Sun.Jun 15, 2025

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Oregon OSHA Fines Contractor for Repeatedly Violating Excavation Safety Rules

Insurance Journal

The Oregon Occupational Safety and Health Division fined Hillsboro-based Renner Trucking and Excavating Inc. $80,804 for repeatedly violating rules intended to protect workers from trenches caving in.

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A COURT ORDER SO AMBIGUOUS THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO ENFORCE : SOME ESSENTIAL POINTS ABOUT DRAFTING HERE

Civil Litigation Brief

Here we are looking at a Court of Appeal decision about the drafting and construction of court orders. The order made in this case was totally deficient, consequently it could not be enforced. (Absolute precision is demanded here.) ".

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After Years of Losses, Florida Insurers Saw Underwriting Profits in 2024, AM Best Says

Insurance Journal

After eight years of losses, Florida’s personal property insurance market reported an underwriting profit and a considerable jump in operating income in 2024, the AM Best rating and analytics firm said in a report posted in late May.

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Federal Court Blocks CFPB Move to Scrap Racial Discrimination Settlement

Insurance Journal

A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday refused to allow the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to vacate a racial discrimination settlement reached last year with a mortgage lender, finding there was no basis for granting an extraordinary request.

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Prep with Purpose: How to Build Better Trial Binders

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Get ready to master the art and science of trial preparation organization that top attorneys rely on in this exclusive webinar! Attorney and law professor, Joe Stephens, J.D., will walk through proven systems for creating comprehensive trial notebooks and binders that transform scattered case materials into a powerful command center. Learning Objectives: Strategic Organization 📊 Learn the essential sections every trial notebook needs and how to structure them for maximum clarity and acce

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Carrier Management to Host ‘Demo Day’ for Homeowners Insurers June 18

Insurance Journal

Carrier Management is hosting the second event in a series of free “Demo Days”, designed to allow home insurers to experience rapid fire demos of cutting-edge risk tools.

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Connecticut Closes Costly Workers’ Comp Loophole Opened by Court

Insurance Journal

Connecticut lawmakers last month moved to plug what could have been a very costly loophole in workers’ compensation benefits that was created by a state Supreme Court decision in March.

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Connecticut Hopes to Curb Auto Claims Arbitration by Shifting Cost to Insurers

Insurance Journal

Connecticut lawmakers have passed a measure to shift the cost of auto insurance arbitration hearings between claimants and insurers over damage claims to the insurance industry.

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Triple-I: New Research Suggests Link Between Litigation Funding, Attorney Ads

Insurance Journal

According to research from the American Tort Reform Association (ATRA), legal service providers spent more than $2.5 billion on 26.9 million ads in 2024 alone–with significant increases in television, radio, and outdoor advertising since 2017.

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AM Best Downgrades Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Members in California, Vermont

Insurance Journal

AM Best has downgraded the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) to A- (Excellent) from A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) to “a-” (Excellent) from “a+” (Excellent) of the Vermont and California members of Nonprofits Insurance Alliance Group.

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Rate Growth Slows, Moving Violations Increase: The Road Ahead for Auto

Insurance Journal

The auto insurance market is shifting gears. Last year, the sector saw premium growth, lower retention rates and improved loss ratios, leading to a softening market and increased profitability.

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Leverage Trellis Court Data To Identify More Investment Opportunities

Finance teams find Trellis to be particularly effective in conducting comprehensive due diligence on both individuals and businesses. With our court data solution, financial experts can access critical litigation insights, making it an invaluable resource for informed decision-making in the financial sector.

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Smoke in the Rearview: Lessons in Wildfire Preparedness from an Agency CEO’s Evacuation Experience

Insurance Journal

In 2024, my family and I were forced to evacuate our home due to an approaching wildfire.

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DIY Home Inspections Are Taking Over, Firms Say

Insurance Journal

The future of home inspections is here, and it’s in the hands of …the homeowner, according to leaders of two firms that have developed DIY systems now being used by prospective insureds across the country for pre-policy property surveys.

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What to Know About Construction and Environmental Liability

Insurance Journal

How do per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) impact the environmental liability market in construction, or do they? Do all contractors need environmental liability coverage? And if so, how can agents and brokers encourage them to purchase the cover?

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Ex-FDNY Chief Gets 3 Years for Taking Bribes for Safety Inspections

Insurance Journal

A former New York City Fire Department chief was sentenced to three years in prison last month for accepting tens of thousands of dollars in bribes to fast-track fire safety inspections at restaurants, hotels, and other city businesses.

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The Tech-Savvy Paralegals Playbook: How To Leverage AI

Speaker: Allison Mears, Adela Wekselblatt, and George Socha

Artificial intelligence is reshaping the legal industry, and paralegals are at the forefront of this transformation. As AI becomes more integrated into legal workflows, paralegals can streamline their daily tasks, enhance efficiency, and add greater value to their firms and organizations. But what exactly does AI mean for paralegals today—and how can you leverage it to your advantage?

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Agents Beware: Homeowner’s Failure to Read Policy Doesn’t Clear Agency of Negligence Claim, North Carolina High Court Says

Insurance Journal

A North Carolina insurance agency cannot escape a lawsuit brought by a homeowner whose claim was denied because key elements of the property were not mentioned in the coverage application.

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Size of Florida’s Slide Insurance Executive Compensation Has Tongues Wagging, Eyes Popping

Insurance Journal

When Tampa-based Slide Insurance registered for an initial public stock offering in May, one page of the filing quickly had people talking in the Florida insurance industry. On page 132 of the filing with the U.S.

