Commercial Lines

As demonstrated by the case of Lilly Ledbetter, which spawned the Fair Pay Restoration Act of 2009, what appears a non-issue today might not be tomorrow, which makes the purchase of employment practices insurance vital for small and midsize businesses, according to Burns & Wilcox Manager Dick Weaver.

Many agents are not fully aware of the enormous influence the experience modification plays and, more importantly, how to help a client manage it to the lowest permissible point. Here’s a checklist that can help agents better serve their clients.

We've got lots of company results to tell you about, along with several other news stories, including an AIG repayment and a Celent CIO survey.

While debate rages over the future direction of the overall property and casualty insurance market, one recent broker survey of a niche market—architects and engineers professional liability—indicates rates could see upward momentum this year.

Construction-insurance pros see some signs for market improvements in 2012 and 2013, as the economy recovers and projects continue in key industries, such as health care and education. A second round of stimulus funding would also help.

Is a construction defect an occurrence covered by a commercial general liability policy? That’s the key question for homebuilders and contractors facing Chinese drywall damage claims. The insurance and liability issues are becoming increasingly complicated by conflicting state court rulings over the lingering coverage question.

Property and casualty carrier employment is at the lowest level in more than 20 years, according to data published by the U.S. Labor Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics and compiled by the Insurance Information Institute.

MarketScout's barometer of U.S. property and casualty market shows minus-5 percent composite rate for the fourth straight month, with general liability still the most aggressively priced coverage.