Thomas Rutherfoord, Inc., has opened a North Carolina office. The office, which is located at 410 Oberlin Road in Raleigh, will serve clients throughout the eastern half of North Carolina.
Nancy Borman, CPCU, a native of Richmond, has transferred to Raleigh from the company's Richmond office. She will handle sales and account management for commercial property and casualty insurance, risk management, and loss control services.
Thomas Rutherfoord, Inc., is the largest independently owned insurance broker in Virginia and is one of the 100 largest brokerage firms in the U.S. With four offices in Virginia and one in North Carolina, Rutherfoord serves clients in the construction, manufacturing, wholesale and retail, property management, institutional, technology and transportation industries throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
Delaware
State Farm adjusts homeowners rates
Homeowners rates for most State Farm customers in Delaware went up slightly as a result of a rate change that became effective in April for new policies and in June for renewal policies.
The amount of change will vary by location, amount of coverage and type of policy. The statewide average is a 2.7% increase. In some cases, home owners will experience a rate decrease based on their policy coverages, discounts and location.
State Farm has approximately 53,400 policies in Delaware, representing nearly 25% of the state's home insurance market. The company's last change in Delaware was a 2.7% increase in April 1996, and a 6.5% decrease in July 1993.
Alabama
State Farm adjusts automobile rates
State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company revised its auto insurance price levels in Alabama, effective July 1, and added several new discounts. Although prices for individual customers will change as a result of the revision, State Farm's overall premium level remains unchanged.
On average, premiums for the collision and medical payments coverages dropped. Prices for comprehensive coverage and liability coverages will rise, on average.
State Farm Mutual also announced that its discount for customers who remain accident-free for 10 years or longer will increase from 15% to 20%.
The company also is introducing a multiple line discount in Alabama: a 5% discount on some auto insurance coverages for State Farm Mutual customers who also have a State Farm homeowners, health or life insurance policy.
State Farm Mutual's most recent auto rate change in Alabama was a 5% increase on August 1, 1996. The company also distributed about $48.2 million in dividends to its Alabama policyholders between July 15, 1992, and September 14, 1994.
Overall changes in premiums for individual motorists will vary, depending on the coverages they carry, where they live, the kind of car insured, who drives it and how much it is driven.
Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia
Environmental program offered in three states
American Safety Casualty Insurance Company (ASCIC), announced the expansion of its environmental insurance program into Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia on a licensed and admitted basis. The American Safety program offers coverage for general, pollution, professional, automobile, and umbrella liability to contractors, consultants, facility owners and laboratories for all remediation activities.
Additional programs, such as workers compensation, automobile liability and Treasury listed surety bonds, are available through The American Safety Insurance Group, which has the ability to write business in all states and the District of Columbia on an admitted and/or authorized basis.
ASCIC, rated "A" (Excellent) by A.M. Best Company, is licensed and admitted in all states except CT. ME, MI, NH, NC, RI, and WY.
North Carolina
Riley will become PIA National president
Current PIA National President-elect John G. Riley, CPCU, CIC, ARM, of Salisbury, will be installed as president of the association during its annual meeting August 16-20, in Nashville. Riley will succeed current President Michael P. Grace of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Riley, the president and treasurer of Riley-Clay-Turner Insurance in Salisbury, has a long history of service to the insurance industry. He became a director of the Carolinas Association of Professional Insurance Agents in 1977 and was its president in 1987-88. Riley was named to the PIAPAC Governing Board in 1991, where he is currently serving his second term.
He became a member of the PIA National Board of Directors in 1992. In addition to his current position as president-elect, Riley is chairman of PIA's Strategic Long Range Planning Committee, and is a member of the Executive, Finance and Budget, Services, and Nominations and Elections committees.
Riley was named 1992 Carolinas Agent of the Year. *