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