Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Thursday, July 31, 2014
Jul 31, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
How the failed Sunshine State deal led to growth at United Insurance
Although United Insurance Holdings Corp. scuttled its deal with Sunshine State Insurance Co., United still walked away with a prize, explains Tampa Bay Business Journal’s Margie Manning.
Citizens Property Insurance rebids Jacksonville project
Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance has re-issued an Invitation to Negotiate for its consolidated Jacksonville operations center that will need about 226,400 square feet of space, the Jacksonville Daily Record reports.
Can state-run Citizens give true Floridians a break?
A two-tiered price system for homestead properties, second homes should be explored, Sun-Sentinel columnist Mike Mayo writes.
Breath tests banned from courtrooms in Florida DUI cases
A panel of Orange County judges could decide as early as today whether a previous ruling that resulted in breath tests being kept out of court will be overturned, Sean Leavin reports for WKMG Local 6 TV.
Florida’s CFO: Some health insurance customers entitled to refunds
Consumers who bought insurance plans but could not use them in the early days of the Affordable Care Act rollout should be able to get a refund, Florida’s chief financial officer told WFLA News Channel 8.
U.S. Representative Kathy Castor: Beware of Florida’s new unregulated health rates
Florida is the only state in the nation that has stripped its insurance commissioner of the ability to stand up for consumers and turn down rate hikes, says U.S. Representative Kathy Castor in a Tampa Tribune editorial opinion.
Florida’s “Move Over” Law Now Applies to Garbage Collectors, Utility Workers
Now, when garbage and utility trucks are servicing roads, Florida motorists must pull over or slow down, Chris Graham reports for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
Florida officials warn of deadly flesh-eating bacteria in ocean waters
So apparently there’s a flesh-eating bacteria that thrives in warm saltwater and is living in our oceans, according to Florida health officials, Chris Joseph reports for the Broward/Palm Beach New Times.
Florida lawmakers propose allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to sell product statewide
Five medical marijuana dispensaries will be allowed to sell their product statewide under a new rule proposed by state regulators, but which nurseries get picked to operate the new industry will be chosen by a statewide lottery to avoid litigation, state officials said Wednesday. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Sunshine Law violation charges dropped against Chris Dorworth’s girlfriend
Prosecutors in Orlando have dropped a misdemeanor charge of violating public meeting law against a former official with the Florida Department of Transportation, Peter Schorsch reports for SaintPetersBlog.com.
State Representative Grant the winner in Florida ethics commission ruling
In a closed-door session, the Florida Commission on Ethics ruled in favor of State Representative James Grant, R-Tampa, after an investigation into whether he misused his position to benefit a company that allegedly funded a grant awarded to his personal business venture, the Miami Herald’s Rochelle Koff reports.
Thad Altman Wants Pam Bondi to Look at All Aboard Florida Lease
Florida Senator Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, wants answers on All Aboard Florida’s lease with the Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority. He is asking Attorney General Pam Bondi for her opinion on the lease, especially as the senators says the lease ensures All Aboard Florida’s trains won’t stop in Brevard and Indian River counties, Kevin Derby reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
AARP spreads word on lawmakers’ voting records
AARP Florida today released its third annual Legislative Voting Record to help Floridians 50 and up track their legislators’ handling of such issues as support for family caregivers and care recipients overseeing assisted living facilities and fraud protection, Tampa Bay Times’ Adam Smith reports for “The Buzz” blog.
U.S. Senate Committee Holds Hearing on Flood Claims Process After Sandy
A U.S. Senate committee conducted a hearing yesterday entitled “The Flood Insurance Claims Process in Communities After Sandy: Lessons Learned and Potential Improvements,” during which lawmakers had a chance to listen to the insurance industry’s input on Superstorm Sandy claims handling and potential areas of reform, Insurance Journal reports.
FEMA head seeks probe: Are insurance lawyers delaying on flood settlements?
FEMA Director Craig Fugate, who oversees the National Flood Insurance Program called for an inquiry Wednesday into whether lawyers defending against superstorm Sandy claims filed on Long Island and elsewhere are using delaying tactics to pad their legal bills, New York NewsDay’s Joe Ryan reports.
United Kingdom to allow driverless cars on public roads next year
The United Kingdom government announced driverless cars will be allowed on public roads starting in January 2015, reports BBC News. Ministers also ordered a review of the UK’s road regulations to provide appropriate guidelines for the new technology. National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com carries the story.
The future of terrorism insurance for Corporate America
In the coming weeks, Congress will determine who shall pay for the losses that corporations would suffer from a future terrorist attack on U.S. soil by deciding in what form the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act should be renewed, Wharton School professors Howard Kunreuther and Erwann Michel-Kerjan write in this CNBC editorial opinion.
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