The magnitude 5.9 quake, which was felt nearly 100 miles away, caused more than 1,600 injuries in Afghanistan.

Social inflation generally describes verdicts that exceed $10 million but can apply to any unreasonably large award given the facts of a case.

The appointment follows the retirement of state Insurance Commissioner Jim Ridling at the end of June.

The case involved allegations of understated payroll and misclassification of workers under New Jersey law.