Business Insurance articles from May 2003

Business Insurance archives from May 2003

Universal disagreement; Employers divided on Blue Shield exec's health care proposal.(News)(Bruce Bodaken)
May 5, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Opinions vary as to whether employers would favor a universal health care proposal by Blue Shield President and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Bodaken, though there is a consensus that such a plan is unlikely to be...

Administration stymies pension change effort; No new valuation rule recommended.(News)(Bush administration, pension liabilities)
May 5, 2003... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-The Bush administration's unwillingness to make a permanent recommendation on how employers should value pension liabilities comes as a blow to business groups, which have been vigorously lobbying the...

Comings & Goings.(News)(Business insurance industry staff change briefs)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Agents/Brokers: Mark A. Mallonee was named executive vp of Willis Group Holdings Ltd.'s National Construction Practice. Mr. Mallonee most recently served as president of AIG Global Surety. He is based in Willis' San Francisco office. ...

U.K. oversight of Lloyd's at issue; European Parliament may review panel's findings.(News)(Lloyd's of London)
May 5, 2003... Byline: Neil Hodge BRUSSELS, Belgium-A European Parliament committee is considering whether to submit its report on the adequacy of U.K. regulation of Lloyd's of London in the 1970s to the full legislature for debate. The report was...

Legion litigation delays guaranty fund payouts; MRM battles Pennsylvania liquidation.(News)(Legion Insurance Co. and Mutual Risk Management Ltd.)
May 5, 2003... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD LOS ANGELES-A California court's liquidation order against Legion Insurance Co. is a small measure of good news for the state's policyholders, who are now eligible for state guaranty fund coverage of claims that have...

World Updates.(International)(Business insurance industry briefs)
May 5, 2003... Munich Re names new chairman Nikolaus von Bombard, a member of the management board of Munich Reinsurance Co., will succeed Hans-Jurgen Schinzler as chairman of the reinsurer on Jan. 1, 2004. Mr. von Bombard currently oversees Munich Re's...

Editorial: Sensible pension formula needed.(Opinions)(Editorial)
May 5, 2003... WE ARE DISAPPOINTED at, though mildly sympathetic to, the Bush administration's decision to delay formally recommending a new method for employers to value their pension plan liabilities. It has been clear for some time, as administration...

Gesundheit!(News)(Allergies hit the workplace in several ways)(Column)
May 5, 2003... Byline: Paul Winston No doubt someone is sneezing as they read this. Someone is probably trying to see the words on this page through eyes that are watery, itchy and bloodshot, while someone else may be sitting immobile, hoping that the...

Coverage unclear for SARS losses; Is the virus a pollutant?(News)(severe acute respiratory syndrome)
May 5, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS As the deadly SARS virus continues to spread in China, shutting down schools, museums, libraries and local businesses, it remains unclear whether commercial insurance policies would respond should a similar outbreak...

Garamendi urges comp reform.(News)(California insurance commissioner John Garamendi)
May 5, 2003... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS SACRAMENTO, Calif.-Employers and insurers say they approve of the California insurance commissioner's call for changes that would help fix the state's ``broken'' workers compensation system. John Garamendi,...

Keep collateral intact.(Opinions)(National Association of Insurance Commissioners is urged to lower collateral requirements)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... European reinsurers are lobbying the National Assn. of Insurance Commissioners to lower current collateral requirements for assumed U.S. business. To that we say, not so fast. The NAIC's Reinsurance Task Force is reviewing proposals to...

Insurers embrace risk management; ERM approach benefits customers.(News)(enterprise risk management)
May 5, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS Like a growing number of companies in other business sectors, many insurers are beginning to embrace enterprise risk management, seeing the approach as good management and an element of sound business strategy. ...

Apportionment applied to lead paint lawsuit.(News)(Public Service Mutual Insurance Co. must pay most of the settlement)
May 5, 2003... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-Insurers must contribute to a lead paint liability settlement based on their time on the risk, according to a New York appeals court ruling that applies an apportionment theory previously used in pollution...

