Patricia Wells

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has instructed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to prepare a memo outlining plans to abolish the agency and replace it with a smaller, rebranded disaster response organization. This directive comes as part of the Trump administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the size and scope of FEMA, which has faced … Read more

A federal jury has ruled that a New Orleans police officer violated the constitutional rights of a couple when he shot and killed their puppy, Apollo. However, the officer, Derrick Burmaster, will not face punishment due to qualified immunity, which protects government officials from liability in certain situations. The couple was awarded $10,400 in damages, … Read more

Purdue Pharma has received backing from the attorneys general of 55 states and territories for a $7.4 billion settlement aimed at resolving numerous opioid lawsuits against the company and the Sackler family, its owners. This support is crucial for Purdue as it seeks court approval for its bankruptcy reorganization plan. The settlement framework was initially … Read more

Artemis Insurance has made a significant move by acquiring Tyner Jeter Insurance, based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. This acquisition adds another layer to Artemis’s growing presence in the insurance market, as they are already the parent company of Texan Insurance and Ozark Insurance. Tyner Jeter Insurance, which was part of the McInnis Tyner Agency since … Read more

A North Carolina insurance agency is facing a lawsuit from a homeowner after his claim was denied due to missing details on his insurance application. The case, which has been ongoing for nearly ten years, has recently gained attention following a decision by the state Supreme Court. In May, the court ruled that the lawsuit … Read more

Independent agents and brokers need to pay close attention to the current state of the umbrella insurance market. Recent trends show significant changes that could affect how they operate and advise their clients. An umbrella policy acts as an extra layer of protection beyond standard liability insurance. It kicks in when the limits of underlying … Read more

A recent study by the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) sheds light on how rising inflation has affected workers’ compensation medical costs. The 2025 edition of the WCRI Medical Price Index, written by Dr. Rebecca Yang and Dr. Olesya Fomenko, looks at various medical services such as evaluations, physical therapy, surgery, and emergency care, typically … Read more

Cotality has revealed some alarming statistics about hurricane risks facing homes across the United States. The property data provider, which was previously known as CoreLogic, has identified over 33.1 million residential properties from Texas to Maine. These homes have a combined reconstruction cost of $11.7 trillion and are considered at least at moderate risk of … Read more

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case involving major oil companies like Chevron and Exxon Mobil. These companies are trying to move lawsuits filed by two Louisiana parishes, Plaquemines and Cameron, from state court to federal court. The parishes claim that the companies have damaged Louisiana’s coast over many years due to … Read more

Flash floods in northern West Virginia have led to the tragic deaths of five people, with three others still missing. The severe weather struck on Saturday night, dumping between 2.5 and 4 inches of rain in just about thirty minutes in areas like Wheeling and Ohio County. Emergency services were quickly overwhelmed as calls for … Read more