Following a recent government victory in U.S. District Court in Texas, the captive insurance company industry stands generally on alert, viewing this case as a sign of a perceived increase in focus by the Internal Revenue Service on captive insurance companies.
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Topics
Large Storms in Oklahoma Rattling Local Insurance Industry
Weather patterns in Oklahoma have taken their toll on the local insurance industry. Due to an unexpectedly large number of powerful tornadoes in May, including the devastating tornado that struck Moore, Oklahoma, insurance companies have thus far seen claims for tornado damages in excess of $1 billion in Oklahoma.
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Connecticut Supreme Court Determines that the Make Whole Doctrine Does Not Apply to Insurance Policy Deductibles
The Connecticut Supreme Court, in a much anticipated subrogation decision, recently held that an insurer has priority over a policyholder in the context of a recovery for insurance policy deductible losses. See Fireman’s Fund Ins. Co. v. TD Banknorth Ins. Agency, Inc., 309 Conn. 449, — A.3d —-, 2013 WL 3818112 (Conn. July 30, 2013). …
Read More Connecticut Supreme Court Determines that the Make Whole Doctrine Does Not Apply to Insurance Policy Deductibles
Healthcare Update: Proposed Bill Would Eliminate Stark Law Exception for Some Services; Oregon Exchange Won’t be Completely Ready by Deadline; “Doc Fix” Bill Advances in House
PROPOSED BILL WOULD ELIMINATE STARK LAW EXCEPTION FOR SOME SERVICES
The “Promoting Integrity in Medicare Act of 2013,” introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on August 1, would eliminate one of the Stark Law’s exceptions for advanced imaging, anatomic pathology, radiation therapy and physical therapy services performed in a physician’s office. …
Read More Healthcare Update: Proposed Bill Would Eliminate Stark Law Exception for Some Services; Oregon Exchange Won’t be Completely Ready by Deadline; “Doc Fix” Bill Advances in House
The Illinois Appellate Court Rules that CGL Policies’ General Aggregate Limit Should Not Be Mistaken for an Each Occurrence Limit
In Bituminous Casualty Corp. v. Iles, the Appellate Court of Illinois reversed the trial court’s judgment against the insurance company. An oil well exploded, leading to many lawsuits against Bituminous’s policyholders. …
Read More The Illinois Appellate Court Rules that CGL Policies’ General Aggregate Limit Should Not Be Mistaken for an Each Occurrence Limit
The Eighth Circuit Rejects Pro-Coverage Arguments as Unreasonable and Too Narrow and Applies the Prior-Knowledge and Lien-Waiver Exclusions
In Lexington Insurance Co. v. Integrity Land Title Co., the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals enforced two exclusions, rejecting arguments in favor of coverage as unreasonable and too narrow. Notably, the court rejected these arguments to the detriment of an intervenor claiming benefits under a policy issued to another party, even though the basis of enforcing these exclusions was the policyholder’s knowledge and failure, not the intervenor’s. …
Read More The Eighth Circuit Rejects Pro-Coverage Arguments as Unreasonable and Too Narrow and Applies the Prior-Knowledge and Lien-Waiver Exclusions
FIO/FSOC Update as of August 6, 2013
Below are recent activities on the FIO/FSOC front.
- In its quarterly report to Congress issued on July 24, 2013, the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) details its support for the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (FSOC’s) designation of AIG as a systemically important financial institution.
NAIC Executive Committee Grants Approval for Development of Corporate Governance Model Law
According to media reports, during its July 26 conference call, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Executive (EX) Committee/Plenary approved the proposal for the Corporate Governance (E) Working Group to develop a new model law to facilitate the annual collection of information regarding insurers’ corporate governance practices. …
Read More NAIC Executive Committee Grants Approval for Development of Corporate Governance Model Law
Brazil Anti-Corruption Law To Establish Corporate Civil Liability
A new anti-corruption law passed by the Brazilian Senate will for the first time impose civil liability on companies that bribe public officials. …
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The Significance of Zhang v. California Capital Insurance Company
On August 1, 2013, the California Supreme Court issued its long awaited decision in Zhang v. California Capital Insurance Company. A copy of the decision is available here. …
Read More The Significance of Zhang v. California Capital Insurance Company