What’s New: In Brief (January 20, 2009)

Trevor Black has been promoted to branch manager in St. Catharines for Cunningham Lindsey Canada Claims Services Ltd (CLC).  “Trevor has a number of exciting plans for our St. Catharines office, namely quality measurement, training and education,” Lorri Frederick, CLC’s senior vice president of the central region, said in a release. “He’s a highly motivated person and works hard for both CLC and our customers.”

U.S. property and casualty insurers will pay roughly US$25.2 billion for losses from 37 catastrophes in 2008, according to ISO. This is the fourth highest cost in a decade and the highest frequency in a decade, according to preliminary analysis by ISO’s Property Claim Services Unit (PCS). The catastrophes were the result of hurricanes, severe weather, winter storms and tropical storms. Hurricanes caused the largest loss, currently estimated at US$13.3 billion in insured damage, ISO notes in a release.