But in a 1984 case, an insurance official determined that a 2 percent stake was acceptable.

Perhaps the insurance officials refused coverage on this theory.

But some insurance officials and executives think this would be a bad mistake.

"I really wish we had heard from consumers who are car owners," said the insurance official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Teams of insurance officials have moved in to estimate the losses, but have not yet announced their findings.

Healy became an insurance official but continued to write, his output including journalism, poetry and short stories.

He was born in Moscow, where his father was an insurance official.

This should be available, say title insurance officials, if the property was bought no more than five years ago.

"This appears to be a national problem, based on my conversations with insurance officials around the country."

Asked about changes of itinerary in the Adriatic, insurance officials said they did not recall receiving many claims.