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E&O Coverage for Small Law Firms

When it comes to the legal profession, there are two known facts: claims against lawyers tend to increase in an economic downturn; and small firms (with fewer than five attorneys) are extremely vulnerable to legal malpractice and damaging lawsuits. To address these issues, we offer a professional liability insurance program specifically tailored to the needs of small law firms. Rates are competitive because the underwriting guidelines exclude writing large firms that tend to have higher risk and greater claims severity. According to the American Bar Association, over 70% of professional liability claims are driven by firms of less than five… Read More »E&O Coverage for Small Law Firms

Watch Your Car This New Year’s Day

You’ve got your plans for New Year’s? The list of commitments is ready, the fridge is stocked for the party. You’re ready to have the best ever yet New Year’s Celebration. And so are millions of people. Everyone is ready to relax, but vehicle thieves. New Year’s Day was once again the leading holiday for reported vehicle thefts in 2009, while Christmas Day repeated as the holiday with the fewest reported vehicle thefts. For the 11 holidays reviewed in 2009, a total of 22,991 vehicles were reported stolen compared to a total of 24,676 reported for those same days in 2008,… Read More »Watch Your Car This New Year’s Day

FBI Reports: Crime goes down in 2010

The nation experienced a 6.2% decrease in the number of violent crimes and a 2.8% decline in the number of property crimes from January to June 2010. Arson, motor vehicle theft, larceny-theft fell and burglary all decreased. That’s according to the FBI’s Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, which is based on information from more than 12,000 law enforcement agencies that submitted three to six comparable months of data to the FBI during the first six months of both 2009 and 2010. Violent Crime From January to June 2010, all four of the offense types in the violent crime category declined… Read More »FBI Reports: Crime goes down in 2010

Did You Say ‘No’ to Legal Marijuana?

Amid strong employer opposition, California voters have rejected Proposition 19, which would have eliminated criminal penalties for marijuana possession. The California Chamber of Commerce, for example, sponsored “No on 19” radio ads. In addition to concerns about the measure’s potential impact on worker safety, the chamber argued that the measure would have set up “a new class of protected workers and essentially require employers to provide extra protections for marijuana users above those provided to other employees.” 53.8% of California voters opposed the measure in Tuesday’s balloting. 45.3% voted for the measure. Paperless Comment: fitness and sport release same number… Read More »Did You Say ‘No’ to Legal Marijuana?

Maine Court: You’ve got to be kidding me…

Maine’s supreme court says a workers’ compensation beneficiary isn’t eligible for additional benefits for a car crash that happened with on a way to a mediation meeting. Kurt F., an employee, was injured on the job in 1987, 1997 and again 2007, and he was traveling to a mediation hearing on those injuries when he was involved in a car crash. In a 4-2 ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court found that the employer cannot be made responsible for the injuries en route to the hearing in Lewiston. Justice Ellen G. wrote that injuries occurring during travel to mediation or… Read More »Maine Court: You’ve got to be kidding me…

You’ve Been Served, Brazoria County, TX

The Texas Supreme Court has determined that a lawsuit filed against a “governmental unit” within six months of an incident can be regarded as sufficient notice under the Texas Tort Claims Act. The high court’s ruling reverses the dismissal by the Court of Appeals for the 14th District of Texas of a suit against a Texas county. The case was remanded back to the trial court. In Glenn Colquitt v. Brazoria County, NO. 09-0369, the Texas Supreme Court found that because all of the pertinent details that are required in notice to a governmental unit in Texas when filing a claim… Read More »You’ve Been Served, Brazoria County, TX

Zurich Settles Half a Billion Claim

Zurich Financial Services Ltd. and its Farmers Group Inc. subsidiary are paying $455 million to settle a class-action lawsuit challenging management service fees paid to Farmers, Zurich said Thursday. Law suite details you can read on your own – Google is your friend. We just want to point to your attention that Zurich and Farmers Group “do not accept that there is any basis” for the claims regarding the management fees, but Zurich said it decided to settle “in order to provide certainty to its shareholders and clarity to customers as well as to avoid the risks and significant exposure of… Read More »Zurich Settles Half a Billion Claim

Is Your Insurance Company Double Taxed in California?

Did you pay 3% surplus lines tax and 0.25% filing fee for your policy with a company that is Non-Admitted in California? Well, certainly, you did! Would you like to pay 2.35% section 28 tax? According to a California Court of Appeal decision, surplus line insurers should not be subject to California Constitution Section 28 taxes to the state, since these nonadmitted insurers already pay surplus line premium taxes. The conflict arose when Stephen Silvers and Steven Gold (S&G) filed a complaint, alleging that surplus line insurer Lexington Insurance Co. had failed to pay Section 28 taxes, and sought the court’s… Read More »Is Your Insurance Company Double Taxed in California?

Insurance Cancellation Fees Must Be Disclosed in Calif.

Insurers in California will now be required to disclose cancellation penalties —prior to or concurrent with an application for insurance — thanks to legislation recently signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Previously, the law stated that an insured was entitled to return of his or her premium if the policy is canceled, rejected, surrendered or rescinded. But the new law, AB 2404, which takes effect Jan. 1, 2012, would require that any insurance policy that includes a provision to refund a premium other than on a pro rata basis, including the assessment and cancellation fees, disclose that fact in writing, including… Read More »Insurance Cancellation Fees Must Be Disclosed in Calif.

Ban of Texting While Driving Didn’t Reduce Crashes

As for me – it’s too early to judge… As for me, it’s too complicated to prosecute. As far as I can see – people still use their cellphones while driving. They talk and text, and get in trouble. How many time have you noted someone, whose driving style was insulting least to say… and then you noticed that person was on the phone? Although, it’s believed that talking on speakerphone is okay and safer, still road hazards are there, waiting for us to happen. However, a study released Tuesday by the Highway Loss Data Institute found no reductions in… Read More »Ban of Texting While Driving Didn’t Reduce Crashes