Distinguished Blog - In The Press
Market insights and industry news.
Distinguished Programs Partners with Higginbotham as the Preferred Insurance Provider for the Texas Association of Museums
NEW YORK— Distinguished Programs (“Distinguished”), a leading insurance program manager, is excited to announce a new partnership agreement with Higginbotham to act as the preferred provider for the Texas Association of Museums (“TAM”). This alliance marks a dedicated effort to craft tailor-made insurance solutions for museums in Texas. In this collaborative endeavor, Distinguished and Higginbotham…
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Insurers Focus on Increased Need for Inspections, Repairs for Older Buildings Amid the Surfside Condo Collapse
On June 24, part of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida, collapsed in the wee hours while many residents slept. To date, 97 residents have been confirmed dead. The catastrophic loss has sent shockwaves throughout this oceanfront community located in Miami-Dade County.
Can Employers Force Workers to Get Vaccinated?
Whether or not employers can require workers to get inoculated against COVID-19 in order to return to the office or stay on the job is a rather complicated issue. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), employers are legally allowed to require their workers to get a COVID-19 shot, with some exceptions. For example,…
Workers Expecting More Flexibility As Offices Reopen
The country is opening up as more people get inoculated against the COVID-19 virus and cases continue to decrease. Indoor dining is back, the sports fields are dotted with players and the stands are filled with fans, people are traveling, and offices are starting to reopen. Many companies if they don’t already have some of…
Insurers Remain Wary of Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency, a form of currency that is entirely digital, has taken the world by storm this past year. In April, Bitcoin surged to an all-time high of $63,000. Its price has more than quadrupled since 2020 and is up more than 60% since the start of 2021 — driven in part by Fortune 500 companies,…
Cannabis Industry Putting More Tax Revenue in State Coffers
As the legal use of marijuana continues to grow, the tax revenue generated by the cannabis industry has other states wanting in. In fact, according to the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP), tax revenue for the 10 states where the legal sale of adult-use cannabis exists exceeded $3 billion in 2020.
Inside the SPAC Frenzy
It seems like every time you turn around there is another SPAC announcement making headline news. A SPAC – “special purpose acquisition company” – is a shell corporation listed on a stock exchange with the intent of buying a private business and taking it public. It’s a way of doing an initial public offering (IPO)…
FEMA Reforms Flood Insurance Program, Rates to Rise
For years, federal flood maps have underestimated flood risk across the United States. First Street Foundation publicly released flood risk data for over 142 million homes and properties across the country and found 14.6 million properties within Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) unaccounted for by FEMA. FEMA’s maps are what inform risk management decisions in the United…
What You Need to Know About Vaccine Passports
President Joe Biden recently announced that 90 percent of American adults will be eligible to receive their coronavirus vaccine by Mid-April, with all adults vaccine eligible no later than May 1st. As more and more people get vaccinated against the coronavirus, many are wondering how to prove inoculation and whether or not that is necessary…
Return to the Office on the Horizon
Remote work might be the new normal, but it wasn’t meant to last forever. Even now, a year after coronavirus forced offices to shut down at a drop of a dime, most employees remain at home. While there are advantages to remote work, it has its downsides. Numerous company executives believe that having employees in…
What Does an Administration Shift Mean for EPLI and Workers’ Comp?
The new administration has pledged to make several significant workplace changes that broaden worker rights – from pay equity to additional anti-discrimination protections and stronger safety regulations. The changes may potentially usher in additional employment practices-related lawsuits and Workers’ Compensation claims. Here are some of the planned changes and what they potentially mean for Employment…