Patricia Wells

California is facing a serious challenge in its property and casualty insurance market following the devastating wildfires in January 2025. The fires, which swept through the Pacific Palisades and surrounding areas, resulted in the destruction of nearly 50,000 acres, the loss of 29 lives, and damage to around 17,000 properties. With over 200,000 residents affected … Read more

Last year, Congress approved the addition of 10 new daily flights to Washington D.C.’s Reagan National Airport. This decision came despite alarming data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) showing a troubling number of near misses in the already busy airspace. The FAA, responsible for overseeing air safety, had documented numerous incidents, but this information … Read more

A delivery driver has been awarded $50 million after suffering severe burns from a spilled Starbucks drink. Michael Garcia was injured when a venti-sized tea spilled in his lap at a drive-through in California on February 8, 2020. The Los Angeles County jury found in favor of Garcia, who underwent painful skin grafts and other … Read more

A tragic accident in Austin, Texas, has left five people dead and several others injured. The crash happened late Thursday night on Interstate 35 and involved 17 vehicles. Authorities reported that the collision occurred just before 11:30 p.m. Among those who lost their lives were three adults, a child, and an infant. First responders quickly … Read more

James Vickers, the chairman of Gallagher Re International, has announced his retirement, effective May 31, 2025. With 47 years in the global reinsurance industry, Vickers has witnessed significant changes and advancements in the field. Reflecting on his career, Vickers noted that when he started in the late 1970s, the reinsurance business was largely based on … Read more

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) can be held responsible for a serious assault committed by one of its bus drivers. This decision comes after a customer, Matthew Theisz, was violently attacked by the driver, who had a history of anger management issues and prior misconduct. The … Read more

A Missouri judge has ordered Abbott Laboratories and Mead Johnson, a subsidiary of Reckitt Benckiser, to go to trial again over claims that they did not inform a mother about the risks associated with their baby formulas designed for premature infants. This decision reopens a case where the companies had previously won, after a St. … Read more

A judge in Northern Virginia has ruled that embryos are not property that can be divided in a divorce case, challenging a previous court’s interpretation. This decision comes nearly ten months after the case was heard in Fairfax Circuit Court. Judge Dontaè L. Bugg dismissed a lawsuit from Honeyhline Heidemann against her ex-husband, Jason Heidemann, … Read more

A volcano near Anchorage, Alaska, is showing signs of increased activity, raising concerns about a potential eruption at Mount Spurr. The Alaska Volcano Observatory recently reported that during flights over the area, scientists detected significantly higher emissions of volcanic gases. This increase suggests that an eruption could happen in the coming weeks or months. The … Read more

At the recent PLUS Cyber Symposium in New York City, experts discussed the evolving landscape of cyber insurance. As rates stabilize, insurance companies are looking to diversify their portfolios to support growth and manage risks better. Crystal Boch, head of cyber analytics at Aon Re, highlighted that insurers are exploring traditional diversification methods, such as … Read more