Errors & omissions.(News)(Correction Notice)
May 5, 2003... * An item about a universal health care coverage proposal in the April 21 Products & Services column listed an incorrect telephone number. Copies of the report can be purchased from Brian Sinclair-Whitely by calling 727-585-0663 or by writing...

One-size-fits-all for airline cover; E.U. may reconsider rule.(International)(Brief Article)
May 5, 2003... Byline: NEIL HODGE BRUSSELS, Belgium-The European Commission Transport Committee published a draft regulation proposal last week that would lighten the insurance burden for smaller airlines. The draft regulation is an amended version...

Cedents seeking collateral for reinsurance recoveries; NAIC reviews new study of proposal's impact.(News)(National Association of Insurance Commissioners)
May 5, 2003... Byline: MEG FLETCHER Efforts by some ceding companies to collateralize their reinsurance recoverables in a time of credit concerns are putting a different light on state insurance regulators' deliberations over a proposal to relax...

U.K. risk managers lament; Lack of board-level support for standard feared.(International)
May 5, 2003... Byline: NEIL HODGE LONDON-U.K. risk managers' efforts to build a risk-aware culture in their organizations are being hampered by the conservative attitudes of company boards, which tend to regard insurance as the answer to most exposures,...

Government puts drug makers on notice; Enforcement of drug marketing rules could lower costs for employers.(News)
May 5, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL PRINCE WASHINGTON-Guidance issued last week by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services may help employers' efforts to combat rising prescription drug costs. The guidelines, which essentially clarify what is...

Redlining becomes less of an issue for agents, brokers; Consistency aids in avoiding allegations.(Agent/Broker Topics)
May 5, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN Consistency may be the hobgoblin of little minds, as Ralph Waldo Emerson put it, but it can also help insurers and agents alike to avoid allegations of redlining. Like many other things bad and good, redlining...

Late News.(Business insurance news briefs)
May 5, 2003... Aon unit targeted in harassment class action A group of female employees alleging sexual harassment and sexual discrimination by Aon Corp.'s insurance subsidiary filed a brief in federal court supporting their motion for class action status...

Modeling may put surety risks in capital markets; Bundling, securitizing exposures could help ease turmoil in market.(Spotlight)
May 5, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS Looking for a way to ease the turmoil in the surety market, one group examining the issue has developed a capital markets-type approach to modeling surety risk that could pave the way to bundling and securitizing surety...

SARS fears put airline insurers in a bind; Reduction in travel could prompt premiums to be reduced.(International)(severe acute respiratory syndrome)
May 5, 2003... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED The crippling impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, on airlines will also affect their insurers and could result in rate increases at the next renewals, brokers say. If a marked downturn in...

Health plan model faces long road.(Commentary)(Column)
May 5, 2003... Byline: Joanne Wojcik In an ideal world, things are supposed to work in practice the way they are presented in theory. Such is not the case with the so-called ``consumer-driven'' health plan model. I've tried to be an educated...

Fronting losing luster as market shrinks.(Spotlight)
May 5, 2003... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS With fronting arrangements costly and difficult to obtain, captive owners and participants are finding alternatives. In an effort to reduce their costs, both single-parent captive owners and policyholder...

Slow but steady growth marks risk securitization; Cat bond issuance sets new record.(Spotlight)
May 5, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS The market for securitizing insurance risk continued its trend of slow, steady growth in 2002, with the vehicles gradually becoming a less expensive way to transfer risks and some issuers bringing innovations to the...

Use of captives provides niche solutions.(Spotlight)
May 5, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Risk managers are finding their captive insurers are useful for solving some unique risk financing problems. Businesses looking to cover risks that traditional insurers won't accept are using captives to...

Cities take on new attraction; Industry following population growth.(Agent/Broker Topics)
May 5, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS The insurance industry is waking up to the fact that more opportunities than risks lie in inner cities. For years, urban communities have been viewed as bad risks by the insurance industry due to the perception...

