Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, January 12, 2015
Jan 12, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Citizens gets approval to remove 93,500 more policies
Another 93,000 private residential property insurance policies and 500 commercial residential policies have been approved for removal from Citizens Property Insurance Co., the state-run “insurer of last resort. The Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports.
Citizens Says It Has Settled 1,669 Sinkhole Claims Since April
In the eight months after settling sinkhole damage claims by more than 300 policyholders, Citizens Property Insurance settled about 1,350 additional claims, the State-run insurer announced Friday. The Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports via InsuranceNewsNet.com.
Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Clearinghouse Wins Few Fans
Critics say Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Clearinghouse is a failure, Jeff Harrington reports for the Lakeland Ledger.
Uber Brings Maelstrom of Policy Disputes to Florida
Uber provides some insurance to its drivers but the rules are complex and full of gray areas, said Robert Passmore, senior director of personal lines policy for the Chicago-based Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Dick Hogan reports for the Ft. Myers News Press.
Senator Jeff Brandes puts his foot down on red-light cameras
Florida Senator Jeff Brandes, long a staunch critic of local governments installing red light cameras, vowed this week to reject any legislation that would expand the use of the enforcement by camera of traffic infractions. Ryan Ray reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
Scott facing different challenges in lame duck term
With Governor Rick Scott officially entering his second and final term last week, he now assumes the informal title of “lame duck,” a label bestowed on any governor with no prospect of running for re-election. Matt Dixon reports for the Tampa Tribune.
Florida lawmakers preparing for new Session with some old ideas
Any prediction about what the Florida Legislature will accomplish in its 2015 session must be taken with a grain of salt, Tampa Tribune’s James Rosica reports via the Naples Daily News.
Florida GOP’s chairman vote likely not a surprise
Rick Scott has been calling voting members of the Republican Party of Florida executive committee urging their support of Leslie Dougher for Party Chair. She also has the backing of Florida Senate President Andy Gardiner and Florida House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, which means a big block of votes all but assured. Tampa Bay Times’ Alex Leary and Adam Smith report via “The Buzz” blog.
Legislature’s offer to not renew card games for Seminoles: bluff or bargain?
This could be a lucky year for owners of dog tracks, horse tracks and even Miami’s resort casino promoters, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas explains in the “Naked Politics” blog.
Marco Rubio’s ambitions and Florida’s political dominoes
The Miami Herald’s Marc Caputo speculates that the moment Maro Rubio announces a presidential bid he’ll create the appearance of a pending political vacancy. Some politicians will try to fill it in the same way nature abhors a vacuum. Dominoes will start tumbling.
Lake County appraiser warns of home tax appraisal scam
Lake County Property Appraiser Carey Baker issued an alert Friday related to callers soliciting homeowners for access into their houses to review them for tax purposes. The Orlando Sentinel’s Mary Shanklin reports.
Revised TRIA Law Could Harm Small Insurers, Warns S&P
Standard & Poor’s offered a note of caution about the reauthorization of the federal terrorism reinsurance program, warning that changes made by Congress to boost co-insurance and deductibles could hurt small insurers moving forward, Insurance Journal reports.
Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Consedine to Leave Post After Governor-Elect Wolf Is Sworn In
Michael Consedine, Pennsylvania’s insurance commissioner and president-elect of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, will leave the Insurance Department after Democratic Governor-elect Tom Wolf is sworn in as the 47th governor of Pennsylvania on January 20, Insurance Journal reports.
XL to Write Nearly 10th of Lloyd’s Business After Catlin Deal
XL Group Plc said it would buy underwriter Catlin Group Ltd. for about 2.79 billion pounds ($4.22 billion), increasing the Dublin-based insurer’s share of business written in the Lloyd’s of London market to nearly 10 percent. Reuters’ Richa Naidu reports via Insurance Journal.
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