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     Market Watch has reported that falling prices for commercial insurance and other coverage is beginning to affect insurance broker’s revenue growth.   Property and casualty insurance prices rise and fall in cycles.  When insurance companies are profiting from business, they compete more aggressively to win new business, driving prices down and cutting future profits.  …

     We previously reported on Hawaii’s settlement with Travelers in a suit filed in Florida.  Pacific Business News and the Honolulu Advertiser report that Hawaii and eight other states and the District of Columbia have settled its claims in the same suit against American International Group Inc.  AIG will pay Hawaii $12.5 million.

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     The Hawaii Appellate Courts have never decided whether the insurer may seek reimbursement of defense or settlement costs if it is determined there is no duty to defend under the policy.  Federal District Court Judge Helen Gillmor, however, believes that Hawaii case law permits an insurer to obtain reimbursement of defense costs in …

     We recently reported on Florida’s investigation of Allstate’s charging increased premiums.  Today’s Times Picayune reports Allstate is also in hot water with Louisiana regulators.

     Policyholders have filed recent complaints with the Louisiana Department of Insurance because Allstate has been encouraging homeowners to re-write their policies with cheaper premiums but without hurricane …

     The New York Times reported on Sunday on profession liability policies available to CIA employees through Wright and Company.  The polices are becoming increasingly important while the investigation of the destruction of the interrogation videotapes heats up.

     The standard policy costs $300 annually, with the government typically paying half the premiums …

     Last week, we reported the Florida Insurance Commissioner had suspended Allstate from writing new policies after it failed to comply with the Commissioners’ subpoena regarding Allstate’s steep increase in property insurance premiums.  Reuters reports that on Friday, the Florida Court of Appeal stayed the Commissioner’s order for ten days, allowing Allstate’s 1,100 Florida

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     The Associated Press reports that Hawaii will receive a portion of a $6 million settlement against Travelers Co., Inc, to settle a suit filed in Florida, alleging Travelers conspired with brokers to submit fake bids for coverage even though the brokers had already determined which insurer would provide coverage for a policyholder.  Travelers …

     While not exactly an insurance coverage case per se, the Intermediate Court of Appeals just came out with a new decision on jury instructions in a criminal insurance fraud case.  See State v. Watanabe, No. 26777 (December 31, 2007).  In short, an individual damaged his own car and attempted to file a…

     Reuters reports today that the cost of reinsurance has fallen due to another relatively disaster-free year.  Rates for property catastrophe reinsurance, which typically cover hurricanes and earthquakes, are down 9 percent.  The U.S. subprime mortgage market crises has not impacted reinsurers.

     The lack of natural disasters have allowed reinsurers to obtain

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