Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, July 8
Jul 8, 2011
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Florida’s Patriot National Gets $30 million in Funding
Patriot National Insurance Group, a workers’ compensation provider, said it has received $30 million in equity funding from Six Points Investment Partners LLC.
Storm shutters should meet local codes
Before replacing shutters or the windows, it would be wise to contact your county building officials to determine what is required by local codes.
Hurricane preparation help is needed for Manatee County Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee is seeking donations to help provide hurricane packages for its homebound clients living alone.
Editorial: Beaches under threat
Elected officials must confront aging water and sewer infrastructure
Last year’s gargantuan BP oil spill didn’t help things, but Florida beaches weren’t in great shape last year to begin with.
Elderly insurance fraud victim sees justice served in Pasco courtroom
Bonnie Madden has come to court more times than she can count, waiting to see the man who used to call her his second mother go to prison.
Millions at stake in third Palm Beach county tobacco trial
Jerry Weingart has been waiting more than a decade for the companies he believes killed his wife to be brought to justice.
Health insurers owe Florida $3 million
Private health insurers overstated how much they spent on patient care and owe Florida health officials $3.1 million in refunds for a government children’s health care program, according to a recent federal report.
Prescription drug overdoses in Florida up 61 percent in 6 years
Fatal prescription drug overdoses jumped by 61 percent in Florida from 2003 to 2009 and claimed 16,650 lives, federal health officials said in a new analysis Thursday.
Florida GOP leaders push for early primary date, despite threat from Republican National Committee
Here’s something new for Florida: Hold an election on a Thursday or a Saturday.
New standards could cost hundreds of millions of dollars, a cost passed on to utility customers
Pointing to potentially higher electric rates, the Florida Public Service Commission is expected this month to raise concerns with the federal government about new air-pollution standards.
Vero Beach lender shut, fined, was charging interest rates that reached triple digits
The state’s financial regulatory agency has ordered an unlicensed Indian River County credit company to stop its operations and pay fines for doling out illegal high-interest loans.
Tampa officials, groups continue to push for Cuba flights
The quest for Tampa International Airport to provide direct flights to Cuba continues weeks after many expected charter flights would have begun, following initiatives the Obama administration outlined in January.
U.S. Law Restricts Chinese Access at NASA
When the space shuttle Atlantis blasts off on the program’s final voyage, Chinese officials will not be among the invited guests at Kennedy Space Center.
Texas wind insurer has shortfall for Ike claims
The state windstorm insurer of last resort is short $200 million to cover Hurricane Ike claims, and its choices for raising the money present new problems.
California Expands Right to Sue Insurers
An uptick in consumer protection lawsuits against California insurance companies is widely expected in the wake of a state appellate decision allowing a policyholder to sue The Progressive Group of Insurance Companies over alleged unfair claims practices, legal observers said this week.
Verizon strikes record bias settlement with EEOC
Verizon Communications Inc. has agreed to pay $20 million to resolve a nationwide class disability discrimination lawsuit involving the company’s “no fault” attendance plans, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said Thursday.
House Judiciary Committee backs bill to reduce frivolous lawsuits
The House Judiciary Committee on Thursday approved a tort reform bill aimed at reducing frivolous lawsuits, clearing the way for the measure to the full House.
Safelite Named Finalist for 2011 Call Center Award
Safelite AutoGlass® was honored as one of two finalists for the 2011 Global Call Center Award from the International Customer Management Institute in the Large Call Center category.
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