Latest Illinois Headlines

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

N.Y. Agents Disappointed with Zurich Commission Disclosure Plans

Apr 24 2006 // New York independent insurance agents are not too happy that Zurich Financial Services has decided to implement nationwide the stricter of two agency compensation disclosure policies it signed as part of recent settlements...

Toll Plazas Present Serious Highway Danger, Feds Warn

Apr 20 2006 // The most dangerous place on the highway is the toll plaza, say federal safety investigators who are urging changes to reduce accidents like one that claimed eight lives in Illinois.Thirty states, including Oklahoma, have...

Deadly storms hit Midwest again in new round of spring tornadoes

Apr 17 2006 // The new round of tornadoes hit the Midwest less than one month after a similar grouping of twisters, high winds and damage hit a five-state area on March 12.News Currents Another round of deadly storms hit the Midwest...

Ill. Mom, Son Duo Destroy Family Car in Insurance Fraud Scam

Apr 13 2006 // An Orland Park, Ill. mother and her 19-year-old son are accused of destroying a family car then reporting it stolen to collect insurance money.Janet L. Hurta, 50, was charged with felony insurance fraud, police said. Her...

State Farm Automobile Insurance Co. President to Retire after 44 years

Apr 11 2006 // State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. announced today that Vincent J. Trosino Sr., its president, vice chairman and chief operating officer, will retire at the end of 2006, ending a 44-year career with the...

Largest Medical Malpractice Insurer in Ill. to Cut Premiums by 5.2 Percent

Apr 7 2006 // Illinois’s ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company, the state’s largest medical malpractice insurer, announced this week that it will cut its average premiums by 5.2 percent starting July 1, 2006.The announcement by...

Illinois-based Arthur J. Gallagher Acquires Sobieski & Bradley, Inc.

Apr 5 2006 // Chicago-based Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. announced the acquisition of Sobieski & Bradley, Inc. of Salt Lake City, Utah. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.Formed in 1987, Sobieski & Bradley, Inc. is...

Death Toll 28 in 2nd Round of Deadly Storms to Hit the Midwest

Apr 4 2006 // Another round of deadly storms hit the Midwest Sunday evening, causing 28 deaths, massive damage and power outages in 8 states. The states affected were Ill., Ind., Iowa, Mo., Ohio, Tenn., Ark., and Ken.The new round of...

Insurer Group Urges Lawmakers to Block Trial Lawyers Windfall Profit Bill

Mar 30 2006 // The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America is urging the Illinois House to reject an attempt by the trial bar to enable plaintiffs to receive compensatory damage awards based on the amount of medical expenses...

Zurich Settles with Conn., Ill. and N.Y. officials for $153 Million

Mar 27 2006 // Zurich Financial Services Group has reached a $153 million settlement with the attorneys general of New York, Connecticut and Illinois to settle charges relating to bid-rigging an account steering charges initiated by New...

Insurance Director Says Malpractice Order Will Help Keep Doctors in Ill.

Mar 24 2006 // Illinois’ first attempt at lowering malpractice insurance rates for thousands of doctors is drawing criticism from key players, but its chief architect promises it will provide much-needed relief.Michael McRaith,...

Insurance Study Could Provide New Underwriting Approach for Urban Areas

Mar 22 2006 // Chicago-based the Urban Insurance Partners Institute said it has passed another milestone in its pioneering study to develop a new underwriting methodology for assessing risk in the rapidly growing underbanked urban and...

Ill. Storm Claims Could Top $100 Million

Mar 21 2006 // Springfield, Ill. Mayor Tim Davlin said the damage caused to private property during a recent violent storm that generated a pair of tornadoes could top $100 million. .The figure stems from an informal report collected...

U.S. Supreme Court nixes ethics challenge to State Farm ruling

Mar 20 2006 // The Supreme Court has refused to consider whether a top judge in Illinois improperly voted to throw out a $1 billion judgment against State Farm Insurance Co. after accepting campaign donations from company lawyers and...

Ill. Insurance Dept. Orders Med-Mal Rate Break for Some Physicians

Mar 16 2006 // Using a new law designed to lower doctors’ costs, state regulators on Tuesday ordered Illinois’ major malpractice insurer to start bringing down rates next year and open itself to more public scrutiny.ISMIE...

UPDATE: Insurers Tally Storm Damage to Auto, Property in Midwest

Mar 14 2006 // Insurance companies in the Midwest are beginning to tally claims connected to hundreds of tornadoes and severe storms that hit a five state region in the Midwest late Saturday and early Sunday. Illinois, Indiana, Missouri,...

Ill. AG Warns Residents to Guard Against Home Repair Fraud

Mar 14 2006 // As Springfield and central Illinois homeowners and businesses assess the damage from a tornado Sunday evening and the severe storms and wind that struck in a second and third wave, Attorney General Lisa Madigan has warned...

Cracker Barrel to Fork Over $2M for Harassment at 3 Ill. Restaurants

Mar 13 2006 // Federal District Judge Charles Norgle, Sr. has entered a $2 million consent decree resolving a workplace discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) challenging sexual and...

100 Tornadoes Hit Midwest, Damage, Injury Totals Still Being Assessed

Mar 13 2006 // Heavy windstorms and tornadoes hit the Midwest yesterday causing major damage in five states. Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma were ravaged by high winds, rain and hail in addition to tornadoes. Several...

U.S. Supreme Court Nixes Ethics Challenge to State Farm Ruling

Mar 8 2006 // The Supreme Court refused this week to consider whether a top judge in Illinois improperly voted to throw out a $1 billion judgment against State Farm Insurance Co. after accepting campaign donations from company lawyers...