News briefs for August 9, 2001

Thursday, Aug. 9, 2001 | 10:17 a.m.

Doctors to face rate increase

CNA, one of the larger writers nationally of medical malpractice insurance, has received permission from state Insurance Commissioner Alice Molasky-Arman to raise rates by 52 percent to an estimated 300 doctors in Nevada.

CNA had sought a 100 percent increase, its first since beginning the business in Nevada in 1994.

The commissioner said her staff challenged the statistics presented by the company to justify a 100 percent increase. The trend, she said, showed an increase of 6 percent a year. The company can start charging the new rates immediately.

Molasky-Arman said she tends not to approve an increase of greater than 20 percent. In this case, however, she said there was a serious deficiency in the current rates charged by CNA. Company names include Continental Casualty Co., America Casualty Co., and Transportation Insurance Co.

Molasky-Arman also urged CNA to file rate applications on a regular basis to avoid such major premium increases.

Officers arrest sex offender

Nevada authorities are holding a longtime fugitive from an Oregon prison who once resided in Arizona under an alias.

Ronald Dean Stuivenga, 39, was arrested by the Las Vegas Criminal Apprehensinon Team just before 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Riverwalk hotel in Laughlin, authorities said.

Stuivenga escaped from the Powder River Correctional Institute in Baker City, Ore., on June 29, 1984.

Police said Stuivenga is a predatory sex offender with prior convictions in Oregon.

Stuivenga was being held in the Clark County jail pending a federal court appearance Thursday in Las Vegas.

While a fugitive, Stuivenga was living alone in Mesa, Ariz., under the alias of Donald Bradford.