Monthly Archives: <span>December 2017</span>

Contractor Charged With Fraud Over Post-Sandy Work

A New Jersey contractor who performed work on Superstorm Sandy-damaged homes pressured customers into signing contracts and then performed shoddy work it failed to correct, state prosecutors alleged Tuesday. State Attorney General Christopher Porrino announced charges against Jersey Pride Home …

Uncertain Future for Fire Lookouts in the Pacific Northwest

Imagine waking up to the sun cresting a ridge of the Cascade Mountains. You look out the window, and through the dawn light you can see clouds still settled over a lush alpine forest. You’re in a tower in the …

Houston Metro Continues to Struggle With Rail Safety

Collisions remain a constant along the Metro’s light rail track despite a months-long effort to improve rail safety in the Houston area. The Metropolitan Transit Authority logged November as its second-worst month for train crashes in more than a year, …

Claims Journal’s Top 10 Contributed Articles in 2017

Insurance industry experts offered unique analysis and perspective throughout the year on a range of article topics, including machine learning, easing return to work and contents claims handling. The top contributed Claims Journal articles this year tackle subjects, like improving …

Fraud News: Counterfeit Airbags, Workers’ Comp Premium Scheme

Missouri Man Pleads Guilty to Counterfeit Airbag Scheme A southwestern Missouri man pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to a scheme to sell counterfeit automotive airbags and components online. This guilty plea resulted from an investigation by U.S. Immigration and …

Taxable Cost Award Capped by Policy Limits According to Minnesota Supreme Court

Under Minn. Stat. §604.18, insureds are entitled to recover taxable costs when an insurance company unreasonably denies insurance benefits. The statute provides a remedy of one-half of the “proceeds awarded” that are in excess of an amount offered by the …

South Carolina Senator Wants Bigger Fine for Slow Left Lane Drivers

One South Carolina lawmaker wants to increase the fine for drivers who go slowly in the left lane. State Sen. Ross Turner said his 200-mile round trip commute from Greenville to Columbia helped convince him of the need for a …

Drug Makers Face Additional Liability After California High Court Decision

A sharply divided California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that pharmaceutical companies can be held liable for warning labels on generic versions of drugs they once made even after they’ve sold the drugs to other companies and stopped manufacturing them. The …

Preventing Deadly Car Rammings

A deadly attack this week in Melbourne, Australia, in which a man plowed an SUV into a crowd of Christmas shoppers comes from the same playbook used by terrorists in recent years around the globe. Many new vehicles rolling off …

Indiana Firm Ordered to Uphold Insurance Policies for Toxic Site Cleanup

A public television station has won a court battle over insurance policies that could pay for cleaning up contamination at the site of a shuttered Evansville, Indiana, dry-cleaning business. Judge Richard D’Amour ordered Red Ink Management LLC on Wednesday to …