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 …
Texas Adds ID Restrictions on Vehicle Registrations, Renewals
The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is implementing more stringent photo identification requirements for all vehicle registrations and renewals in an abrupt shift that could shut out undocumented residents from legally owning vehicles. Current photo identification, such as a state …
GEICO Can’t Squirm Out of South Carolina Lawsuit That Claims the Company Owes $70 Million in Back Taxes and Penalties, Judge Says
GEICO insurance companies can’t dismiss a South Carolina lawsuit that demands they pay almost $70 million in back taxes and penalties, a federal judge ruled in a case that could ultimately affect how insurance taxes are collected by cities in …
Jury Awards $10 Million to Virginia Teacher Shot by 6-Year-Old Student
A jury in Newport News, Virginia, has awarded $10 million to a teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student. Abby Zwerner, who was shot in January 2023 in her first-grade classroom, originally asked for $40 million against a former …
New York Now Requires Algorithmic Pricing Disclosure
New York Attorney General Letitia James recently issued a consumer alert encouraging New Yorkers to report companies not disclosing their use of algorithmic pricing, as a new state law requires. Algorithmic pricing allows companies to automatically adjust prices based on …