More than 143 million people in the mainland states now live on shaky ground, earthquake scientists say. That’s because more people have moved into the quake-prone West Coast and some quake zones were recently expanded, according to researchers from the … The post More Than 143M Americans Live in Earthquake-Prone Areas appeared first on Claims…

More new firefighters are volunteering in New York state after years of declining membership, though companies are still seeking recruits to meet more calls. Fire companies statewide attracted 12,665 new volunteers in 2011 and 2012 amid aggressive recruiting efforts, according … The post New York Maintains Volunteer Firefighter Membership After Past Declines appeared first on…

The Georgia Supreme Court denied an insured’s bad faith claim against its insurer for its refusal to pay a settlement because the insured settled on the amount without the consent of the insurer that was required by the policy. A … The post Georgia Court Rejects Bad Faith Claim Citing Insurer’s Lack of Consent to…

A deadly tornado in the small northern Illinois community of Fairdale earlier this month is raising questions about how best to warn rural residents about storms. Two people died in the storm. Fairdale, a community of about 150 people, has … The post Deadly Illinois Tornado Raises Concerns on Warnings in Rural Areas appeared first…

With real-time monitors, scientists have linked a swarm of small earthquakes west of Fort Worth, Texas, to nearby natural gas wells and wastewater injection. In 84 days from November 2013 to January 2014, the area around Azle, Texas, shook with … The post Study Links Swarm of Texas Quakes to Natural Gas Drilling appeared first…

The inspector general of the New York Police Department is suggesting the NYPD track data on lawsuits filed against officers to improve officer performance and identify trends of police misconduct. The IG issued a report Tuesday. In the past five … The post Inspector General Suggests New York Police Track Lawsuit Data appeared first on…

A measure to reinstate limits on lawsuit awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases is heading to Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s desk three years after the state Supreme Court overturned lower caps. The Missouri House voted 125-27 to … The post Missouri Lawmakers Pass Bill to Reinstate Malpractice Award Caps appeared first on…

Five years after the worst U.S. offshore oil spill, the industry is working on drilling even further into the risky depths beneath the Gulf of Mexico to tap massive deposits once thought unreachable. But critics say energy companies haven’t developed … The post State of Deepwater Drilling Safety 5 Years After Gulf Oil Spill appeared…

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood has sued State Farm Fire and Casualty Co. for allegedly shifting hundreds of millions of dollars in Hurricane Katrina wind claims to the state by mislabeling them flood claims. The suit, filed in the Circuit … The post Mississippi AG Sues State Farm, Alleges Katrina Claims Fraud appeared first on…

The National Football League won final court approval of a $765 million settlement of ex-player head-injury claims, overriding criticism that the money still falls short and the deal terms are unfair. The decision ends almost two years of negotiations over … The post NFL Wins Court Approval for Concussion Settlement appeared first on Claims Journal.…