January 20, 2003
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Mold Stories
-- Home insurance in turmoil - Use of database in underwriting sparks complaints
after rejections (Spokane Journal of Business, WA, January 17, 2003)
-- Legislators have pre-filed more than two dozen insurance reform bills (Canyon
Lake Times Guardian, TX, January 15, 2003)
-- The great insurance crisis - Real estate deals are falling through. Rates are
surging. And policyholders are getting dumped. (CNN/Money, January 14, 2003)
-- Developers, S. J. officials to discuss post-Santana Row fire regulations (Piedmonter,
CA; Walnut Creek Journal, CA, January 17, 2003)
-- Alliance to Coordinate Input on Mold Coverage in Ga. (Insurance Journal,
January 10, 2003)
-- AAI Outlines 2003 Federal, State Priorities at NPC (Insurance Journal,
January 15, 2003)
-- Consumers win some, lose some - Guest perspective: Home buyer advocate gives
industry middling score for 2002 (Inman.com, CA, January 14, 2003)
-- Shark Attacks Helicopter!
-- The Law Offices of Cynthia Coulter Mulvihill, APC
The insurance industry is in a real quandry over the mold issue. This week's
news really emphasized it, so I'm passing it on to you.
Home insurance in turmoil - Use of database in underwriting sparks
complaints after rejections (Spokane Journal of Business, WA, January 17, 2003)
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Homeowner's insurance used to be a no-brainer: You bought a house, you called an
agent, you got insurance. Now, after suffering what one insurer in the state
calls "an unprecedented convergence of negative trends," the homeowner's
insurance industry is taking a tougher stance toward both its customers and the
properties it will agree to cover.
That's bad news for some homeowners. Long-time customers are being dropped by
their insurers for filing as few as two claims in five years, while some home
buyers are having problems obtaining insurance at all, insurance agents here
say.
Click here for: Home insurance in turmoil - Use of database in underwriting
sparks complaints after rejections (Spokane Journal of Business, WA, January 17,
2003)
Legislators have pre-filed more than two dozen insurance reform bills
(Canyon Lake Times Guardian, TX, January 15, 2003)
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Reform-minded Texas legislators have turned their attention to the state's
insurance industry, having pre- filed already more than two dozen bills in an
effort to ensure Texans' access to affordable home insurance.
The many concerned constituents who have contacted my office about homeowners
insurance will be pleased to learn that the bills cover all aspects of insurance
reform, including rate regulation, prompt payment, availability and credit
scoring. Constituents began calling their legislators about these problems after
a series of events, including floods and mold infestations, set the insurance
crisis in motion.
Click here for: Legislators have pre-filed more than two dozen insurance reform
bills (Canyon Lake Times Guardian, TX, January 15, 2003)
The great insurance crisis - Real estate deals are falling through. Rates
are surging. And policyholders are getting dumped. (CNN/Money, January 14, 2003)
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New York (CNN/Money) - Once upon a time, the stock market made money, mold was
not considered a health hazard and homeowners insurance was something most of us
simply took for granted.
But today we are in the midst of what many are calling an insurance crisis.
Companies are raising homeowners' premiums across the board, and in some cases
even tripling their rates. In many parts of the country issuers have completely
shut their doors to new policies. Customers, meanwhile, are being scrutinized
like never before and dropped if they file too many claims.
Click here for: The great insurance crisis - Real estate deals are falling
through. Rates are surging. And policyholders are getting dumped. (CNN/Money,
January 14, 2003)
Developers, S. J. officials to discuss post-Santana Row fire regulations (Piedmonter,
CA; Walnut Creek Journal, CA, January 17, 2003)
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Some of San Jose's proposed rules for making construction safer in light of the
catastrophic Santana Row fire last summer would add significantly delays and
costs to new buildings, according to developers.
``There is a concern that good intentions could drastically impact the flow
of construction,'' said Bob Hines, government relations director for the
Tri-County Apartment Association, based in San Jose.
Click here for: Developers, S. J. officials to discuss post-Santana Row fire
regulations (Piedmonter, CA, January 17, 2003)
Alliance to Coordinate Input on Mold Coverage in Ga. (Insurance Journal,
January 10, 2003)
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The Alliance of American Insurers said Georgia Insurance Commissioner John
Oxendine has asked the group to coordinate an insurance industry effort to
develop language that will be used to spell out coverage for mold in state
homeowner and commercial insurance policies.
"This is an excellent opportunity to provide valuable input from the
companies most directly impacted by mold claims. We welcome the challenge of
coming up with wording that will strike the appropriate balance between consumer
protection and what insurers need to get a handle on for these types of claims
and their costs," said Robert Herlong, vice president of the Alliance's
Southeast Region.
Click here for: Alliance to Coordinate Input on Mold Coverage in Ga. (Insurance
Journal, January 10, 2003)
AAI Outlines 2003 Federal, State Priorities at NPC (Insurance Journal,
January 15, 2003)
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Alliance of American Insurers President Rodger Lawson outlined the association's
priorities for 2003 at a recent press briefing held at the National Press Club
in Washington, D.C.
Among the group's top priorities for the 108th Congress will be smooth
implementation of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program, reform of the
class-action system, medical malpractice insurance, asbestos reform, privacy and
dual chartering.
Click here for: AAI Outlines 2003 Federal, State Priorities at NPC (Insurance
Journal, January 15, 2003)
Consumers win some, lose some - Guest perspective: Home buyer advocate
gives industry middling score for 2002 (Inman.com, CA, January 14, 2003)
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Trends and events in real estate last year were a mixed success for home buyers
and sellers, according to an informal group of real estate rebels who champion a
consumer-centered view of the industry.
This group, of which I am a member, includes buyer- only agents,
fee-for-service consultants, discount listing services, for-sale-by-owner
publishers and a few anonymous e-commerce types. We've been written off by some
as being no more than misdirected self- proclaimed consumer advocates whose
views are upside down and backwards. But we view our own perspective as a
competitive advantage.
Click here for: Consumers win some, lose some - Guest perspective: Home buyer
advocate gives industry middling score for 2002 (Inman.com, CA, January 14,
2003)
Shark Attacks Helicopter!
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More urban legends . . . from the sharks here at The Law Offices of Cynthia
Coulter Mulvihill, APC.
Click here for: Shark Attacks Helicopter!
Hyde Mulvihill APC
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Los Angeles Office: (626) 358-7471 Fax: (626) 358-2894
