Declarations

Utility and Wildfire

“Our thoughts remain with the people affected by the Fairview fire. We are reviewing this action and will respond to it through the proper legal channels.”

— Southern California Edison spokesperson Reggie Kumar commented on a lawsuit filed on behalf of the city of Hemet that claims the utility did not manage its electrical power lines and failed to keep landscape trimmed, resulting in a damaging wildfire.

Safe Choices

“He’s the safe choice. But Altmaier was the safe choice, too.”

— Former Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes, speaks about the state’s new insurance commissioner, Michael Yaworsky, who was named to the post in February. Yaworksy is seen as a “safe choice” because he was chief of staff at the department for several years and is familiar with Florida’s unique property insurance market problems. But Brandes said that like David Altmaier, the previous commissioner who stepped down in December, Yaworsky is not expected to make many sweeping changes to help struggling insurers avoid insolvency this year.

Cannabis Rules

“Marijuana legalization in New York came with rules, and those rules must be respected. … Instead of respect for the law, we have seen … the proliferation of storefronts across New York City selling unlicensed, unregulated, untaxed cannabis products.”

— Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said during a news conference with Mayor Eric Adams, announcing a renewed push to snuff out New York City’s thriving illegal cannabis market. Bragg said his office sent notices to more than 400 smoke shops that illegally sell cannabis, warning them of potential eviction proceedings. If shop owners do not cease operation, his office would seek to force property owners to evict the shops.

BSA Abuse Claims

“We’re just asking for fairness.”

— Ted Boutros, an attorney for some non-settling insurers that could be liable for child sexual abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America, urged U.S. District Court Judge Richard Andrews to reverse the organization’s bankruptcy plan. Boutros said the plan was not proposed in good faith and strips non-settling insurers of their rights to challenge the claims. The $2.46 billion reorganization plan would allow the Irving, Texas-based organization to continue operating while compensating tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children while involved in Scouting. Boutros alleged that “huge swaths” of the claims are “not legitimate.”

Law Enforcement Liability

“I gotta have car insurance, otherwise I can’t drive. Police officers can be more dangerous than a car — the police officer has a gun and that weapon is designed to kill people.”

— Texas Rep. Jolanda Jones, D-Houston, sponsor of a bill that would require law enforcement officers in the state to carry liability insurance as a condition of employment. HB 1808 states a law enforcement agency may not employ a law enforcement officer unless the officer obtains and continuously maintains liability insurance to cover damages resulting from any misconduct. Under the bill, the insurance commissioner would set a minimum coverage amount for a policy that allows for a reasonable number of victims to be compensated.

Illinois Auto Reform

“Now is not the time to enact legislation that could result in increased premiums for consumers.”

— The American Property Casualty Insurance Association (APCIA) criticized a proposed Illinois bill that would prohibit auto insurers from setting rates based on credit score, among other criteria. HB 2203, introduced by Rep. Will Guzzardi, D-Chicago, would also give the state insurance department more control in rejecting or modifying rate hikes. APCIA says the proposed legislation will lead to a one-size-fits-all approach to pricing, which would eliminate marketplace competition and ultimately drive up auto prices.