Business Insurance articles from September 2004

Business Insurance archives from September 2004

California law lets state gain from punitives.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN SACRAMENTO-Erstwhile supporters of a budgetary measure that would give the state of California three-quarters of any punitive damage award hope that the law will expire without causing any further turmoil in the...

Between the Lines; That sinking feeling...again?(News)(Lucas Fettes & Partners)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik As the saying goes, "loose lips sink ships,'' but, in this case, it was a licentious lawyer who rocked the boat. A federal appeals court in San Francisco last week upheld the 2002 conviction of a...

Consensus proves elusive on cash balance plan rules.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-An effort by a U.S. senator to develop a consensus between employers and participant groups on cash balance pension plan rules has so far not produced any tangible result, with one major employer group...

Tort reform law takes wrong turn.(Opinions)
September 6, 2004... BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU wish for or you may get it-in a form you neither expect nor want. Tort reform advocates in California are ruefully relearning the truth of that bit of folk wisdom. As we report on page 1, they're stuck with a law that...

World Updates; Aspen to create aviation account.(International)(Aspen Insurance U.K. Ltd., )(SBJ Group Ltd.)(Miller Financial Services Ltd.,)
September 6, 2004... Aspen Insurance U.K. Ltd., the London-based arm of Bermuda's Aspen Insurance Holdings Ltd., said it plans to recruit an underwriting team for aviation business and to begin writing aviation coverage in 2005. The team will come under the...

Regulatory reform in E.U. gets boost; Market changes on Dutch agenda.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED The long-awaited passage of a European reinsurance directive received a boost this summer when the Dutch government specifically mentioned the harmonization of reinsurance regulation as one of its priorities during...

U.K. employees say pension contributions should be mandatory.(International)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY Nearly three-quarters of U.K. workers say they favor the idea of making pension contributions compulsory, according to research by the Assn. of British Insurers. A poll of 2,479 working adults, conducted by...

Late News; Softening continues in P/C market.
September 6, 2004... The property/casualty market continued to soften in August, according to Internet insurance portal MarketScout. The average rate increase for property/ casualty coverage placed through the portal was 4% in August, compared with 5% in July and...

Converium retools U.S. business; Best downgrades to B (plus plus) on news of changes.(News)(Converium Holding A.G.)
September 6, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY ZUG, Switzerland-Executives of Converium Holding A.G. hope that raising additional capital and restructuring the reinsurer's North American operations will mean continued profitable business at renewal, in spite of...

Bermuda startups exploring options for using capital.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD Bermuda's so-called "startups,'' those highly capitalized insurers and reinsurers formed in the months after the 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, are now considering ways to use that capital to keep...

Frances refreshes memories for now.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston Every so often, a natural catastrophe comes along that forces people to reconsider the wisdom of living so close to the edge of nature's fury. This can occur in locations prone to disasters like flooding or...

Pharmacies charge drugmakers colluding to bar reimportation.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ SAN FRANCISCO-A lawsuit accusing pharmaceutical companies of charging artificially high prices for U.S. prescription drugs and preventing reimportation of less expensive medicine from Canada is likely to fail unless...

ADEA exemption rule long overdue.(Opinions)(Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967)
September 6, 2004... HOW LONG SHOULD IT TAKE a federal agency to finalize a benefit rule that it proposed a year ago and that has broad-based support? Not very long, one would think, but that isn't the case with a vital retiree health care rule awaiting final...

Reinsurers face data challenges in Latin America.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS Reinsurers covering risks in Latin America may soon see better underwriting information from cedents in some countries, but, as a region, Latin America still lags behind several other areas of the world when it...

Low losses for reinsurers fuel market softening; Most rates flat to down, but some casualty lines still firm.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Following two years of relatively low losses, higher rates and tighter terms and conditions, the global reinsurance market has begun to soften. With the exception of a few casualty lines that remain difficult,...

