Articles by Ezra Amacher

Louisiana Contractor Charged for Allegedly Damaging Homeowners’ Roof

On an early August morning, a roofing contractor arrived at a Lafayette, Louisiana couple’s house and requested permission to inspect the home’s roof. The roofer’s arrival wasn’t unexpected. The couple, who go by Jordan and Sarah, had been approached days …

More Than 250,000 U.S. Properties Reported to Have Repeated NFIP Claims

More than a quarter million U.S. properties have repeated claims for federal flood insurance, costing the National Flood Insurance Program billions of dollars in claims, according to new federal data compiled by the National Resources Defense Council. Four states account …

Atlantic Hurricane Season Could Intensify in Coming Weeks, Meteorologists Say

AccuWeather meteorologists are warning that the Atlantic hurricane season could intensify in the coming weeks as less wind shear and less dry air create conducive conditions for storm development. AccuWeather is forecasting six to 10 named storms to form in …

Hurricane Beryl Caused $2.5-$4.5B in Estimated Insured Losses, Says Moody’s

U.S. insured losses from Hurricane Beryl will likely fall between $2.5 billion to $4.5 billion, according to estimates by Moody’s RMS Event Response. Insured losses associated with the storm include wind, storm surge, and precipitation-induced flooding. Moody’s estimates total non-U.S. …

Insurers See Minimal Impact From Hurricane Beryl, but They’re Bracing for an Active Season

Insurers’ losses from Hurricane Beryl will be “low and readily absorbed” and the storm is not expected to change pricing conditions in the P&C and reinsurance sectors, Moody’s Ratings said. Beryl made landfall along the Texas coast as a category …

Texas Health System Loses COVID-19 Business Interruption Suit – 5th Circuit

A Texas nonprofit health system who purchased a specialized commercial property insurance policy is not covered for business interruption losses caused by COVID-19, a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals panel ruled, relying on existing precedent that COVID-19 does not physically …

Insurers Seek Subrogation Against Norfolk Southern Over Ohio Train Derailment

Four insurance companies filed a subrogation lawsuit against Norfolk Southern in federal court last week, alleging the rail carrier’s negligence led to the 2023 East Palestine, Ohio train derailment and subsequent fire, explosion and release of toxic chemicals. Erie Insurance …

Floodwaters Inundate Midwest, Where Flood Insurance is Rarely in Force

Floodwaters damaged hundreds of properties this week across parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota as the Midwest recovers from days of intense rainfall. Three days of torrential downpours resulted in as much as 18 inches of rainfall in …

5th Circuit: Louisiana Law Voids Arbitration Clause in Surplus Lines Policies

A panel of the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled this week that a Louisiana statute voids the formation of an arbitration clause in a surplus lines insurance contract. In its opinion, the appellate court reasoned that the general principles …

Houston Windstorm Causes Preliminary Economic Loss of $5-7B: AccuWeather

The destructive windstorm that blew out windows in downtown Houston and left hundreds of thousands of southeast Texas residents without power caused upwards of $5-7 billion in total damage and economic loss, according to preliminary estimates by AccuWeather. Thousands of …