Declarations
Not-So-Progressive California
“We’ve not been happy with our production there. [California] is underperforming expectations, primarily on a volume basis.”
—Glenn M. Renwick, president and chief executive officer for Progressive, in an analysts’ call, noting his firm is particularly concerned about its agency business in California, one of the few states where its direct sales are greater than its agency production. Progressive is rolling out a nationwide program to help more agents improve their Web sites.
Oregon Wildfire Defense
“They are actually sending inspectors out to properties to look at defensible space. In some cases, they are requiring customers to make changes to their properties.”
—Darrin Sanger, Oregon Insurance Council, noting that insurance companies have begun telling some policyholders in Eastern Oregon to protect their buildings against wildfires. In most cases, Sanger said, insurers require homeowners to remove brush and other highly combustible vegetation near homes, trim tree branches near the ground to prevent flames from climbing into the crowns of trees and thin overcrowded trees.
New Mexico Drive
“We’re going to make a final, decisive push during my remaining 16 months in office to prevent more alcohol-involved tragedies.”
—New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson pointing out that nearly 70 percent of alcohol-involved fatalities are caused by first-time offenders and proposing that first-time drunken driving offenders be jailed for three days and fined $2,500. He also wants to close a loophole allowing those who refuse to provide breath or blood samples to plead to a non-DWI charge.
About Facebook
“We see no merit to this suit and we plan to fight it.”
—Facebook spokesman Barry Schnitt, declining further comment on a lawsuit brought against the social networking site alleging it is violating California’s privacy laws. The complaint alleges that Facebook violates California privacy and online privacy laws by disseminating personal information posted by users to third parties. The lawsuit also alleges that Facebook engages in data mining without fully disclosing this to members.
Lava Zones
“To be perfectly honest, with all this going on, I’m actually thinking of selling.”
—Hawaii homeowner Wendy Ford who is losing her policy because Liberty Mutual Fire Insurance Co. will no longer cover property located in Lava Zone 1, an area of the Big Island with the highest risk of inundation from Kilauea. The volcano has been erupting since Jan. 3, 1983. Ford could turn to Lloyd’s of London, but it doesn’t insure the biggest threat of fire, or to the Hawaii Property Insurance Association, a state-sponsored program for homes in high-risk lava zones, where it will cost her nearly four times her current premium.