Products & Services; Hospitality program adds restaurant coverage.(News)
September 6, 2004... WEST CHESTER, Pa.-Venture Programs Inc., a specialty insurance program administrator, has expanded its hospitality program to include a coverage package for restaurants. The West Chester, Pa.-based Venture Programs' restaurant package...

Tool reveals 'unknown accumulations'; Catastrophe modeling system designed to aid accident/health insurers.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: REGIS COCCIA Ceding insurers writing accident and health business have a new, sophisticated modeling tool to gauge accumulated exposures they might not have realized exist. Built around the principle that people move around but...

U.S. mutual fund manager forms segregated-cell facility in Bermuda.(International)(Ameristock Corp)(Lyon's Gate Reinsurance Co. Ltd)
September 6, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD HAMILTON, Bermuda-Mutual fund manager Ameristock Corp. has formed a Bermuda-based segregated-cell rent-a-captive facility to write workers compensation and other casualty reinsurance lines. Alameda, Calif.-based...

U.K. employers addressing absence risks; Concerns over lost productivity, costs boost interest in rehabilitation.(International)(United Kingdom)(Health and Safety Executive)
September 6, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED As U.K. employers target absenteeism as a major business risk, risk managers say they are increasingly finding themselves on the front line in the battle to tackle the problem. This summer, a string of private...

Superfund rule would clarify property buyer responsibilities.(News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Byline: BRUCE GEISELMAN The federal government, in an effort to encourage revitalization of contaminated property, has proposed a rule that would assure property buyers protection from lawsuits under the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup...

Colorado outpacing nation on quality of health care.(News)(Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set)
September 6, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK DENVER-While many of the nation's health maintenance organizations and point-of-service plans are showing improved quality, according to the 2003 quality assessment conducted by the National Committee for Quality...

Legislator groups find fault with modernization proposal.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER One of the most controversial aspects of the comprehensive federal proposal to modernize insurance regulation is its fundamental restructuring of the current system by transferring power from state legislatures to the...

Consumer-driven health plans attracting healthier members.(News)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK Consumer-driven health plans may result in adverse selection when offered as an alternative to traditional plans, driving up the cost of those other plans, a study concludes. The study, done by researchers at...

Bush expresses his support for HSAs, pension plan reform.(News)(Health savings accounts)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL NEW YORK-If re-elected, President Bush says he will work for enactment of legislation to increase the appeal of health savings accounts. In his acceptance speech last Thursday night at the Republican National...

Plaintiff can't choose one claim over another to avoid cap: Court.(International)(Brief Article)
September 6, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD AUSTIN, Texas-A plaintiff cannot avoid a statutory cap on damages for one claim by taking advantage of another claim for which there is no such cap, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled. In its unanimous decision in...

Downgrades, reserve fixes renew buyer attention to security.(Spotlight - Reinsurance: International Markets)
September 6, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY The reserve boosts and ratings downgrades among even some of the world's largest and longest-established reinsurers have renewed cedents' focus on security, though determinations about what constitutes a secure company...

Employers slow to recognize identity theft; Few taking steps to safeguard employees' personal information.(News)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MEG SHREVE Payroll records, client files and employment applications littered with personal information-including Social Security numbers, residential addresses and birthdates-are becoming increasingly tempting resources for...

Cat modelers say Frances could be worse than Charley.(News)(Hurricanes)
September 6, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN As Florida residents and their insurers braced for the impact of Hurricane Frances late last week, catastrophe modeling firms projected that claims from the storm could surpass those from last month's Hurricane...

Taxing with torts most unsuitable.(Commentary)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Mark A. Hofmann California is facing a drought-of both water and state revenue. There might not be much the state can do about the former, but lawmakers recently tried to do something about the latter by tapping a new revenue...

