Business Insurance articles from May 2006

Business Insurance archives from May 2006

Comings & Goings - Industry.(American Wholesale Insurance Group)
May 1, 2006... Brokers: Charlotte, N.C.-based American Wholesale Insurance Group has appointed J. Scott Reynolds president of its specialty underwriting division. Before his promotion, Mr. Reynolds was chief actuary. Willis Group Holdings Ltd. has...

Is paid family leave a good idea?(Opinions )
May 1, 2006... Do the benefits of paid family leave programs outweigh the costs? As we report on page one, that is what Massachusetts legislators will be debating in the coming months as they consider a proposal by Senate President Robert Travaglini,...

Disability policy doesn't cover soccer player's injury: Court.
May 1, 2006... Byline: JONATHAN GARDNER LONDON-A professional soccer player whose career at a top-flight English team ended due to back pain was suffering from a degenerative condition that is not covered by the club's disability policy, a U.K. High...

Suncor settles interruption claim from fire.(business interruption and property claims)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY CALGARY, Alberta-Suncor Energy Inc. has settled a business interruption claim stemming from a 2005 fire at one of its oil sands upgrading facilities for about $980 million Canadian ($866.0 million). Calgary,...

Risk managers skeptical over reform claims.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK HONOLULU-Senior executives of the nation's leading insurers and brokers were downright glib when talking about how they are addressing the industry's image crisis, and insurer executives were tight-lipped when asked...

RIMS leaders urge change in broker service standards.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS HONOLULU-The brokerage compensation scandal shook up parts of the commercial insurance industry, but RIMS' leaders say more change is needed to ensure that risk managers are getting the best service from their brokers...

ABA urges permanent terror cover solution.(American Bar Association)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann The pre-emption of state insurance pricing laws and the extension of terrorism insurance coverage to such perils as nuclear, biological and chemical losses should be part of a "permanent government/industry...

Planning needed before a crisis occurs.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD HONOLULU-The most important factor at stake in a crisis is a company's reputation, and half of what must be done to protect it can be accomplished before a crisis ever develops, according to one public relations...

Cat modeler offers 'doomsday scenario'; 1% chance of $100 billion 2006 loss.(insured property damage)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN BALTIMORE-An intense hurricane striking Miami before regrouping in the Gulf of Mexico and making landfall west of New Orleans could cause $200 billion in insured property damage, according to the president of a...

Risk managers must align role with corporate stance on risk.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD HONOLULU-The vast majority of technology firms, including those in Japan, often equate risk taking with innovation and view risk management as "process heavy'' and potentially decelerating to their business, says a...

Employee tobacco ban curbs benefits costs: Exec.(nicotine testing for smoking employees)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-When it comes to employees' tobacco use, a small Midwestern third-party benefits claims administrator has drawn a line in the sand. Employees can smoke, but if they do and are caught through random...

N.J. high court OKs asbestos suit; Welder's wife was exposed to fibers in his clothing: Suit.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN TRENTON, N.J.-A New Jersey Supreme Court decision that expanded premises liability in a case involving the death of the wife of a worker who had been in contact with asbestos could ultimately have implications...

Rate levels up: Survey.(surveys)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Matt Scroggins Rates increased for both property and general liability lines in the first quarter of 2006, but conditions overall suggest that the insurance market generally remains soft, according to the latest findings of the...

Between the Lines; The fungus among us.(News)(Insurance Management Society Inc. )(Shikishima Baking Co. has filed a case against one of its employee for having embezelled a fat sum of money)(California alarm company is charged against humiliation with a woman worker)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik Perhaps adding a touch of irony to this year's annual meeting of the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. in Honolulu was the fact that while the conference was being held, Hilton Hotels Corp., the...

New Jersey asbestos ruling stretches premises liability.(Opinions)(Exxon Mobil Corp.)
May 1, 2006... The New Jersey Supreme Court's recent decision expanding landowners' premises liability in an asbestos-related case should give employers and risk managers reason for pause. As we report on page 3, the Garden State's high court ruled last...

