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Washington Court Further Clarifies Defense Counsel’s Role in ROR Defense

The Washington Court of Appeals recently found (Arden v. Forsberg & Umlauf, P.S., 193 Wash.App. 731, 373 P.3d 320 (2016)), on first impression, that insurer retained attorneys (defense attorneys) were not automatically prohibited from representing insureds merely because the defense …

Despite Increased Airport Security Vulnerabilities Remain

In a post-9/11 world, American airports have taken all sorts of steps to keep travelers safe. But significant vulnerabilities remain. The attack that killed five people Friday at the Fort Lauderdale, Fla., airport raised concerns about how to further protect …

Assurant: Smart Home Hacking Risks Concern Consumers

Consumers are excited by the progression toward ‘connected living’ and the many ways connected technologies can improve their lives, according to a new study by Assurant, Inc. However, the study, unveiled today at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, also showed …

Hot Yoga Founder Ordered to Give up Income to Pay for Sex Harrassment Lawsuit

The founder of Bikram yoga has been ordered to turn over the proceeds from his global fitness business to go toward a $6.8 million judgment his former legal adviser won against him last year in a sexual harassment and wrongful …

New York Commuter Train Traveling Twice Speed Limit Before Crash

A packed rush hour commuter train erratically sped up and slowed down before it crashed at a rail terminal this week while traveling double the speed limit, injuring more than 100 people, federal officials said Thursday. Passengers were hurled to …

EPA: Colorado Mine Spill Released 540 Tons of Metals into Animas River

Nearly 540 tons of metals – mostly iron and aluminum – contaminated the Animas River over nine hours during a massive wastewater spill from an abandoned Colorado gold mine, the Environmental Protection Agency said Friday in a new report on …

Louisiana Workers’ Comp Insurance Costs Drop

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the cost of workers’ compensation policies for Louisiana businesses has dropped for a fourth straight year. The state insurance department announced this week that it had approved a 9.8 percent statewide decrease in workers’ compensation …

Digital Trends Impacting Insurance Claims Departments in 2017

Customer engagement, improved usability in all claims systems and expanded use of data analytics are just a few of the trends predicted for 2017 as insurers pick up the pace on digitization, according to Ed Charlton, global director for Strategies …

Oregon Enacts Stricter Fall Protections for Builders

A state regulation that took effect Jan. 1 requires Oregon construction contractors to make sure workers are protected from falls if work is done six or more feet above a surface. The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division said the …

U.S. Mining Deaths Drop to New Low in 2016

A reported 25 miners died in work-related accidents at U.S. mines in 2016 – down from 29 in 2015 – according to preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Mine Safety and Health Administration. The figure represents the …

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