August 5, 2010 No Time Like the Present The 2009 wildfire season in California has gotten off to an early raging start. If you live in an area at high risk for fire (or any natural disaster), we strongly urge you to create an inventory of your home’s contents as a precaution. The…
July 29, 2010 Have Insurance, Will Travel Traveling can be one of life’s greatest joys, but injuries or other unpleasant surprises can put a crimp in your plans. Travel insurance isn’t for everyone, but if you think you might need it, here are a few things to consider: There are many travel…
July 15, 2010 Storm-Damaged Homes: How To Avoid Shady Roofers As we were discussing roofing scams around the office, it prompted some interesting conversation. After a hailstorm in 2006, a salesperson knocked on my door and offered to fix our damaged roof. I told him I was fine and didn’t need his help. Instantly, his…
July 7, 2010 Among Some, High Marks for Health Care Overhaul’s Beginnings WASHINGTON — President Obama gets high marks, even from some Republicans, for the way he has begun carrying out the new health care law in the 100 days since it was signed. And a new poll suggests a small increase in favorable views of the…
July 7, 2010 ASI Lloyds Is Not Renewing Some Insurance Policies In Louisiana ASI Lloyds, a Florida insurer that started writing homeowners coverage in Louisiana last year with the help of a $5-million grant from taxpayers, has been opting not to renew policies to manage its hurricane exposure in the state. Last month, Louisiana homeowners got letters from…
July 7, 2010 Commercial General Liability Policy Covers ‘Blast’ Faxes: Florida Court Commercial general liability CGL) insurance policies generally cover liability for unsolicited “blast faxes” that violate federal law, a Florida court has ruled. The Supreme Court of Florida issued its ruling Jan. 28 in a case involving a 2003 CGL policy provision on advertising injuries and…
July 7, 2010 After Tornado, Victims Fear Insurers Will Spin Them As the nation’s insurance adjusters descend on Mississippi and Alabama to assess the damage of last weekend’s deadly tornado, one question that worries its victims is whether insurers will try to avoid covering claims related to the disaster. The tornado, which has already resulted in…
July 7, 2010 Is Earthquake Insurance Worth It? Earthquakes are one of the natural disasters that are not typically covered under conventional homeowners insurance policies. And while many people think that Californians are the only ones who need to worry about earthquake insurance, the reality is that earthquake risk is far more widespread…
June 30, 2010 Insurers maintain record profits in 2007 by overpricing policies and underpaying claims pdf)
June 24, 2010 Allstate sponsorships raise local ire In a queue of more than 100 taxis that idled Thursday evening at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Farouk Sattar sat in the driver’s seat of his cab and waited for another chance to share his pointed message about Allstate Insurance Co. As the…
June 24, 2010 Group settles 22 Katrina cases with State Farm GULFPORT — The Merlin Law Group, which has only one policyholder lawsuit still open against State Farm Fire and Casualty Co., announced Thursday a settlement has been reached with the company in 22 cases. “Obviously, we are pleased to settle without costly and lengthy litigation,”…
June 23, 2010 UP Weighs in for policyholders in CA Supreme Court Briefing Begins in Fairbanks Can a consumer sue an insurance company under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act? The court of appeals says no, but the California Supreme Court will deliver the final word. The plaintiffs have filed their opening brief, and amicus briefs will be…
June 23, 2010 Allianz settles annuities cases State Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner will announce details today in Oakland of a $10 million settlement involving the sale of improper annuities to California seniors. by Minnesota-based Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. Under the terms of the settlement, Allianz will enact more consumer…
June 23, 2010 CNBC Business Nation: Are you insured? Homeowners battle insurance companies over loss claims After the devastation of the California wildfires last October and record damage from hurricane Katrina, you’d think the homeowners insurance industry would be struggling. But you’d be wrong. Insurance companies are reeling in record profits — making more…
June 23, 2010 Insuring your home against disaster If the worst happens, you can’t be sure you’ll collect enough to bring back the home you love. Here’s what to do. Money Magazine) — If last fall’s devastating California wildfires weren’t enough of a wake-up call, consider this: Nearly 60% of homes nationwide don’t…
June 22, 2010 Allstate records raise yet more questions Beatrice E. Garcia At first glance, Allstate’s release of documents it has zealously guarded for more than a decade as ”trade secrets” could be seen as an orchestrated move to keep Florida regulators at bay and let the company keep writing new policies. Earlier this…
June 22, 2010 On AIG, Dinallo Goes Against Ex-Boss Spitzer Three years after Eliot Spitzer decapitated the world’s largest insurer, his protégé has stepped in to try to save the company from collapse. New York’s insurance superintendent, Eric Dinallo, agreed yesterday to extend a lifeline to American International Group by easing state regulatory restrictions. It…
June 22, 2010 Spitzer Redux: N.Y.’s Insurance Chief Dinallo Strikes Familiar Chord A hard-charging former prosecutor tries to set Wall Street right from his perch as a state official. His activist agenda brings populist praise, but also concerns he might overreach. Eliot Spitzer as New York attorney general in 2002, right? No, this time it’s state Insurance…
