Business Insurance articles from October 2004

Business Insurance archives from October 2004

Gregory S. Hendrick; President and Chief Underwriting Officer, XL Re Ltd. Hamilton, Bermuda, 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As president and chief underwriting officer for XL Re, a unit of XL Capital Ltd., Gregory S. Hendrick is responsible for XL's reinsurance operations in Bermuda; Singapore; and Sydney, Australia. He also still underwrites property...

David Ibeson; Chief Executive, Wellington Underwriting Agencies Ltd., London, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: David Ibeson's role as chief executive of Wellington's Lloyd's of London underwriting agency and as group underwriting director for the company's publicly traded unit involves him in activities as varied as raising capital,...

Andrea Paris; Chief Operating Officer, Willis of Illinois Inc., Chicago, 36.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As chief operating officer of Willis North America's second-largest office, Andrea Paris' responsibilities include building and maintaining a robust service platform, installing tools and processes to enhance new business...

Mark Ram; President and Chief Executive Officer, Markel Insurance Co. of Canada, Toronto, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: In his role as president and CEO at Markel Insurance Co. of Canada, Mark Ram has drawn attention as an innovative leader focused on providing trucking company policyholders with not only the coverage they need but also with a host...

Michael D. Price; President and Chief Underwriting Officer, Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance Inc., New York, 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Michael D. Price is president and chief underwriting officer of Bermuda-based Platinum Underwriters Reinsurance Inc. Before he joined Platinum-then known as St. Paul Re-in 2002, he served as chief operating officer of Associated...

Arnold Mascali; Senior Vp and Counsel, Cambridge Horizon Consultants Inc., New York, 38.(40 Under 40)(Cambridge Horizon Consultants Inc.)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: After spending most of his 10-year law career representing insurers, Arnold Mascali concluded that commercial policyholders that had suffered catastrophic losses "were not getting the type of advice they needed and deserved.'' ...

Douglas T. Eden; Senior Vp of Property/Casualty Operations and Distribution Management, CNA Insurance Cos., Chicago, 33.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Douglas T. Eden is responsible for the agent/broker relationships for CNA Insurance Cos.' $9 billion worldwide property/casualty business. This includes developing strategies for commissions, profit-sharing agreements,...

Betsy Good; New Program Development Manager and Underwriting Manager for the Construction Industry Group Victor O. Schinnerer & Co. Inc. Chevy Chase, Md., 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As Schinnerer's new program development manager, Betsy Good researches and develops opportunities than can be marketed to potential insurer partners to expand the underwriting manager's portfolio. In her other role, she...

Matt Yeldham; Underwriting Director, Wellington Underwriting P.L.C., London, 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Matt Yeldham is the youngest of six underwriting directors at Wellington, where he is responsible for marine and casualty underwriting for Lloyd's of London syndicate 2020. He also is a member of the underwriting executive team...

Mike Christie; Senior HR Outsourcing Consultant Hewitt Associates Inc. Lincolnshire, Ill., 30.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: When Mike Christie joined Hewitt Associates in 1996, the online world of employee benefits and human resources was a very small one, in which leading-edge companies set up corporate intranets to communicate benefits-related...

Timothy J. Mahoney Jr. Managing Director, Marsh Inc., Chicago, 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As head of the risk management and client executives practices as well as sales in Marsh Inc.'s Chicago office, Timothy J. Mahoney Jr. oversees more than 200 colleagues in the brokerage's fastest-growing region in the United...

Fred Grand; Vp and Operations Manager, France Factory Mutual Insurance Co., Paris, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Frederic Grand, who goes simply by Fred, is vp and operations manager for the France operations of Factory Mutual Insurance Co., which does business as FM Global. His role encompasses managing FM Global's insurance and risk...

Michael F. Consedine; Partner and Attorney, Saul Ewing L.L.P. Harrisburg, Pa., 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As a member of Saul Ewing's insurance practice group, Michael F. Consedine's main responsibility is to counsel the law firm's clients on insurance regulatory and corporate matters on local, national and international levels. ...

