Patricia Wells

A federal appeals court in Manhattan has backed a New York state law that holds gun makers responsible when their guns are used in deadly shootings. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday upheld a previous ruling from an Albany judge, affirming that the law is neither unconstitutional nor too vague. The law, … Read more

Two notable leadership changes have taken place this week in the insurance broking world, involving Consilium and Everest Insurance’s international operations. London-based Consilium, part of the Aventum Group, has brought in Peter Coleman to its senior leadership team following the sudden departure of co-CEO James Baird. Baird was removed from his position this week and … Read more

A new report from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) offers fresh ideas on how insurance carriers can better work with retail brokers to grow their business. Released in late June, the report focuses on personal insurance and coverage for small to midsize businesses. It highlights changes in the brokerage world like consolidation, digital shifts, and rising … Read more

Outlook users experienced disruptions accessing their email starting late Wednesday, but Microsoft has confirmed the problem has been fixed. The issues affected people worldwide and lasted into Thursday, causing trouble with signing in and loading inboxes. Microsoft 365 first acknowledged the problem Wednesday night and said it was working on a fix. However, the initial … Read more

States have agreed to collect about $720 million from eight drug companies accused of fueling the opioid crisis. This deal comes after state attorneys general across the country teamed up to hold these companies accountable. The money will be divided among states based on how badly they were affected by the opioid epidemic and how … Read more

A well-known Republican from Georgia is accused of running a massive Ponzi scheme that cheated around 300 investors out of at least $140 million, according to a federal lawsuit filed last week. The case centers on First Liberty Building and Loan, a company controlled by Brant Frost IV, which allegedly misled people about its business … Read more

T-Mobile US has announced it will end its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, following pressure from the Trump administration as the company seeks approval for two major deals. The wireless carrier confirmed in a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr that it is not only cutting DEI initiatives in name but … Read more

A countertop manufacturing company in Georgia has been hit with a $33,000 fine for putting its workers at risk of inhaling dangerous silica dust. Brazilian Stone Design, based in Powder Springs, was penalized by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after investigations showed the company failed to protect employees from the harmful dust … Read more

Oscar Rafael Ruiz, a 44-year-old man from Charlotte, North Carolina, found himself in serious trouble after filing nearly $300,000 in travel insurance claims—most of which turned out to be fake. Over the past two years, Ruiz made multiple claims about lost luggage and canceled flights, backed by forged documents like fake hotel bills, credit card … Read more

The Trump administration has launched a federal investigation into a Minnesota state agency’s updated affirmative action policy. The inquiry centers on whether the Minnesota Department of Human Services’ new rules break civil rights laws by requiring supervisors to explain why they hire candidates who do not come from groups considered underrepresented, such as women and … Read more