Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Monday, February 12, 2018
Feb 12, 2018
Click on the hyperlinks below to read headlines from Florida insurance, political, legislative and national insurance news today, February 12, 2018:
Ruling overturned in assignment of benefits case
As Florida lawmakers continue to grapple with the controversial insurance practice known as “assignment of benefits,” an appeals court Friday backed a restoration company in a breach-of-contract lawsuit involving the issue. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via FloridaPolitics.com.
Florida insurance adjuster accused of trying to hire hitman to kill prosecutor
A Florida insurance adjuster awaiting trial for his alleged part in a massive insurance scam has been accused of trying to hire a hitman to kill the prosecutor and the star witness in his case.
Tort reformer keeps plugging away for Florida PIP bad-faith revamp
FloridaPolitics.com’s Michael Moline sat down with William Large, president of the Justice Reform Institute, which advocates for tort reform, to discuss the PIP reform situation
Senator Greg Steube’s tree-trimming bill gets pruned
Instead of stripping cities and counties of regulatory powers over trees, the House version now focuses on rules for trees and vegetation removal and maintenance in right of ways adjacent to flood control structures. The Tallahassee Democrat’s James Call reports.
Florida Supreme Court turns down Miami-Dade vegetable garden case
A Senate committee Tuesday backed a proposal sponsored by Senate budget chief Rob Bradley, a Fleming Island Republican who said the gardeners should be allowed to grow their own food wherever they want. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via the Sun-Sentinel.
After months of arguments, which included an unprecedented subpoena to be issued on the floor of the Florida House, the question of how much power the state Legislature has to investigate private citizens will soon be decided by a state judge. The Tampa Bay Times’ Emily Mahoney reports.
After Las Vegas trip, Scott is raising money in California
Scott, considered a likely U.S. Senate candidate, is raising money for the pro-Trump New Republican Super PAC that’s directed mainly at younger and Hispanic voters.
Oregon U.S. Senator wants probe into Palm Beach Trump property sold to Russian
He requested information collected under the U.S. Treasury’s Geographic Targeting Orders program, which requires title insurance companies to identify the people behind shell companies used for all-cash purchases of luxury real estate. Palm Beach County is one of the geographic areas covered by the targeting orders, the Tampa Bay Times’ Alex Leary reports for “The Buzz” blog.
Marlene Caride gets job of overseeing banking, insurance, real estate in New Jersey — and the governor-elect’s proposed new state-run public bank (Photo credit NJSpotlight.com
Acting New Jersey insurance regulator appointed by governor
Marlene Caride has been named acting commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance by Governor Phil Murphy.
North Carolina Rate Bureau Seeks 18.9% Average Rate Hike on Dwelling Policies
The North Carolina Rate Bureau has requested a statewide average rate increase of 18.9 percent, varying by territory, on dwelling insurance policies, according to a statement from the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Insurance Journal reports.
Federal Flood Insurance Gets Another Short Extension
On February 9, 2018, President Donald Trump signed legislation passed by both houses of Congress that extends the National Flood Insurance Program’s authorization to March 23, 2018, Insurance Journal reports.