Motorhome Hire NewsVermont Motorist Texts While Driving, Crashes Into Police Cruiser
Vermont police say a 33-year-old motorist was distracted while writing a text message on his cellphone when he crashed into a police car. Vermont State Police say Jesse Clayton crashed into a Rutland police cruiser at about 1 a.m. last … Louisiana Parish Wants to Dispose of State-Owned Katrina Properties
A St. Bernard Parish commission is debating what to do with about 2,000 parish properties sold to the state by victims of Hurricane Katrina. The Times-Picayune reports that a panel overseeing the properties will discuss what to do with the … ACE Private Risk Adds Identity Protection Services to High-Net Worth Program
ACE Private Risk Services, the high net worth personal insurance business of the ACE Group, has launched personal identity protection services to help clients guard against and recover from identity fraud, as well as manage their reputation at no additional … Mass. AG Coakley Seeks to Close Loophole in State’s Drunk-Driving Law
Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and state lawmakers are seeking to close a loophole in the state’s drunk-driving law (Melanie’s Law) that was brought to light in a recent court decision. Responding to a Supreme Judicial Court decision issued last … NAS Insurance Introduces Contingency, Liability Coverage for Special Events
NAS Insurance Services has introduced special events contingency and liability programs through its new Entertainment and Sports facility. Headed by Jerid Schmickle, the programs are available to entertainment, hospitality, media and sports organizations or individuals for concerts, festivals, sporting events … Arizona Man Files Lawsuit Against LA Fitness
A Tempe, Ariz. man has filed a lawsuit against LA Fitness, claiming the fitness club depleted his bank account. Benjamin Calleros told The Arizona Republic on Thursday that LA Fitness staff members used his electronic signature to charge him for … Janitor Awarded $812K For Sexual Harassment
A janitor has received an $812,000 jury award after saying she was raped by a supervisor while working in San Francisco’s Ferry Building. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that a jury on Thursday awarded the 44-year-old mother of five the … Reno Air Race Organizers Get OK To Continue Event
Organizers of the Reno National Championship Air Races cleared a major hurdle in their bid to continue the annual event this fall, winning approval of a special one-year permit and moving closer to securing the necessary $100 million in insurance … A.M. Best Downgrades Ratings of Gramercy Insurance Co.
A.M. Best Co. announced it has downgraded the financial strength rating to C++ (Marginal) from B (Fair) and issuer credit rating to “b” from “bb” of Gramercy Insurance Co. (GIC) in Dallas, Texas. The outlook for both ratings is negative. … California Woman Gets Life For Murder Of Millionaire Lover
A Southern California woman has been sentenced to life in prison without parole in the shooting death of her millionaire live-in boyfriend. Nanette Ann Packard was sentenced Friday in Orange County Superior Court for the 1994 murder of William Francis … Colorado Wildfire 87 Percent Contained
Firefighters in Colorado are working to finish containment lines around a blaze that has burned 12 square miles. The fire in the northern part of the state was 87 percent contained Monday and managers expect it to fully contained by … Safety Regulators Investigating Electric Car Fire
U.S. safety regulators are investigating a fire in Texas that destroyed three vehicles this month, including a luxury plug-in sports car built by Fisker Automotive. The Fisker Karma, which sells for more than $100,000, was parked in the garage of … Kentucky Program Aims to Catch Uninsured Drivers
Kentucky drivers could see their car registrations cancelled and they could be charged with insurance fraud if they are found to be operating a vehicle without the proper insurance. Under current law, Kentucky drivers must show proof of insurance when … N.Y. to Boot Crooked, ‘Dirty Doctors’ From No-Fault Insurance
Insurance regulators plan to start kicking crooked doctors out of New York’s no-fault program next month, calling them linchpins in fake-accident scams that cost insurers and ultimately policyholders hundreds of millions of dollars. Regulations are set to take effect June … Tennessee Cracks Down on Roofing Contractor Fraud
Roofing contractors operating in Tennessee will have to provide residents whose homes are damaged due to tornadoes and other storms with more information about their company and about their rights to cancel contracts under a new law. Gov. Bill Haslam … Senate Expected to Decide Fate of Flood Insurance Program This Week
