Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Monday, July 28, 2014
Jul 28, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Slammed Florida ratepayers rip Citizens Property spending as “outrageous”
Tough rules imposed by Florida’s insurer of last resort are slamming thousands, including a 97-year-old widow losing coverage entirely, but customers see hardball tactics for them and a relaxed attitude for globetrotting brass at state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corporation. Charles Elmore reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Hialeah, Florida Among Cities With Fewest Fatal Drunk Driving Accidents
While California placed four cities in a top-10 list of cities with drunk driving fatalities, Hialeah, Florida was among the “Bottom 10” for having the fewest comparable car crashes, National Underwriter’s Phil Gusman reports on PropertyCasualty360.com.
Spate of workplace deaths in Broward concerns contractors
The number of people with jobs is not the only statistic on the rise in Broward. Also climbing: workplace fatalities. The Sun-Sentinel’s Mike Clary reports.
Miami Seaquarium Fined Over Safety Conditions for Killer Whale Trainers
The Miami Seaquarium has been issued a $7,000 fine for allowing trainers to work with a killer whale without sufficient protections, the Associated Press reports.
Marijuana Treatment in Florida Charlotte’s Web Law Could Face Long Delay
Florida’s new medical marijuana law might have run into an obstacle too great to help sick children as quickly as the Legislature intended or families who had urged the bill now expect, Nancy Smith reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Court upholds Florida law banning doctors from asking about guns
A federal appeals court has upheld Florida’s controversial “docs vs. glocks” bill, overturning an earlier court ruling that had blocked part of the law from being enforced, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via Tampa Bay Times.
Florida hospitals drop challenges to HCA trauma expansion
The contentious battle over the expansion of trauma care in Florida ended quietly Friday as Bayfront Health St. Petersburg, Tampa General and St. Joseph’s hospitals dropped their legal challenges against new trauma centers owned by Hospital Corporation of America, the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Bill Posey Shows No Signs of Slowing Down
Bill Posey has quietly become one of the most successful politicians in Florida and shows no signs of slowing down, Jeff Henderson reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Florida House 49 race pits “Robocop” versus “Coach P”
Republican voters in much of east Orange County will decide between “Coach” and “Robocop” for a candidate to challenge incumbent Democratic State RepresentativeJoe Saunders in District 49, Orlando Sentinel’s Sott Powers reports.
Controversy Surrounds Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program
A bill signed into law this summer expands Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program, but the Florida Education Association has sued the state, challenging the voucher program, PublicNewsService.org reports.
Flood insurance issue is a political tool in Louisiana
Senate race opponents are vying for credit on flood insurance shift, but it may not pay off, Deborah Barfield Berry reports for The News Star.
Fees Plus Commissions Allowed for Retail Insurance Agents in Texas
Retail insurance agents in Texas are allowed to charge certain fees in addition to a commission in relation to selling an insurance policy, but those fees must be disclosed to the customer, Insurance Journal’s Stephanie K. Jones reports.
Connecticut housing center joins landlords’ lawsuit against insurers
The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is helping several landlords sue two insurance companies over what it deems to be discriminatory underwriting policies against building owners who rent to low-income tenants, the Hartford Business Journal reports.
Rideshare Firm Lyft Works Out Deal to Operate in New York City
New York State officials announced rideshare firm Lyft has agreed to operate in New York City in full compliance with existing laws and regulations, Insurance Journal reports.
New York Debates Whether Housing Counts As Health Care
New York now has about 47,000 supportive housing units, and the state intends to invest $260 million Medicaid dollars over the next two years. But the federal government won’t match it. Amanda Aronczyk reports for Health News Florida.
Watchdog: Texas insurance regulators OK 75 percent increase
Two families are calling out the Texas Department of Insurance for not protecting ratepayers hit with a 75 percent increase in their premiums for long-term care insurance, the Financial Services Monitor reports.
How One Company Sues Soldiers Worldwide
The federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, or SCRA, was designed to give active-duty members of the armed forces every opportunity to defend themselves against lawsuits. But the law has a loophole; it doesn’t address where plaintiffs can sue. That’s allowed USA Discounters to sue out-of-state borrowers in Virginia, where companies can file suit as long as some aspect of the business was transacted in the state, FlaglerLive.com reports.
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