Articles by Mark Chediak

‘Buffett Got it Wrong’ on California Fire Risk: PG&E CEO

Warren Buffett’s warning that wildfires have turned utilities across the western US into risky investments is mistaken — at least in California, according to the head of the state’s largest electricity provider. “Frankly, I think Buffett got it wrong in …

FTC Sends $5.6M to Ring Customers as Part of Privacy Settlement

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $5.6 million in refunds to consumers as part of a settlement with Amazon-owned Ring, which was charged with failing to protect private video footage from outside access. In a 2023 complaint, the …

Ban on Worker Noncompetes Faces Uphill Legal Battle

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s ban on “noncompete” agreements commonly signed by workers is likely vulnerable to legal challenges, experts said, as some courts have grown increasingly skeptical of federal agencies’ power to adopt broad rules. The commission in unveiling …

Missouri House Backs Legal Shield for Weedkiller Maker Facing Cancer Lawsuits

The manufacturer of a popular weedkiller won support Wednesday from the Missouri House for a proposal that could shield it from costly lawsuits alleging it failed to warn customers its product could cause cancer. The House vote marked an important …

HSBC Wins $1.6 Billion Suit Over Disney Film Finance Scandal

HSBC Holdings Plc successfully fought off a London court claim brought by a group of investors in a £1.3 billion ($1.6 billion) lawsuit over tax breaks linked to Walt Disney Co. film financing. The bank faced allegations that it misled …

Report: Cybercrime ‘A Thriving Business,’ as U.S. Claims Frequency Rises

Cyber claims frequency in the U.S. rose 13% last year, a new report shows. Coalition this week released its 2024 Cyber Claims Report, which includes data and case studies from organizations across the country. The report portrays cybercrime as “a …

Central U.S. Braces for Severe Weather Outbreak

An active weather pattern could bring destructive tornadoes, heavy rains, large hail and strong wind gusts to parts of the central United States over the next several days, according to meteorologists at the National Weather Service and AccuWeather. Two strong …

DHL Paying $8.7M to Settle Race Discrimination Lawsuit in Illinois

Delivery company DHL will pay $8.7 million and be subject to the oversight of a court-appointed monitor to settle a class race discrimination lawsuit filed by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The EEOC suit charges that DHL assigned Black …

Work Safety Group Releases List of ‘Dirty Dozen’ Employers

A retail giant, a space launch operation, a major food processor, the nation’s two biggest rideshare providers and a large healthcare system are among those entities marked as being among the most unsafe employers. The National Council for Occupational Safety …

Survey: Most Small Businesses Provide Regular Safety Training to Employees

A new report on small business owners’ workers’ compensation insurance-buying habits and risk exposures found that 95% offer regular safety training to their employees, according to The Hanover Insurance Group. Training for employees was ranked as the top service used …