Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Friday, August 15, 2014
Aug 15, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
St. Pete family wins lawsuit against Citizens
When Citizens Property Insurance refused to pay the full appraised value of an electrical fire damage, a St. Pete homeowner filled a lawsuit seeking the full amount for repairs, WTSP-TV10 reports.
Florida Consumer Action Network: Reinsurance A Smart Bet for Citizens, Cat Fund
Citizens’ continued purchase of out-of-state reinsurance is the fiscally prudent thing for Florida, Consumer Action Network Director Bill Newtown writes in this Palm Beach Post editorial opinion.
Motivations For Central Florida Serial Arsons Explored
More than two dozen suspicious fires have been set in three counties this summer and investigators have only made an arrest in one of the cases, MyNews13.com reports.
Three Jacksonville Residents Charged With PIP Fraud
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater announced Thursday the arrests of three Jacksonville residents for personal injury protection fraud, WJXT-TV reports.
Florida’s top elections official said Thursday he is prepared to meet the noon deadline Friday to present a proposed special election schedule for the new congressional districts passed by the Florida Legislature this week, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Four Democrats are vying for the District 61 state House seat opening created now that State Representative Betty Reed has reached her term limit, Tampa Bay Times’ Caitlin Johnston reports.
Suspended Miami Lakes mayor acquitted of federal corruption charges
Suspended Miami Lakes Mayor Michael Pizzi is not guilty of accepting payoffs during an undercover FBI sting, a jury ruled Thursday. The Miami Herald’s David Ovalle reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
FDIC, investors claim millions in Old Southern Bank settlements
Former leaders of Orlando’s first bank to fail during the U.S. financial crisis have agreed to a set of multimillion-dollar deals to settle allegations they caused the bank’s demise, regulators and lawyers confirmed this week, Orlando Sentinel’s Richard Burnett reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Jeb Bush joins Rick Scott on campaign trail
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, a popular leader within the Florida GOP and a possible White House contender in 2016, joins Governor Rick Scott on a campaign stop in Homestead trail today, SaintPetersBlog.com’s Phil Ammann reports.
Florida granted one-year No Child Left Behind waiver
The Obama administration is granting Florida a one-year extension of its No Child Left Behind waiver, the Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
Dispatch #4 from the Crist express: A risky strategy
It’s hard to determine who executing a risker strategy. Charlie Crist, who is counting on people understanding the mix of local, state and federal funding that goes to schools or Governor Rick Scott who seems intent on blaming Crist for the deepest world-wide recession since the Great Depression. James Call explains for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Republican State Senate District 20 Primary Pits Jack Latavala Against Auto Repairman
The District 20 Republican primary race pits veteran lawmaker Jack Latvala against Zahid Roy, a Clearwater small-business owner who lost a lopsided race to Latvala two years ago, Mike Brassfield explains for the Tampa Bay Times.
Florida House District 31 preview: A free-for-all
Only Republican candidates signed up to run for the House District 31 race, which means the GOP primary is open to all voters, regardless of party affiliation. Five candidates qualified for the August 26 Republican primary and the winner will bypass a November election to become a member of the Florida Legislature, writes James Call for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida House District 15 preview: Sometimes data gives wrong impression
Florida House District 15 demonstrates how some data can create a wrong impression. Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party claim 40 percent of registered voters. However, this is a competitive House race without any Democratic candidate, explains James Call for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Florida House District 64 Race Awaiting Court Action
The District 64 contest pitting Republicans James Grant, whose father was a longtime state lawmaker, against Miriam Steinberg, whose husband, Democrat Michael Steinberg, ran against Grant four years ago, will appear on the primary ballot – but may not count pending court action, Tampa Bay Times’ Elisabeth Parker reports.
Ranchers hoping state will help preserve land
Ranch owners and conservation groups are hoping to capitalize on an expected influx of state tax revenue into Florida Forever to expand on the extensive corridor of preserved lands in eastern Sarasota County, Zac Anderson writes for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Changing South Is at Intersection of Demographics and Politics
Democrats have already made big gains in some Southern states, like Virginia and Florida, the New York Times’ Nate Cohn writes for “The Upshot” blog.
Lawsky: Regulators’ Stance on Life Insurers’ Captives Leaves Gaping Problem
New York’s financial-services regulator told fellow watchdogs they are failing to address a “gaping regulatory problem” that he said allows life insurers to artificially inflate reserves, Bloomberg’s Zachary Tracer reports via Insurance Journal.
How Much Credit Score Affects Home Insurance Premiums Varies by State
Homeowners with poor credit pay 91 percent more for homeowners’ insurance than people with excellent credit, according to a study by an online insurance shopping service, Insurance Journal reports.
Seven amazing insurance facts about the Panama Canal
When the Panama Canal officially opened 100 years ago, it forever changed the face of world maritime commerce and shipbuilding. Today, nearly $9 trillion in seaborne commerce transits the canal, with more than 12,000 vessels making the trip each year. Of them, some 3,100 are container ships, another 2,900 are dry bulk ships, and around 2,500 are tankers. National Underwriter’s Bill Coffin reports for PropertyCasualty360.com.
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