15. Part of the US commercial insurance market is on the verge of “breakdown”, executives have warned, as insurers withdraw US casualty coverage because of a rise in payouts that industry groups blame on “legal system abuse”. The cost of US casualty insurance, which businesses buy to protect themselves against legal claims from employees, customers or others harmed by their operations or products, has climbed for 23 quarters in a row, according to the world’s largest insurance broker Marsh. Insurers have launched lobbying campaigns for new laws to make it harder to sue companies, and pointed to the growth of the litigation finance industry, which provides funding for corporate legal disputes in exchange for part of any payout. (Source: ft.com)