How to make it big in the city.(Agent/Broker Topics)(What it takes for insurance agents and brokers in urban markets to be successful is discussed)
May 5, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS With an abundance of opportunity waiting for agents and brokers in the urban markets, just what does it take to be successful? Insurance agents in the inner city say success lies in being able to mirror the...

Entrepreneur's tenacity breaks gender, race barriers.(Agent/Broker Topics)(E.G. Bowman Co. Inc. founder Ernesta Procope is profiled)(Biography)
May 5, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK If she were a betting woman, Ernesta Procope would probably say she was a longshot. The odds were certainly against a black woman succeeding in business in the poverty-stricken Brooklyn neighborhood of...

Brain injuries merit specialized treatment.(Perspectives)
May 12, 2003... Byline: Martha H. Eggleston and Mark J. Ashley Today, more than ever, employers are faced with the challenge of reducing and managing injuries in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Catastrophic injuries represent less than 10% of...

Recent rulings on airline liability a mixed bag; Aviation Insurance Assn. 27th annual conference.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS ORLANDO, Fla.-Airlines and aviation industry manufacturers walked out of many courthouses last year with important victories, but a couple of rulings could open up some liability problems for them, according to a...

In defense of securities litigation defense.(Perspectives)
May 12, 2003... Byline: John J. Degnan It's time to reverse a very troubling pattern of abusive, outrageously aggressive and, in some cases, downright dishonest conduct on the part of the plaintiffs bar in class action securities litigation. I make...

Air limo services wait to take off; Aviation Insurance Assn. 27th annual conference.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS ORLANDO, Fla.-Nearly halfway through the U.S. aeronautics agency's five-year program of developing new technology designed to revolutionize and stimulate the air limousine industry, an agency official appealed to...

Proposed group health option draws praise and criticism.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The ranks of the uninsured could shrink considerably if all parties involved in the issue were to accept a shared responsibility to deal with it, according to the head of a private foundation that...

Hines symposium panelists to focus on D&O challenges; Experts discuss preserving scope, price of cover.(News)
May 12, 2003... CHICAGO-Helping organizations manage their directors and officers liability exposures and coverage challenges will be the focus of the 2003 Harold H. Hines Jr. Memorial Symposium in Chicago. This year's symposium, "Juggling D&O Risks,''...

Products & Services; Gallagher unit markets med mal.(Briefs)
May 12, 2003... KANSAS CITY, Mo.-Doctors in three states have a new market for medical malpractice liability insurance coverage. Healthcare First, a division of Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.-Kansas City Inc., will market and administer the coverage, which is...

Capital a concern for London; Aviation Insurance Assn. 27th annual conference.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS ORLANDO, Fla.-Several factors are driving a wholesale change in the London commercial aviation insurance market to keep investors happy and ensure capital adequacy, according to an official with a major underwriter....

Conference draws 498.(News)(Aviation Insurance Association Educational Conference and Membership)(Brief Article)
May 12, 2003... ORLANDO, Fla.-A record 498 aviation insurance professionals attended the 27th annual Aviation Insurance Assn. Educational Conference and Membership meeting in Orlando, Fla., April 26-29. Broker Robin M. Skevington was honored with the...

'Oracle of Omaha' pleased with company insurance operations; Blasts others' participation in credit enhancement business.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS OMAHA, Neb.-Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s insurance operations are on solid footing and performed "extraordinarily well'' during this year's first quarter, Warren Buffett, Berkshire's chairman and chief executive officer,...

Colo. brownfields project not covered for asbestos; Policy exclusion bars coverage.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK DENVER-One of the nation's most well-known brownfields redevelopment projects has no insurance to cover the removal of asbestos that was discovered in recent weeks at the site, the former Lowry Air Force base in...

Between the Lines.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik Insuring retro `nerd mobiles' Not only have the AMC Pacer and other 1970s "nerd mobiles'' become today's automotive kitsch but they've also become easier to insure as collectibles, according to...

Violence in the workplace on the rise; Training, zero tolerance can prevent aggression.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL PRINCE An increase in on-the-job tension stemming from rising layoffs and crashing retirement accounts is fueling an increase in workplace violence, experts warn. While this trend is bad news for employers, experts say...