Terror risk demands federal role: Groups; Private market still said lacking.(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN A continuing lack of guaranteed reinsurance, the long-term nature of the terrorism threat and the shortcomings of computer modeling to forecast terrorist losses are all reasons to maintain a federal terrorism...

Conn. Senate passes captive bill; Measure closely follows Vermont law.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL HARTFORD, Conn.-Connecticut, long considered the unofficial capital of the commercial insurance industry, could become the nation's next captive insurance company domicile. The measure, introduced by state Sen....

Sunday work rule constitutes bias.(News)(The Home Depot Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD NEW YORK-A district court erred when it ruled that an employee who did not wish to work on Sundays for religious reasons was reasonably accommodated when he was given only part of the day off to attend religious...

Massachusetts to mull paid family leave bill.(employee benefits)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL BOSTON-Weeks after passing landmark health care reform legislation, Massachusetts legislators soon will consider a proposal that would, if passed, create the nation's most generous paid family and medical leave...

Late News; PBGC takes over Aloha Airlines plans.(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. has taken over three pension plans sponsored by Aloha Airlines Inc.)(Jeb Bush signs Fla. tort reform bill)(Texas hail storm losses could top $100M)
May 1, 2006... The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. has taken over three pension plans sponsored by Aloha Airlines Inc., a Honolulu-based carrier that recently emerged from bankruptcy. The plans are 55% funded, with $190 million in assets and $345 million in...

Shell, captive sued over claim for blast; Reinsurer seeks reversal of arbitration.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD BURLINGTON, Vt.-A reinsurer of Shell Petroleum Inc.'s Vermont captive is asking a U.S. court to overturn an arbitration panel's decision awarding $14 million to the captive for a massive 1999 gasoline pipeline...

Guernsey rolls out alternative captive tool; Domicile also makes law change to ring-fence protected cell assets.(World)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY ST. PETER PORT, Guernsey-Guernsey has expanded the categories of captive structures that can be established in the domicile to include segregated cell companies in which individual cells are more closely insulated from...

ACE pays $80M to settle Spitzer probe; Latest deal may signal winding down of investigations.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD HAMILTON, Bermuda-ACE Ltd.'s $80 million settlement of bid rigging and finite reinsurance-related charges may signal the latter stages of New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer's campaign against alleged insurance...

Cut-through clause gains appeal in Latin America.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)
May 1, 2006... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS HONOLULU-With support growing for left-leaning populist governments in Latin America, cut-through clauses are attracting new interest in the region, speakers told the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc. ...

Updates; Aon terror map reveals countries' risks.(terrorism risk)(restructuring)(Lloyd's of London new appointments of chief operating officer )
May 1, 2006... Terrorism risk has increased in five countries over the past year, according to the annual terrorism threat map published by Aon Ltd., the London-based arm of Aon Corp. According to Aon, the threat of terrorism increased in Denmark, whose...

Some employers opt to take on role as Medicare drug plans.(Medicare and Medicaid Services )
May 1, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ While the vast majority of employers with retiree drug benefits chose to take the Medicare Part D subsidy for continuing their benefit this year, a few organizations decided instead to directly contract with the...

State agency sets up own drug plan.(News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Gloria Gonzalez The Missouri Department of Transportation took a unique approach to revamping its retiree benefits program in light of the Medicare Modernization Act-the organization applied for and received permission to become...

Vinck blasts quality of insurance placement process.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)
May 1, 2006... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS HONOLULU-Risk managers need to take an active leadership role in establishing performance expectations with their insurance partners that will improve quality in the insurance placement process, according to the...

RIMS salutes risk managers at annual awards presentation.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)(Risk and insurance management society inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: MATT SCROGGINS HONOLULU-Roger L. Andrews, director of risk management for E.D. Bullard Co. in Cynthiana, Ky., has been given the 2006 Harry and Dorothy Goodell Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Risk & Insurance Management...

