A recent report by consulting firm Consensus Forecasts predicts that Peru and Chile will experience the greatest economic growth among Latin American countries between now and the end of 2010. 

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Read More Peru and Chile Expected to Lead Latin America in Economic Growth through 2010

Legislation is under consideration in Connecticut and New Jersey that may significantly expand a claimant’s ability to directly sue an insurer over unfair claims settlement practices. 

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Read More Legislation Proposed in Connecticut and New Jersey Allows for Direct Action by Claimants for Unfair Claims Settlement Practices

The United States District Court for the District of New Jersey recently dismissed a securities class action complaint as a sanction for conduct by the lead plaintiff and class counsel.  Guy Del Giudice v. S.A.C. Capital Management, LLC, et al., 06-cv-1413 (February 19, 2009). 

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Read More New Jersey Federal Court Dismisses Securities Class Action Complaint as Sanction for Attorney Misconduct

In a recent decision, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts ruled that an insurer, in contrast to an insured, cannot obtain attorney’s fees incurred in successfully establishing another insurer’s duty to defend.  John T. Callahan & Sons, Inc. v. Worcester Ins. Co., SJC-10180 (March 19, 2009). 

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Read More Supreme Judicial Court Refuses to Extend Gamache Fee-Shifting Rule to Insurer Plaintiffs

Last week, Senator John D. Rockefeller IV, (D-W.Va.) introduced the Preexisting Condition Patient Protection Act of 2009 (S. 623) (the “Bill”).  According to Senator Rockefeller, the Bill will address any coverage gaps created in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 regarding preexisting condition exclusions by eliminating the use of preexisting condition exclusions in all health insurance markets. 

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Read More Senate Bill Aims to End the Use of Preexisting Condition Exclusions by Health Insurers

In November 2008 we reported  that the English High Court had ruled that employers’ liability policies, however they are worded, are triggered by exposure to asbestos and not when, many years later, the tumour develops. 

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Read More UK: Employer’s Liability Trigger Judgment to be Appealed in November 2009

As we previously reported here, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation recently held a hearing on the use of credit information in insurance ratemaking by insurers. 

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Read More Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink Opposes the Use of Credit Scoring when Determining Automobile Insurance Rates and Availability

An aviation repair company recently filed a lawsuit in federal court in Florida seeking recovery from its insurance broker and Lloyds of London for their alleged failure to cover a purported loss of plane engines leased to a Mexican airline that were confiscated by the Mexican government. 

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Read More Aviation Repair Company Files Lawsuit to Recover for Alleged Total Loss of its Leased Plane Engines Due to Confiscation by the Mexican Government

From 1 April, amendments to the FSA’s Senior Management Arrangements, Systems and Controls sourcebook (SYSC) will extend the application of the so-called “common platform requirements” (SYSC 4 to 10) to all FSA-regulated firms other than insurers, managing agents and the Society of Lloyd’s. 

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Read More UK: Amendments to FSA’s Systems and Controls Regime