The United States District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi found that State Farm wrongfully denied claims of a victim of Hurricane Katrina. In Broussard v. State Farm Fire & Casualty Co., the judge ruled that State Farm failed to pay a family for the loss of their home.

Indian insurance industry is anticipated to witness a 500% growth and reach to US$ 60 Billion in the coming four years, thanks to swelling demand in semi-urban and rural areas, reported industry chamber Assocham. Life insurance market in semi-urban and rural territories is expected to rise to US$ 20 Billion mark in the upcoming four years from the existing value of less than US$ five Billion. This is because more semi-urban and rural populace would opt insurance cover for a secure future, said Assocham. On the other hand, life insurance market in urban zones is expected to surge to US$ 15 Billion.

Application activity for individually underwritten life insurance sold by U.S. insurance companies declined -6.6% in November year-over-year, the ninth consecutive month of decreases in 2006, according to the MIB Life Index(SM). Year-to-date (YTD), U.S. application activity is off -3.6%, compared to the same eleven months in 2005.