Achim Hillgraf; Vp and Operations Manager, Germany Factory Mutual Insurance Co., Frankfurt, Germany, 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: At 37, Achim Hillgraf is the youngest vp and operations manager at Factory Mutual Insurance Co., which does business as FM Global. With responsibility for Germany and the German-speaking areas of Switzerland, Austria and Eastern...

Imran Qureshi; Office Practice Leader, International Consulting Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Chicago, 34.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Imran Qureshi joined benefit consultant Watson Wyatt Worldwide in 1999 and now manages a team of experts that consult with top executives of multinational corporations on their employee benefit and compensation plans outside the...

Thomas L. Gamble; Executive Vp, Arch Insurance Group (U.S.) New York, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: In 2001, Thomas L. Gamble helped launch the executive insurance division at Arch Insurance Group after arriving from The Hartford Financial Services Group Inc. He serves as executive vp of the division, which specializes in...

James E. Buonfiglio; President, C&B Consulting Group Inc., Syosset, N.Y., 38.(40 Under 40)(C&B Consulting Group Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Seizing what he saw as a good opportunity, James E. Buonfiglio in 1992 co-founded employee benefits advisory firm C&B Consulting to serve midsize companies. C&B offers a range of services to that market-which he saw as...

Gary Thompson; Partner, Gilbert Heintz & Randolph L.L.P., Washington, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Gary Thompson got his introduction to insurance disputes in the 1990s, handling environmental cases at the Washington law firm Howrey Simon Arnold & White. He left the firm four years ago, following his Howrey Simon mentor, John...

Rhonda Grabow; Vp, Strategic Projects Innoviant Inc., Wausau, Wis., 36.(40 Under 40)(Innoviant Inc.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: When Innoviant Inc. was launched in 2002 as a prescription benefits manager, Rhonda Grabow was named vp of marketing and product development. Under her leadership, the company-formerly Wausau Pharmacy Benefits-changed its name,...

Don Bailey; Chief Executive Officer, Willis Risk Solutions-North America and Vp and Global Practice Leader, Willis Executive Risks Willis Group Holdings Ltd., New York, 39.(40 Under 40)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: In his latest role at Willis, Don Bailey is the CEO of Willis Risk Solutions-North America, the division that focuses on the insurance and various consulting needs of Fortune 1,000 companies and similarly large private...

Michael Klein; President of Public Sector Services, St. Paul Travelers Cos. Inc., St. Paul, Minn., 36.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Since April of 2004, Michael Klein has overseen the St. Paul Travelers unit that provides risk management and insurance solutions for public entities in the United States. The unit, which has 125 employees who generate more than...

Joy L. Langford; Partner, Chadbourne & Parke L.L.P., Washington, 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Since graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in 1994-and working as a white-collar criminal defense lawyer-Joy Langford has steadily made a name for herself handling complex reinsurance disputes at Chadbourne & Parke,...

James D. Carey; Principal, MMC Capital Inc., Stamford, Conn., 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: For James Carey, success means one thing: superior results for the investment funds managed by MMC Capital Inc. Mr. Carey, who joined the Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. investment unit in 1997, has helped produce those results by...

Marc I. Cohen; President and Chief Executive Officer, Kaye Group Inc., New York, 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Marc I. Cohen has devoted his entire career to Kaye Group, having joined the company in 1988 after graduating from the University of Albany in New York. In 1999, he was named president of Kaye Group's wholesale insurance and...

Joe Beneducci; Chief Operating Officer, Fireman's Fund Insurance Co., Novato, Calif., 36.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Joe Beneducci's accomplishments include envisioning and developing a series of Web sites that benefit Fireman's Fund customers beyond their insurance purchasing needs. Today, 19 Web sites comprising the insurer's iCustomer Series...

Rael Gordon; Group Chief Executive, Alexander Forbes Ltd., London, 36.(40 Under 40)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: At 36, South African-born Rael Gordon is one of the youngest people to lead a major international insurance broker. Mr. Gordon, who said he loves challenges and forging new paths, became chief executive at Alexander Forbes in...

