West News

Berkshire Shows Unusual Risk Appetite in Wildfire Court Fight

Berkshire Hathaway Energy Co.’s PacifiCorp has been battered in an unprecedented court fight over the utility’s failure to prevent massive wildfire destruction in Oregon. The largest grid operator in the western US faces the risk that it will have to …

Idaho: Insurer that Settled with Tortfeasor Can’t Demand Subrogation Suit by Insured

An insurer that reached a settlement with a motorist who caused a crash cannot deny a underinsured motorist claim on the basis that its policyholder failed to comply with the terms of her auto policy by not filing a subrogation …

Hawaii Officials Say DNA Tests Drop Maui Fire Death Count to 97

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — Authorities in Hawaii have adjusted the number of deaths from the deadly Maui wildfire down to at least 97 people. Officials previously said they believed at least 115 people had died in the fire, but further …

Calif. Lawsuit Says Oil Giants Deceived Public on Climate, Seeks Funds for Storm Damage

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The state of California filed a lawsuit against some of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, claiming they deceived the public about the risks of fossil fuels now faulted for climate change-related storms and wildfires …

Nevada Businesses Brace for Ban on ‘Eroding Limits’ Liability Policies

A new Nevada law that takes effect Oct. 1 prohibits liability insurance policies with “eroding limits,” potentially increasing the cost of premiums and reducing availability, insurance experts say. Such policies, also called “wasting,” “burning” or “defense within the limits” policies, …

California Regulators Propose Higher Rates for PG&E Customers to Reduce Wildfire Risk

The commission on Wednesday could not say what the increase would be for the average residential customer. But it is likely to be far less than what PG&E had initially requested — the company had asked for rate increases large …

Lawyers Claim Cable TV and Phone Companies Liable in Fires

HONOLULU (AP) — After a visit to a warehouse where Hawaiian Electric Company is housing power poles and electrical equipment that may be key to the investigation of last month`s devastating fires on Maui, lawyers for Lahaina residents and business …

AK Supreme Asked Whether Pollution Exclusion Applies to Carbon Monoxide Death

A federal appellate court is asking the Alaska Supreme Court to decide whether the pollution exclusion in a homeowner’s insurance policy bars recovery for the death of a 17-year-old boy who was poisoned by carbon monoxide emitted by an improperly …

Las Vegas Drying Out After Heavy Rainfall that Prompted Water Rescues, Possible Drowning

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Las Vegas residents on Sunday were drying out after two days of heavy rainfall that flooded streets, prompted various water rescues, shut down a portion of Interstate 15 south of the city and possibly resulted in …

Workplace Safety Officials Slap Albuquerque, Contractor with $1.1 Million Fine

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — State regulators have identified willful workplace safety violations that exposed employees at an overnight shelter for women to hazardous asbestos during construction work over a nearly one-year period, the New Mexico Environment Department announced Friday. The …

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