Patricia Wells

The FBI and the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have issued a warning about a serious ransomware threat known as Medusa. This ransomware-as-a-service has been active since 2021 and has recently impacted hundreds of victims. Medusa primarily uses phishing campaigns to steal login details from its targets. This method has proven effective, leading … Read more

California Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara has made some important appointments that aim to strengthen the state’s insurance landscape. He has reappointed Mitch Steiger and C. Bryan Little to the California Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB) Governing Committee. Dr. Fabiola Cobarrubias has also been reappointed to the Insurance Diversity Task Force. The WCIRB Governing Committee … Read more

CannGen Insurance Services LLC is now providing workers’ compensation coverage tailored for the legal cannabis industry. This new offering is made possible through a partnership with Crum & Forster, a well-known specialty insurance provider. The program is available across all 50 states, making it accessible to a wide range of cannabis businesses. CannGen policyholders will … Read more

California’s insurance commissioner, Ricardo Lara, is facing a significant decision regarding State Farm’s request for emergency rate increases. This comes after both State Farm executives and consumer advocates recently presented their arguments in letters to Lara. In a recent update, Lara provisionally approved State Farm’s request for a rate increase of 22%. However, this approval … Read more

Brave Software has filed a lawsuit against News Corp in a San Francisco federal court. This legal move comes after News Corp sent Brave a cease-and-desist letter, threatening to sue over what they claim is the unauthorized use of their copyrighted articles from the Wall Street Journal and New York Post. Brave argues that indexing … Read more

Michael Sakraida has been appointed as the new regional vice president for Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine at Satellite Agency Network Group, Inc. (SAN). Headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire, SAN is known for its focus on supporting independent insurance agencies. Sakraida brings over 15 years of experience in the insurance industry to his new role. … Read more

Maryland’s insurance regulator has reached a settlement with Erie Insurance Group, ending a long-standing dispute over the company’s practices in urban areas, especially in Baltimore City. The Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) conducted a market conduct examination that began in 2021 and revealed unlawful practices by Erie, which affected the number of policies written and renewed … Read more

Southern California Edison (SCE) is set to start detailed inspections of power equipment linked to the Eaton Fire in Los Angeles. This announcement came from Edison International CEO Pedro Pizarro during the CERAWeek conference in Houston. The inspections will begin on Monday and include workers examining power towers in the Altadena area, as well as … Read more

Lawyers for four Indonesian fishermen have filed a lawsuit against Bumble Bee Seafoods, claiming they were victims of forced labor while working on tuna vessels linked to the company. This case is notable as it may be the first of its kind against a U.S. seafood firm concerning forced labor at sea. The fishermen allege … Read more

The semiconductor industry, crucial for artificial intelligence advancements, faces a significant environmental challenge. It is a major contributor to pollution through the use of harmful chemicals known as PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals are notorious for their persistence in the environment and have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer and … Read more