NU Online News Service, Feb. 8, 2:31 p.m. EST

Karen Cutts, managing editor of the Risk Retention Reporter, died last Tuesday at her home in Pasadena, Calif. She was 69.

Her husband James Cutts, the publisher of Risk Retention Reporter, said in a statement today that Ms. Cutts had a seven-month battle with pancreatic cancer and had been on medical leave since her diagnosis on July 4, 2009.

She was founder and original publisher of Risk Retention Reporter--now in its 24th year--and related publications, including the annual Risk Retention Group Directory & Guide.

She was also a frequent columnist for National Underwriter's Buyers Report, as well as a regular attendee and panel member at captive insurance and risk retention group conferences.

Ms. Cutts was born in Manhattan, N.Y., and moved to Los Angeles with her family at age 10, according to an obituary in the Pasadena Star News. She graduated from University of California Berkeley and earned a law degree from the San Fernando Valley College of Law, where she graduated summa cum laude and was class valedictorian, according to the article.

She practiced law for five years and then moved into the publishing field, first as a freelance writer for financial publications and then as the editor of the Insurance Journal, a national publication.

With the passage of the federal Liability Risk Retention Act in 1986, Ms. Cutts saw an opportunity to apply her legal talents, developing a national publication covering risk retention groups, an alternative to the traditional insurance market, the newspaper reported.

The Risk Retention Reporter has become the leading publication for this rapidly growing segment of the insurance industry.

Mr. Cutts said in the statement, "Several years ago, Karen and I began developing a strategic plan for the company to prepare for her eventual retirement as managing editor. When Karen was suddenly taken ill in July and was no longer able to work, I took over as publisher and put that plan into effect."

He noted, "Our team has now been producing the publications without Karen's involvement for more than six months. We are also in the process of upgrading our central information database in support of our products and exploring ways in which we can better serve our subscribers."

Mr. Cutts said he has appointed Karrie Hyatt--who was assistant editor of the Risk Retention Reporter and assumed Ms. Cutts' editorial responsibilities when she became ill--as the new managing editor.

"Karrie has worked closely with Karen for the past five years and has had a number of key responsibilities for the Risk Retention Reporter and the related publications," he said.

"Karen will remain on the masthead as the Founding Editor of the Risk Retention Reporter. As publisher, I remain committed to Karen's legacy. We will continue to serve the industry that she loved and sustain the standards of insightful and accurate reporting for which she was widely recognized," Mr. Cutts said.

He encouraged anyone who wishes "to celebrate Karen's memory" to join the fight against pancreatic cancer by making a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org).

Ms. Cutts, in addition to her husband, is survived by her daughters, Brianna and Dominique, a brother, Don and a sister, Barbara.

An outline of Ms. Cutts' contributions and personal and professional recollections from industry leaders appears the RRR Web site at www.rrr.com/kcutts.

Special Reports /

Karen Cutts, Risk Retention Reporter Founder, Passes Away

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