Asbestos tort reform bill expected shortly.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The U.S. Senate could move closer to a legislative solution to the nation's asbestos liability problems within the next few days. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, has...

Plumbing the Net for the real news.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: Paul Winston On any given day, I can take the pulse of the nation by logging on to the Internet to see what people are reading and e-mailing to others. The online feature, http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=index2&cid=964,...

State passes rate-banding bill; Consumer group slams Colorado move.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK DENVER-The Colorado Legislature's effort to shore up the shrinking small-group health insurance market may also benefit large employers in the state. Under a measure the Legislature passed last week, insurers can...

U.K. disability rights group seeks protection for people with progressive illnesses; Government urged to move swiftly.(International)
May 12, 2003... Byline: NEIL HODGE LONDON-A legal loophole that allows U.K. employers to discriminate against people with conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis must be closed immediately, the Disability Rights Commission said last week. ...

Directory of captive domiciles now available at BI Web site.(News)
May 12, 2003... The Directory of World Captive Domiciles that appeared in the March 10 issue of Business Insurance is now available as a searchable database in the directory area of www.businessinsurance.com. The database lists domiciles that offer...

IRS affirms use of health care debit cards; Official guidance is likely to give a big boost to debit card adoption.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Internal Revenue Service guidance on using debit cards for flexible spending and health reimbursement accounts is likely to spur wider adoption of the cards. In Revenue Ruling 2003-43, the IRS, for the...

Twister losses hit insurers; Claims from scores of tornadoes expected to mount.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Insurers are facing a big payout for losses caused by more than 100 deadly tornadoes that ripped across the Midwest and into the Southeast last week. The storms killed at least 42 people and injured hundreds...

inreon pulls plug on online trading; Lack of demand forces shutdown.(International)
May 12, 2003... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY and NEIL HODGE LONDON-inreon Ltd., the online reinsurance trading platform, is shutting down, saying it has not seen the number of transactions it expected. London-based inreon was launched in December 2000 by the...

Lloyd's agency to recruit names; Hampden seeking limited liability investors.(International)(Hampden Agencies Ltd.)
May 12, 2003... Byline: NEIL HODGE LONDON-Lloyd's of London's largest members' agent, Hampden Agencies Ltd., plans to recruit new names for the first time in 18 years in a bid to raise capital to support Lloyd's syndicates. With an aggressive...

Market to stay firm awhile; Most insurer CEOs see rates easing after 2004.(News)(according to survey from American Re Corp.)
May 12, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Insurance company executives say they are determined to make an underwriting profit, though many also expect the hard market to last only for another year or two, an American Re Corp. survey concludes. Meanwhile,...

Editorial: Asbestos reform bill due.(Opinions)
May 12, 2003... SENATE JUDICIARY CHAIRMAN Orrin Hatch is a patient man. Since early in the current congressional session, the Republican senator from Utah has been trying to get the participants in the debate over the best way to reform the broken asbestos...

Update more benefit rules.(Opinions)
May 12, 2003... THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT wisely recognizes that technology can cut the hassles associated with administering employee benefit programs. As we report on page 4, the Internal Revenue Service has OK'd the use of debit cards to pay for health...

World Updates.(International)
May 12, 2003... Trenwick seeks buyer for Lloyd's operation Trenwick Group Ltd. is seeking investors to take over its ownership stake in its only active underwriting operation, Lloyd's of London company Trenwick Managing Agents Ltd. Trenwick has hired...

WTC coverage dispute widens; Silverstein sues insurers over property near twin towers.(News)
May 12, 2003... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-World Trade Center leaseholder Silverstein Properties Inc., already embroiled in litigation over property coverage for the WTC's twin towers, has launched a new lawsuit against insurers of another building...

Late News.
May 12, 2003... The New Hampshire insurance commissioner is seeking to place The Home Insurance Co. in liquidation after determining that the defunct insurer is insolvent by nearly $700 million. Commissioner Paula T. Rogers filed a petition in New Hampshire...

