Public sector entities are seeing more lawsuits over issues such as school violence, police brutality and global warming as the financial crisis deepens and plaintiffs look for deep pockets, experts advised.

Wells Fargo, BB&T, and BancorpSouth were cited for exceptional performance by Who's Who in Bank Insurance (WWBI), an annual study published by the Bank Insurance Market Research Group.

Senate Democrats have dropped plans to a provision allowing 55-year-olds without coverage to buy into Medicare.

The insurance and journalism worlds lost one of its best last week when Philip "Phil" Schreiner passed away on Dec. 10, 2009, after a short battle with lung cancer.