Chartis and All Risks Ltd., a Hunt Valley, Md.-based independent wholesale brokerage, are expanding their relationship to include a program for temporary staffing agencies.

Former New York Sen. Nicholas A. Spano (35th District) pleaded guilty Feb. 11 in federal court in White Plains, N.Y., to filing fraudulent tax returns involving payment from an insurance company.

The New York Department of Financial Services will use a recently acquired grant to analyze the administration systems of insurers and health maintenance organizations for cost efficiency.

Mercury Insurance, a multi-line insurance organization operating in 13 states, is offering a new commercial auto insurance product it says uses technology to enable its independent agents to more easily rate, qualify and issue new business.

A Monticello, N.Y., man was arrested on charges of insurance fraud in the third degree and falsifying business records in the first degree.

A Lowville, N.Y., woman, already incarcerated on drug and theft charges, now faces additional charges of insurance fraud and falsifying insurance records.

The largest specialty insurance brokerage in the U.S. acquired a New York-based 401(k) investment and advisory firm, seeking to expand its presence in the Northeast.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. acquired Capital Bauer Insurance Agency, an Albany, N.Y.-based retail insurance broker allowing it to significantly expand its Upstate New York presence.

A Washington, D.C.-based advocacy organization says that the federal health reform should be declared unconstitutional because it is cannot function without the individual mandate, which the group also argues is unconstitutional.

A New York advocacy organization filed suit against the state and governor, asking them to roll back a 2% increase in the percentage public service retirees pay toward the cost of their health insurance premiums.