Holistic risk management is key in complex, changing world.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Conference Report)(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc.)
May 1, 2006... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK HONOLULU-The changing nature of risk on the world stage has created the need for risk management professionals to have a holistic understanding of their organization's exposures, a high-profile risk manager says. ...

RIMS board elected.(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... RIMS last week announced its board of directors for 2006-2007. The directors are: Michael Liebowitz, director, risk management, for Bridgeport Hospital & Healthcare Services Inc. and a member of the Fairfield/ Westchester Chapter, who also...

Breaking down barriers in transatlantic regulation.(Feature: Profile)(Karel Van Hulle of European Commission )
May 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher The United States and the European Union have a lot to learn from each other as they address the challenges of harmonizing international insurance regulation, a European Commission official says. U.S. regulators...

Insurers lag behind other industries in Web site design.(Cover Focus: Information Technology)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher The insurance industry lags behind most others in developing innovative Web sites that are well designed and easy to use, a study finds. To help reverse this trend, insurers and producers can adopt strategies to...

Privacy laws limit whistleblowers.(Last Word)(data protection laws)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Bobbie Gregg On Feb. 1, the European Union's Data Protection Working Party issued an opinion designed to resolve increasing tension between E.U. data protection laws and U.S. laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley requiring U.S. companies to...

Time is right for new round of call center tech upgrades.(Tech Focus)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos From insurers relying on call centers as a key element of the customer claim process to agents and brokers providing benefit administration centers, insurance industry companies have a major stake in call centers and...

Will pilot program fly? Vendors want to speed frequent travelers through the fast lane at airports.(Feature: News)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher Business flyers are watching the development of a market-driven, government-regulated program to allow pre-screened passengers access to expedited security lanes that get them more quickly through security checkpoints....

On the Move.(Industry News)
May 1, 2006... John Q. Doyle has been named president and chief executive officer of National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, Pa., a unit of New York-based American International Group Inc. Mr. Doyle also was named senior vp of AIG's Domestic General...

Cybersettle upgrade more user-friendly.(Tech Focus)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.-Cybersettle Inc. has upgraded its online dispute resolution system with changes the company says make it more user-friendly and better able to adapt to the changing face of claims. One key change is that in the new...

ICCIE reports enrollment up in first quarter.(Industry News)(International Center for Captive Insurance Education)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BURLINGTON, Vt.-The International Center for Captive Insurance Education reported increased enrollment, four more Associate in Captive Insurance designees and an endorsement from a major captive domicile during this year's first quarter. ...

Agency CEO earns Woodworth award.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON-The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America honored David F. "Bud'' Wilson with the organization's Woodworth Memorial Award during the organization's National Legislative Conference and Convention last month in Washington....

Errors & omissions.(Corrections)(Correction notice)
May 1, 2006... In a chart listing the Largest Managing General Agents in the April issue of Industry Focus, the principal officers of three firms were misidentified. The chart should have listed James J. McCahill as president and chief executive officer...

Insurers embrace IT and enhance underwriting capabilities.(Cover Focus: Information Technology)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Meg Fletcher Advances in information technology are transforming the underwriting capabilities of insurers and reinsurers by improving their ability to analyze risks and helping them to manage their concentration and accumulation...

AIG steps up to plate with `Homers for Kids'.(Industry News)(American International Group Inc.)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK-American International Group Inc. has renewed its AIG Homers for Kids program with Major League Baseball's New York Mets for the 2006 season. The program benefits various New York-based youth charities, with AIG donating $250 to a...

Insurance markets remain soft despite last year's heavy losses.(Feature: Gatherings)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos HONOLULU-While many areas of the commercial insurance market continue to soften, with last year's catastrophe losses fresh in mind, strict attention to underwriting remains the rule, according to many insurance company...

