Whether you're going under a surgeon's knife or hiring an attorney to take a business contract dispute to court, there are risks of unintended outcomes, but until recently you couldn't buy insurance to cover them.

Not every new insurance idea is a roaring success out of the gate, but a change in delivery model helped jumpstart the success of one of NAS Insurance Services many specialty programs, the firm's leader reports.

In fiscal year 2009, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received over 90,000 new private sector charges of discrimination for the second straight year, the agency reported.

With Richmond, Va., continually growing as an excess and surplus lines insurance hub, the newest E&S carrier to set up shop there will distinguish itself with a "contrarian underwriting strategy," the company's chief executive says.

Ariel Holdings has announced that its founder, Donald Kramer, is stepping down as chief executive officer of the company and that George Rivaz will take over that position.

Researchers delivered good news to directors and officers liability insurers who cover defendants in securities lawsuits this year, revealing that the number of securities class actions plummeted in 2009.

Surplus lines insurer executives are tackling the challenges of 2010 with a broad range of strategies, but whatever individual approaches they may adopt, all say their main focus is on strengthening wholesaler relationships.

Veteran surplus lines insurance industry executives say they'll know a market turn when they see one, but so far, all the barometers they check to predict the proximity of a turn are stuck in soft market territory.