Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Thursday, December 21, 2017

Florida Senator Resigns Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

The Resignation came hours after Republican Goveernor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi said he should resign.   Senator Latvala criticized calls for his Resignation and said he no longer wants to serve with Party Leaders who didn’t allow him a chance to defend himself.  The Associated Press reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

·         Second Report produces more Allegations about Latvala’s Harassment

·         State Senate turns over Evidence against Latvala to Law Enforcement

·         Law Enforcement reviewing Jack Latvala Sexual Misconduct Case

·         Whatever Happens next with Jack Latvala’s District, this much is clear:  The Voters Lose

·         Latvala Resigns … but Is Quid Pro Quo for Donations Next?

·         Jack Latvala’s political committee money await decisions

·         Editorial: Latvala Resignation should not be last word on toxic Legislature

·         Latvala Special Master’s Report: Full Text Reproduced

Lawrence McClure Wins HD 58 Special Election

With 55 percent of the vote, the 30-year-old McClure will replace Plant City Republican Dan Raulerson, who resigned the Seat in August citing health and business reasons.  FloridaPolitics.com reports.

Some 866,000 Hurricane Irma Insurance Claims Filed in Florida for a Whopping $6.55 Billion

The latest report showed that 865,974 Claims from the September Storm had been filed with Insurance Companies as of Friday, with 719,512 involving Residential Properties. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.’

Informing Floridians About Flood Insurance Come Hell Or High Water

Insurers would be required to inform Policyholders that their Homeowner’s Insurance doesn’t include Flood Insurance under Legislation Filed in the Florida Legislature. The Proposal would also require Policyholders to initial a statement saying they’ve been made aware of that fact.  John Lucas reports for The Capitolist.

Keys Insurance Advocacy Group Notes Rate Freeze

Fair Insurance Rates in Monroe was the only grassroots entity mentioned in the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s Order Filed on December 6.  The Order freezes rate increases for Monroe County Citizens Insurance Policy Holders.  KeysWeekly.com’s Kristen Livengood reports.

Florida Construction Company Owner Accused of $700K Workers’ Comp Scam

A Florida Construction Company Owner has been arrested after allegedly providing fictitious information when applying for Workers’ Compensation Insurance Coverage to obtain a Lower Premium, according to a statement from Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis.  Insurance Journal reports.

Delay Sought In Morgan & Morgan False Advertising Case

According to the Suit, ads wrongly give the impression that Morgan & Morgan “Actively Litigate(s) Claims in Pennsylvania” when its Personal-Injury Practice there is actually “Non-Existent or Minimal.”  Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

Florida’s Uneven Recovery From Hurricane Irma

Depending on what kind of Government help Floridians are seeking, the level of Assistance varies from Community to Community.  Mitchell Hartman writes for Marketplace.org.

Seibels Insurance Business Process Outsourcing New Vice President to Be Based in Florida

Seibels  is pleased to announce the Appointment of Julie McKenna to Vice President of Business Development to provide Best-in-Class Insurance Services and Leading Technology to the Property and Casualty Insurance Industry.

Florida Methadone License Rush Led To Campouts, Gun-Toting Applicant

Florida Officials’ first-come, first-served system for dozens of New Methadone-Treatment Licenses resulted in Applicants camping out in tents with sleeping bags, coolers and, in one case, a gun, to be first in line.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Dara Kam reports via the Orlando Sentinel.

Deaths on Train Tracks on the Rise in South Florida

Tri-Rail is beginning a Suicide Hotline after the New Year. And there’s consideration to begin patrolling railroad corridors with drones to monitor whether trespassers are on the tracks.  Lisa J. Huriash reports for the Sun-Sentinel.

Florida Plastic Surgery Deaths Highlight Need For Specialty Board Certification

Not all Doctors are trained to perform all operations — which makes Board Certification a necessary precondition for any specialized medical procedure, particularly cosmetic surgery.  Phil Ammann writes for FloridaPolitics.com.

Alabama Department Of Insurance Names Jerry Workman Deputy Commissioner

The Alabama Department of Insurance welcomes Jerry Workman as Deputy Commissioner. Workman will succeed Deputy Commissioner and Chief Actuary Charles Angell, who is retiring in July of 2018.

The Coastal Mortgage Time Bomb

Experts worry that if Insurers start to pull out of Flood-Prone Seaside Communities, it could cause a Crisis worse than 2008.  Bryan Walsh reports for Inman.com.

Developer Wants to Build New Housing Project in Houston Flood Plain

A Housing Developer is hoping to win approval from Houston Officials to put a 151-Acre Project on a former golf course where the City and Harris County have spent millions of dollars to buy out Homeowners whose properties were damaged by flooding because they were living in a flood plain.  The Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.

Texas’ Use of Federal Harvey Funds Clouded by Lack of Transparency

The U.S. Government doesn’t require States to provide a detailed accounting for Disaster Relief. But that could change under Legislation awaiting a vote in the House. The Bill, the Disaster Recovery and Reform Act, aims to streamline data on the acquisition and administration of federal funds.  The Associated Press’ Emily Schmall reports via Insurance Journal.

Catastrophe Bond Managers Put Hurricanes Behind Them, Plan New Launches

Hedge Funds and other Managers of Catastrophe Bond Funds racked up some of the worst losses in more than a decade from this year’s hurricanes and wildfires.  Reuters’ Maiya Keidan and Carolyn Cohn report via Insurance Journal.

Companies Trying to get Another Insurance Rate Hike in North Carolina

Homeowners across much of Eastern North Carolina are once again facing a possible double-digit Rate Hike for Insurance Policies, and the disparity between rates along the Coast and Interior Sections of the State would remain at all-time highs.  Sam Walker and Russ Lay  report for the OuterBanksVoice.com.

How Bitcoin Is Fueling Ransomware Insurance Claims

There’s been “a Massive Escalation” in both the number of attempts and the size of demands as criminals scramble for the hot cryptocurrency.  Bloomberg’s Sonali Basak and Jenny Surane report via Insurance Journal.

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