Number of Court Cases in North Dakota Jumps

January 25, 2013Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

The number of court cases is skyrocketing in North Dakota, especially in the oil-producing western part of the state, according to the state’s court administrator.

Sally Holewa told the Senate Judiciary committee that nearly 186,000 cases were filed last year. That’s up more than 11 percent from 2011.

Holewa said the numbers don’t include the more than 20,000 cases that are reopened each year.

Lawmakers are looking at adding three new judgeships to keep pace with increased caseloads caused by record oil development.

North Dakota Chief Justice Gerald VandeWalle appealed state lawmakers during his State of the Judiciary speech to add two judgeships in the epicenter of the oil boom in northwestern North Dakota, and one judgeship in Fargo. The cost to establish the judgeships is pegged at about $1.7 million.

 

Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetCategories: Midwest NewsTopics: North Dakota courts, North Dakota judgeships, North Dakota lawsuitsHave a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk

View the Original article

Insurers Not Seeing Large Number of Claims From Snowstorm So Far

February 13, 2013Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticleComments

A fierce winter storm brought deep snow and high gusting winds to the Northeast last weekend, but a number of insurers are saying that so far, they are not seeing a large number of claims.

State Farm said Tuesday the company has yet not seen a large number of claims to-date from the weekend storm. “Our claims department is reporting less than 100 and they are being handled through our regular claims processing procedures,” State Farm spokesperson Arlene Lester told Insurance Journal.

Meanwhile, Arbella Insurance Group, a Quincy, Mass.-based carrier providing personal and business insurance in the New England region, said the company does not expect last weekend’s snowstorm to reach the same level of impact as the other extreme weather events that occurred in New England in 2011 and 2012.

View the Original article

Independent Agencies Continue Growing in Number, Revenues: Study

October 18, 2012Email ThisPrintNewslettersTweetArticle3 Comments

The number of independent insurance agencies has increased, newer agencies are growing and the system as a whole is dynamic, according to the 2012 Agency Universe Study.

The study also documents that independent agencies appear to be increasingly using social media.

Key findings of the study, which is is sponsored by Future One, a collaboration of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big

View the Original article