Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Friday, September 01, 2017

Flooding Continues In Bonita Springs

In Bonita Springs roads are still impassable, and people are stuck at home waiting for the water to recede.   Risa Morris reports for NBC.

IRS Looking To Collect Nearly $8 Million From Former Florida Insurer CEO

The Company has not Filed a Quarterly Report with the SEC since Q3 2016.  The South Florida Business Journal reports.

Lawyers Dump Geico Suit Over Ethics Concerns

VIP sued Geico over the Insurer’s Approved Reimbursement Amounts for Windshield Replacements.  Insurance Business reports.

Florida Workers’ Comp Premiums Going Down? NCCI Files For 9.6% Decrease

Just under a year since Florida Workers’ Compensation Rates shot up by 14.5 percent, Florida Businesses may get some relief in their Workers’ Comp Premiums.  Insurance Journal’s Amy O’Connor reports.

Emergency Agency Replaces Fired Employee With Former High-Dollar Consultant

A Tallahassee Consultant whose Firm raked in big money in City and County Contracts was tapped to replace one of three people fired after the State Failed to Submit Hurricane Damage Claims before a Federal Deadline.   Arek Sarkissian reports for the Naples Daily News.

What 500-Year Flooding Could Look Like In Tampa Bay And Four Other Areas

Analysts say the Tampa Bay Area, which includes the Cities of Tampa and St. Petersburg, is the most vulnerable in the United States to Flooding and Damage in the event of a Major Hurricane.  Leslie Shapiro, Armand Emamdjomeh and Ted Mellnik report for the Washington Post.

St. Petersburg Proposal Would Require Solar Panels On New Homes And Major Roof Repairs

If you’re building a New House or putting on a New Roof next year, and your place is bigger than 1,100 square feet, then St. Petersburg City Officials may Require you to install Solar Panels.  Craig Pittman reports for the Tampa Bay Times.

In Florida Insurance Market, All Is Not Equal

Companies that have amassed enough Resources to Cover Legitimate Hurricane Claims, as Required By Law, may not have enough to Cover Fraud, unnecessary Litigation or other AOB-Related Abuse.  Christian Camera tells FloridaPolitics.com.

South Florida Teachers Say Schools Are Full Of Mold — And It’s Making Them Sick

Some 1,200 Broward School Employees responded to a Survey administered by the Broward Teachers Union earlier this year and reported Visible Mold or Mildew at more than 100 Different Schools.  Kyra Gurney reports for the Miami Herald.

U.S. Senator Bill Nelson Rethinks Support For Private Beach Ownership Bill

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is reconsidering his Support for a Bill that would Allow Private Ownership of Large Swaths of Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach.  Melissa Nelson Gabriel reports for the Pensacola Beach News-Joural.

Congresswoman To OSHA:  “Act Swiftly” To Fix Rules After Tampa Electric Power Plant Accident

U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, urged the Occupational Safety and Health Administration on Thursday to tighten its Rules in response to a June Accident that Killed Five Workers at Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach.

New State Gasoline Volatility Rule Should Ease Shortages

In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, State Officials Issued an Emergency Rule Thursday allowing fuel from other parts of the Country with a different chemical make-up to be sold in Florida.  FloridaPolitics.com’s Jim Rosica reports.

Marco Rubio, Bill Nelson Want Florida Agriculture Protected In NAFTA Talks

The Two Wrote a Joint Letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, urging Protecting of Florida’s Agriculture Industry from what they call “Unfair Trade Practices,” especially regarding a “Fair and Equitable Market” for Florida Farm Goods.  A.G. Gancarski reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

Former Florida Lawmaker Faces 20 Years In Prison For Fraud

Taylor was Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2008 and Reelected in 2012. Because of Term Limits, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016 but was Defeated in the Democratic Primary.  Bianca Padró Ocasio reports for the Orlando Sentinel.

In Florida, Desperation, Hope And Change For Puerto Rican Arrivals

Puerto Ricans could Overtake Cubans as Early as 2020 to become Florida’s Largest Hispanic Group.  FloridaToday.com reports.

Where Is O.J. Simpson Moving To In Florida?

This week, The New York Post cited an unnamed O.J. Simpson “Insider” as saying that Simpson’s Family had purchased a House for him in a Gated Community in St. Petersburg.  Susan Taylor Martin and Christopher Spata report for the Tampa Bay Times.

Texas Insurers Expect Up To Half A Million Auto Claims

About 100,000 Vehicle Insurance Claims have already been Filed in Texas in Hurricane Harvey’s Aftermath, and up to 500,000 Claims could be made in Total.  According to Matt Stillwell of the Insurance Council of Texas.

Building Code Politics In Houston And America

Insurers Favor tighter Building Codes while Homebuilders, Developers Resist.

 

 

 

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