Story Summary
A New Jersey jury awarded $5.2 million to Marc Ferrara, who sustained spinal injuries after being struck by Noah Greenbaum's vehicle while exiting his car at a Costco gas station in 2017. Although insurers argued the injury stemmed from lifting a dog rather than the collision, the jury rejected this claim and held Greenbaum 80% liable, finding Ferrara only partially responsible.
Severe storms approaching central Texas warn communities of potential flooding as heavy rains, reaching up to six inches, are expected Thursday through Friday. Although much of the state faces drought conditions, rapid rainfall rates pose risks for flash flooding in areas with poor drainage. This alert follows last summer's devastating floods that killed over 160 people, prompting Camp Mystic to withdraw its reopening application.
Two Florida firms introduced new storm mitigation products on May 1, 2026. Flood Risk America released hinged gates, permanent doors, and fabric barriers for property entry protection. Tarpers unveiled TarpBags to secure roof tarps using water-filled bags instead of nails or sandbags. These innovations aim to speed up deployment, enhance safety, and reduce property damage claims in storm-prone regions.
Glen David Ramey, owner of David Ramey Insurance in Murray, Kentucky, pleaded not guilty to fraud charges regarding alleged swiping of premium payments from Yahweh Baptist Church. Charged in early April after church leaders received a cancellation notice, Ramey faces a preliminary hearing on May 13. Investigators noted discrepancies between a run-loss report showing coverage gaps and records indicating consistent premium payments, though officials suspect additional victims may emerge during the ongoing investigation.
A May 2026 Insurance Journal viewpoint argues that decades-old workers' compensation practices relying on intuition must shift toward data-driven solutions. The article states that filling data gaps regarding comorbidities and prior injuries allows for earlier intervention via First Notice of Loss analysis. Implementing explainable predictive analytics aims to reduce costs, shorten recovery times, and improve outcomes for injured workers across the industry.