Latest USA Headlines

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

AIR Releases Updated Version of U.S. Terrorism Model

Nov 14 2007 // AIR Worldwide Corporation has released an updated version of its U.S. Terrorism Model, which is available in Version 9.5 of its catastrophe risk management systems. AIR said the new model is the result of “two years...

U.S. Report: Fewer Work Days Being Lost Due to Injuries, Illnesses

Nov 14 2007 // Both the rate and the number of occupational injuries and illnesses requiring days away from work decreased from 2005 to 2006, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department Labor.The 2006 rate was 128 per...

Ratings Roundup: Ancon, PARIS RE (US), Allianz (US), Fireman’s Fund

Nov 14 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A+’ (Superior) and assigned issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa” to the Ancon Insurance and Petroleum Casualty Group. They apply to...

U.S. Risk Names Stanislaw VP, Lighthouse Underwriters

Nov 14 2007 // U.S. Risk Insurance Group Inc., the ninth largest managing general agency and surplus lines wholesaler in the nation, announced that it has named Peter Stanislaw as vice president and branch manager of Lighthouse...

Explosion on U.S. Navy Cruiser Injures Six

Nov 12 2007 // An explosion in the hull of a Navy cruiser during routine maintenance injured six workers in San Diego, one of them critically, authorities said.Subcontractors from the National Steel and Shipbuilding Co. were working in...

Lloyd’s Counsel Decries ‘Red Herring’ Objections to Collateral Reform

Nov 8 2007 // Sean McGovern, Lloyd’s Director and General Counsel, accused the opponents of reforming the U.S. collateral trust rules on reinsurance of introducing the “latest red herring” into the debate.In a strongly...

Fitch Releases ‘Prism Scores’ for 99 U.S. Insurance Groups

Nov 7 2007 // Fitch Ratings has released a new report outlining the “Prism scores” for 99 U.S. life and non-life insurance groups using 2006 year-end data. “Prism is Fitch’s global stochastic economic capital...

Hartford Expands Professional Liability to London; Best, S&P Rate New Unit

Nov 7 2007 // The Hartford Financial Services Group announced that it is expanding its existing international professional liability underwriting capabilities with the opening of a new office in London.Following the success of its U.S....

Mexico Landslide Devastates Village as Floods Spread

Nov 7 2007 // Survivors saw relatives swept away by huge waves or buried by debris after a huge landslide hit a rain-swollen river, triggering waves that essentially wiped a Chiapas hamlet off the map and left at least 16 people...

Bush Panel to Recommend Mandatory Recalls of Unsafe Products

Nov 7 2007 // An advisory commission created in response to concerns about recalls of dangerous toothpaste, dog food and toys will recommend to President George W. Bush that the U.S. government be allowed to order mandatory recalls of...

U.S. Circuit Court Sides with State Farm in Miss. Katrina Case

Nov 7 2007 // A U.S. court of appeals ruling dashed the hopes of potentially hundreds of post-Hurricane Katrina claimants Tuesday when it ruled a major insurer’s policy language unambiguous.The case is based on State Farm Fire and...

S&P Examines Europe’s Insurers Exposure to ‘Credit Crunch’

Nov 6 2007 // Standard & Poor’s has published an “Industry Report Card” on Europe’s insurers, which examines their situation “in the aftermath of the subprime credit crunch,” the findings of an...

Montpelier Re Completes U.S. Surplus Lines Acquisition

Nov 6 2007 // Bermuda-based Montpelier Re Holdings Ltd. announced that Montpelier US, its Hartford-based subsidiary, has completed the purchase of a US Excess & Surplus lines insurance company after receiving regulatory approval...

Security of Vermont’s Enhanced Drivers’ License Questioned

Nov 6 2007 // The technology planned for an enhanced drivers’ license system that will allow Vermonters to return to the United States from Canada without a passport is insecure and a threat to privacy, according to some computer...

Ratings Recap: Hingham, Beazley (US), Kanawha, Genworth Mortgage

Nov 6 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has downgraded the financial strength rating (FSR) to ‘B+’ (Good) from B++ (Good) and assigned issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “bbb-” to The Hingham Group and its members –...

La. Dept. of Labor Gets $10.5 Million to Help with Hurricane Recovery

Nov 6 2007 // The Louisiana Department of Labor has received a $10.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to assist 3,500 citizens in hurricane-affected parishes, the agency reported. LDOL requested the National Emergency...

Ironshore Acquires US Admitted Shell

Nov 5 2007 // Bermuda-based Ironshore Inc. announced that Ironshore Holdings (U.S.) Inc., the company’s US subsidiary, has completed the acquisition of Stockbridge Insurance Company, a US-based admitted insurance company, from...

Lloyd’s Holds Conference on Terrorist Threats in New York

Nov 5 2007 // Threats from terrorists have become a subject nobody can ignore – least of all the insurance industry. To meet those threats requires knowing who the terrorists are and how they operate. Lloyd’s recent seminar...

Declarations

Nov 4 2007 // DeclarationsSaved by sprinkler “It is almost certain that the entire building and possibly adjoining buildings would have been destroyed by a fire of enormous magnitude.”— Hartford, Vt., Assistant Fire...

Business Moves

Nov 4 2007 // AmWINS, London American GeneralAmWINS Group Inc., a national wholesale insurance broker based in Charlotte, N.C., reports it has acquired London American General Agency Inc. Based in San Diego, Calif., London American is a...