National Underwriter P&C August-13, 2007
Cover Story
Will Increased Supply, Lower Demand Threaten Global Re Market's Stability?
Skies are basically bright in the relatively stable world of reinsurance as major players gather to strike deals in Monte Carlo during the industry's annual rendezvous. But carriers are still
Opinion
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As Baby Boomers Retire, Who Will Take Their Place At Carriers, Agencies?
CPCU Society urges industry to pursue young talent, bolster education
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Was Noah Covered?
Insurers--eager to grasp at any straw that might pull them out of the harsh glare of public scrutiny over their handling of Hurricane Katrina claims--were relieved that a Department of Homeland
News
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N.Y. Giving Big Brokers Green Light To Accept Service Fees From Insurers
Aon will soon become the third major insurance brokerage to amend a settlement agreement with New York regulators, in which it was forced to stop accepting certain contingency-based commissions, a
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Congress Poised To Assess Catastrophe Bills, Extension Of TRIA
Congress will be back at work this week with a full insurance-related agenda, leading off with debate over the proper federal role in insuring against catastrophic losses, as lawmakers consider bills
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Ohio AG Sues Marsh, Insurers
Ohio Attorney General Marc Dann filed a 44-page complaint on Aug. 27 in the Court of Common Pleas in Cuyahoga County, accusing the New York-based Marsh brokerage of conspiring with insurers to fix
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Trial Lawyers Report Attacks Insurers Over Katrina Claims
A day before the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's arrival in New Orleans, a plaintiff lawyers group issued a report charging that insurance companies after that mammoth storm
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Lawyers Dispute Impact Of Hurricane Katrina Claims
The well-publicized wave of lawsuits in the wake of Hurricane Katrina does not mean there will be increased litigation when the next big windstorm catastrophe hits the United States, in the opinion
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N.Y. Halts Tie-In Policy For Coastal Risks
At a press conference, Insurance Superintendent Eric R. Dinallo reiterated that it is unlawful for an insurance company to refuse renewal if the decision is based on whether or not the policyholder
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First-Half Net Premiums Flat, But U.S. Reinsurer Profits Rise
Net premiums written by U.S. property-casualty reinsurers were relatively unchanged in the first half of the year, but the profitability of the industry's book of business improved, the latest survey
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Sam's Blog: Insurers Take Another One On The Chin
Insurers that adopted a "Rope-A-Dope" strategy--offering no comment to devastating allegations in a Bloomberg Markets cover story headlined: "The Insurance Hoax," accusing homeowners carriers of
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Sam's Blog: What Gets Readers Hot Under The Collar?
NU Editor In Chief Sam Friedman celebrates the first anniversary of his blog by recapping some of the hottest topics he's addressed, in terms of generating feedback. To check out what prompts readers
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Sam's Blog: Round Two--Insurers Hammered Again On Katrina
While one or two industry representatives are usually quoted defending insurers in the growing pile of stories bashing carriers for mishandling Hurricane Katrina claims, their two cents doesn't buy
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Sam's Blog: Cat Bond Man To The Rescue?
Are cat bonds a significant solution for those writing disaster coverage? Can the concept make a dent in the massive exposure facing the industry? Could it help bring down prices for consumers along
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Sam's Blog: Will Congress Blow It On TRIA?
Washington remains shortsighted, as well as penny wise and pound foolish, as the latest developments in the debate over whether to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act demonstrates, says NU Editor
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Sam's Blog: Should Insureds Profit From Losses?
In response to NU's latest "Question of Ethics," readers weighed in on the ethical implications of doing business in states where claimants seem to be able to "profit" from their losses--getting more
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Sam's Blog: Is The Anti-Concurrent Causation Clause Ethical?
Litigation and policy debates among state and federal lawmakers have exploded over anti-concurrent-causation clauses in homeowners policies that deny coverage for most, if not all windstorm losses
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Sam's Blog: Would You Cover The CIA?
Who in his right mind would write professional liability insurance for a CIA agent, especially one involved with interrogations of suspected terrorists? That's the question NU Editor In Chief Sam
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Sam's Blog: The Joke's On Insurers
We have become so litigious in this country that even liberal magazines such as "The New Yorker" are making fun of our propensity to sue at the drop of a hat. NU Editor In Chief Sam Friedman recounts
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Sam's Blog: Insurers Can't Shake Katrina Legacy
Anyone who thought the fallout from Hurricane Katrina would pass by now was sadly mistaken, with trial lawyers still hammering away at carriers over wind-versus-water-related claims. NU Editor In
Market Report
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Bermuda Babies In Class Of 2001 Holding Their Own Despite Soft Market Challenge
Although challenging market conditions await the class of Bermuda insurers born in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Fitch believes most members of the Bermuda Class of 2001 are well positioned
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What's On The Table At This Year's Rendezvous?
o Matthew Mosher, group vice president for A.M. Best, said the issue going into Monte Carlo this year will be "the cycle itself--and the pressures [reinsurers] will have balancing market-share issues
Buyers Report
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Screening Employees Secures Workplace
Failure to do proper due diligence exposes firm to liability suits if violence
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U.S. RMs Heed China Wakeup Call, But Most Take Global Exposures In Stride
While recent travails in China are causing alarm, exposing potential liabilities from lead paint in toys or tainted pet foods for some U.S. businesses, the overall impact on global risk managers is
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Regulators Should Push Insurers On ERM
That may change, as I believe it likely regulators will soon begin developing requirements for insurers regarding ERM programs. Why should regulators put ERM into their oversight scheme? There are
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New RIMS President Looks To Pinpoint Qualities Of Outstanding Risk Managers
There's no such thing as a typical day for risk managers, but the new RIMS president says a goal of the organization during her upcoming term will be to issue quality guidelines describing typical
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RIMS President Will Keep Close Eye On Latest Broker Fees
Members of the Risk and Insurance Management Society are still very interested in hearing from brokers on the topic that won't go away--any additional fees accepted from insurers, according to Janice
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Coverage 'Goes Local' For Global RMs
For risk managers whose operations expand into Europe, cultural divides and differing levels of exposures aren't the only issues on their minds in the wake of a court ruling that may drive changes in
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Buyers See D&O Risks Rising Globally
Directors and officers can be left high and dry if local coverage rules are
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Must A D&O Policy Be Locally Issued?
Willis' Ann Longmore gives the following rule of thumb: If the British flag flew overhead at some point in the country's history, it's most likely a common-law country, while countries that were