Editorial: Pension reform needed.(Opinion)(Editorial)
May 19, 2003... WHEN IT COMES to Enron Corp.-inspired 401(k) reform legislation, we hope history does not repeat itself in Congress. Last year, congressional action on 401(k) safeguards seemed likely when the Republican-controlled House-with significant...

Interpretations may, uh, differ.(Commentary)(Column)
May 19, 2003... Byline: Rodd Zolkos It was with some disappointment that I read last week that officials in Multnomah County, Ore., have decided against hiring Klingon language interpreters. As most Americans waited in breathless anticipation to see...

Datebook.(insurance industry, risk management events)(Calendar)
May 19, 2003... June June 1-4. Insurance Accounting & Systems Assn. Annual Conference and Business Show in Denver; $905 for members and $1,710 for nonmembers. IASA, 919-489-0991. June 1-3. Annual Insurance Seminar in New York, sponsored by Standard &...

Managed care company earnings still strong; Medical costs in first quarter were lower than expected.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD Ongoing health care rate increases continued to bring pain to employers and profits to most managed care companies in the first quarter of 2003. But one factor that helped boost managed care companies' results...

Comings & Goings.(insurance industry appointments and promotions)(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... Brokers: Bruce Abernathy has been promoted to senior vp from vp at The Daniel & Henry Co. in St. Louis. Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has made several senior appointments: Duncan Ashurst, John Roskopf and David Thompson have joined...

P/C rates still rising, but signs suggest some easing: Buyers.(property/casualty insurance)
May 19, 2003... Byline: GAVIN SOUTER BOSTON-Insurance rates are still rising in most lines, but there are some signs of a softer market ahead, a panel of risk managers said. Although risk managers are still seeing their consolidated premiums increase,...

OSHA launches 5-year plan; Goal is to cut worker injuries, fatalities.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's plan to reduce workplace fatalities and extend its reach into new workplace safety territory is drawing generally favorable responses from employers....

Court tells insurers to pay now for future asbestos liabilities; Insurers to appeal $189 million awarded to trust.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS LOS ANGELES-Several London and U.S. insurers plan to appeal a California jury verdict that compels them to pay the Fuller-Austin Asbestos Settlement Trust nearly $189 million to cover a portion of the facility's...

Insurers benefiting from automation of processes.(Insurer Topics)
May 19, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS Insurers are finding there are numerous benefits to be gained by moving various aspects of their business into the digital realm. Increased efficiency, greater productivity and improved customer service are among...

Insurers confront legacy of outdated systems; Companies assess the costs, benefits of upgrade vs. replacement.(Insurer Topics)
May 19, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS For insurance companies wrestling with information technology issues, the thorniest problems often involve what to do with legacy systems. "Organizations are trying to upgrade, enhance or move out of their legacy...

With plan in hand, Unks is ready to go; New PRIMA president to emphasize external marketing campaign, education.(Spotlight)(Ruth A. Unks' plans as new president of the Public Risk Management Association)
May 19, 2003... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS From refocusing professional education offerings to bolstering the public image of the association and profession, to evaluating association governance, Ruth A. Unks is planning a busy year as the new president of the...

Public entities seek to cut event liability; Hold-harmless pacts, cover common.(Spotlight)
May 19, 2003... Byline: Joanne Wojcik While public entities that lease out party facilities require event holders to enter into hold-harmless and indemnification agreements, most-but not all-also require users of their facilities to buy liability...

Pension reform bill moves to Senate.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Enron Corp.-inspired 401(k) reform legislation once again is moving to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. The House of Representatives, on a 271-157 vote, last week approved legislation...

Hartford shores up defenses; Insurer boosts reserves, cuts costs to keep liabilities and profits in line.(News)(Hartford Financial Services Group)
May 19, 2003... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD HARTFORD, Conn.-The massive size of Hartford Financial Services Group Inc.'s $3.91 billion gross asbestos reserve increase took many insurance analysts by surprise, though rating agencies generally reacted favorably...