Legal briefs: Court rules comp benefits exempt from garnishment.(Perspectives)
September 13, 2004... The Supreme Court of Oklahoma has ruled that workers compensation benefits due to an injured worker were entirely exempt from garnishment by a creditor. Donald D. Laubach sustained two injuries during his employment with Southwestern Bell...

Comings & Goings - Industry.(insurance industry, appointments)
September 13, 2004... Agents/brokers: Mike Brewer has been named president of Lockton Benefits Group, a unit of The Lockton Cos. Inc. of Kansas City, Mo. Previously, Mr. Brewer was executive vp and regional manager of Gallagher Benefit Services Inc. ...

Fraud by employees on the rise, survey finds.(News)
September 13, 2004... Byline: RUPAL PAREKH Highly publicized cases of corporate fraud, such as the WorldCom Inc. scandal and the Enron Corp. collapse, have in recent years shone a spotlight on workplace crime, heightening organizations' awareness of their...

Discipline helps handle cycle; ALM Autumn Conference.(International)
September 13, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Businesses at Lloyd's of London must better manage the insurance cycle to ensure good performance over the long term, according to a market executive. "Only by pricing adequately and underwriting for profit...

Lloyd's underwriters project modest softening at renewals; ALM Autumn Conference.(International)(Lloyd's Life Assurance Ltd.)
September 13, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Although there is some softening of prices for certain lines of coverage, insurance and reinsurance buyers are unlikely to see drastic rate declines at renewal, Lloyd's of London underwriters say. Price...

CDHP acquisition to let UICI expand into group health; Insurer buying HealthMarket.(News)(United Insurance Cos., consumer-driven health plans)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, Texas-MEGA Life & Health Insurance Co.'s acquisition of HealthMarket Inc. will enable MEGA to expand into the small-group employer health care market. North Richland Hills, Texas-based MEGA,...

Errors & omissions.(Corrections)
September 13, 2004... The July 19 profile of Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. incorrectly listed the name of a retail agency that HRH acquired. In April, HRH added The Federau Group of Lansing, Mich., which strengthened the Glen Allen, Va.-based brokerage's foothold in the...

Workplace rule governs whistleblower practices; Sarbanes-Oxley expands OSHA investigations.(News)(Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002)
September 13, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER WASHINGTON-Acting in a little-known role as part of its mandate to ensure the welfare of employees in the workplace, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently released a final federal rule establishing...

LARA passage efforts worthwhile.(Opinions)(Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act)
September 13, 2004... AT FIRST GLANCE, the House Judiciary Committee's efforts to mark up the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act and send it on to the full House for a vote might look like a royal waste of time. After all, congressional leaders want to adjourn this...

Deadline approaching for directory of reinsurance brokers.(News)
September 13, 2004... Business Insurance will publish its online Directory of Reinsurance Brokers in conjunction with the Oct. 25 issue, which will also feature a Spotlight report on trends and issues in the reinsurance industry and a ranking of the largest...

Cost sharing spurs walkout at managed care plan; Group Health employees stage strike over proposal to raise their share of benefit expenses.(News)(Group Health Coop.)
September 13, 2004... Byline: LAURA B. BENKO A strike by employees of Group Health Cooperative late last month may be emblematic of a year when rising health insurance costs have contributed to a sluggish job market and tensions have mounted between workers and...

Long-term planning needed for comp claims; Ask a Casualty Actuary.(Perspectives)(assessment of workers compensation losses)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Richard E. Sherman Q: How can we better assess our exposure to workers compensation losses excess of $1 million per claim? A: Your exposure to workers compensation losses excess of $1 million might be greater than you think. It...

House panel approves litigation reform bill.(News)(Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act-H.R. 4571)
September 13, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The House appears likely to determine the fate of a bill that would impose sanctions on lawyers who file frivolous lawsuits in federal court as early as this week. The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act-H.R....

