Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, March 4
Mar 4, 2013
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 Florida insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Injured St. Pete firefighter wins workers compensation ruling
In a battle about disability benefits for a seriously injured firefighter, a state appeals court has found part of Florida’s workers compensation insurance system unconstitutional – saying it led to the man being left in a “legal twilight zone.”
Landmark Decision: Florida Court Declares 104 Week Indemnity Limit Unconstitutional
The Florida First District Court of Appeals, in a landmark decision, today struck down as unconstitutional a key component of that state’s workers’ compensation reforms dating back to 1994.
Citizens Property Insurance critics take new approach this year
Property insurance costs have spiraled ever higher in Florida, even as the state has gone an unprecedented seven consecutive hurricane seasons without a storm making landfall here.
Blog: Trying to convince Citizens Property Insurance clients it’s not the best deal
That’s the message insurance industry insiders are spreading as they try a new tactic this year in the ongoing push to shrink Florida’s state-run insurer, long criticized as low-cost “subsidized” coverage.
Florida’s Citizens Property Sued for Denying Mitigation Discounts
A lawsuit seeking class action status filed against the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. alleges the company purposefully deprived customers of windstorm mitigation discounts through an arbitrary reinspection program that lawyers estimate has cost customers nearly $200 million in lost credits.
Numbers game for Citizens Property Insurance
Ranging from who should be covered to how its claims should be paid, lawmakers face a herculean task in reforming Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
State Representative Frank Artiles: Florida’s approach to windstorm insurance hurts consumers
This year the Legislature is considering proposals that, if passed, would give massive subsidies to the private reinsurance industry, paid for by significantly higher rates for policy holders.
Carl Hiaasen: This Florida citizen outraged by Citizens Property Insurance
Rick Scott campaigned for governor on the promise of running Florida like a big business, but the one big business that Florida actually runs is out of control.
Editorial: Florida Legislature must show new thinking on property insurance
When it comes to the debate about homeowners insurance in Florida, it’s as if most telephones were connected to walls on lines and the web was something only spiders use.
Column: Our disasters should be subsidized
The high living, free spending, hard partying gang running Citizens Property Insurance Corp. must rank as the least-loved outfit in Florida.
Earthquake-like shakes felt Sunday morning in Collier County
No earthquakes have been reported by the U.S. Geological Survey, but sheriff’s officials have received calls of shaking resembling an earthquake.
New York, Florida insurance agencies acquired by broker serving Hispanics
Confie Seguros, which markets personal lines to Hispanics, recently made two acquisitions: Niagara Falls, N.Y.-based Cannello Agency and Moose Insurance in Oakland, Florida.
No police crash investigation is the norm at speedways
A clearer picture of the drama in the grandstands at Daytona International Speedway on February 23 unfolded slowly last week, but many details may remain forever unknown, largely because no police reports will be written about the crash that injured more than 30 people.
Opinion: It’s Bad Economics to Mess With Prescription Drug Dispensing to Injured Workers
Outside of our families, is there any relationship as important as the one between physicians and their patients?
Medicaid expansion costs estimate postponed
Florida lawmakers will have a better idea next Thursday of the cost of expanding Medicaid eligibility under the federal Affordable Care Act.
Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford gets revised pension numbers
House Speaker Will Weatherford got a financial update on his idea to close the Florida Retirement System’s regular pension plan to new employees late Friday — along with a $70,000 apology from the state’s actuarial consultants for not giving him what he wanted last month.
- Senator proposes Florida Retirement System overhaul
- State investments doing well, Legislature’s program analysis office says
An ongoing redistricting lawsuit could force top Democrats to give up internal documents and political consulting firms to spill “confidential business information and trade secrets,” according to documents filed in court.
Campaign Finance Reform Negotiations Still Have a Way to Go
Campaign finance bills filed in the Florida House and Senate for the legislative session that begins Tuesday signal that Florida lawmakers are poised to increase campaign-contribution limits for statewide candidates.
Blog: Meet The New Democratic Deputy Whips In The Florida House
Representatives Lori Berman of Delray Beach, Reggie Fullwood of Jacksonville, José Rodríguez of Miami, Hazelle Rogers of Lauderdale Lakes and Joe Saunders of Orlando have been appointed Democratic Deputy Whips.
Dwight Dudley: Will Republicans Back This Democrat’s Proposals to Lower Utility Taxes, Regulations?
One of Pinellas County’s newest House members is shaping up to be one of that chamber’s most colorful characters, priding himself on his no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is approach to advocacy for the causes he believes in.
Blog: 5 Questions For Senator Bill Montford
Senator Bill Montford is a sixth-generation North Floridian – and sounds it.
Bradenton’s Galvano earning praise from Senate president
Florida Senate President Don Gaetz last week predicted a bright political future for Bradenton’s freshman state senator, Bill Galvano.
The Florida Current’s 2013 Session Outlook: Economic Development
Governor Rick Scott has served up a full plate of changes to Florida’s economic development strategies in his first two years as the state’s chief executive, and the Legislature has largely obliged him, but they haven’t finished the banquet.
Florida Trend: 2013 Legislative Preview
Governor Rick Scott has proposed raising the exemption on corporate income taxes from $50,000 to $75,000, a move that he says would help cut taxes for another 2,000 businesses.
Column: Jobless now need email to get benefits
Governor Rick Scott may be showing some new-found love for teachers, election reform and even the expansion of Medicaid, but his administration still takes a dim view of the unemployed.
Oklahoma City to host national tornado summit
The National Tornado Summit is scheduled for March 10-12 at the Cox Convention Center.
Goodyear Sues Travelers For Continued Asbestos Claims Coverage
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has filed a lawsuit against Travelers Casualty and Surety Co. over the insurer’s denial of defense and indemnity costs for future asbestos-related claims.
Workplace Bullying Emerging As Major Employment Liability Battleground
Margaret Fiester is no shrinking violet, but she says working for her former boss was a nightmare.
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