Monthly Archives: <span>June 2018</span>

U.S. Agency Pledges Support for Connecticut Homeowners With Failing Foundations

U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson pledged Monday to work with federal, state and local officials to help thousands of Connecticut residents whose homes are falling apart because of defective concrete foundations. Carson made the promise while visiting …

Drone Inspection Programs Offer Safety, Cost Saving Benefits

Insurers are increasingly using drones to inspect property damage, according to Cory Shelton, head of UAV Technology at Geomni, a Verisk business. In a recent interview with Claims Journal, he explained the pros and cons of using drones for property …

Fraud News: Disaster Relief Scheme, Doctor Scams Workers’ Comp Insurers

Federal Prison for East Texas Family Members Guilty of Stealing Hurricane Relief Funds An East Texas couple and their adult daughter were each sentenced to federal prison recently for their roles in stealing federal funds that were intended to aid …

Report Says London High Rise Residents Were Wrongly Told to Stay Inside

Residents of London’s Grenfell Tower high-rise were wrongly told to stay in their apartments as fire raged through the building, aided by flammable external cladding that didn’t meet safety standards, an expert report said Monday. Fire-safety engineer Barbara Lane said …

Elder Abuse Concerns Prompt States to Offer Surveillance Cameras

When women at a group home for cognitively disabled elderly in Green Bay heard that the home’s old proprietor was moving back in, they were terrified. One swore to the home’s supervisor that she wouldn’t allow it: John, she said, …

Nevada Motorists Face Auto Insurance Rate Jump Effective July 1

Nevada state officials are reminding as many as 600,000 vehicle owners they could face auto insurance rate increases July 1, when minimum liability coverage requirements go up. Officials announced earlier that almost one in three of Nevada’s 2 million licensed …

Most Florida Nursing Homes Still Without Backup Power

A government agency reports that most Florida nursing homes and assisted-living facilities do not have backup power despite new requirements enacted after a dozen people died in a sweltering center following Hurricane Irma. The state Agency for Health Care Administration …

California Lawmakers Considering Wildfire Relief Fund

California lawmakers are said to be considering a proposal to help utilities shoulder billions of dollars in potential liability costs while offering relief to wildfire victims by setting up a compensation fund that would be backed by the state and …

S.C. Supreme Court Says Defense Counsel Can Be Sued for Malpractice by Insurer

The South Carolina Supreme Court recently opined that an insurer can sue an attorney it hired to defend its policyholder for malpractice. The high court in the case of Sentry Select Insurance Company v. Maybank Law Firm, LLC, and Roy …

Input Sought Before Houston-Area Flood Control Bond Vote

Officials in the Texas county hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey announced Wednesday they will seek the public’s input before finalizing a list of critical flood-control projects voters will be asked to approve during an estimated $2.5 billion bond referendum. Harris …