Regulation/Legislation

Sales of directors and officers liability insurance are growing rapidly in Europe as shareholder suits increase, a consulting firm is reporting.

After an unexpected second-quarter dip, securities lawsuit filings shot back up in the third quarter.

Even though securities suits related to the Madoff Ponzi scheme and the credit crisis trailed off in third-quarter 2009, financial firms were still the leading type of company sued with one-third of the cases filed, a research firm reported.

Legislation to modify the federal antitrust exemption for health and medical malpractice insurers "will have no significant effect" on premiums charged for private health insurance, the Congressional Budget Office has determined.

The authority of federal regulators to oversee and liquidate large, troubled insurance companies should be significantly pared back in legislation Congress is considering to deal with systemic risk to the economy, industry leaders are arguing.

Insurance agents are voicing dismay over health care reform legislation passed by the House late Saturday, and are hopeful that a more acceptable product can be produced by the Senate.