Declarations

“I wanted to bring this update to let everyone know that everyone at Riskworld is safe and sound. … We’ve unfortunately had to cancel the closing finale session simply out of an abundance of caution. Everybody in the convention center and in our hotels are all safe.”

— RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche, in a video statement announced the early closing of RIMS’ Riskworld annual conference on May 3 following a fatal shooting that occurred at a medical facility on West Peachtree Street in Atlanta’s midtown neighborhood, about two and a half miles from the Georgia World Congress Center where the annual RIMS Riskworld conference was being held. One person was killed and four were injured in the shooting incident.

“Plaintiff was clearly injured while at work, at her place of employment, by a student in the classroom where she was a teacher, and during the school day. Teaching and supervising students in her first grade class was a core function of Plaintiff’s employment. Thus, Plaintiff’s injuries arose out of and in the course of her employment and fall under Virginia’s Workers’ Compensation Act unless an exclusion applies.”

— The Newport News (Virginia) public school board asserted in a reply to the $40 million lawsuit filed against it by teacher Abigail Zwerner who was shot by a six-year-old student on Jan. 6 that the suit is barred by the state’s workers’ compensation law, which is the exclusive remedy for workplace injuries.

“They were very unusual circumstances. Certainly dust storms happen, but it is not something that happens every day here in this part of Illinois or any part of Illinois.”

— Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said at a news conference after a wall of dust from farm fields that engulfed a stretch of busy interstate highway caused a series of deadly crashes that involved 40 to 60 cars, along with tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire. Almost 40 people were injured and six people were killed as a result of accidents caused by the May 1 dust storm.

“The illegal insurance scheme perpetrated by McClenny Moseley & Associates is frankly one of the most egregious cases that has ever come through this department. … The $2 million in fines should put all bad actors on notice that fraudulent behavior will not be tolerated in Louisiana.”

— Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon said in a statement after issuing $2 million in fines against the law firm McClenny Moseley & Associates and three of its partners. Donelon issued $500,000 fines each against MMA founding partners James McClenny and John Zachary Moses, New Orleans office managing partner William Huye III, and the law firm itself. MMA has been accused of attempting to defraud Louisiana insurers.

“Now, it’s time for someone else to step forward and carry on this agency’s important consumer protection work. I know that my successor will be in good hands with all of you helping to lead the way.”

— Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler said in an email to agency staff on May 1 confirming he will not seek reelection. Kreidler, the nation’s longest currently serving insurance commissioner, was first elected to the post in 2000. “Serving alongside you as Insurance Commissioner for Washington state has been, and continues to be, the greatest honor of my life. … I’ve always said it was the best job I’ve ever had, and I still feel that way today,” he said.

“GSA’s initial evaluations indicate that the immediate failure was due to insufficient support beneath the third floor of a section of the building, and not the result of systemic structural issues. … A full investigation of the building is still ongoing.”

— The General Services Administration said in a statement regarding the collapse of a floor during the the $75 million renovation project of the Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse in Savannah, Georgia, on April 11. Three construction workers were injured when a section of the courthouse’s third floor gave out, causing them to fall to the floor below.