Articles by Don Jergler

Risk and Insurance Experts Predict Thanksgiving NFL Winners, Losers

Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family, good meals and joy – unless your team epically fails on national television, stirring your gut into an acidic cauldron of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and mounting indigestion. It can be a risk to …

Fraud, SB 863 Highlights at California Workers’ Comp Conference

Rick Hudson was sitting at his booth at the California Workers’ Compensation & Risk Conference on Thursday scanning emails on his smartphone during a slow period when he was asked what the most significant change to his job has been …

UnitedHealth’s $173M Fine a Warning to P/C Insurers

A decision by California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones to fine UnitedHealth Group $173.6 million for violations having to do with the Unfair Business Practices Act, the Unfair Insurance Practice Act and unfair claims settlements may be a wakeup call for …

Montana and Arizona Only States Without Texting Laws

Arizona and Montana stand out as the only states without some form of texting and driving law, but some studies show there’s no evidence that laws intended to curb cellphone use behind the wheel reduce crashes. Fourty-four other states plus …

Firefighters Still Battling 8 San Diego Wildfires

Several ongoing fires around San Diego, Calif. that started early in the week have destroyed at least eight homes, an 18-unit condominium complex and two businesses. The fires have burned more than 10,000 acres, and are being battled by more …

State Farm ‘Pauses’ Los Angeles Clippers Sponsorship

In the face of Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling’s banishment from the National Basketball Association on Tuesday State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance reaffirmed its stance that it’s taking “pause” of its dealings with the team. State Farm, which counts …

Ridesharing Firm Uber Says New Insurance Policy Covers ‘App Gap’

Ridesharing company Uber on Friday said it has new insurance to cover a gap between personal and commercial policies when drivers are using the app-based ridesharing service, while the company’s CEO said the San Franciscso-based firm is also working with …

To Judicial ‘Hellholes’ and Back

California isn’t just a warm place to live, which is often the case even in winter, but it turns out the state is considered a “judicial hellhole.” The American Tort Reform Foundation issued its annual “Judicial Hellholes” report last month, …

Insurance Media CEO, an Ex-Cop, Pulls Man From Burning Wreck

There may be no such thing as a retired cop; it’s more like they are “off duty.” It’s a mindset that many former police officers and emergency response professionals seem to share. After spending 16 years as a police officer …

Executive: Worry About Affordable Care Act’s Impact on Workers’ Comp

Like many, Steve Festa, chief claims officer for Reno, Nev.-based EMPLOYERS, has some serious concerns about just how the Affordable Care Act will affect the insurance industry. And Festa’s biggest concern is how this sweeping healthcare reform will impact workers’ …