Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, February 10
Feb 10, 2012
To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below. Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
Florida’s 2012 Regular Legislative Session
- Click here for today’s Senate block calendar
- Click here for today’s House of Representatives block calendar
10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association Investment Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here. To view the agenda, click here.
Residents applaud the lawsuit against Citizens Property Insurance Corporation
A homeowners’ lawsuit this week is turning up the heat on Citizens Property Insurance Corp. over a formula that some policyholders believe is inflating their premiums.
Editorial: Gathering storm over insurance bill
In August, South Florida will mark the 20th anniversary of the dreadful night when Hurricane Andrew carved a frightening path of destruction across portions of Miami-Dade County. Mercifully, nothing comparable to Andrew has hit this community since then, but that hasn’t stopped lawmakers in Tallahassee from trying to squeeze more money and concessions out of South Florida’s beleaguered policyholders.
Longtime insurance executives Lora Rees and Ricardo Espino faced a difficult decision last summer.
Florida looks to get ahead of curve on driverless cars
Florida Representative Jeff Brandes hopped into a special Toyota Prius recently and rode down Interstate 10 during a break from the Legislative session in Tallahassee.
5,000 Broward, Palm Beach red-light camera ticket recipients don’t have to pay
Red-light camera tickets are getting to drivers’ mailboxes as usual, but a processing delay means there won’t be any consequences for more than 5,000 drivers if they just don’t pay.
Workers compensation drug bill approved
In a key issue for business groups, the House Health & Human Services Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would limit the costs of drugs dispensed by doctors to workers-compensation insurance patients.
Doctors, optometrists reach truce to push through medical malpractice bill
Senator Don Gaetz and Senator John Thrasher helped worked out a deal between the two medical groups as part of an overall effort to also put in place limits against doctors.
Vero Beach insurance agent banned from practicing
Insurance agent was permanently barred from practicing in Florida after officials reviewed his dealings with two clients, according to the state Department of Financial Services.
Wrongful Death Case Against Jamesine Fischer: Insurer Settles for $1.25 Million
Jamesine Fischer, the 55-year-old wife of Flagler County School Board member John Fischer, was served with a wrongful death lawsuit on Jan. 27, two and a half months after Jamesine, driving on Columbia Lane, struck Francoise Pecqueur as Pecqueur was walking her dog.
President Obama gives Florida, 9 other states, waiver on No Child Left Behind law
President Barack Obama on Thursday will free 10 states from the strict and sweeping requirements of the No Child Left Behind law, giving leeway to states that promise to improve how they prepare and evaluate students, The Associated Press has learned.
The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday approved its budget in a 79-38 party-line vote, setting the stage for negotiations with the Senate.
Florida justices revamp court leadership rules
A divided Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved new governance rules that one dissenting justice says will “polarize and politicize” the state court system’s leadership positions.
Florida banks $8.4 billion in foreclosure settlement
Five of the nation’s largest mortgage servicers must fork over $25 billion as part of a settlement with the federal government and several states over suspicious foreclosure practices.
Lawsuits, upheaval greet passage of redistricting plans
The same day the state Senate approved legislative and congressional redistricting plans, the Florida Democratic Party announced a lawsuit and at least one subcommittee chair in the state House announced he would not be seeking re-election.
Florida House passes Lottery vending machine expansion
Florida will gain $8.1 million in revenue for education next year under legislation passed by the House on Thursday that allows state Lottery vending machines to expand the type of games they sell.
Florida Senate gives final passage to bill approve state water quality rules
Proposed state water quality rules that would replace controversial federal rules received final approval from the Legislature on Thursday.
Blog: Senate President Mike Haridopolos says Private prison vote is next week
After delaying a vote on prison privatization for more than a week because of a split vote, Senate President Mike Haridopolos said the Senate would take up the measure next week.
Blog: Legislator, ex-mayor eyeing 6th Congressional District seat
Now that U.S. Representatives John Mica and Sandy Adams are on record as saying they’re running against each other in the redrawn 7th congressional district – which centers on Seminole County – state Representative Fred Costello, R-Ormond Beach, is set to jump into the race for the new “coastal district” that runs from Volusia to the northern border of St. Johns County.
Governor Rick Scott: Port of Tampa to get $45 million facelift
Governor Rick Scott announced that a $45 million upgrade to the Port of Tampa will help Florida be more competitive in a global economy and create jobs.
Legislator questions fairness of cash-only gasoline prices
The Sun Express gas station at the corner of Blanding and Wesconnett boulevards has some of the cheapest gasoline prices in town, according to one consumer-based gas price tracking website. It does it by offering consumers a discount for paying in cash.
Florida Supreme Court to weigh state’s noise law
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday took a break from its usually weighty fare of death penalty cases and other serious litigation to hear arguments involving Led Zeppelin’s ‘Houses of the Holy’ and a subwoofer in a car’s trunk.
Katrina-Rita suit: Insurer offers $80 million to settle
Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort has offered to settle a dispute over the slow handling of claims from hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 for up to $80 million.
Lack of building code inflates state insurance rates
The Legislature in the nation’s poorest state lacks the political will to mandate statewide building codes, but residents could suffer as a result.
Insurance Information Institute: Mega-Trends Influencing the Workers Compensation Insurance Industry
This PowerPoint report, presented by Steven Weisbart, senior vice president and chief economist of the Insurance Information Institute at the 9th Annual National Workers’ Compensation Insurance ExecuSummit, identifies and discusses six mega-trends that will affect the workers compensation insurance market.