Hardly a day goes by in Japan without news of another bear attack, but a problem that’s worrying local residents, tourists and farmers and hampering leisure-related businesses is presenting an opportunity for insurers. Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co. …
Month: December 2025
Why Reciprocal Insurance Exchanges Are Back in Fashion
Reciprocal insurance exchanges have been increasingly popular in recent years, with third-party investor interest in the fee-for-service businesses that manage RIEs and waning property insurance capacity in catastrophe-prone regions supporting the resurgence. Third-party investors “are not exposed to the insurers’ …
Product Liability Verdicts Are on the Rise but There Are Ways to Avoid Them
Nuclear verdicts in product liability suits are on the rise. But manufacturers and their insurance companies can take multiple steps to prevent and defend against large jury verdicts, insurance and legal experts said at a recent webinar hosted by Travelers. …
DOJ Investigating SeaWorld, Busch Gardens Firm After Ban on Some Wheeled Walkers
The Trump Administration’s Department of Justice, not known for its support of minorities and disabled people, announced it is investigating the company that runs SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay for potential violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. …
Washington Workers’ Comp Average Premium Going up 4.9% in 2026
The average cost of workers’ compensation insurance in Washington is set to rise 4.9% for 2026. The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries announced that employers and workers will pay on average $1.37 a week more for each full-time …
California Labor Commissioner Cites Janitorial Companies, OptumCare $468K
The California Labor Commissioner’s Office has cited several janitorial companies, their owners, and OptumCare Management LLC $468,204 for wage theft violations that reportedly impacted more than 90 janitors who cleaned manufacturing, laboratory, and healthcare facilities across Los Angeles and Orange …
Litigation Finance Hits a Wall After Bets on Huge Gains Falter
Litigation finance is having a bad year. After predicting huge growth as recently as January 2024, the industry is now finding that hedge funds and other sources of capital are pulling back. The situation has led some litigation finance firms …
State Audit Finds Delays and Gaps in Vermont’s Food and Lodging Inspections
The Office of the State Auditor found significant shortcomings with how the Vermont Department of Health reviews complaints related to food and lodging establishments, according to a recent report. The report is the first audit of four planned for the …
People Moves: Vermont Captive Insurance Commissioner Bigglestone to Retire
Sandy Bigglestone, deputy commissioner of the captive insurance division the Vermont Department of Financial Regulation (DFR), is retiring from her position as of Jan. 1, 2026. Bigglestone’s career in state government began in 1997. As deputy commissioner, she led the …
CME Data Center Bolsters Backup Cooling After 10-Hour Outage
The data center that supports CME Group Inc., one of the world’s largest derivatives exchanges, said it has bolstered its backup cooling capacity after overheating sparked a catastrophic 10-hour outage that roiled world markets on Friday. CyrusOne — which owns …