Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Monday, October 31

Oct 31, 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

 

 There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Insurance-Related News 

 

Citizens Property Insurance rates to rise $150-$300 in Hernando; Senator Mike Fasano plans legislation

The financial blow for Hernando County residents who have Citizens Insurance sinkhole coverage will not be as bad as originally thought.

 

Editorial:  Citizens Property Insurance roof rule too strict

Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s insurer of last resort, has taken to roof inspections before renewing policies on homes 25 years old or older.

 

How to choose between Citizens Property Insurance and a no-name home insurer

Let’s face it, if you own a home or condominium in South Florida, you don’t have many options when it comes to property insurance.

 

Dolphin Tower condominium board facing more criticism

Dolphin Tower owners won a legal victory this week against their insurance company, but the troubled downtown condominium faces a growing exodus of paying residents and its board is fielding expanding criticism of its handling of the crisis and dwindling resources to deal with it.

 

Blog:  Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate to unveil auto insurance fraud findings

Robin Westcott, the state’s Insurance Consumer Advocate, will release her findings on personal injury protection insurance fraud at a Florida Cabinet meeting Tuesday.

 

Why South Florida is seeing a decline in deadly traffic accidents

For the last five years, traffic deaths in Broward and Palm Beach counties have dropped steadily, reflecting state and national trends.

 

Property Casualty Insurers of America:  Florida No-Fault Fraud Growing; Costs Are Worse Than Other States

The Sunshine State’s system for no-fault automobile insurance is flawed to the point of systemic abuses, and fraudulent claims are climbing to higher levels than ever, to hear one national association tell it.

 

Editorial:  Lawbreakers taking Florida for a ride

Crime pays, but increasingly it’s Tampa Bay’s law-abiding drivers who are footing the bill.

 

The Shark Tank:  Personal Injury Protection Looms in 2012, Will Florida Get it Right?

One issue that will be attracting a significant amount of attention during the 2012 legislative session concerns Florida’s Personal Injury Protection auto insurance law and its possible reform in order address the recent spike in PIP-related insurance fraud. 

 

Advocates accuse state lawmakers of blocking health reforms

Advocates of President Obama’s health reforms expressed concern Friday about the state’s lack of action at a town hall meeting in Orlando.

 

Blog:  Florida’s poorest county could get newest slot venue

If you had any doubts that gambling in Florida continues to expand, take a look at the latest opening:  The barrel racing track and poker room set to open next month in the tiny town of Gretna.

 

Court denies state request for expedited hearing on new voting rules

A U.S. District Court has denied a request by the state of for an expedited hearing on whether Florida is adhering to the Voting Rights in the five counties requiring federal preclearance.

 

Recommendations are in for fixing Florida courts’ finances

A study group recommends creating a new trust fund and redirecting revenues from Florida’s Supreme and appellate courts to help repair the finances of the state’s judicial system.

 

Foreclosure prevention program struggles to help homeowners in Florida

The state’s Hardest Hit Fund, designed to help unemployed or underemployed workers make their mortgage payments until they find work again, been approved for only 11.7 percent of the 30,640 applications from Florida homeowners.

 

New York Times:  In Florida Battle, Casino Cash vs. Disney Image

The battle for Florida’s tourism soul has been joined.

 

Ruling on privatization of state prisons to go unchallenged

After a month without acting and the deadline today, Florida Governor Rick Scott is almost certain to decline to appeal a judge’s decision striking down his and the Republican-controlled legislature’s 18-county prison privatization plan.

 

Coalition Including Insurance Groups Push for End to National Flood Insurance Program Subsidies

Significant changes in the National Flood Insurance Program-including an end to all subsidies within five years-are being proposed by a diverse coalition organized by SmarterSafer.org.

 

War veteran turned banker now turns to regulating China’s insurance

Xiang Junbo, the man named on Saturday to be China’s Insurance regulator, recently led the country’s third-largest lender from near insolvency to a record initial public offering with assets worth more than India’s national economy.

 

 

 

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