Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, December 20, 2016

 

Florida’s Courts 4th on Tort Reformers’ “Judicial Hellhole” List

The controversial Florida Supreme Court and Civil Courts in South Florida find themselves dubiously honored in fourth position on the American Tort Reform Foundation’s 2016-2017 List of “Judicial Hellholes” — putting them among the Nation’s most Unfair Courts in the handling of Civil Litigation.   SunshineStateNews.com Publisher Nancy Smith reports.

 

Florida Hermine, Matthew Damages Near $1.6 Billion
Hurricane damages in Florida have reached at least $1.59 Billion from the two storms that hammered parts of North Florida and the East Coast this year, according to the latest numbers from the Insurance Industry and the State.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via SunshineStateNews.com.

 

Florida’s Climate Scientists Worry as Trump Picks his Cabinet and Sea Levels Rise

The World’s Leading Global-Warming Scientists, many of them living and working on the front lines in Florida, are hoping against hope that President-Elect Donald Trump and his Top Advisers will not take the Country backward in the fight against Rising Sea Levels, Increasing Temperatures and Looming Environmental Dangers.  McClatchy’s James Rosen reports.

 

Vertus Insurance Launches Supplemental Catastrophe Insurance in Florida

Florida-Based Managing General Underwriter Vertus Insurance Partners has launched a Supplemental Insurance Policy targeting Homeowners in Hurricane Prone States, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Airbnb Housing in Florida Doubles Again in 2016, Reaches 1.5 Million

The number of Visitors to Florida choosing to stay in Private Homes through the Airbnb Home-Sharing App continues to explode and has topped 1.5 Million for the 2016 year, the Company announced Tuesday.  Scott Powers reports for FloridaPolitics.com.

 

Orlando Considers Drone Rules as Enthusiasts, Lobbyist Object

The City Council plans to Vote January 9 on New Rules that would Govern Drone Use in Orlando, prohibiting use of Drones near certain landmarks and large gatherings but also creating a Specialized Permit Officials say would be easier to obtain.

 

Help With Heroin Crisis?  Florida Says “No” to $10 Million Grant

Earlier this week, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg released a Grand Jury Report with recommendations to Combat the Opioid Crisis — a Report he hoped would get the attention of Lawmakers and Bureaucrats.  John Pacenti reports for the Palm Beach Post.

·         How to Curtail Sober Home Abuses? Task Force Proposes Getting Tough

 

The Case of Two Carlos Trujillos and the Florida Electoral College Mix-Up

While News Accounts abound with Stories of “Faithless Electors,” Florida might be the only State with Confused Electors, Politico Florida’s Marc Caputo reports.

 

Florida Panthers Owner Vinnie Viola Nominated Secretary of Army by President-Elect Donald Trump

If confirmed in his new job, Viola will oversee the Army and Report to the Secretary of Defense.  The Sun-Sentinel’s Harvey Fialkov reports.

 

Judge Enforces California Insurance Commissioner Jones’ Order; State Farm Must Reduce Rates

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones issued the following statement today after the San Diego Superior Court partially denied State Farm’s Emergency Request to stay a November Order issued by Jones that directed State Farm to reduce its Homeowner and Renter Rates by an Average of Seven Percent, or $84 Million over the next year.

 

California Insurance Commissioner Issues Anti-Steering Regulations

California Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones has issued New Anti-Steering in Auto Body Repair Regulations that he says increase protections to prevent Consumers from being misled or Claims Delayed when a Collision-Damaged Vehicle needs to be repaired, Insurance Journal reports.

 

Battle Over Property Claims and Litigation in Texas Set to Continue in 2017

The Insurance Committee of the Texas House of Representatives heard Testimony from Invited Speakers about the Preliminary Results of a Texas Department of Insurance Insurer Data Call aimed at gathering information on Residential Property Claims and any Resulting Litigation.  Insurance Journal’s Stephanie K. Jones reports.

·         Texas Issues Mandatory Data Call to Property/Casualty Insurers

 

 

 

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