Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, April 4
Apr 4, 2012
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Movement grows among Lehigh residents to save property from development
Some call it the bottomless lake while others know Leeland Lake for what it truly is, a naturally preserved time capsule. It was food for local lore because locals knew it was deep, though no one could fathom how far down it went.
Fitch: Florida, Other States’ No-Fault Reform May Reduce Auto Insurer Losses
Legislation recently passed in some states and under review in others could reduce underwriting losses for the largest U.S. auto insurers.
Trayvon Martin March in Tallahassee Postponed Again Over Lack of Insurance
A planned march on Florida’s state capitol to protest the shooting death of teenager Trayvon Martin has once again been derailed to a lack of liability coverage.
Tampa-based WellCare agrees to $137.5 million settlement
Federal prosecutors say a Tampa-based health care provider has agreed to pay $137.5 million to settle four lawsuits involving fraudulent Medicare and Medicaid claims in nine states.
Senator Fasano wants to head back to the House
He served in the House from 1994 to 2002, where he was Majority Leader during 2000-2001. He earned a reputation in that positon for keeping fellow Republicans in line, but has expressed a more independent streak since being elected to the Senate in 2002.
Democratic Senator Forms Own Task Force to Review Stand Your Ground
Florida Sen. Chris Smith, D-Fort Lauderdale, says the state doesn’t have time to wait for a task force to be named to review the Stand Your Ground law. So he’s starting his own local investigation into the law he says is now hurting Florida’s reputation.
Florida Senate leaders hire ex-justice to defend new maps
After being slapped by the Florida Supreme Court for creating a redistricting map that “was rife with indicators of improper intent,” Senate Republican leaders have hired former Supreme Court justice and Miami lawyer Raoul Cantero to handle the case when they return to the court.
GOP convention protests could generate many constitutional issues, experts say
To get an idea of how knotty the constitutional issues arising from protests at Republican National Convention could get, consider the hypothetical example put to a panel of experts Tuesday night.
Florida Department of Revenue Worker Charged with Loan Sharking
A state Department of Revenue tax specialist has been arrested and charged with eight counts of loan sharking, reportedly using his office computer to track the transactions.
Miami federal judge to sentence Ponzi schemer Gaston E. Cantens
The feds want to send convicted Ponzi schemer Gaston E. Cantens – viewed by his investment victims as “Miami’s little Madoff” – to prison for five years, the maximum possible sentence under his plea deal.
Debit Cards Used for Refunds, Including Louisiana Citizens Rebates
After trying to help her homebound mother use her state refund, Barbara Ewell is convinced Louisiana’s new prepaid debit card program was set up with banks rather than people in mind.
Missouri Senate Votes to Override Veto on Workers’ Compensation
The Missouri Senate has voted to override Gov. Jay Nixon’s earlier veto of a bill that would change workers’ compensation laws by barring some lawsuits over workplace injuries.
Dogs showing they can help sniff out arsonists
Blaze, a 4-year-old bloodhound, has some serious skills that have impressed his partner and colleagues with the Alabama Forestry Commission’s arson investigation team.
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