Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, October 21
Oct 21, 2011
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
- Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
- Daily Insurance-Related News
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
2:30 p.m.–Nonadmitted Insurance Multi-State Agreement Member States Emergency Meeting. Teleconference: 800-882-3610; passcode: 6730779.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related Bills Filed for 2012
HB 427 Relating to Civil Remedies Against Insurers by State Representative Kathleen Passidomo
Under the provisions of HB 427, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”) and an authorized insurer would have to have been given 60 days’ written notice of a specified violation as a condition precedent to bringing an action under section 624.155, F.S., or based on the common-law claim of bad faith. If the OIR returns such notice for lack of specificity, the 60-day time period would not begin until a proper notice is filed. The bill also would require notice relating to the bringing of common-law claim of bad faith to specify the common-law duty violated by insurer. Notice also would be required to specify amount of moneys that the insurer has failed to tender or pay if the specific statutory or common-law based violation includes such failure. HB 427 provides that circumstances giving rise to statutory or common-law based violations would be corrected by specifically described monetary tenders by the insurer. Under the provisions of the bill, either the third-party claimant or the insured is entitled to a general release. The applicable statute of limitations would be tolled for a specified period of time when notices alleging common-law based violation are mailed. Effective Date: July 1, 2012
Battle over bad faith is back again
A Naples Republican has filed a measure that would place limits on bad faith lawsuits against insurers.
Private insurers dumping policies into Citizens Property Insurance sparks call for repeal
The law allows companies such as State Farm — the state’s largest private home insurer — to continue giving multiple-policy discounts to customers, even if the company only provides automobile insurance coverage and drops their homeowners’ coverage.
Rising sea levels a threat to South Florida, study says
The Florida Atlantic University study says that rising oceans could contaminate water and sharply boost utility costs.
Investigators find fraud associated with some lawyer referral services
Some ads for lawyer and medical referral services mislead by implying victims will get money if they’ve been in accidents. Some encourage those involved in accidents – but not injured – to file meritless claims.
Florida to Train More Troopers to Investigate Highway Accidents
Florida’s top highway safety official wants to put more troopers who specialize in investigating highway fatalities out on the road.
Woman in Tampa shooting charged with insurance fraud
A woman who reportedly shot a man this week but wasn’t charged in that case was arrested today for allegedly trying to dupe her insurance company, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Florida insurance agent accused of selling bogus policies
A Port Charlotte insurance agent faces charges for allegedly selling fake boat insurance.
Layoffs, health insurance changes could cloud Florida state workers’ future
State employees — who were forced this year to start paying 3 percent for their pension — could find themselves dealing with higher costs or even layoffs in the coming year.
Audrey Gibson sworn into Florida Senate
Audrey Gibson, D-Jacksonville, was sworn into office Wednesday, almost a month after she won the September 20 special election for the state Senate seat vacated by Tony Hill to take a job with Jacksonville’s mayor, according to The Florida Times-Union.
There’s been a widespread assumption that after next year’s redistricting, there will be a new congressional district in the Orange-Osceola county area that favors a Hispanic representative.
Despite budget shortfall, some Florida lawmakers wary of casino revenue
Caution accompanies anticipation as some lawmakers say new revenue from resort-style gambling halls could help fund public schools.
Florida unemployment benefits the fifth lowest in the country
A new study released this week by the conservative Tax Foundation shows that Florida has the fifth lowest unemployment benefits in the country.
New York Times: The Specialized Art of the Appraisal
Whether it is fine wines, vintage movie posters or abstract paintings, some people spend a great deal of time and money compiling collections of valuables.
Corporate interests and the plaintiff’s bar are using a new Government Accountability Office study on asbestos trusts to renew their battle over whether the trusts should be required to be more specific in disclosing claims-settlement data.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.