World Updates.(International)(insurance indsutry's divestments and profits)
September 13, 2004... Aviva sells Asian nonlife business U.K. insurer Aviva P.L.C. has agreed to sell its nonlife insurance businesses in Asia for [pounds sterling]249 million ($442.0 million) in cash to Japan's second-largest nonlife insurer, Mitsui Sumitomo...

HSA tax credit benefits justify cost.(Opinions)(Health Savings Account)
September 13, 2004... SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT provide tax credits to encourage employers to offer health insurance coverage and to individuals to help them buy coverage? The administration evidently thinks so, as tax credits are the core of a new health coverage...

Bush unveils plan to expand health coverage; HSA credit proposed.(News)(George W. Bush, health savings accounts)
September 13, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-A new Bush administration plan designed to tackle the problem of the uninsured could help expand coverage, reducing provider cost-shifting to employers currently offering health insurance, benefit experts...

Federal-Mogul mulls T&N sale as 'market test' in pension flap.(News)(T and N PLC)
September 13, 2004... Byline: TERRY KOSDROSKY SOUTHFIELD, Mich.-Bankrupt auto supplier Federal-Mogul Corp. may put its T&N P.L.C. assets in the United Kingdom up for sale, at least to see what price they would fetch. The move came recently after the T&N...

Frances adds to Florida hurricane losses; Charley, Frances combination not expected to shake insurers, but Ivan looms.(News)(Hurricane Charley, 2004, Hurricane Frances, 2004, Hurricane Ivan, 2004)
September 13, 2004... Byline: SALLY ROBERTS Although property insurers have weathered the first two major hurricanes to hit Florida this year, they are bracing for a third, potentially more powerful storm in Hurricane Ivan. Insured losses from hurricanes...

Policyholders to keep financing New South Wales fire service.(International)
September 13, 2004... Byline: ELIZABETH FRY SYDNEY, Australia-Policyholders in New South Wales will continue to pay high levies on property insurance following a decision by a NSW parliamentary committee not to reform the way the state funds its fire protection...

More in U.K. close DB pension plans.(International )(defined benefit palns)
September 13, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY The percentage of U.K. companies operating defined benefit pension plans that are open to new members fell to 38% in 2004 from 56% in 2002, according to a study by Mercer Human Resource Consulting. In addition, 12%...

Sorry, the dog ate my excuse.(News)(best/worst excuses)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Paul Winston A week before Labor Day, I wrote about a Web site, www.workforce.com, that has a thriving community of human resources professionals who compare notes and share information on a wide variety of important workplace...

Signs of softening don't dampen reinsurer results; But premium growth likely to slow, analysts say.(News)
September 13, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD U.S. reinsurers continue to report strong results despite the growing signs of a softening market, particularly for property business. "The results for the six months, on balance, have been excellent, maybe even...

Oklahoma House impeaches insurance commissioner.(News)(Carroll Fisher)
September 13, 2004... Byline: MEG FLETCHER OKLAHOMA CITY-The Oklahoma House of Representatives last week overwhelmingly approved five articles of impeachment against state Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher for alleged misconduct in office. The action...

Bill seeks disclosure of filings with PBGC; Participants would get access to more corporate data.(News)(Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp.)(Brief Article)
September 13, 2004... Byline: Jerry Geisel WASHINGTON-Participants in underfunded pension plans would be able to obtain nonpublic financial information about their employers under an amendment approved Wednesday by the House of Representatives. The...

Late News; Outlook for reinsurers `stable,' Fitch says.(insurance industry)
September 13, 2004... The outlook for the global reinsurance industry is stable, Fitch Ratings reports. Chris Waterman, a senior director in Fitch's European Insurance Group in London and an author of the report, said a normal catastrophe experience in the second...

Insurers in U.S. withstood Sept. 11.(News)(World Trade Center and Pentagon Attacks, 2001)
September 13, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD The Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the worst insured catastrophe in American history, were not costly enough to trigger failures of any U.S. insurance companies, according to a university researcher's study. ...

