Orange County Public Schools is among more than a dozen public entities in Florida set to receive a collective $2.6 million in reimbursements from Willis Group Holdings Ltd., a national insurance broker.

The exact amount of the reimbursement to Orange County Public Schools has yet to be finalized, said Nina Banister, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Financial Services.

The Attorney General's antitrust division and the state Department of Financial Services investigated the Willis Group as part of an industry-wide investigation into the activities of insurance brokers. The investigation led to allegations that the company improperly collected fees when it brokered insurance contracts for the public entities from 1999 through 2004.

What is Old is New Again: Using the Wisdom of the Bible to Avoid ...

New York, NY, July 26, 2007 --(PR.com)-- On August 2nd 2007, the Institute of American and Talmudic Law (IAT Law) will host a Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Seminar entitled ‘Filing, Negotiating and Litigating the First-Party Insurance Claim: Avoiding The Pitfalls and Malpractice,’ which will include the Bible's perspective on this high-profile issue.While providing legal counsel to an individual or a corporate client who has a significant First-Party Insurance Claim may not appear overly complex or involve technical knowledge, in truth, it is just the opposite.Through a series of statutes and case law in both New York and across the country, the handling of a first-party insurance claim can create traps for the unwary and potentially lead to liability exposure for the uninitiated attorney.This course will provide attorneys with some of the basic knowledge they need in order to provide their clients with guidance and identify issues that may arise once a claim is filed.In this presentation, they will discuss the law as it relates to notifying the carrier of a loss, the filing of a Sworn Statement in Proof of Loss, the insurance policy application and defenses to a claim by the carrier based upon the information contained in the application, statutes of limitation and the law of equitable tolling as it relates to insurance claims, the role of the public adjuster, valuing a claim and the Examination Under Oath process.They will also discuss issues that arise if and when a claim goes into litigation including discovery that you are entitled to, the "bad faith" denial of a claim and the applicability of the attorney-client privilege to shield an exchange of information between a carrier and the counsel representing that carrier.They will explore Talmudic law cases relating to the obligations of both the insured and insurerIn addition to IAT Law’s Talmudic expert Rabbi Shlomo Yaffe, the program will feature Mr.

Attorney General Martha Coakley Reaches Settlement With Two Health ...

Attorney General Martha Coakley has entered into a settlement with two insurers that failed to provide health benefits required by Massachusetts law. The complaints and consent judgments filed yesterday in Suffolk Superior Court alleged that Time Insurance Company and Union Security Insurance Company committed unfair or deceptive acts when they sold health insurance policies that violated Massachusetts' mandated benefit laws. Specifically, the complaints allege that the defendants failed to offer coverage for infertility treatment, outpatient contraception, and specific treatments for diabetes as required by Massachusetts law.

"Now, more than ever, Massachusetts consumers deserve meaningful insurance coverage that complies with all state laws," said Attorney General Martha Coakley.

Past AMA boss blasts $2.6 billion Nevada health care merger ...

RENO, Nev. (AP) The past president of the American Medical Association blasted a proposed two-point-six (B) Billion-dollar health care merger in Nevada, saying the "robber barons" behind it have a record of putting profits ahead of patients. Several nurses and other health care practitioners also testified before the Nevada Insurance Commission in Reno against Minnesota-based UnitedHealth Group's buyout of the Las Vegas-based Sierra Health Services. Company officials tried to reassure regulators that Sierra Health would retain its own leadership and expand services without raising rates. The Nevada attorney general's Bureau of Consumer Protection has said the acquisition "may result in the most concentrated insurance market in the country." (Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-26-07 2122CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list .

Haacker leaving as city attorney

Brett Haacker knew when he replaced Kyle Baker as Shelbyville's first full-time city attorney in June 2005 that it would not be a permanent career move. Before he took office, city attorneys were traditionally young aspiring lawyers working part-time hours.

On Thursday, Haacker announced he will resign in late August to accept a position with the local law firm of McNeely, Thopy, Stephenson and Harrold located at 2150 Intelliplex Drive.

"The position was not something that I was actively seeking," Haacker said. "It's an opportunity that suddenly came up and something I simply couldn't turn down. It's a chance to work with subrogation in an insurance division they've started with their firm."

Haacker's last day at City Hall will be Friday, Aug. 24, and he will start his new job Aug.

Former US luxury restaurateur jailed for fraud

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The former vice president of a luxury U.S. restaurant chain with outlets in New York, London, Hong Kong and Venice was sentenced to up to four-and-a-half years prison on Monday for making false insurance claims.

But during that period, he was employed at Cipriani, where he climbed the ranks to vice president.