Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, May 4
May 4, 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
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Governor Rick Scott pushed hard for HB 119, which maintains the mandatory $10,000 PIP coverage but limits non-emergency care after an auto accident to $2,500 and eliminates fee multipliers for attorneys in PIP cases.
Florida Insurance Scam Leads to Arrest of “America’s Most Wanted” Fugitive
The routine investigation of a suspicious homeowners’ insurance claim led to the arrest of a federal fugitive who has been wanted for almost 30 years on multiple counts of child molestation and incest.
Jury: Insurers owe Gloria, Emilio Estefan millions from 2004 hurricane damage to Vero hotel
An Indian River County jury has found Insurance companies at fault in a lawsuit singer Gloria Estefan and her husband Emilio filed over the amount of money paid for hurricane damage done to their beachfront hotel in 2004.
Tampa Bay Water ditches plan for expansion of reservoir amid sinkhole concerns
Tampa Bay Water officials are ditching their plan to expand Florida’s largest reservoir by 3 billion gallons, saving the ratepayers money, but once again stumbling on a major project.
Giant sinkhole behind Windermere home has neighbors nervous
Nervous neighbors are keeping their eyes on a massive sinkhole that has already forced one family out of their home and prompted another family to flee theirs.
In Florida, Golden Rule and Humana among health insurers expected to owe biggest rebates
Golden Rule, Humana, Blue Cross Blue Shield (now Florida Blue) and UnitedHealthcare top the list of big health-care insurers expected to pay Floridians rebates this summer, according to a new report released Thursday.
Florida passed up $200 million for uninsured kids
Over the past two years, Florida did such a good job of enrolling uninsured children in KidCare that the state could have qualified for as much as $200 million in federal bonuses – money that could have helped get more children into care.
Sunburst Unveiled to Offer Public Access to Governor’s Email
For the past year, the Capitol press corps has inundated Governor Rick Scott and his staff for their inner-office correspondence.
Blog: Justices fire back in controversy over their campaign paperwork
Florida’s three Supreme Court justices, who are under fire for using court staff to assist them in their last-minute completion of their paperwork needed to meet the deadline for their merit retention campaigns, shot back on Thursday with a letter from a well-regarded constitutional law expert.
Newly created Florida House District 57 draws at least five candidates
The dust has barely settled on the state’s decennial redistricting, but candidates are lining up for a shot at representing voters in a newly created House seat in southeastern Hillsborough County.
Let’s Get to Work Committee Raises $1 Million in April
With Governor Rick Scott making plans to run for re-election in 2014, a closely linked political committee raised more than $1 million in April — and has already collected nearly $2 million this year, according to the committee’s website.
Blog: Panhandle Public Relations fiasco costs tourism executive his job
The chief tourism official in the Florida Panhandle’s Okaloosa County has resigned under pressure after admitting he spent $710,000 in county hotel bed tax money to buy a 40-foot yacht for promotional use.
Litigious group focused on biodiversity, endangered species opens Florida office
The Center for Biological, based in Tucson, Arizona, was founded in 1989 and has been more active in issues affecting Florida in recent years.
Miss America of H2O: Collier tap water crowned Florida’s tastiest
In a state almost completely surrounded by water, a gallon-sized sample of Collier County’s tap water was crowned this week the best tasting in Florida.
Insurers Face New Regulation from Federal Reserve
Insurance companies that own or operate a savings & loan will face fresh oversight from the Federal Reserve Board, which is creating a process by which to examine those financial institutions that have significant banking assets.
New York Times: To Repair the Shore, or Retreat?
Eight months after Tropical Storm Irene slammed into Cosey Beach Avenue in East Haven, ripping off parts of some houses and washing others away, many property owners are still adrift.
FEMA awards $40 million to New Orleans
FEMA is awarding New Orleans $16.67 million to repair the Municipal Auditorium, which was badly damaged by hurricane Katrina seven years ago and has sat largely untouched ever since.
New Tool for Texas Wildfire Risk Assessment Now Available
Officials with Texas Forest Service and the Texas A&M University System announced that new tools are available to help homeowners and communities determine wildfire risk – and take measures to mitigate potential hazards.
Workers’ Comp Annual “Must-Read” Document: The NCCI Issues Report
Workers’ comp geeks and nerds, your wait is over: NCCI’s 2012 Workers’ Compensation Issues Report is out.
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