Verbal attack weakens dialogue.(First Word)(insurance industry)(Column)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Rodd Zolkos A couple of years ago, I wrote one of these pieces looking at the power of certain words. Specifically, I was addressing the use of the word "terrorist,'' not to apply to one who uses violent means to achieve...

USI, Wellspring team to reduce work comp costs.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... HOUSTON-USI Holdings Corp. has entered into a strategic partnership with Wellspring Healthcare Inc. to provide USI clients with Wellspring's functional testing, employee assistance programs and wellness/lifestyle programs. The move is...

Panel sees more fallout from investigations ahead.(Feature: Gatherings)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann WASHINGTON-State officials' investigations into property/casualty insurance industry practices are not likely to end soon, several insurance company chief executive officers predicted at an insurance agents'...

Acordia's acquisition of Brodie expands presence in Northern Calif.(Industry News)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... CHICAGO-Broker Acordia Inc. has acquired Sacramento, Calif.-based Edward C. Brodie Insurance Brokers Inc. Terms of the transaction, which closed in April, were not announced. Brodie Insurance Brokers, which has been in operation since...

Government's role in flood coverage debated.(Feature: Gatherings)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann OXFORD, Miss.-The time has arrived to revisit the issue of the federal government's role in providing flood insurance, according to the federal official in charge of the Gulf Coast recovery. "I don't want the...

Three Questions.(interview of Bruce L. Kessler )(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Last year's natural catastrophe losses, recognition of emerging risks and concerns over the "next asbestos'' and changes in the way rating agencies are evaluating insurers are among the factors leading insurers to bring underwriting into even...

AIA launches Web site touting formation of federal charter.(Industry News)(American Insurance Association)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WASHINGTON-The American Insurance Assn. has launched a Web site focusing on national insurance modernization. The Washington-based AIA, which supports legislation that would pro-vide property/casualty insurers the option of being regulated...

Survey finds more insurers embracing ERM.(Industry News)(enterprise risk management)(Ernst & Young L.L.C's survey)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... NEW YORK-With insurers looking to better manage their own exposures and pressure from outside parties like rating agencies who are taking a broader look at insurers' risk management techniques, insurers are increasingly embracing enterprise...

Sungard to integrate SCORE into iWORKS.(Tech Focus)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... WAYNE, Pa.-Compliance and risk management solutions provider The Keane Organization has entered into a reseller agreement with Wayne, Pa.-based SunGard Data Systems Inc. under which SunGard will incorporate Keane's business risk management...

While major information technology investments can be a key factor in a company's success in the insurance industry, for many in the business various personal technology devices are critical to getting the job done. We asked a number of individuals across the industry to tell us about their most essential Tools of the Trade. Here's a look at some of the items they mentioned and why they rely on them in the course of daily business.(In Focus)
May 1, 2006... BlackBerry 7280 Wireless Handheld Manufacturer: Research In Motion Ltd. What it does: Phone, e-mail, Web browser, instant messaging and organizer applications. QWERTY keyboard. Why it's essential: "I'm on the go a great deal of...

THE QUOTE.(Industry News)
May 1, 2006... 'Insurance companies tend to be very slow to catch on to Internet development.' William Rice President, Web Marketing Assn.

Advice to mitigate spread of avian flu; Some recommendations for employers from the federal government's Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza:.(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... * Review and update business continuity plans * Encourage telecommuting by employees * Allow unscheduled and non-punitive leave for employees with ill household contacts * Institute "social distancing measures,'' such as...

Fortune 100 employers exiting traditional, hybrid pension plans.(hybrid plans to new employees)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JERRY GEISEL Concerned about financial volatility and legal uncertainties, the nation's largest companies are rapidly moving away from traditional and hybrid defined benefit pension plans in favor of 401(k) and other defined...

RIMS attendance falls in Honolulu.(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc conferences)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Sunny skies and island breezes formed the backdrop for more than 140 educational sessions at the Risk & Insurance Management Society Inc.'s annual conference and exhibition, held April 23 through April 27 in Honolulu. The theme of the...

