Latest Contractors Headlines

All the headlines from our Contractors Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Proper Insurance Coverage for Construction Crucial in Avoiding Costly Litigation

Sep 3 2018 // If residential property owners don’t confirm proper insurance coverage and carefully consider labor laws when hiring contractors, they could be in for some costly litigation, according to two speakers at a July...

Ex-CEO of Oklahoma Ambulance Service Settles Kickback Case for $80K

Aug 30 2018 // The former CEO of an Oklahoma ambulance service has agreed to pay tens of thousands of dollars to settle a civil kickback case.The U.S. Justice Department revealed Monday that Stephen Williamson will pay an $80,000...

American Family Appeals Agent/Employee Classification Ruling

Aug 20 2018 // A federal appeals court in Ohio on July 31 heard arguments by opposing attorneys in a class action dispute over whether agents working for an insurance carrier on an exclusive basis should be classified as independent...

Gig Firms Want California to Override Court Ruling

Aug 8 2018 // Leading gig economy companies including Uber and Lyft are quietly lobbying California’s top Democrats to override or undermine a court ruling that could make many of their contract workers into employees.In April,...

Ironshore Enhances Designers, Contractors PL Coverage

Aug 7 2018 // Ironshore’s Construction Industry group, in conjunction with Ironshore Specialty Casualty, has enhanced its coverage for designers and contractors. The specialty program offers contractors pollution liability on an...

PCI: Majority of Texans Not Prepared for Hurricane Season

Aug 6 2018 // A large majority of Texas residents are not taking necessary steps to protect their property this hurricane season despite the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, according to a new poll conducted online by SurveyMonkey on...

Texas Petrochemical Contractor to Pay $135K in Disability Discrimination Suit Settlement

Aug 6 2018 // A Texas petrochemical services company that fired three brothers because of a blood disorder that they shared will pay $135,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by federal officials.Signature Industrial Services LLC (SIS) in...

U.S. Appeals Court Takes Up American Family Agent/Employee Classification Case

Aug 1 2018 // A federal appeals court in Ohio on July 31 heard arguments by opposing attorneys in a class action involving whether agents working for an insurance carrier on an exclusive basis should be classified as independent...

Texas Petrochemical Contractor to Pay $135K in Disability Suit Settlement

Aug 1 2018 // A Texas petrochemical services company that fired three brothers because of a blood disorder that they shared will pay $135,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by federal officials over the firing.Signature Industrial Services...

Texas Contractor Ordered to Pay $250K After Worker Fatality at Dallas Site

Jul 26 2018 // A Texas construction contractor has been ordered to pay $250,000 in criminal and civil penalties an employee suffered a fatal fall at an apartment complex in Dallas, federal safety officials said.U.S. District Court Judge...

Contractor Cited in Worker’s Death at Indiana University

Jul 23 2018 // Indiana regulators have cited a contractor for serious workplace safety violations found following a worker’s death at an Indiana University construction site.Thirty-five-year-old William M. Brown Jr. of Bloomington...

What’s New in Today’s Construction Insurance Market

Jul 23 2018 // Brokers who specialize in the construction industry love their clients and are very committed to keeping up with their needs. Ask them, “So what’s new?” and the conversations inevitably veer off in...

Philadelphia Launches Pool, Spa Contractors Program

Jul 19 2018 // Philadelphia Insurance Companies’ (PHLY) has launched a new Pool and Spa Contractors Program in response to increased demand for pool construction.The PHLY comprehensive package product includes coverage for pool and...

How the Florida Insurance Industry Hopes to Rein In AOB Crisis

Jul 19 2018 // “I think the number one thing the insurance industry can do is link AOB (assignment of benefits) to the impact that it’s having on the individual consumer and the huge impact it’s having on the premiums...

$47.5M Settlement for Boy Who Lost Leg During California Camping Trip

Jun 29 2018 // A boy who lost his leg and part of his pelvis after a tree fell on his tent during a camping trip at a public park will receive $47.5 million from a California municipality and utility in a lawsuit settlement, an attorney...

Florida Utility Contractor Faces Nearly $19K in Fines for Safety Hazards

Jun 25 2018 // South Florida utility contractor Douglas N. Higgins is facing $18,659 in proposed penalties after the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited the contractor for exposing...

Chubb Adds Artisan Contractors Coverage to Small Business Online Platform

Jun 22 2018 // Chubb has introduced a new insurance product available to more than 60 classes of artisan contractors through its new digital platform – the Chubb Small Commercial Marketplace, which places and services small business...

A Few More Thoughts About Assignments of Benefits

Jun 20 2018 // I last wrote about assignments of benefits (AOB) back in January. You didn’t read that one? I’m shocked, but I’ll be ok. Here’s the link to my thoughts about assignments of benefits. You don’t...

UK Court Rules Contractor Entitled to Employment Rights in Test Case for Gig Economy

Jun 18 2018 // A London plumber who claimed he was unfairly dismissed after years of working as a contractor won a court ruling Wednesday [June 13] giving him employment rights, in a closely watched case testing labor rules in the...

Insider Viewpoint: How Contractors’ Use of Digital Surveillance Enhances Quality While Reducing Defect Litigation

Jun 18 2018 // In the quality assurance world, the days of clipboards, pencils and punch lists have gone the way of green eye shades and buggy whips. Today’s quality assurance is based on sophisticated, digitally generated business...