Texas

• Tornadoes Pummel Midwest with More to Come

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360  |  May 20, 2013

  More than 20 tornadoes roared through the Midwest Sunday, and reports promise continuing severe weather today.

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  Cause of Fire at West Fertilizer Co. Remains Unknown; Scene Investigation Complete

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 17, 2013

  After a month-long scene investigation, investigators still do not know what caused the fire that led to a massive explosion at the West Fertilizer Co. in Texas.

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  Tornadoes Rip Through North Texas, Causing Extensive Damage

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 16, 2013

  Tornadoes late May 15 in north-central Texas damaged multiple homes, killing six people and injuring 100.

• Former AIG Commercial Sales, Marketing Exec Hired as ProspX CEO

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 16, 2013

  American International Group Inc. has lost another leading executive, this time to a social business platform to help brokers and carriers manage commercial insurance.

• 68th Company Member Joins Trusted Choice

  By Staff Writer  |  May 16, 2013

  Midlands is the 68th company partner to join Trusted Choice, the national consumer branding program of independent insurance agents and brokers.

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  Top 10 States for Dog Bite Claims

  By Caterina Pontoriero, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 15, 2013

  It’s a dog-eat-dog world, and last year 3,670 State Farm customers were wearing Milk-Bone underwear. Click to see State Farm’s top 10 states for dog bite claims in 2012.

• Appeals Court: Medicare Secondary Payer Act Doesn't Preempt State Law

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 15, 2013

  Medicare does not preempt state workers compensation laws that establish rules dealing with the handling of medical claims, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled.

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  Doesn't Matter How West Fertilizer Dangers Were Revealed

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 14, 2013

  Will all the points regarding holes in insurance requirements, workplace safety, risk management, oversight, and land-use planning persist against a backdrop of what could be a criminal act?

• Banks in Cyber Heist Face Uncertainty in Getting Money Back

  By Joseph Ax, Reuters  |  May 13, 2013

  Two banks hit in a $45 million ATM heist face an uncertain path in trying to recover their losses, says financial, insurance and legal experts.

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  Authorities Launch Criminal Investigation of West Fertilizer Explosion

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 10, 2013

  A criminal investigation has been launched into the West, Texas fertilizer plant that exploded last month.

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  Study: Cell Phone Use in Crashes Severely Underreported

  By Anya Khalamayzer, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 9, 2013

  A new study from the National Safety Council shows that cell phone use in accidents is severely underreported.

• Aon: April 2013 Insured Storm Losses Half 2012; Tornadoes Down

  By Mark E. Ruquet, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 9, 2013

  This year’s April storm losses were significantly lighter than the past two years when record number of tornadoes touched down in the U.S. causing billions of dollars in damage, according to Aon Benfield.

• Oklahoma Bill Partially Privatizes Last-Resort WC Insurer

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 8, 2013

  The Oklahoma legislature passed legislation partially privatizing CompSource, but AIA says it's not a true privatization because the state will maintain substantive control over it.

• Ammonium Nitrate Was Trigger for West, Texas Blast, State Agency Says

  By Reuters  |  May 7, 2013

  Investigators have confirmed that ammonium nitrate was the trigger for the explosion at a West, Texas, fertilizer plant last month that left 14 people dead and some 200 injured, according to the Texas state fire marshal's office.

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  W.R. Berkley Attorney: Limited Coverage Held by West Fertilizer ‘Irresponsible’

  By Chad Hemenway, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 7, 2013

  Paul A. Grinke, an attorney with McCathern in Dallas, predicts his clients and others involved in lawsuits against the West, Texas facility that exploded last month will "be left holding the bag."

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  The Assault on State-Regulated Workers' Comp

  By Arthur D. Postal, PropertyCasualty360.com  |  May 6, 2013

  A critical component of our national “safety net,” the state-regulated workers’ compensation system, is being besieged, another victim of politicians reaching everywhere to generate short-term benefits by increasing services without raising taxes.