Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, February 14, 2017
Feb 14, 2017
Florida Justice Reform Institute Calls for Assignment of Benefits Changes
The Florida Justice Reform Institute is advocating changes to curb what it calls Abuses of Assignment of Benefits, as well as One-Way Attorney’s Fees for Insurance Claims awarded to Service Providers and their Attorneys. Russell Boniface reports for the Florida Record.
Florida Insurers Act To Avert Demotech Downgrades
Around half a dozen Florida Homeowners’ Insurers are taking action to shore up their capital and surplus position ahead of submitting their Final 2016 Financial Results. The Insurance Insider reports.
Back in Florida, Craig Fugate is Happy to Leave the Next Disaster to a New FEMA Chief
Naturally, disaster threatened North Florida as Craig Fugate returned home after seven years in Washington running the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The tornadoes last month passed, and Fugate got on with decompressing. The Tampa Bay Times’ Alex Leary reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Car Crash Not Your Fault? Florida Drivers Pay $132 More Anyway In Study
Major Insurers charged an Average of $132 more to cover a Driver Not At Fault in an Accident in a Jacksonville, research found. The Palm Beach Post’s Charles Elmore reports via the “Protecting Your Pocket” blog.
Florida-Based American Integrity Launches Golf Cart Insurance
The American Integrity Golf Cart Insurance Policy will have similar coverage types that are often seen in an Auto Insurance Policy with Protections. Insurance Journal reports.
Florida Lawmakers Weigh Barring Insurers From Removing Drug Coverage While Policies In Effect
At a February 7 Meeting of Florida’s Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, Senator Debbie Mayfield (R) Proposed a Bill to Prohibit Private Health Insurers from removing Prescription Drugs from their Approved Coverage Lists during the middle of a Health Insurance Policy Term. The Sun-Sentinel’s Ron Hurtibise reports.
AIF Florida Workers’ Comp Fix Would Make Employees Pay Their Own Attorney Fees
Associated Industries of Florida released its fix for rising Workers’ Compensation Rates Tuesday. The Lobby’s Proposed Legislation would make Injured Employees responsible for Their Own Attorney Fees. Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Senate Bill Would Shake Up State Worker Health Insurance Plans
Legislation Filed in the Florida Senate would let State Employees decide between Four Levels of Group Health Insurance Coverage. FloridaPolitics.com reports.
Ridesharing Bills Could Pave the Way for Transformational Changes
On the same day an Uber and Lyft-Friendly Ridesharing Bill passed its First Committee Stop in the Florida House, Senator Jeff Brandes was presenting his vision of where he believes the transportation industry is headed. William Patrick reports via FloridaPolitics.com.
Windhaven Insurance Named Among “Best Places to Work in 2017”
Windhaven™ Insurance, a Miami-Based Insurance Carrier with more than 3,000 Local Independent Agents, has been named “Best Places to Work in 2017” by South Florida Business Journal.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s Next Target: Florida Lottery
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran plans to File a Lawsuit against the Florida Lottery for signing a Long-Term Contract for Online Games, including a New Smartphone App, that costs nearly $700 Million but would bind future Legislatures, which Corcoran considers a Violation of State Law. The Tampa Bay Times’ Steve Bousquet reports via “The Buzz” blog.
House Panel Takes On Impeachment Power, Local Government Ethics Reforms
A New House Panel on Tuesday moved two measures aimed at tightening Ethics Requirements at the Local Government Level. Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Donald Trump’s Florida Estate Stirs Protests, Spurs Ethics Debate
President Donald Trump‘s South Florida Estate is no longer just the place where he goes to escape. The Associated Press reports via SaintPetersBlog.com.
State Wipes Out Independent Party of Florida
The Party used an Accountant for the 2014 Audit, just not a Certified One. The Sun-Sentinel’s Steven Lemongellow reports.
California Insurance Commissioner Wins Major Court Case Against Mercury Challenging Rate Reduction
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones won another critical legal victory, this one against Mercury Insurance Company and a coalition of Insurance Industry Groups in the California Court of Appeal Friday.
Rotting Rats, Flies: Insurance Repair Disaster Causes “Mega Destruction” Of Dream Home
The Goughs contacted their Insurance Company and were given the option of using a Contractor recommended by Wawanesa to repair the damage or find their own. Rosa Marchitelli reports for CBC News.
South Dakota Lawmakers Reject Insurer Tax Credit Disclosure
The Bill, Voted Down 9-6 in the House Education Committee, would have required Insurance Companies to Disclose how much money they Donate to the Private-School Scholarship Fund in exchange for Tax Credits. Insurance Journal reports.
Michigan Insurance Department Launches Online Complaint Form
The Office of Consumer Services at DIFS will use this tool to start the Initial Review of Complaints against Insurance Entities, Banks, Credit Unions, Mortgage Companies, Payday Lenders, Vehicle Loans, Personal Loans, Money Transfers and Debt Management Transactions. Insurance Journal reports.
Wisconsin Governor Lets Apartment Sprinkler Requirement Stand
The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services recently advanced plans to end a Requirement that Builders Install Fire Sprinklers in New Housing Projects with Three to 20 Units. But Agency Officials now say they are dropping the idea. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Insurance Journal carries the story.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to colodnyfassnews@gmail.com.