusetts Supreme Court rulings allowing gay couples to marry had very little influence over the Colorado Springs City Council, whic voted last week against offering health care...

Council attempting to overturn remaining countersignature laws.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Council of Insurance Agents & Brokers hopes that lawsuits it filed in federal court last week will overturn the nation's last remaining countersignature laws. That's a sentiment shared by risk...

Cash balance rules a first step.(Opinions)(in regulating defined benefit pension plans)
February 16, 2004... WE HOPE THAT a new Treasury Department proposal for regulating cash balance pension plans is a first step that will lead, finally, to clear and definitive rules. Certainly, the most significant position Treasury has taken is that cash...

Editorial: Business has a rare reform chance.(Opinions)(Editorial)
February 16, 2004... ARE BUSINESSES DOING enough to promote meaningful tort reform? That's a critical question addressed by a group of experts on page 26 as part of our "Crisis in the Courts'' Spotlight report. While opponents of civil justice reform would say...

Chance for class action reform is better in House than Senate.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Class action reform probably has the best chances of any of three major tort reform initiatives in this Congress, according to the chairman of the House of Representatives' Judiciary Committee. But...

World Updates; Premium volume grows in London market.(International)
February 16, 2004... The London company market wrote premiums of more than u5.56 billion ($9.92 billion) in 2003, up 32.4% over 2002, according to the International Underwriting Assn. The Ins-Sure back-office bureau, which processes most of the premiums and claims...

LTD market still competitive, but some trying to raise rates.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS Although some group long-term disability insurers are striving to raise rates, employers for now can avoid large premium increases, brokers say. A competitive marketplace and the ease of changing providers...

Pool Re competition exemption debated; Opinions vary on whether benefits of government-backed reinsurer outweigh its drawbacks.(International)
February 16, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER LONDON-Not all in the U.K. insurance industry agree with the provisional conclusion of the Office of Fair Trading that the benefits of the United Kingdom's government-backed terrorism reinsurer continue to outweigh any...

U.K. pension guaranty fund draws mixed employer reviews.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Employer groups have given a mixed reception to the U.K. government's outline of a proposed fund to protect the benefits of pension plan participants. Legislation to create a guaranty fund, the Pension...

Consumer-driven plans evolving, poised to grow.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Although the growth of consumer-directed health plan participation has been slow compared with that of managed care plans when they were introduced in the early 1970s, federal legislation permitting health savings...

Privacy issues creating dilemma for employers; Policies on access can head off intrusion charges.(News)
February 16, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Safeguarding employee privacy demands a fine balancing act from employers. On the one hand, employers want to ensure employees' right to privacy for moral, ethical and legal reasons. On the other, they must...

Road to hell paved with bad lawsuits.(News)(courts are doing their part to prevent bad lawsuits)(Editorial)
February 16, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston It always warms the cockles of my heart when bizarre lawsuits are dismissed. It affirms that the courts are doing their part to ensure that justice is not hijacked by the greedy. In recent weeks, a couple doozies were...

WTC trial takes form; Stakes high as sides present arguments.(World Trade Center trial)
February 16, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-Lawyers for Silverstein Properties Inc. and a dozen insurers offered clashing views of the World Trade Center's $3.5 billion property insurance program last week as a long-awaited trial got under way to...