Latest Legislation Headlines

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

Judge Rejects BP Attempt to Remove Oil Spill Claims Chief Juneau

Nov 11 2014 // BP Plc lost a bid to remove Patrick Juneau, the claims administrator overseeing payouts for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill, according to a New Orleans federal court ruling Monday.Juneau is in charge of the London-based...

Detroit Bankruptcy Exit Plan Cleared by Judge

Nov 9 2014 // A judge cleared Detroit to emerge from bankruptcy on Nov. 7, approving a hard-fought turnaround plan with a fervent plea to the people of this one-time industrial powerhouse to “move past your anger” and help...

Under Pressure, Louisiana Lowers Health Insurance Costs for State Workers

Nov 9 2014 // Under pressure from lawmakers and retirees, Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration announced it will lessen the impact of upcoming changes for the state worker health insurance program.Increases in out-of-pocket costs...

Vacation Rental Firm Sues San Francisco Over Airbnb Advantage

Nov 7 2014 // A vacation-home rental website has sued San Francisco, claiming a new law making it legal for residents to rent out their homes online for short periods unfairly gives rivals such as Airbnb an advantage.The lawsuit filed...

FERMA Calls on EC to Renew Insurance Block Exemption Regulation

Nov 7 2014 // In a response submitted to the European Commission on Tuesday 4 November, the Federation of European Risk Management Associations (FERMA) has called for renewal of the Insurance Block Exemption Regulation (IBER) for...

Louisiana Health Insurance Program to Refund $4.5M to State Workers

Nov 5 2014 // Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration announced that it will refund nearly $4.5 million in increased costs that state employees paid under changes to their health insurance program.The start date of insurance program...

Judge: Honeywell May Penalize Minnesota Workers Who Refuse Health Tests

Nov 5 2014 // A federal judge in Minnesota has ruled that Honeywell Inc. could begin penalizing workers who refuse to take medical or biometric tests.The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission had asked the judge to block the...

LSU Flagship Campus Cleared to Buy Its Own Insurance

Nov 3 2014 // Lawmakers have given Louisiana State University (LSU) the authority to leave the state-run insurance program and buy its own coverage in a first-of-its-kind arrangement for a Louisiana public college.University System...

Oregon Lawmakers Told By Oracle Lawsuit is a Waste Of Money

Oct 31 2014 // Oracle Corp. is appealing to Oregon legislative leaders in the legal fight over the failed Cover Oregon health insurance website.In a letter sent last week to Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek,...

Judge: Sailors Can Sue California Company Over Fukushima Exposure

Oct 30 2014 // U.S. Navy personnel who were exposed to radiation from Japan’s wrecked Fukushima plant during earthquake and tsunami relief efforts in 2011 can sue the power station’s operator in California, a court ruled.U.S....

Supreme Court Considers Taking Obamacare Tax Credit Case

Oct 30 2014 // The fate of President Barack Obama’s healthcare law is again in the hands of the U.S. Supreme Court.Two years after upholding the law by a single vote, the justices are weighing whether to hear a Republican-backed...

Oklahoma Judge Throws Out Lawsuit over Earthquake, Disposal Wells

Oct 29 2014 // A judge has thrown out a lawsuit over an earthquake that injured a woman, finding that the case should instead be heard by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. In August, Prague resident Sandra Ladra filed a lawsuit...

Uber Drivers Pass by Oregon City’s Taxi Regulations

Oct 29 2014 // Salem, Ore. urban planning administrator Glen Gross says Uber continues to operate outside taxi regulations, despite a warning letter from the city and negotiations with the ridesharing company.Gross says it will be up to...

Judge Slashes $9 Billion Damages Award Against Drugmakers by 99%

Oct 28 2014 // Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. and Eli Lilly & Co. won a more than a 99 percent cut in a $9 billion punitive damages award over claims the drugmakers hid the cancer risks of their Actos diabetes medicine.Jurors properly...

Top 10 Market Conduct Issues for P/C Insurers

Oct 28 2014 // A review of state insurance regulators’ examinations of U.S. property/casualty insurers shows that claims-handling, underwriting and producer requirements continue to be the top criticisms.According to compliance and...

Rule Addresses Lenders’ Flood Insurance Escrowing, Mandate Exemptions

Oct 27 2014 // Five federal regulatory agencies are seeking comment on a proposed rule pertaining to loans secured by property located in special flood hazard areas. The rule, part of a broader proposal first offeerd last October, would...

Judge Dismisses Mass. AG Coakley’s Federal Housing Lawsuit

Oct 24 2014 // A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley against the Federal Housing Finance Agency and mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, saying the court doesn’t have...

Judge Questions NCAA’s $75 Million Concussion Settlement

Oct 23 2014 // The National Collegiate Athletic Association’s bid for preliminary approval of its proposed $75 million plan to settle nationwide litigation over head injuries met with skepticism from a federal judge.The agreement...

Florida Gov. Scott Seeks Insurance Agents’ Help to Get Out Vote

Oct 23 2014 // Florida Governor Rick Scott is urging insurance agents to do their part to get out the vote as the state’s gubernatorial campaign enters its final weeks.Former Republican Governor Charlie Crist is running as a...

Russia Air Safety Record Near Bottom of Global League

Oct 23 2014 // Regardless of who is to blame for the death of Total’s boss at the Moscow airport favored by President Vladimir Putin, it reinforces an indisputable fact: Russia’s air-safety record is dreadful and the wave of...