Article: Insurance Sales Data Public, Texas Supreme Court Rules.(Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News)

Mar. 3--AUSTIN, Texas--The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday rejected arguments by the insurance industry that its sales data is confidential and should be kept from consumer critics.

The high court refused to hear the industry's appeal of a lower court ruling that said insurance companies have no right to block release of their sales data in Texas.

Critics contend that the data on auto insurance sales -- grouped by ZIP code -- will show that several insurers are illegally "redlining" low-income and minority neighborhoods either by avoiding those areas or by selling more expensive policies there.

"This is a tremendous victory for open government ...

Related newspaper, magazine, and journal articles:

 
 
Newsweek Harper's Magazine The Washington Post Chicago Tribune Crain's Chicago Business PRNewswire Pediatric News The Nation Advertising Age The Economist (US) A FREE trial gives you access to over 80 million articles! Access over 6,500 publications with a FREE trial!