New York's troubled state-run workers' compensation insurer has announced the appointment of James J. Wrynn, an insurance and personal injury attorney, as its new executive director.

With the debate over financial services reform heating up in Congress, the question is, should insurers have the option of being regulated at the federal level? Click to www.property-casualty.com to answer this week's NU online poll.

Celebrating his 500th posting, NU Editor In Chief Sam Friedman emphasizes the critical role readers have played in creating our online commercial insurance community forum. Add your views on his blog today.

Citing data that demonstrates notable increases in suspicious car fires, slip-and-falls, and hail-damage claims, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) is supporting the notion that a poor economy is causing an increase in fraudulent insurance claims.

Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America Past-President Alex Soto received the Woodworth Memorial Award today for his contributions to the independent insurance agent system.

The property-casualty insurance sector most likely to see any swine flu claims would be the workers' compensation line, an insurance expert who has studied influenza pandemics said today.

In its second announcement this week on the subject, Validus Holdings today outlined steps to speed up its efforts for a hostile takeover of IPC, which is backing an alternative deal with Max Capital.

Another name change for AIG's commercial and property-casualty sector, now going under the title "AIU Holdings," may be in the works.