Health insurance premium hikes moderate in 2004.(News)(employee benefits)
September 13, 2004... Byline: JOANNE WOJCIK The overall average increase in group health care premiums slowed slightly in 2004 but remained in double digits for a fourth straight year, according to a survey by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Health...

Between the Lines; What's in a name?(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: Compiled by Joanne Wojcik A rose may be a rose by any other name, but whether Americans would support a government-run universal health care system could depend on what it's called. Support among Americans is greater if it's...

World Updates; Max Re enters property market.(International)
September 20, 2004... Max Re Ltd. has set up a division to provide property insurance and reinsurance. Bermuda-based Max Re, a unit of Max Re Capital Ltd., said the division will focus on commercial, industrial and technical risks for large, multinational clients...

Litigation suits some companies just fine.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: CHRISTINA LE BEAU Some entrepreneurs think they can make a good living by capitalizing on areas where lawsuits are rampant. But those who have done it say they can't get too comfortable. While any industry can be cyclical,...

Products & Services; ACE Westchester creates environmental division.(News)
September 20, 2004... PHILADELPHIA-ACE Westchester Specialty Group, a unit of ACE Ltd., has launched an environmental division to offer liability products and services to the wholesale brokerage market. The new environmental division provides environmental...

House panel sets vote for TRIA extension bill; Prospects in Senate uncertain.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-The House Financial Services Committee next week will mark up legislation that would extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act for two years, boosting hopes that the law will be reauthorized this year. ...

Pension reform in the works, lawmaker says.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-An influential federal lawmaker is drafting pension reform legislation that he expects to roll out early next year. Rep. John Boehner, R-Ohio, who chairs the House Education and the Workforce Committee,...

Health plans returning to Medicare program.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: JERRY GEISEL WASHINGTON-The exodus of managed care plans and their enrollees from the Medicare program appears to be over. Aided by an infusion of more than $1.3 billion in additional federal funding this year and next,...

Daschle proposal seeks to revive asbestos reform; Offers reduction in trust fund size, other changes.(News: Thomas A. Daschle)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Insurers are greeting the latest attempt to revive asbestos litigation reform with a great deal of caution. Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., last week offered another proposal to create a...

It's time to move on TRIA extension.(Opinions: Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002)
September 20, 2004... THERE HASN'T BEEN much good news out of this Congress as far as risk management matters go. Efforts to enact medical malpractice reform, class action reform and asbestos compensation reform have all foundered. Although there's still some...

Converium to close units; Ratings spur U.S. move.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY ZUG, Switzerland-Following two key ratings downgrades in recent weeks, reinsurer Converium Holding A.G. said it plans to close its U.S. units and expects to see a reduction in the amount of U.S. business it writes. ...

Canadians cope with rising benefit costs.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: GLORIA GONZALEZ Canadian employers are increasingly concerned about the cost of their pension and health care benefits programs, and some are planning to make changes in an effort to reduce their expenses, a survey reveals. ...

Insurers, reinsurers sue to recover Sept. 11 losses.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD NEW YORK-More than a dozen insurers and reinsurers have filed lawsuits seeking to recover Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism losses from an array of defendants ranging from American Airlines Inc. and United Airlines Inc. to...

Ivan terrible to reinsurers; Third major hurricane could cause property rate firming.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD and DAVE LENCKUS As the 2004 hurricane season continues to batter the United States and storm-weary insurers, it is becoming increasingly likely that U.S. policyholders will not be paying less for property insurance...

Cayman insurers hit hard by hurricane.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: Sally Roberts GRAND CAYMAN, B.W.I.-Hurricane Ivan losses in Grand Cayman are bad news for local insurers. While total insured losses were undetermined as of late last week, A.M. Best Co. hinted with ratings moves that three...

DB pension reform needed now.(Opinions)
September 20, 2004... House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Boehner had it right when he said last week that if Congress does not act to reform the defined benefit pension plan system, the impact on worker retirement security could be...