Errors and omissions.(News)(Correction Notice)
October 4, 2004... * Due to incorrect information supplied to Business Insurance, the wholesale premium volume for Risk Placement Services Inc. was initially reported incorrectly in the online Directory of Insurance Wholesalers. RPS' correct wholesale premium...

Lisa Black; Principal, Mercer Human Resource Consulting, Chicago, 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Lisa Black is a group actuary and a principal with Mercer's health care and group benefits practice. Her areas of expertise include health plan design strategy, flexible benefits pricing and the measurement of post-retirement and...

Steve Hearn; Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner, Glencairn Ltd., London, 38.(40 Under 40)(Glencairn Ltd.)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Steve Hearn became group chief executive of Glencairn in 2003, after serving as chairman of the company's program business unit. His current responsibilities at the U.K.-based insurance wholesaler include business planning,...

Products & Services; Liberty Mutual unit offers combined property policy.(News)
October 4, 2004... BOSTON-Liberty Mutual Property, a division of Liberty Mutual Group Inc., has introduced a new commercial property policy form that combines property damage, business interruption and extra-expense coverages into a single form. The policy,...

EBIS directory deadline approaching.(News)
October 4, 2004... Business Insurance will publish its annual online Directory of Employee Benefit Information & Communication Systems in conjunction with the Nov. 8 issue. That issue will also contain a Spotlight report on benefit technology and online solutions...

Employee benefits distributors increasingly acquisition targets; 2004 NAPSLO Annual Convention.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS ORLANDO, Fla.-Commercial property/casualty insurance brokers, along with banks, are increasingly interested in acquiring employee benefits distributors, according to two investment bankers. Property/casualty...

Employers get safe harbor for pension rollovers.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-Employers taking advantage of final Labor Department rules creating a pension benefit rollover safe harbor will be shielded from fiduciary liability when they transfer terminating employees' small pension...

David T. Foy; Executive Vp and Chief Financial Officer, White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd., Guilford, Conn., 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: David T. Foy is responsible for all financial functions at White Mountains Insurance Group Ltd. In addition to addressing accounting, treasury and tax issues, Mr. Foy also works with a senior executive team on acquisition...

Peter Bilsby; Joint Managing Director, Aviation Division, and Director of Underwriting Support Markel International Ltd., London, 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Peter Bilsby has jointly headed Markel International's aviation division in London for three years. In that role, he leads a team of six underwriters and manages the underwriting support team, a centralized administration unit...

Between the Lines; A bitter pill.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik A Pfizer Inc. executive who is lobbying Congress in support of the reimportation of prescription drugs says his employer is probing his political activities. Dr. Peter Rost, vp of marketing for...

House panel approves TRIA extension bill; Backers hope move will give boost to extension effort, but time running out.(News)(Terrorism Risk Insurance Act)
October 4, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-A House panel last week overwhelmingly approved a bill to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act through the end of 2007, fueling extension backers' hopes that the measure will be enacted this year. ...

In praise of those who do a shining job at an early age.(40 Under 40)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Regis Coccia In the pages that follow are profiles of 40 men and women working in the commercial insurance industry whom the editors of Business Insurance believe our readers should get to know. Earlier this year, BI invited...

After storms, temperance.(insurance industry, risk management)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... The chain of hurricanes that has torn through Florida and other Southeastern states has cumulatively created a substantial loss for businesses and insurers, but it would be disappointing if property insurers used those losses as an excuse to...

Keep pressing for TRIA extension.(Opinions)(Terrorism Risk Insurance Act)
October 4, 2004... A HOUSE COMMITTEE'S approval of a bill that would extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for another two years provides some hope that one critical item on the risk management legislative agenda can be salvaged this year. We certainly...

Brent Bannerman; Vp of Business Development and Marketing IE-Engine Inc., Waltham, Mass., 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Brent Bannerman founded IE-Engine in 2000, after leaving Zurich Financial Services Group Inc. in New York, where he developed a sales and marketing team establishing Zurich's accident and health business in New England. Before...

