Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Thursday, November 12, 2015
Nov 12, 2015
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
- 10:00 a.m.–Florida Workers’ Compensation Joint Underwriting Association (“FWCJUA”) Audit Committee meeting. To view the meeting notice, click here.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Bank accused of aiding South Florida auto insurance scammers
A Wells Fargo branch manager in West Palm Beach noticed “unsophisticated looking people” routinely cashing $8,000 checks from a medical clinic and alerted the bank’s internal security about the “odd” transactions. But a lawsuit alleges he was brushed off. The Sun-Sentinel’s Megan O’Matz and Sally Kestin report.
Ocwen, Nationstar Pay $217 Million to Settle Force Placed Insurance Suit
Two of the largest mortgage servicers in the U.S. reached a combined $217 million settlement in Miami federal court over a national homeowners insurance scandal, the Daily Business Review’s Samantha Joseph reports.
FEMA scales back Sarasota County’s flood maps
Many Sarasota County property owners no longer will be forced to purchase flood insurance or face new restrictions on construction after local officials succeeded in greatly reducing the number of parcels added to high risk zones on new flood maps.
Drone operators in Florida could be held liable for any damage
As unmanned commercial drones continue climbing in popularity, so does the potential for accidents in which wayward devices might physically harm people or damage property. Kristen M. Clark reports for the Miami Herald.
Florida Supreme Court considers changes to state’s political map
A long-running legal battle over Florida’s political landscape wound up back before the state Supreme Court yesterday, where several justices sounded skeptical about the changes proposed by the Republican-controlled Legislature. The Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via FloridaPolitics.com.
Marijuana Decriminalization Passes in Broward county
On Tuesday, Broward County approved an ordinance that will allow law enforcement to reduce the penalty for pot possession – in some cases – to a ticket. Commissioners came to a unanimous decision to fine people $100 for possessing 20 grams or less of marijuana. Ryan Yousefi reports for the New Times Broward/Palm Beach.
With budget fight looming, Scott health commission shows little progress
Governor Rick Scott has engaged for the past several months in a running public relations battle with the state’s hospitals, after a health care funding fight nearly derailed the 2015 session of the Florida Legislature. And thanks to the power of his highly public position, he’s been winning, PoliticoFlorida.com’s Christine Sexton reports.
An inside look at how the Senate presidency deal was struck
As the Florida Capitol slept, ink began to dry on a document aimed at healing a state Senate fractured by impenetrable inter-chamber politics, by seemingly intractable grudges and by egos just as unyielding. Matt Dixon reports for PoliticoFlorida.com.
Sunshine State’s twin solar power initiatives could get confusing
There are two competing Florida solar initiatives in the pipeline for the November 2016 ballot. One is a grass-roots campaign intending to eliminate many of the barriers to household solar systems. Another, largely backed by utilities, would maintain regulatory protections while keeping solar under the control of the power companies. Jerome Stockfish reports for the Tampa Tribune.
New Texas Windstorm Board Conforms to 3-3-3 Provisions of SB 900
The new board members of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association conform to a new law mandating three members who live in coastal counties, three members who live at least 100 miles from the coast, and three insurance industry representatives who write and renew windstorm and hail insurance along the Gulf Coast, Insurance Journal reports.
Delaware Marks Licensing of 1,000th Captive Insurer
Delaware Gov. Jack Markell presented Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart with a proclamation Monday recognizing the Department of Insurance’s licensing of its 1,000 captive insurance company, AWI Inc. of Voorhees, New Jersey. Insurance Journal reports.
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