Ivan likely to stir up business interruption disputes.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MICHAEL BRADFORD and DAVE LENCKUS It was bad, but it could have been much worse. Ivan will go down as the second-costliest hurricane to hit the United States if insured damages reach $10 billion-as one catastrophe modeler...

Late News; IBM, plaintiffs in talks over cash balance suit.
September 20, 2004... IBM Corp. said it is discussing with plaintiffs a possible resolution of remedies and claims stemming from a district court ruling involving its cash balance pension plan. Last year, in a decision that generated national publicity, Judge G....

House approves litigation reform measure; Bill would sanction lawyers for filing frivolous suits, curb forum shopping.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: MARK A. HOFMANN WASHINGTON-Even though the current Senate has not looked favorably on tort reform proposals, some reform advocates are optimistic that the Senate could follow the House's lead and pass modest litigation reforms...

Captive use in Latin America difficult but rewarding; ALARYS/IFRIMA conference.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda-Captive owners operating across several Latin American countries encounter regulatory and other obstacles to using the vehicles as efficiently as they would like, two risk managers say. To...

Interest in risk management growing in Latin America; ALARYS/IFRIMA conference.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda-Risk managers across Latin America-as well as multinational companies with risks in the region-face a variety of challenges and opportunities, according to speakers and attendees at a recent...

Settlement strategy aiding Equitas; Approach has eliminated several large asbestos exposures.(International)
September 20, 2004... Byline: SARAH VEYSEY LONDON-Equitas Ltd. has made strides recently in eliminating some of its largest asbestos exposures and will continue to seek comprehensive settlement deals with policyholders, executives of the runoff reinsurer told...

Conference has diverse attendance.(News)(Brief Article)
September 20, 2004... SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda-Risk professionals from 25 countries gathered at the Fairmont Southampton Hotel in Bermuda Sept. 7-10 for a joint conference hosted by the Asociacion Latinoamericana de Administradores de Riesgos y Seguros and the...

Brazilians see pros, cons in state reinsurer monopoly; ALARYS/IFRIMA conference.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENCIEROS SOUTHAMPTON, Bermuda-Operating in a country with a government-controlled monopoly reinsurer can increase risk transfer costs and narrow coverage options, say Brazilian risk managers. Yet, in some instances,...

U.K. government to consider proportional liability system for accounting companies.(International)
September 20, 2004... Byline: CAROLYN ALDRED After deciding against a liability cap for auditors, the U.K. government has agreed to look at a system of proportional liability, a move that accounting firms are welcoming. Earlier this month, Trade and...

Review ordered for bridging practices.(News)
September 20, 2004... Byline: JUDY GREENWALD ST. LOUIS-Four Minnesota women who were fired from their jobs with a utility company in the 1950s and 1960s because they were married or pregnant and who later were rehired may be eligible for pension benefits for...

Hard market often helps fraudsters exploit E&S buyers.(Spotlight: Surplus Lines Market)
September 20, 2004... Byline: DOUGLAS McLEOD A former California insurance wholesaler is facing federal fraud charges in New York for allegedly issuing scores of bogus Lloyd's of London policies to bar and restaurant owners. In Los Angeles, meanwhile, a...

Added insurance costs of obesity a weighty problem.(Spotlight: Surplus Lines Market)
September 20, 2004... Byline: KATIE MERX If American businesses want to relieve the stress of obesity on corporate bottom lines, they need to help their overweight workers slim their own bottom lines, corporate benefits directors and insurance industry studies...

Wholesalers, E&S insurers favor enhancing programs over developing new offerings.(Spotlight: Surplus Lines Market)
September 20, 2004... Byline: ROBERTO CENICEROS and MARK A. HOFMANN Insurance buyers are likely to find that some excess and surplus lines offerings are broader than they were a year ago. Many wholesalers and insurers are in the process of expanding...