Surplus lines industry's premium volume rises; 2004 NAPSLO Annual Convention.(News)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Direct premium volume generated by the surplus lines industry increased by 28% during 2003 to $32.8 billion, according to an A.M. Best report released at the 2004 annual convention of the National Assn. of Professional Surplus Lines Offices...

Study shows big variation in pay for risk managers.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH Risk managers curious about how they measure up to their peers in terms of pay have a new tool to benchmark their compensation. What they will find overall, though, is that risk managers' salaries vary...

World Updates; Converium shareholders OK plan to raise capital.(International)(Converium Holding A.G)
October 4, 2004... Shareholders of Converium Holding A.G last week approved the Swiss reinsurer's plan to raise around 533 million ($421.1 million) Swiss francs in a share issue. Under the plan, Converium will issue about 107 million shares to current...

Airport reinsured in London market.(Dubai International Airport)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER DUBAI, United Arab Emirates-Losses caused by a fatal accident at a construction site at Dubai International Airport will be covered by London underwriters. A section of a reinforcement cage being used in the...

Suit over supplies to reimporting pharmacies dismissed.(International)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ OTTAWA-A Canadian court has dismissed complaints filed against three major pharmaceutical companies for refusing to supply prescription drugs to Canadian pharmacies suspected of or caught reimporting into the United...

Lloyd's reforms irksome for smaller firms; Market disputes charge that Franchise Board hampers competition.(International)(Lloyd's of London)
October 4, 2004... Byline: PETA MILLER LONDON-At least one broker executive is expressing concern that some of the recent reforms of the London market may limit the ability of smaller entities to compete effectively with their larger rivals. In...

Surplus lines underwriters vow to hold the line on rates; 2004 NAPSLO Annual Convention.(National Association of Professional Surplus Lines Offices)
October 4, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS ORLANDO, Fla.-Surplus lines insurers say they will continue to stand firm on casualty rates and walk away from unprofitable business, though some in the market question whether insurers' resolve will weaken as...

Taking a new role, just down the hall.(Commentary)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston As of last week, I'm no longer the editor of Business Insurance. This, then, is supposed to be the column where I say farewell, it's been fun and this magazine is in good hands, so never fear. While the magazine...

New benchmarking tool helps organizations build effective ERM programs.(Enterprise Risk Management)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Sally Roberts NEW YORK-The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission last week released its long-awaited enterprise risk management framework, giving risk managers a benchmark to use in evaluating and...

Late News; Merck withdraws Vioxx over health risks.
October 4, 2004... Merck & Co. has withdrawn its arthritis and acute pain drug Vioxx from the market, after data from a three-year clinical trial showed an increased risk of heart attack and stroke for patients taking the drug for more than 18 months. A...

Asbestos compromise rejected; Frist says latest Daschle proposal still problematic.(Bill Frist)(Tom Daschle)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann WASHINGTON-Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., has rejected the latest Democratic asbestos compensation reform proposal. In a Sept. 27 letter to Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., Sen. Frist...

Market forecast mixed after multiple hurricanes; Mounting losses may push up rates.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS and RUPAL PAREKH Even as Hurricane Jeanne pushed total insured losses during this deadly hurricane season to between $19 billion and $35 billion, industry experts disagree on how big an impact the losses will have on...

Aon's Ryan to step down; Brokerage giant conducting search for new top executive.(News)(Patrick G. Ryan)
October 4, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS CHICAGO-After emerging from years of massive growth and some associated growing pains, Aon Corp. is now embarking on its next big challenge: finding a new chief executive. The world's second-largest brokerage...

Deal would cap IBM's liability in pension dispute.(News)
October 4, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL ARMONK, N.Y.-A proposed partial settlement between IBM Corp. and tens of thousands of current and former employees over the conversion of its traditional pension plan to a hybrid arrangement limits IBM's exposure to...

Business Insurance names new editor, promotes several.(News)
October 4, 2004... CHICAGO-Business Insurance has made several changes to its editorial management team, with Paul D. Winston becoming editorial director and Regis J. Coccia succeeding him as editor of the magazine. Mr. Winston, who has served as editor for...

