Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Jul 15, 2014
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Florida-Grown Homeowners Insurers Eye Fresh Territory for Expansion
Florida-based homeowners insurance companies are growing beyond the borders of their home state and some are making their mark among the top writers in the country, according to A.M. Best Co. data.
HCI Group and Prepared Holdings End Acquisition Talks
HCI Group, Inc. announced in a press release today that its negotiations to acquire Prepared Holdings LLC and its subsidiaries, including Florida-based insurer Prepared Insurance Company, have ended.
Commissioner proposes way to make Lyft, UberX legal in Miami-Dade
County commissioners are scheduled to take a preliminary vote Tuesday on measure to make car services legal, the Miami Herald reports.
Shands withdraws objections to Ocala Regional’s trauma center
The University of Florida Health Shands Hospital legal battle that would have closed Ocala Regional Medical Center’s trauma center ended Monday after the teaching hospital withdrew its objections with Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings, Fred Hiers reports for the Gainesville Sun.
Florida Legislature will not appeal judge’s decision in redistricting case
Senate President Don Gaetz and House Speaker Will Weatherford issued a joint statement today regarding the recent court decision issued by Judge Terry Lewis on the Florida Congressional map, reports Peter Schorsch for SaintPetersblog.com
Backers pledge $6 million for pot campaign
A proposed constitutional amendment going before voters in November that would allow doctors to order marijuana for patients with debilitating illnesses has garnered nearly $6 million in pledges.
Benacquisto leads campaign fundraising among Florida legislative candidates
State Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto leads Southwest Florida state lawmakers in fundraising, according to campaign finance reports released this week, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster reports via the “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Florida House race attracts attention
The Republican State Leadership Committee’s Future Majority Project named the Florida House District 112 race as one of 14 statehouse races to watch in 2014, the Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.
Five seek to replace Bryan Nelson in Florida House
Five Republicans, all first-time office-seekers, are vying to succeed Bryan Nelson in Florida House District 31, Orlando Sentinel’s Stephen Hudak reports.
Investor group chief charged in Florida Ponzi scam
he former head of a Florida investment group has been charged with fraud for his alleged role in disbarred attorney Scott Rothstein’s $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme, the Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.
Tourism tax, rate hike before Florida Supreme Court
The Florida Supreme Court began an annual summer break last week, taking a breather from its routine of issuing opinions each Thursday in complex legal disputes, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports.
Florida official: Texas will win SpaceX launch site
SpaceX founder Elon Musk hasn’t yet formally announced South Texas as the site of his company’s private launch facility, but officials in Florida are conceding that Texas is going to land the coveted project, Laylan Copelin reports for the Austin American-Statesman.
FSU warned that new search could be a “sham”
Florida State University is trying to jump-start its tumultuous search for a new president, but top officials have already been warned that the process could be viewed as a “sham” because of the candidacy of powerful state Senator John Thrasher, who is seen as the front-runner, Associated Press’ Gary Fineout reports via the “Political Fix Florida” blog.
Mississippi State Farm Homeowners Deductible Lower Than Louisiana
Looks like Mississippi homeowners with State Farm policies got a better deal than their Louisiana counterparts, at least in the latest go-around of rate increases and changes to homeowner policies, Anita Lee reports for the Biloxi Sun-Herald.
$1 Billion Highway Guardrail Trial Underway This Week
Trinity Industries Inc. will have 13 hours this week to fight allegations its highway guardrail systems are a deadly hazard that spear cars on impact, with as much as $1 billion at stake for the company, Bloomberg’s Patrick G. Lee reports via Insurance Journal.
NAIC corporate governance review to move forward
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners announced yesterday that it had decided to move forward with a review of its corporate governance policies and would be hiring an outside consultant to assist with the process, National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com reports.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the Department of Commerce has 34 efforts aimed at improving its aircraft asset planning and management, the U.S. Government Accountability Office reports.
Uber Ridesharing Enters South Carolina
The ride-sharing service Uber has started in four South Carolina cities, the Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
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