Monthly Archives: <span>June 2017</span>

Texas’ Texting While Driving Ban Takes Effect September 1

Texting while driving will soon be illegal in Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott signed the ban into law Tuesday, ending a decade-long effort by safety advocates to reduce potentially deadly driver distractions on the road. Texas will become one of the …

NICB: Top 10 Vehicle Theft Hotspots in the Nation

The Albuquerque, N.M. metropolitan statistical area (MSA) had the highest per capita auto theft rate in 2016 according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau’s (NICB) latest Hot Spots report. Hot Spots examines vehicle theft data obtained from the National Crime …

Property Insurer Liable for Shortfall in Policy Benefits Promised by Agent, Due to Unexplained Effect of Coinsurance Clause

A Florida state Court of Appeal reversed the dismissal of a claim for negligent procurement of property insurance, because, when placing the coverage, the insurer’s agent failed to account for a reduction in insurance loss proceeds caused by operation of …

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Coverage Adjusters

Good coverage adjusters don’t keep score of coverage denials and consider the policyholder, underwriter and agent perspectives when reviewing coverage, according to Kevin Quinley, founder and principal of Quinley Risk Associates. Quinley, who has nearly four decades of claims handling …

Social Media Rants Prompts More Interest in Libel Insurance

Courtney Love spent almost six years in litigation accused of libeling her former attorney in a Twitter post that was visible for less than 10 minutes. She paid a reported $780,000 in settlements as a result of two other defamation …

Climate Change Poses New Risk to Inland Bridges

A century-old train trestle stands as one of the trophies of Des Moines’ push to spruce up its downtown. Bicyclists and pedestrians pose for pictures beside the brightly painted beams of the Red Bridge and gather on viewing platforms overlooking …

Arrests Made in California Warehouse Fire That Killed 36

A man who illegally rented out space in an Oakland, California, warehouse that caught fire and killed 36 people has been arrested and will be charged with involuntary manslaughter along with an organizer of a party at the site, a …

16 Charged in Alleged Southern California Workers’ Comp Fraud Scam

Ten lawyers and six others were charged Monday in a multimillion-dollar workers’ compensation fraud scheme that authorities say targeted Latinos in California. The charges were filed after a three-year investigation into a scheme involving the illegal recruitment of more than …

Wrongful Death Suit Filed by ex-NHL Player’s Parents Dismissed

A federal judge on Monday dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by former NHL player Derek Boogard‘s parents, who blamed the league for their son’s brain damage and addiction to prescription painkillers. Boogard, a feared enforcer during six seasons with …

Speed Limit Hike Results in South Dakota Motorists Driving at Higher Speeds

Statistics show that motorists cited by the South Dakota Highway Patrol are driving at faster speeds since lawmakers increased the maximum highway speed limit. Lawmakers increased the speed limit to 80 mph (nearly 130 kilometers) in April 2015. An analysis …