This week the Senate should reveal whether it will tackle a five-year extension with reform of the federal flood insurance program or another short-term authorization, or both. The National Flood Insurance Program is currently set to expire in 10 days … Season’s First Tropical Storm Forms Off Carolina Coast
Tropical Storm Alberto emerged off South Carolina’s coastline Sunday, the first storm of its kind to form in a hurricane season that doesn’t officially begin until June 1. The storm was not expected to approach landfall on the Carolinas’ coast, … Best Affirms Flagstone Reassurance Suisse ‘A-’ Ratings; Outlook Negative
A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A-’ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Flagstone Reassurance Suisse S.A. and Flagstone Alliance Insurance and Reinsurance PLC, which is based on Cyprus, as well as the … Best Affirms BP Captive Jupiter Insurance ‘A’ Ratings
A.M. Best Europe – Rating Services Limited has affirmed the financial strength rating of ‘A’ (Excellent) and issuer credit rating of “a” of Guernsey-based Jupiter Insurance Limited, both with stable outlooks. Jupiter is a captive of BP plc, an integrated … Swiss Re Plays Leading Role in Private Sector Plan for African ‘Food Security’
Swiss Re announced that CEO Michel Liès has signed a letter of intent to participate in a ”New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition,” which will begin work following the G-8 summit at Camp David. Those private sector companies involved … Best Opens Office in Dubai International Financial Center
A.M. Best Co. announced the formal opening of its new office in the Dubai International Finance Centre (DIFC) in Dubai, UAE. The office is located in Tower 2, Currency House, DIFC, and “will operate as A.M. Best MENA, South & … Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Italy’s Emilia Romagna Region: AIR Analysis
AIR Worldwide has released its preliminary analysis of the earthquake which struck the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy in the early hours on Sunday, May 20. The US Geological Survey issued a “moment magnitude estimate of 6.0 for the event. … Insurance Australia Group to Review UK Business
Insurance Australia Group’s Managing Director and CEO Mike Wilkins has indicated that it is an “appropriate time to assess the options for the UK business, given the improvement in its performance and the current UK economic conditions.” IAG reported that during … UK’s ABI Warns Metal Theft Crime Wave Costs Insurers over $1.6 Million a Week
“The victims of the UK’s metal theft crime wave are now being paid out over £1 million [$1.58 million] every week by insurers,” according to the Association of British Insurers. Thieves are making off with everything from “train cables to … Weather Channel’s Knabb Named Chief of National Hurricane Center
Richard Knabb, the tropical weather expert at The Weather Channel, will be the next chief of the U.S. government’s hurricane forecasting hub in Florida, federal officials said Friday. The promotion to director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami fulfills … Thousands in St. Louis, Missouri, Area Claim Hail Damage
The number of insurance claims resulting from the damaging hail storm that struck the St. Louis region in late April could top 100,000. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that the region’s two largest insurance companies alone, State Farm and American … Records: Joplin Twister Was Costliest Since 1950
The cost of 30 manhole covers that got sucked away: $5,800. A new concession stand at the destroyed high school: $228,600. Shelter and care for more than 1,300 homeless pets: $372,000. The tornado that tore through Joplin a year ago … Ohio’s New ‘Vicious Dog’ Liability Law Becomes Effective May 22
The Ohio Insurance Institute (OII) sends this double-reminder regarding our four-legged friends. National Dog Bite Prevention Week is May 20-26, which is also the week when the state’s new “vicious dog” law becomes effective. According to the Insurance Information Institute, … More Texas Land Out of Worst Drought Stage
Recent rainfall across much of West Texas has diminished to less than 2 percent the area of the state in the worst drought stage. Records show that hasn’t happened since March 2011. The U.S. Drought Monitor map released May 17 … Worker Death Leads to $473K Fine for Illinois Manufacturer
A manufacturing plant in Illinois faces a fine of $473,000 after a worker died from chemical burns. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited Raani Corp. for failing to seek emergency medical treatment after a … | 