Alexandra Littlejohn; Managing Director, Marsh Inc., New York, 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: In addition to her role as managing director of Marsh, Alexandra Littlejohn oversees global placement for middle-market clients-those with revenues of up to $750 million-which is the brokerage's fastest-growing business segment....

Tony Miller; Chief Executive Officer, Definity Health Corp., Minneapolis, 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Tony Miller co-founded Definity Health in 1998, establishing one of the first consumer-driven health plan vendors in the United States. Before that, he was a consultant at Deloitte Consulting, where he focused on strategic...

James Reid; General Manager and Head of Small Group for the Northeast Region Aetna Inc., Cranbury, N.J., 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: James Reid's responsibilities include sales, underwriting product development, group enrollment, billing, distribution strategies and marketing for small-group business in Aetna's Northeast region, covering New Jersey through...

Francis D. Bouchard; Senior Vp and Director of Government Affairs, Zurich Financial Services Group Inc., Washington, 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Francis D. Bouchard is responsible for managing government affairs activities of Zurich in North America, including federal and state legislative and regulatory affairs. His duties include helping develop positions on...

Marc Grandisson; President and Chief Operating Officer, Arch Reinsurance Ltd., Hamilton, Bermuda, 37.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: Marc Grandisson is president and chief operating officer of Bermuda's Arch Reinsurance, which writes most of the non-U.S. business of Arch Capital Group Ltd.'s reinsurance group. Mr. Grandisson has spent 11 years in the insurance...

Jeff McNatt; Area President, Risk Placement Services Inc., Atlanta, 34.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: When Jeff McNatt was majoring in insurance at the University of Georgia, two risk managers helped him land an internship in a broker's risk management department. Mr. McNatt's career took off, and he had three job offers by the...

Nick Cortezi; Chief Executive Officer, All Risks Ltd. Hunt Valley, Md., 38.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: At age 29, Nick Cortezi became a member of the board of directors of the National Assn. of Professional Surplus Lines Offices Ltd., and he recently concluded nearly a decade of service in that capacity. In addition, he served as...

Robert S. Bentley; Managing Director and Regional Manager of Broking Operations for the Western Region Guy Carpenter & Co. Inc., Seattle, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: As a member of Guy Carpenter's management board and executive committee, Robert S. Bentley is responsible for helping shape strategy in brokerage, claims, information technology and other areas of the reinsurance broker's...

Mark A. Behrens; Partner, Public Policy Group Shook, Hardy & Bacon L.L.P., Washington, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... Achievements: For over a decade, Mark A. Behrens has been involved in virtually every major federal and state civil justice reform effort, working with Victor Schwartz, counsel to the American Tort Reform Assn., for which Mr. Behrens serves as...

David Ibeson; Chief Executive, Wellington Underwriting Agencies Ltd., London, 39.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... ***** Correction: In the Oct. 4 "40 Under 40: People to Watch'' feature contained incorrect information. David Ibeson, chief executive of Wellington Underwriting Agencies, is 38. ***** Achievements: David Ibeson's role as chief...

Matt Yeldham; Underwriting Director, Wellington Underwriting P.L.C., London, 35.(40 Under 40)(Brief Article)
October 4, 2004... ***** Correction: In the Oct. 4 "40 Under 40: People to Watch'' feature contained incorrect information. Matt Yeldham is underwriting director at Wellington Underwriting Agencies Ltd., not its London-based holding company. ***** ...

Look at more than ratings for insurer security.(Perspectives)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Sheila Small I consider myself a prudent manager, one who would rather not take unnecessary risks. As I review insurers for placement on my programs, I find that the due diligence of checking for a financial strength rating of...

Commitment key to preventing harassment; Employers must make sincere efforts to communicate and enforce their policies regarding sexual harassment.(Perspectives)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Art Lambert In the words of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, "Prevention is the best tool for the elimination of sexual harassment.'' While the efforts of U.S. businesses to educate employers and employees alike on...