E.U. pension funding ruling could affect U.K. plans; Experts say measure contradicts current requirements in the United Kingdom.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: BEATRIX PAYNE LONDON-U.K. pension funds could be forced to take a major step backward under new funding rules adopted by the European Parliament. Pension experts fear the rules would force U.K. plans to be 100% funded at all...

Amid uncertainty about harm, schools address mold problems.(Spotlight)
May 19, 2003... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS The uncertainty surrounding mold contamination and public safety has schools and universities across the country erring on the side of caution. This means not only putting more emphasis on indoor air quality...

Investments, medical inflation plague workers compensation.(News)(Brief Article)
May 19, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK BOCA RATON, Fla.-Although the workers compensation insurance industry's combined ratio improved by 12 points, to 110%, in 2002, the industry is still hurting because of lower investment returns, medical inflation and...

Symposium focuses on D&O.(News)(directors and officers liability insurance)
May 19, 2003... CHICAGO-Helping organizations manage their directors and officers liability exposures and coverage challenges will be the focus of the 2003 Harold H. Hines Jr. Memorial Symposium in Chicago. This year's symposium, "Juggling D&O Risks,''...

CBO lowers estimate of uninsured; Budget office says many lack insurance temporarily.(News)(Congressional Budget Office)
May 19, 2003... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The commonly cited figure of roughly 40 million Americans lacking health insurance overstates the truth, at least in regard to the long-term uninsured, according to a new government study. Instead,...

Pension liabilities cause less concern in Europe.(News)
May 19, 2003... Byline: SYLVIANE de SAINT-SEINE "Old Europe'' can be slow to reform, but that has advantages when it comes to companies' pension liabilities. Many U.S. employers, notably in the labor-intensive auto industry, are suffering from huge...

IT Briefs.(Insurer Topics)(information technology news for insurance firms)
May 19, 2003... GE Frankona Re offers product recall guide MUNICH, Germany-In response to the rising number of product recalls in manufacturing industries and their impact on insurers and reinsurers, reinsurer GE Frankona Re is offering an online version...

Public use of defibrillators leading to risk concerns.(Spotlight)
May 19, 2003... Byline: MEG FLETCHER The increasing number of state and federal laws that encourage the installation of easy-to-use Automated External Defibrillators in public areas is creating some new challenges for public entity risk managers who want...

IT Perspective: Increasing the efficiency of program business.(Insurer Topics)(Web-based technology provides insurers control over program business and helps ensure compliance with regulations)
May 19, 2003... Byline: Dave Pedersen Want to put a lot of profitable premiums on the books fast? Get with the program. Programs can take off fast by providing comprehensive, well-priced property/casualty coverage for homogeneous businesses, such as...

Life insurance M&A activity to heat up: Survey.(Insurer Topics)(mergers and acquisitions among life insurance companies)
May 19, 2003... Byline: RODD ZOLKOS While the pace of mergers and acquisitions among life insurance companies has been slow in recent years, there are several factors that indicate it should pick up in the near future, a new survey by Tillinghast-Towers...

Views vary on social use of alcohol while on the job.(Spotlight)
May 19, 2003... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK When Metro in Portland, Ore., decided to change its personnel code recently to allow employees to imbibe on the job under certain circumstances, it startled Metro risk manager Bill Jemison. The policy also was...

Snack attack was ploy for publicity.(News)(while trans fatty acids in foods like Oreos are dangerous, they are often in foods that people know are dangerous)(Column)
May 19, 2003... Byline: Paul Winston Junk food sure is taking it on the double chin these days. It's getting so one can't indulge in any guilty pleasures without someone-usually a lawyer with an overly strict upbringing-taking away all the fun by...

Storm losses blow past $2.2 billion record: AIR.(News)(record amount of insured damages may result from storms in Midwest and Southeast, according to AIR Worldwide Corp.)
May 19, 2003... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Severe storms that pounded the Midwest and Southeast earlier this month may leave a record amount of insured damages in their wake. Insured damages could exceed a record $2.2 billion in losses from spring...