10 States balk at federal preemption trend

More rules and laws seek to usurp states’ authority

14 Contingent fees become focus of R.I. lead case

Should states contract with outside lawyers to sue?

14 Northeast states’ civil systems fare well in rankings

U.S. Chamber of Commerce rates the states

14 Safeco eyes Internet auto sales

Agency company seeks feedback on idea

16 Mass. makes history with compulsory health coverage

Individual mandate, employer fee part of ‘everyone pays’ approach

18 Interview: Jobs and more on the line in Rhode Island

Beacon Mutual CEO expects to lose job if Gov. Carcieri prevails

N1 U.S. tort costs reach a record $260 billion, study reports

Cost exceeds other countries’ by large margin

N1 Private companies at increased risk of lawsuits

Survey shows private companies have the same risk as public companies

N2 Federal regulation divides industry

Optional chartering legislation kicks off debate in full force

N2 Younger adults most likely to suffer ID theft

Those earning above $75K hot targets as well

51 Critics allege wind models more politics than science

RMS defends work as independent of insurers’ price decisions

N4 The London market looks beyond Lloyd’s

Part Two of this series examines ‘Gang of Six’

N6 Closer Look: Public Entities

How public entities compare to profit businesses

N10 SPECIAL REPORT: IJ’s Exclusive Top 100 Agencies

Annual ranking of the largest property/casualty agencies

N14 Independent agents take a piece of the pie

Agency system gets its share of the property/casualty market

N19 Spotlight: Homeowners

Getting to the bottom of underinsured homes

N22 SPECIAL REPORT: AAMGA

Raising the profile of managing general agents in the U.S. and abroad

N26 Growing Your Property Casualty Agency

Use agency generated coupons to cash-in on new sales

N28 Brokerage Watch

P/C brokers stocks up 7 percent during February, March

N30 Agency Best Practices

Woodruff-Sawyer’s CEO discusses the secret to success

56 Agency Acquisitions: How small agencies can buy

Advice from Marsh Berry’s Vredenburg

60

Agency Technology: Practical over theoretical

Bob Slocum on progress for agencies

66

Closing Quote:

No on federal charter

Agent Tom Minkler in opposition to federal option

DEPARTMENTS

8 Editor’s Note

12 People

54 New Markets

61 Business Moves