Liberty Mutual to fight bid-rigging charges; Spurns settlement offers from Spitzer, Blumenthal.(Liberty Mutual Group Inc lawsuits)
May 8, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH and DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-Liberty Mutual Group Inc. is gearing up to battle state officials in court, after attorneys general from New York and Connecticut last week filed separate lawsuits accusing the...

Implementing and enabling network risk insurance strategies.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Trends & Developments)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD HONOLULU-Be prepared, if necessary, to get your own outside counsel should a network risk claim lead to litigation, advises a risk manager. "As Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, `When you come to the end of your...

Legwork needed to choose a third-party administrator.(conferences)
May 8, 2006... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH HONOLULU-Conducting adequate internal and external research is the key to a company's successful selection of a third-party claims administrator, according to a group of panelists. Finding the most-compatible TPA...

MLB hits a home run with comp costs reduction plan.(insurance problems for Major League Baseball clubs)
May 8, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ HONOLULU-Player injuries are a normal part of the game of baseball, but they can cause significant insurance problems for major league baseball clubs. Workers compensation claims for injured players are the...

Preparation can ease pandemic.(prevention of influenza pandemic)(Editorial)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... THE ADAGE that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure should easily be edited to read that an ounce of preparation is worth a pound of cure where the possibility of a pandemic is involved. After all, during a pandemic, cure is hard...

Appeals court outlines an employer's duties in religious bias case.(rules and regulations)
May 8, 2006... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD SAN FRANCISCO-A public employer appropriately avoided the appearance of endorsing religion and violated neither an employee's First Amendment rights nor his civil rights when it prohibited him from promoting his...

FSA to probe brokers' handling of client funds.(Financial Services Authority)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-The United Kingdom's insurance regulator has announced it will conduct a "large-scale review'' into the way nonlife insurance intermediaries handle client money. The Financial Services Authority, which began...

Firm seeks federal aid amid Katrina claim suit.(hurricane-damaged facilities)
May 8, 2006... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD WASHINGTON-Northrop Grumman Corp. is asking Congress to advance money to cover some of its more than $1 billion in Hurricane Katrina-related losses as the defense contractor pursues recoveries from its main property...

Industries continue to apply ERM plans successfully.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Trends & Developments)(enterprise risk management)
May 8, 2006... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS Even though risk managers and consultants concur that enterprise risk management is evolving and likely will continue to for awhile, success stories are emerging from organizations that have embraced the process. ...

Risk management evolving in Asia; Risk attitudes mirror cultures.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Trends & Developments)(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc.)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD HONOLULU-Risk management in Asia is being shaped by the exposures in a global marketplace and the influence of companies in nations where the discipline was developed. While many foreign multinationals in Asian...

Different views of ERM.(enterprise risk management)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Every organization that implements enterprise risk management defines the process and implements it differently, ERM experts say. But consultants tend to define ERM broadly. For example, Bruce Kaechele, president and chief executive...

Trivial suits leading tort system awry.(Column)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann It was the kind of thing I usually toss in the wastebasket without reading-a generic missive with presorted postage mailed from an outfit I've never heard of. But since whoever sent it managed to spell my last name...

Products & Services.(Betterley Risk Consultants Inc.'s report "2006 evaluation of intellectual property insurance products")(Lighthouse Underwriters adds elder care program)(Computer Sciences Corp.'s RISKMASTER X)
May 8, 2006... GE unit releases analytic tool upgrades AVON, Conn.-GE Insurance Solution's Global Asset Protection Services unit announced two upgrades to its online risk management tool, MyAnalysis. MyAnalysis gathers and analyzes property loss...

Join the discussion, ask the question, answer the query.(News)
May 8, 2006... Readers are invited to take advantage of a new online feature that allows risk and benefits management professionals to connect and exchange information at www.BusinessInsurance.com. The Community Forums is an easy-to-use discussion board...

