One of the major issues facing the commercial drone industry is the lack of certainty in the regulatory environment.  Multiple state and local municipalities have passed drone related laws and ordinances, but as the recent decision in Singer v. City of Newton, Case No. 1:17-CV-10071-WGY demonstrates, any such ordinances
Read More White House Exploring Model Program for Shared Federal and State Regulation of Drone Operations

The Illinois Department of Insurance has issued a notice of proposed rule to add a new rule (50 Ill. Adm. Code 206) regarding domestic insurance companies service of process requirements.

The rulemaking will provide the method and procedure to designate either a registered agent with an Illinois address and/or any
Read More Illinois Department of Insurance Proposes New Rule on Domestic Insurers Service of Process Requirements

New York Associate Zachary Lerner authored a Law360 article on commission sharing, referral fee and producer licensing issues.  Within the article, Mr. Lerner identifies important issues for insurers and producers to consider, both in the admitted and surplus lines insurance markets, with respect to the sharing of commissions and whether
Read More New Insurance Platforms Arguably Require Producer Licenses

The wildfires raging in Northern California are already the worst in the state’s history.  The risk of cataclysmic fires is greater in Southern California, but the elements (fierce winds, high temperatures, and low humidity) conspired  to create this conflagration.

Containment figures are finally increasing for these massive wildfires that continue
Read More FIRING On All Cylinders

On October 12, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order “to reform the United States healthcare system to take the first steps to expand choices and alternatives to Obamacare plans and increase competition to bring down costs for consumers.”  The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Labor
Read More Trump Administration Issues Executive Order Regarding Health Coverage and Discontinues Cost-Sharing Reductions Payments

The Florida Supreme Court Pruco advisory opinion, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. v. Pruco Life Ins. Co., 200 So. 3d at 1203 & 1206-07, to the United States Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals held that an insurer may not challenge the validity of a Florida life insurance policy, even on
Read More The Pruco Florida Supreme Court decision has been legislatively reversed by a recent amendment to the Florida Viatical Settlement Act

Florida has recently adopted amendments to its Viatical Settlement Act.

One of the new provisions, Section 626.99292 Notice to life insurance policyholders, provides:

“(1) A life insurer shall provide an individual life insurance policyholder with a statement informing him or her that if he or she is considering making changes

Read More New Notice Requirement for Insurers under Florida’s Viatical Settlement Act

Florida has recently adopted amendments to its Viatical Settlement Act.

One of the new provisions, Section 626.99287 Contestability of viaticated policies, provides as follows:

(2) Except as hereinafter provided [certain life changing events, such as death of a spouse, divorce, retirement from full time employment, terminal or chronic illness, mental

Read More Florida may have outlawed the secondary sale of policies if at any time during the five year period post issuance there was a loan secured by the policy

Florida has recently adopted amendments to its Viatical Settlement Act.

One of the new provisions, Section 626.9911 (9), defines a prohibited stranger-originated life insurance practice as:

(9) “Stranger-originated life insurance practice” means an act, practice, arrangement, or agreement to initiate a life insurance policy for the benefit of a third-party

Read More Florida may have outlawed legitimate premium finance lending

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has cautioned insurers against improper underwriting activities in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.  Specifically, TDI issued Commissioner’s Bulletin # B-0032017 on September 21, 2017, which reminds insurers of certain underwriting laws and regulations applicable to personal automobile and residential property insurance that are particularly
Read More Texas Department of Insurance Warns Against Improper Underwriting After Hurricane Harvey