Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Florida Was Ill-Prepared For A Major Hurricane, Audit Warned

Long before Florida entered the deadliest hurricane season in a decade, Auditors at the State’s Division of Emergency Management sent out a Warning:  the State was Ill-Prepared for a Major Disaster.   The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via the Tampa Bay Times.

Pennsylvania Auto Body Shops’ Owner Files Second Lawsuit

The Owner of Two Altoona-Area Auto Body Shops has Filed another Lawsuit against many of the Nation’s Largest Insurance Companies, claiming they refuse to pay the full costs of making necessary repairs to damaged vehicles.   Phil Ray reports for AutoBodyNews.com.

Backlogs Grow As $5.3B OKed In Irma Claims, Aid

Multiple storms in a matter of weeks have left a Backlog of Tens of Thousands of Palm Beach County Households awaiting visits for Insurance Claims or Federal Grants, meaning a running tab of $5.3 Billion in Claims and Aid for Hurricane Irma in Florida is only likely to grow.  Charles Elmore reports for the Palm Beach Post.

Florida Senate Committee Considers $50M For Beach Renourishment

A Florida Senate Panel Approved a $50 Million Coastal Renourishment Plan Monday, setting the stage for a long and expensive Rehabilitation of the State’s Hurricane Irma-Battered Beaches.  Troy Kinsey reports for Spectrum News 13.

Latvala Tees Off On Business And Tourism Groups During Hurricane Irma Hearing

During the meeting, Latvala expressed concern about Utility Companies, Post-Storm Marketing and help for the Agriculture Industry.  Matt Dixon reports for Politico Florida.

Volusia Leaders Weigh Future For Damaged Beach Street Facilities

More than 80 percent of the 60-year-old building flooded during the Hurricane, ruining most of the flooring and drywall.   Dustin Wyatt reports for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.

Governor Scott Says Lake Okeechobee Dike Must Be Fixed Or Algae Blooms Will Continue

Coastal Florida will continue seeing Algae Blooms until a Restoration of the Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee and other Everglades projects are finished.  Chad Gillis reports for the Ft. Myers News-Press.

·         Lake Okeechobee Dangerously High, Dike Threatened After Recent Rains

 

Injuries At Florida Obstacle Course Not Covered By Insurance

In one recent Case, a Federal District Court in Florida has Ruled that Exclusions in an Insurance Policy issued to a Company that operated an obstacle course precluded Coverage for Claims by a Participant in a Race that he had been injured on the Course.  Steven Meyerowitz reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.

Are Florida Doctors Prepared To Treat Patients With Medical Marijuana?

Some Patients are finding themselves in the unsettling position of being in the examining room with Physicians who seem tentative, unable to speak with much Authority about Medical Marijuana.  The Tampa Bay Times’ Justine Griffin reports.

Annette Taddeo Sworn Into Senate After “Long Journey”

Lawmakers said Taddeo is the First Hispanic Democratic Woman to Serve in the Chamber.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA reports via FloridaPolitics.com.

Tampa Bay Lawmakers File Bills That Would Ban Fracking

A pair of Tampa Bay Republicans Filed Bills in the House and Senate over the past week that would slap Florida with a Full-On Fracking Ban Come.  FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch reports.

California Governor Jerry Brown Signs Surplus Lines Association Backed Bill

Assembly Bill 1641, Legislation offered and Lobbied by the Surplus Line Association of California that is designed to give the California Department of Insurance more flexibility in deciding which coverages to add to the Export List, was Signed into Law by Governor Jerry Brown.  Insurance Journal reports.

Here’s Why Counting Houses Is Hard

We may be getting better at building more Houses but unfortunately we’re not very good at counting them.  Neal Hudson reports for CityMetric.com.

The Lowdown On Tennessee’s Insurance Markets

An odd Loophole in Tennessee State Law has allowed “Association Health Plans” to continue despite the Affordable Care Act’s New Restrictions.  Sarah Kliff reports for Vox.com.

Lloyd’s Signs Deal With Artificial Intelligence Specialist, Expert System

The World’s Largest Insurance Market Signed a Global Deal with Expert System that will bring on Cognitive Automation, via the Company’s Cognito Software, to modernize its business processes in order to support the needs of Market Participants.  Insurance Journal reports.

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