Monthly Archives: <span>July 2014</span>

Mississippi Woman Gets Six Months Prison Time for Oil Spill Fraud

A Mississippi woman has been sentenced to serve six months in federal prison for submitting false claims to get oil spill recovery money. Federal prosecutors say 32-year-old Katisha Lombardo Deroche of Bay St. Louis was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District …

Northern California Wildfire Destroys 10 Homes

Firefighters in Northern California are battling a wildfire that has destroyed 10 homes and forced hundreds of evacuations in the Sierra Nevada foothills, while a fire near Yosemite grew significantly overnight. Fire officials say the Sand Fire has burned about …

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company Launches New Website

Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company has transfigured its website into a customer-centric, industry-leading site. “Our customers are comprised of agents and brokers, businesses, individuals and families who will appreciate the innovative online experience,” said Robyn Hahn, chief marketing officer of Fireman’s …

Insurance Fraud Charge for Transportation Agency Boss

A Vermont Transportation Agency foreman is facing charges he lied to police and his insurance company after reporting damage to his personal truck was a hit-and-run accident, when it was hit by a new employee. Roger Daigle, of North Troy, …

9/11 Commissioners Say U.S. Terror Threat High From Hackers

The terrorist threat against the U.S. remains dangerous 10 years after the 9/11 Commission issued its first report — only now the risk is greater online. In a report issued today, panel members who studied the 2001 attacks urge Congress …

S.D. High Court Rules That Continuous and Progressive Damage Exclusion Doesn’t Violate Public Policy

In AMCO Ins. Co. v. Employers Mut. Cas. Co., 845 N.W.2d 918 (2014), the South Dakota Supreme Court held that a successor insurance policy’s exclusion precluding coverage for property damage that commenced or occurred prior to the inception of the …

New Research Suggests Texting Laws Save Drivers’ Lives

New research appears to confirm that laws against texting while driving do reduce traffic fatalities if they are primary enforcement laws. Primary texting bans are associated with a three percent reduction in traffic fatalities among all age groups, which is …

MSHA Issues 186 Mining Citations in June

The Mine Safety and Health Administration says inspectors issued 186 citations at 13 U.S. mining operations in June. Eleven of those mines were coal operations, while the others were metal and nonmetal. MSHA cited as examples Thursday coal mines in …

Louisiana Ambulance Service Says Calls Increase in Certain Parishes

Emergency services provider Acadian Ambulance says its calls in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes are rising. A company spokeswoman told The Courier average daily patient transports in Terrebonne increased from about 32 in 2009 to about 36 in 2013. In neighboring …

Fertilizer Plant Firms Blame Texas City for Deadly Blast

Two fertilizer companies sued following a deadly Texas explosion are claiming the small town deserves blame for failing to properly train volunteer firefighters and first responders, who made up most of the 15 people killed by the blast. El Dorado …