| Doctor-owned insurance company offers lower rates
Years after many of the state's physicians shut their doors to avoid soaring medical malpractice insurance rates, Dr. Warren Volker took matters into his own hands.In February 2006, the chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Summerlin Hospital launched a doctor-owned and operated medical malpractice insurance firm aimed at retaining quality doctors in Nevada. The company, Premier Physicians Insurance Company, aims to offer more affordable, stable rates.Already turning a profit, the company has enrolled 132 physicians and is growing, perhaps extending its reach west into California. .
Summit to develop economic report card
One of the highlights of the Aug. 29 to 31 Business Summit at The Greenbrier will be a session on developing an economic report card for the state. The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce released the summit agenda today. The agenda includes an Aug. 30 session featuring Graham Toft of GrowthEconomics Inc., Sarasota, Fla., and Mac Holladay, chief executive officer of Market Street Services, Atlanta, Ga., will be the speakers. Toft, a strategic planner, has produced state competitiveness scorecards for several states, including Indiana and Michigan. Holladay's firm developed "A Vision Shared," an economic strategy for West Virginia, which was adopted by the state in 2000. Steve Roberts, chamber president, said, "I'm excited about working with Dr. Toft. There's been a lot of talk about whether West Virginia's got a bad business climate or a really bad business climate or whether the rest of the country horribly misunderstands us.
Legal News
Cummings is chairman of the firm's litigation department. He has extensive trial experience in health care, medical malpractice and medical product-liability defense litigation and significant experience in all aspects of complex commercial litigation. Cummings received his law degree from Georgetown University in 1984. Johnsen is chairwoman of the firm's business restructuring and reorganization department. She is experienced both as a litigator and appellate attorney and every aspect of commercial reorganizations, representing both debtors and creditors. She received her law degree from Texas Tech School of Law in 1980. .
16-month cash-for-honours inquiry 'to end today with no-one charged'
THE long running cash-for-honours inquiry will end today without charges being brought, it emerged last night. Four people were arrested - including two close aides of Tony Blair- during the 16 month investigation into whether honours were sold and if a cover-up followed. .
Texas attorney has money to wage a U.S. Senate bid
Attorney Mikal Watts has the wealth to wage a Senate race in Texas, reporting in financial disclosure forms that he earned $40 million during the 18 months that ended in June. Watts, who hopes to challenge Texas' junior Sen. John Cornyn in 2008, also has several properties, two airplanes and earned more than $5 million from the sale of his cattle ranch. Watts filed the 22-page financial disclosure forms with the Senate last week. By contrast, Cornyn has spent the past 23 years in government jobs after seven years as an attorney defending medical malpractice cases. His wife, Sandy, works as a consultant, and Cornyn has a current Senate salary of $165,200. Head startWealth is never a guarantee of victory, but by contributing millions of his own money, Watts was able to show potential contributors his seriousness in running and give himself a head start against candidates less well-funded.
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