Court upholds PBGC authority to set plan termination dates.(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.)(Court of Appeals )
October 11, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL CINCINNATI-A federal appeals court has upheld the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.'s authority to set plan termination dates to protect its insurance program. In overturning a 2003 U.S. District Court decision, the...

Two states begin Rx reimportation; Illinois, Wisconsin launch program.(News)
October 11, 2004... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH Illinois and Wisconsin have launched a program to enable the states' residents to buy prescription drugs from Canada and Europe, even though federal law currently bars reimportation. The program, called I-SaveRx,...

More DC plans using money managers.(Defined Contribution)
October 11, 2004... Byline: PHYLLIS FEINBERG Defined contribution plan sponsors offered professionally managed accounts at a sharply higher rate in 2003 than in 2002, up to 21.8% of all plans, compared with 13.6% the year before, according to the annual...

And the beats go on...(News)
October 11, 2004... In an effort to ensure continuing timely coverage of risk management, insurance and employee benefit-related news, Business Insurance has formalized a list of its reporters' assigned beats. This list is not intended to be exclusive but rather...

Converium faces securities probe; SEC looking for insider trading.(Converium Holding Ltd.)(Securities and Exchange Commission)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... Byline: DAVE LENCKUS WASHINGTON-Securities regulators in the United States and Switzerland are investigating whether there was any insider trading of Converium Holding Ltd. stock prior to the reinsurer's July 19 announcement that its...

Let's stay united on tort reform.(Opinions)
October 11, 2004... REGARDLESS OF WHICH party ends up controlling the White House and Congress after next month's elections, one thing is certain: Enacting any significant federal tort reform will entail an uphill battle. That was true this year, with...

SEC mulls action against AIG.(Securities and Exchange Commission)(America International Group Inc.)
October 11, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD NEW YORK-U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission staff members are considering recommending that the agency bring a civil action against American International Group Inc. for alleged violations of federal securities...

BI makes addition to NY bureau staff.(Business Insurance)(Brief Article)
October 11, 2004... NEW YORK-Rupal Parekh has joined Business Insurance as a staff reporter in the New York bureau. Ms. Parekh has served as an editorial intern in New York since June. She joined Business Insurance after obtaining a master of science degree...

Latest Supreme Court docket light on liability cases.(News)
October 11, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The Supreme Court appears likely to deal with an unusually sparse docket of liability-related cases in its current term. In fact, the justices will not revisit last year's blockbuster punitive damages...

Views on tort law divide candidates; Bush, Kerry reform proposals diverge.(George W. Bush)(John Kerry)
October 11, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN A clear line divides President Bush from his Democratic challenger when it comes to positions on issues affecting insurers and risk managers. That line separates the president's tort reform philosophy from that...

World Updates; Typhoon damages mounting in Japan.(International)
October 11, 2004... Deadly typhoons are continuing to devastate Japan, as insured property damage reaches billions of dollars. Typhoon Meari, the most recent of eight to hit the country this year, left at least 17 dead and scores of injuries as it skirted Tokyo...

ISO endorsements may spur coverage disputes; Cover may be reduced for additional insureds.(Insurance Services Office)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Tyrone R. Childress Outside of the context of construction coverage and subject to wording requirements, most states allow parties to broadly shift liability prior to a loss through indemnity provisions. Further, most courts...

State ballot initiatives feature tort reform choices; Contentious campaigns mark medical malpractice reform efforts.(2004 Election Outlook)
October 11, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Voters will be doing a lot more than choosing a president when they go to the polls next month. They also, among other things, will be voting on more than 150 state ballot measures, many of which affect employers...

Safe packaging, unsafe consumers.(plastic packagaging, opening)
October 11, 2004... Byline: Dave Lenckus This may seem like ranting, and maybe it is. But the message is nonetheless important, and someone has to stand up and say it-for consumers' welfare and for the good of the risk management community. We Americans...

Late News; Daschle asks Frist for asbestos compromise.(Thomas A Daschle)(Bill Frist)
October 11, 2004... Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., has called on Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., to "outline'' how he would resolve differences between the two in order to craft a legislative solution to the problem of asbestos liability. "Given...