Agency Management

Thomas J. Slattery, for many years the editor of National Underwriter, passed away this weekend of respiratory failure at the age of 68.

Try to imagine this dream sequence--sort of a remake of "The Treasure of Sierra Madre." A grim lawman walks in on a group of insurers and demands to see their books.

Securities class actions, and to a somewhat lesser extent shareholder derivative litigation, have historically presented the largest class of claims exposures to directors and officers liability insurers.

Should risk managers pay their insurance brokerage costs directly on a straight fee basis, rather than let carriers pay commissions on sales? File your vote on the latest NU Online Poll at www.property-casualty.com.

Daytona Beach, Fla.-based insurance broker Brown & Brown said it has acquired four insurance agencies in Connecticut. Financial terms of the acquisition were not released.

Independent agencies are invited to enter the 2010 Commercial Insurance Agency of the Year Award program, run by National Underwriter and its sister publication, American Agent & Broker, with entries due by July 1.