News Center
News Archives - Insurance Journal
Texas Department of Insurance Reports Data Breach
The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) became aware of a security issue on January 4, 2022 with a TDI web application that manages workers’ compensation information. TDI immediately took the application offline, quickly fixed the issue, and started an investigation …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 4:48 PM
Ohio Reaches $80 Million Settlement With Monsanto Over PCB Hazards
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost on March 25 announced an $80 million settlement with the Monsanto Co. that forces the company to pay for environmental damage it caused in Ohio with its toxic products. “Ohio has been absorbing the health …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 4:39 PM
U. of Michigan to Settle Students’ Sex-Abuse Lawsuit
The University of Michigan has reached an agreement to settle a lawsuit brought by students who sought to force changes in how the school protects the campus from sexual misconduct. As part of the deal, which was filed in federal …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 4:26 PM
Assurex Global Adds Texas-Based Watkins Insurance Group As Partner
Assurex Global announced that Austin, Texas-based Watkins Insurance Group has joined the firm. Assurex Global now consists of 97 independent agencies. Watkins Insurance Group was founded in 1949 as R.B. Lewis Agency. In 1965, the agency became Lewis-Watkins-Farmer Agency, with …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 4:14 PM
Hearing on Florida Citizens’ Near-Max Rate Increases Set for March 31
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation will hold a hearing on Thursday, March 31, to examine a request by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. for a near-maximum rate increase for most of its policies. Citizens, limited by its statutory “glidepath” to …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 4:10 PM
Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Cyberattacks, and War Exclusions in P/C Policies
The Russian invasion of Ukraine may result in cyberattacks causing widespread and severe losses, in those nations and beyond. Even before the current invasion, some Russian cyberattacks aimed at Ukraine spread to other nations. The most prominent of these was …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 3:52 PM
Russian Agents Charged with Targeting U.S. Nuclear Plant, Saudi Oil Refinery
U.S. and British officials on Thursday accused the Russian government of running a years-long campaign to hack into critical infrastructure, including an American nuclear plant and a Saudi oil refinery. The announcement was paired with the unsealing of criminal charges …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 3:15 PM
In 7-Eleven Case, Massachusetts High Court Rules Franchisees Can Be Employees
Franchisees in Massachusetts can be considered employees rather than independent contractors and thus be entitled to the state’s minimum wage, overtime rules and other state worker law protections, the state’s highest court has ruled. The ruling by the Massachusetts Supreme …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 3:05 PM
Sick Montana Workers Allege Insurer Delaying Medical Payments
Attorneys for Montana mine workers sickened and killed by toxic asbestos exposure filed a lawsuit against Zurich American Insurance this week for allegedly stalling legal settlements and medical payments after transferring the workers’ claims to investors who can profit off …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 3:01 PM
EPA Moves to End Asbestos Cleanup Along Montana Railroad
Environmental regulators are moving to end a years-long cleanup along dozens of miles of railroad in two northwestern Montana communities where lung-damaging asbestos from mining has been blamed in hundreds of deaths. The asbestos came from mining vermiculite that was …
POSTED MARCH 25, 2022 2:57 PM
NOTICE: The links and articles found on or within this news center are simply for informational purposes that we believe may be of benefit to our clients and/or website visitors. By providing these links on our website, we are not recommending or endorsing the use of the particular products or services these third parties offer. Nor does Pirkle Weir Insurance Agency confirm, corroborate or agree to the statistics or opinions on these links and articles. We urge you to review each website’s Privacy Policy, Disclaimers, and develop an independent opinion of the service or product for any link pursued.