In the recent movie, The Incredibles, the main character is an animated superhero who must retire from that role due to lawsuits filed by the people he was trying to rescue.

This figure represents a 5.4 percent increase in tort costs from 2002, a much slower growth rate than the prior two years.

Since 1996, Carl Van has been exhorting claim adjusters to strive for excellence. In that year, Claims published "The 8 Characteristics of the Awesome Adjuster," co-authored by Van and Sue Tarrach.

Having witnessed the tsunami disaster first hand, the chairman of Lloyd's made a call for early warning systems, which, he said, were vital to prepare for global risks, both natural and corporate.

Although western insurers remain relatively unaffected by the devastation left behind by December's tsunami in the Indian Ocean, local companies are calculating large payouts.

Leaders of the property and casualty insurance industry expect that the investigations into certain industry practices by state attorneys general and insurance departments will continue to expand in 2005.

Although the 2004 Atlantic Hurricane Season started off slowly, it evolved into one of the busiest and most destructive in history.

Every day, the world confronts the tragic consequences of human violence and lack of tolerance, yet, natural and related hazards affect as many or more people as do conflicts.