To recap the issues raised during this week’s conference call, here are the key media stories we discussed, and the messages we’re conveying.
If there is a subject you would like to see addressed on Wednesday, August 5, please email me at michaelb@iii.org.
I.I.I.’S PRESIDENT APPEARS ON NBC’S TODAY PROGRAM AFTER CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA (CFA) CHALLENGES AUTO INSURER USE OF MARITAL STATUS AS A RATING FACTOR
The I.I.I.’s Bob Hartwig and the CFA’s Douglas Heller appeared in taped interviews in this Wednesday, July 29, Today show segment. The story’s origins are detailed in this CFA news release, and the I.I.I. fielded numerous CFA-related media calls after issuing a same-day advisory.
I.I.I.’S CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER WORKING WITH NATIONAL INSURANCE CRIME BUREAU (NICB) AT NEW ORLEANS VIDEO SHOOT
The I.I.I.’s Jeanne Salvatore is in New Orleans, along with the NICB, on July 29-30.
INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY (IIHS) GIVES HIGH MARKS TO FORD’s 2015 ALUMINUM BODY F-150
The IIHS’s news release and study will be posted to its website on Thursday, July 30.
I.I.I.’S CHIEF ACTUARY TO BE PANELIST AT AUGUST 11 FORUM ASSESSING THE LOUISIANA AND MISSISSIPPI PROPERTY INSURANCE MARKETS
The I.I.I.’s James Lynch is on the University of New Orleans agenda along with Louisiana Insurance Commissioner James Donelon and Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Michael Chaney. The program’s focus is on the region’s recovery from hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
GOVERNORS OF ALASKA, SOUTH DAKOTA, KENTUCKY, AND WEST VIRGINIA REQUEST MAJOR FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Alaska cited last month’s wildfires, and South Dakota invoked its June 17-24 storms. Kentucky pointed to the state’s severe weather between June 11-20, and West Virginia’s request was for the damage eight of its counties incurred on June 10-14.
STORIES IN THE WORKS
The I.I.I. hears Consumer Reports’ article on auto insurer use of non-driving rating factors could be released online as soon as Thursday, July 30. CR reporter Jeff Blyskal spoke with the I.I.I.’s Hartwig for the story in April 2015.
The I.I.I.’s Michael Barry provided earthquake insurance information to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Gallagher for a piece scheduled for publication on Sunday, August 2. The news peg is Swiss Re’s recent report on the New Madrid seismic zone.
The I.I.I.’s Barry spoke with The Wall Street Journal’s Adam Bonislawsky (causes of h/o insurance claims), the Richmond (Va.) Post-Dispatch’s Kieran McQuilkin (tuition insurance), and San Francisco Weekly’s Max Cherney (insurance needs of Relay Rides drivers).
The I.I.I.’s Loretta Worters briefed PMQ Pizza Magazine’s Liz Barrett Foster on the types of insurance every pizzeria should have. The story will appear in the publication’s October 2015 edition.
CAPITOL HILL
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) fined Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV a record $105 million for failing to manage properly the recall of millions of vehicles.
The U.S. Office of Financial Research (OFR) wants to know what types of nonbank entities need strengthened stress testing; whether a bank stress testing’s best practices can be applied to nonbanks and what, if any, large institution stress tests are inappropriate for smaller ones.
STATES
Alabama
A 73-year-old Autauga County woman’s death last Friday is believed to have been caused by a lightning strike. If confirmed, she will be the fourth Alabama resident to have died in this manner so far this year, making the state the deadliest for lightning in 2015.
Alaska
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck south of the Aleutian Islands on Sunday, July 26, more than 900 miles southwest of Anchorage.
California
The Lowell Fire (Nevada County) prompted mandatory and voluntary residential evacuations west of Alta, a community with a population of about 610 people, FEMA estimated.
The Wragg Fire’s (Napa, Solano, and Yolo counties) evacuees in the Lake Berryessa area may be eligible for reimbursement for additional living expenses through their homeowner insurance policies, according to the state’s Insurance Department.
Two brothers, one of whom is a licensed insurance agent and the other a Cal Fire captain, allegedly submitted a fraudulent claim and provided false statements to an insurer in order to collect nearly $14,000 following an automobile accident in April 2014.
Florida
Sha'Ron James will serve as insurance consumer advocate starting Monday, August 3, replacing Steve Burgess, who retired. James worked previously as director of the Department of Financial Services' Division of Rehabilitation & Liquidation.
More than 300 homes near Trinity (Pasco County) had to be evacuated on Sunday, July 26, after heavy storms contributed to rising waters along the Anclote River.
A federal appeals court has agreed to consider whether Palm Beach drivers and motorists statewide should be granted class-action status in their claim that HCA hospitals are “grossly overcharged for services under the state’s car insurance system.”
Mississippi
The Biloxi Sun Herald published a story on the National Hurricane Center’s Coyote drone, which gathers weather information that had previously been largely invisible to forecasters.
New Jersey
Nearly three years after they were struck by Sandy, residents of flood-prone Union Beach (Monmouth County) are adjusting uneasily to an era where elevated homes are commonplace, according to The Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
Oklahoma
The wind and flood damage from a line of storms that hit dozens of counties on May 6-7, 2015, caused more than $250 million in insured losses, AM Best reports (subscription required).
A 4.0-plus magnitude earthquake hit this week near Crescent, about 35 miles north of Oklahoma City, prompting the closure of two wells used by hydraulic fracturing operators.
Pennsylvania
Insurance Commissioner Teresa Miller voiced support for federal legislation (HR 2901, S. 169) which would require mortgage lenders to recognize private flood insurance coverage in the same way they acknowledge National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies.
SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT
Evacuations have been ordered for people living in California’s Napa and Solano counties, where the Wragg Fire has been burning for nearly a week. On social, people have been posting pictures of the blaze, with some posting a time lapse of the fire.
Coincidentally, this week’s topic for the I.I.I.’s weekly Check20 consumer emails is emergency evacuations. The emails are sent out weekly and if you aren’t signed up or missed any of the past emails, they are all archived on the Check20 Pinterest board.
Chrysler was under fire last week after it was discovered that some of their vehicles can be hacked over the internet. Since then, Chrysler issued a recall of over 1.4 million vehicles.
MEDIA MATTERS
The Financial Times was sold to Nikkei.
SNL Financial is being acquired by McGraw Hill.
CNN anchor John Vause will relocate to CNN’s Los Angeles bureau from Atlanta in the fall. CNN’s Isha Sesay may be following him to LA from Atlanta but that has not been finalized as yet.
The I.I.I. is cited regularly in the media as an authoritative source of insurance information. To access the current I.I.I. press clips, click here
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