Florida's acrimonious battle with State Farm over its effort to leave the state's homeowners insurance market has ended with the company winning a 14.8 percent rate increase and permission to drop 125,000 policyholders.

What, if any, ethical obligations do insurers and their agents have in communicating to clients their legislative positions and lobbying activities, asks NU Editor Sam Friedman in his blog today at www.NUSamSoapBox.com.

Lovells LLP, a firm with a large insurance practice, and Hogan & Hartson LLP, a Washington-based law firm said their respective partnerships have approved the merger of their international firms.

Although less than a quarter of independent agents and brokers responding to a recent survey are using social networking in their marketing plans, almost 20 percent are considering it.