Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, July 18, 2013
Jul 18, 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
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.–Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate’s Homeowners’ Policy and Claims Bill of Rights Working Group meeting. Tallahassee, Florida. Teleconference: (850) 413-1558; conference ID: 6125894. To view the agenda, click here. Note: Watch LIVE at www.TheFloridaChannel.org (Channel 1)
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Insurance companies on Florida consumer panel defend industry practices from critics’ censure
Insurance Consumer Advocate Robin Wescott’s work group met for the first time Wednesday and will give recommendations for consumer protections to lawmakers later this year, reports Gray Rohrer for The Florida Current.
- Panel meets on property insurance
- Homeowners Insurance Protections Sought
- Insurance panel suggests consumer protections
Florida’s Main Street America named as top performing insurance company
Main Street America Group has been recognized on this year’s Ward’s 50 list for top performing property/casualty insurance companies in the U.S., Michael Clinton reports for Jacksonville Business Journal.
NAACP urges Scott to return to Tallahassee, call a special session to end student sit-in
Protestors camped outside of Gov. Rick Scott’s office at the state Capitol said Wednesday that they will not leave until Scott calls a special session of the Legislature to change the state’s self-defense law, The Florida Current’s James Call reports.
Court hears Florida appeal in “Docs vs. Glocks” case
A panel of federal judges is hearing Florida’s appeal of a Miami judge’s ruling that struck down a state law restricting what doctors can discuss about guns with their patients, Associated Press’ Curt Anderson reports in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.
Blog: Mixture of old and new on Pam Bondi’s re-election team
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is sticking with some familiar names as she launches her 2014 re-election campaign, but she’s got some new blood as well, blogs Tia Mitchell for the Tampa Bay Times.
Erik Fresen Gets a Democratic Opponent in Florida House Race
As he gears up to run for a fourth and final term in the Florida House, Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, has drawn a major Democratic opponent for his seat which represents parts of Miami-Dade, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Largest Criminal Fine in Florida History, $2.25 Million-Plus, Assessed for Wetlands Violations
Brian Raphael D’Isernia, 69, of Panama City Beach and Lagoon Landing LLC, a corporation controlled by D’Isernia, were sentenced Wednesday in federal court in the Northern District of Florida for illegal dredging and felony wetlands violations in Panama City, Nancy Smith reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Senator Latvala to take up homeless funding issue in 2014
Every year when their grants expire, homeless aid groups across Florida scramble to apply for new ones, hoping to piece together enough funding to keep their doors open, Anna M. Phillips reports for Tampa Bay Times.
Florida’s water woes could hurt power plants
Plumes of white vapor surging from power plants in east Orange County are visible signs of the enormous amount of precious water required to cool those plants and of power-generation challenges looming ahead as cited in a report released this week.
Miami-Dade Horse Track Operating Slots Against the Law Since July 2, Claim Horsemen
The Florida Division of Pari-Mutuel Wagering jumped the gun July 2, when it issued Calder Casino and Race Course a slot machine license before it had provided the Division with a purse agreement, the Sunshine State News reports.
Louisiana Citizens seeking increased credit for storm season
The governing board for Louisiana’s property insurer of last resort wants to boost its bank line of credit, to give the company enough wiggle room to cover costs in case of a storm, the Associated Press Reports.
Georgia Lobbying Gift Limit Doesn’t Apply to All in Executive Branch
Gov. Nathan Deal’s executive order seems simple: Employees in Georgia’s executive branch should not accept gifts worth more than $25, particularly from lobbyists and vendors, Ray Henry reports for Insurance Journal.
Connecticut-Based Insurers Now Required to Participate in NAIC Climate Risk Surveys
Connecticut Insurance Commissioner Thomas Leonardi today announced that Connecticut-based insurance companies will now be required to complete the annual Climate Risk Survey that was initially adopted in 2009 as a voluntary report by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, Insurance Journal reports.
U.S. Treasury Turns to Public For Input on Terrorism Insurance
The Treasury Department is asking the public to comment on the long-term availability and affordability of terrorism risk insurance, Arthur Postal reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
U.S. Traffic Safety Regulators Expected to Seek Limits on Car Touchscreens
U.S. traffic safety regulators are expected to propose stronger measures to keep drivers from being distracted by in-car touchscreens, the Associated Press reports.
Untested Chinese Capacity Affecting Rate Environment, Marsh Says
U.S. property insurance rates are showing signs of softening partly due to increased capacity including growing interest from Chinese insurance companies, says an executive from Marsh. However, Chinese carrier’s willingness to pay claims in the face of a major loss event has yet to be tested, Mark Ruquet reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
U.S. Federal Judge Calls S&P Defense “Deeply and Unavoidably Troubling”
In a ruling allowing the Justice Department’s $5 billion lawsuit against Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services to move forward, a U.S. district judge said the rating firm’s “puffery” defense is “deeply and unavoidably troubling,” Dow Jones News reports.
Demystifying Lloyd’s of London
While everyone in the U.S. insurance space knows the Lloyd’s of London name-indeed, it’s one of the world’s oldest and best-known corporate brands-this awareness by no means translates into understanding-or business, Alex Ferguson writes for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
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