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Massachusetts Denies 7.1% Workers’ Comp Rate Hike After 2024 ‘Excessive’ Cut

Insurance Journal

Massachusetts Insurance Commissioner Michael Caljouw has rejected an industry proposal to raise workers’ compensation rates by 7.1%. As a result, existing rates, which reflect a 14.

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Certificates of Insurance…Or How I Got a Job in the Prison Laundry

Insurance Journal

As best as I can recall, the first article I wrote about certificates of insurance (COIs) was in 2002, over two decades ago.

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Smarter Patent Family Research: The Tools And Tactics You Need Now

Speaker: Andrew Klein

Are there mysteries lurking in your family tree? 🕵 No, not a long-lost half-brother - I'm talking about a patent family tree! IP paralegals need fast and easy ways to verify and report on essential data about foreign equivalents of US assets. Join us to master the global scope of key assets to support prosecution, portfolio management, litigation, licensing, competitive monitoring and more!

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Declarations

Insurance Journal

Insuring College Athletes “The reason why insurance is now being introduced more consistently is that there are now real dollars at risk. And we’re not talking a small amount of dollars, either.

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Business Moves

Insurance Journal

National Nearmap, itel Thoma Bravo-backed Nearmap, headquartered in Lehi, Utah, agreed to buy insurance technology provider itel, based in Jacksonville, Florida, from private equity firm GTCR. The deal values itel at over $1.3 billion, including deb.

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How Brokers Help With Escalating Costs

Insurance Journal

Contractors must take into consideration all these moving risk targets, including at times their contractual guaranteed price risk. Brian Cooper, U.S.

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People Moves: Dann Joins The Liberty Company in California as Vice President

Insurance Journal

The Liberty Company Insurance Brokers hired Connor Dann as vice president, producer. Dann is based in Liberty’s Woodland Hills, California, office.

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AI for Paralegals: Everything You Need to Know (and How to Use It Safely)

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

Ready to cut through the AI hype and learn exactly how to use these tools in your legal work? Join this webinar to get practical guidance from attorney and AI legal expert, Joe Stephens, who understands what really matters for legal professionals! What You'll Learn: Evaluate AI Tools Like a Pro 🔍 Learn which tools are worth your time and how to spot potential security and ethics risks before they become problems.

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Las Vegas Drywall Contractor Must Pay $824K in Wages, Damages

Insurance Journal

The U.S. Department of Labor recovered $824,276 in back wages and damages for 680 employees of a Las Vegas drywall contractor, which reported denied overtime pay to piece-rate and hourly workers.

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Value-Added Services to Offer Clients

Insurance Journal

The insurance consumer will not see any significant value difference between insurance companies and insurance agencies. Products, price, and service are roughly the same. Insurance is really a commodity.

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D.A. Says Former California Police Officer on Workers’ Comp Went to Festival, Skied

Insurance Journal

A former Westminster, California, police officer and her stepfather were charged in a large-scale workers’ compensation fraud case after an investigation revealed the officer collected more than $600,000 in disability payments while reportedly engaging in physically strenuous activities.

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SC Governor Celebrates Dram Shop-Tort Limits Law But Some Want Another Sip of Reform

Insurance Journal

South Carolina’s governor has signed a liquor liability and tort-reform bill into law, but some lawmakers said broader changes to the state’s legal system are needed.

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Fresh Out of School: How to Become an Expert Paralegal

Speaker: Joe Stephens, J.D., Attorney and Law Professor

The difference between a paralegal and an exceptional paralegal isn't just competence—it's the bold initiative to anticipate needs, master hidden firm dynamics, and transform challenges into opportunities that showcase your indispensable value. Join this webinar with attorney Joe Stephens to get an insider's perspective into how you can become a strategic asset to your practice!

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California Joint Law Enforcement Efforts Lead to 4,800 Stolen Vehicles Recovered

Insurance Journal

Joint law enforcement operations in Bakersfield, Oakland, and San Bernardino have made 6,727 arrests, recovered 4,842 stolen vehicles and confiscated 313 dangerous firearms, according to an announcement from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

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Missouri DCI Estimates High Uninsured Rates in St. Louis Following Tornado

Insurance Journal

The Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance released preliminary uninsured estimates for properties in the St. Louis in response to the F3 tornado that struck the region on May 16.

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Lawsuit Filed Over Jailhouse Killing of Deaf Man in Maryland

Insurance Journal

In the days before Javarick Gantt was strangled to death in jail, he was forced to share a cell with a first-degree murder suspect whose violent behavior had already alarmed his previous cellmate, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday.

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Trump Denied Reconsideration of $5M Judgment in E. Jean Carroll Sex Abuse Case

Insurance Journal

A federal appeals court won’t reconsider its ruling upholding a $5 million civil judgment against President Donald Trump in a civil lawsuit alleging he sexually abused a writer in a Manhattan department store in the mid-1990s.

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Trellis Launches Trellis AI to Streamline Trial Court Litigation

Trellis AI leverages the largest repository of state trial court data to help litigators evaluate cases, automate brief drafting, suggest winning strategies, and more. Key components: Draft Arguments — Uses similar/successful motions in the Trellis database to generate arguments/citations for your motions seeking dismissal, summary judgment, etc. Case Assessment — Predict the likely outcomes of a case at any stage to help you decide to accept it, guide motion practice, make settlement offers, an