Judge restrains R.I. governor from firing insurer's execs.(George Nee and Henry Boeniger of Beacon Mutual Insurance Co.)(Donald L. Carcieri)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Roberto Ceniceros PROVIDENCE, R.I.-A Rhode Island Superior Court judge last Thursday issued a temporary restraining order, hampering Gov. Donald L. Carcieri's efforts to fire two members of the Beacon Mutual Insurance Co. board....

Solution sought to terror risks; Risk managers see need for government involvement.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Trends & Developments)(Risk and Insurance Management Society Inc.)(Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of 2005)
May 8, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ HONOLULU-A practical, long-term solution to handling terrorism risks must include continued federal government involvement in any type of reinsurance program, risk managers say. While the exact form of that...

Deadly crash of Armenian jet insured by Lloyd's syndicates.(An Armenian Airbus A-320 was insured by MSF Pritchard syndicate)(Brief article)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Sarah Veysey SOCHI, Russia-An Armenian Airbus A-320 that crashed into the Black Sea last week, killing all 113 on board, was insured in the London market, sources said. The lead underwriter for the plane was Lloyd's of London...

Sports anguish cover potential unlimited.(several new insurance policies are introduced)(Column)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Paul Winston Throughout the insurance industry there are signs of creative new coverage solutions for unusual and challenging risks. Like you, the marketing gnomes of the Republic of Winstonia are always on the lookout for a...

Late News; Mass. lawmakers restore employer health fee.(Massachusetts universal health care reform law)(PXRE Group Ltd. sued for securities fraud)(St. Paul Travelers Cos. settled case with Congoleum Corp.)
May 8, 2006... The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday voted to override Gov. Mitt Romney's veto of a provision in a landmark universal health care reform law that would impose an assessment on employers that don't provide health insurance. The provision, vetoed...

Japanese earthquake coverage available, but premiums high; More businesses view cover as necessity.(Spotlight: RIMS 2006 Trends & Developments)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD TOKYO-Japanese property owners increasingly are turning to earthquake insurance as a necessary component of their risk management strategies. As risk management has become increasingly sophisticated in Japan,...

Government releases pandemic plan; Employers to play key role in fight against avian flu threat.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Employers would be among the front line troops under the Bush administration's plan to defend against an influenza epidemic. The plan, released last week, builds on ideas broached last year by the...

Congressional action needed to save defined benefit system.(benefit pension plan system)(Editorial)
May 8, 2006... While not a surprise, a new survey dramatically illustrates the decline of the once robust employer-sponsored defined benefit pension plan system. Just two decades ago, it was almost a given that a large corporation offered a traditional...

Mesothelioma liability limited by U.K. court; Length of exposure to be considered.(News)
May 8, 2006... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-The liability of U.K. employers for compensation claims from employees who develop mesothelioma should be based on the length of time they negligently exposed the employees to asbestos, the House of Lords ruled...

Canadian pension reform embraced; Government proposal intends to relax plan funding rules.(rules for finance)
May 8, 2006... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ OTTAWA-Canadian pension experts are praising a government proposal to temporarily relax pension funding rules, but more changes are needed to improve the regulatory environment for defined benefit plans in Canada,...

Updates; Goshawk shares halted on results delay.(Goshawk Insurance Holdings P.L.C. was suspended temporarily)(insurers survey)(sales and earnings)
May 8, 2006... Trading in shares of Goshawk Insurance Holdings P.L.C. was suspended temporarily Tuesday because the company failed to meet a regulatory deadline for filing its 2005 results. London-based Goshawk, which operates Bermuda-based reinsurer Rosemont...

Model increases loss projections.(catastrophe modeling software )
May 8, 2006... Byline: Roberto Ceniceros Risk Management Solutions Inc.'s latest catastrophe modeling software increases insured loss projections following large California earthquakes by about 15%. RiskLink 6.0 will be released May 19, said Paul...