Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Wednesday, July 22, 2015.
Jul 22, 2015
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Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events
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There are no insurance-related events scheduled for today.
Daily Florida Insurance-Related News
Thanks to insurance “reform,” pray you never have a sinkhole
Elected officials are passing laws to “hose” Floridians, Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell writes.
Hernando renters find out house has unrepaired sinkhole
A Hernando County family is worried their rented home is literally falling apart around them after seeing the property’s MLS listing as an “Unrepaired Sinkhole Home.” Eric Waxler reports for ABC Action News.
Over 1,000 insurance agency owners, brokers, agents, customer service representatives and administrators from across Florida will gather at the Diplomat Resort & Spa August 5-9 for the industry’s preeminent convention, Insurance Journal reports.
Uber might leave Palm Beach County over tougher rules
After a nearly day-long debate, Palm Beach County Commissioners voted 6-1 to tentatively approve rules for Uber and other freelance transportation firms that include a more onerous form of background checks than Uber wanted. Eliot Kleinberg reports for the Palm Beach Post.
Florida appeals court upholds waiver of privacy rights in malpractice filings
A state appeals court upheld the constitutionality of a controversial change in Florida’s medical-malpractice laws, ruling in part that some privacy rights are waived when people pursue malpractice lawsuits. THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports via the Orlando Sentinel.
Court sets four-day trial for reviewing latest congressional redistricting map
The Legislature and a coalition that successfully challenged the state’s congressional districts have agreed to a schedule for a Leon County judge to determine whether lawmakers’ second attempt to draw a map complies with the state Constitution. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas posts the story from THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA on “The Buzz” blog.
Group proposes amendment to open Florida’s primaries to all voters
Armed with data that shows that the fastest growing segment of Florida’s electorate is choosing no party affiliation, a bipartisan group of activists is pushing for a constitutional amendment to open Florida’s closed primary system to all voters. The Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Legal pot director Patricia Nelson to work for Governor Rick Scott
The woman at the helm of the state office that’s legalizing some strains of medical cannabis is leaving the Department of Health to work for Governor Rick Scott. The Tampa Bay Times’ Michael Auslen reports on “The Buzz” blog.
Data of Nearly 2,000 Customers Stolen by Florida Vacation Firm Worker
An employee at a Florida company that offers promotional vacations has been charged with stealing reservation documents and then selling the credit card information of more than 1,855 customers to two other people, Orlando police detectives said July 20. The Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.
Florida among states with oldest population in the U.S.
Census data shows that one generation is dominant in the Sunshine State, the Palm Beach Post’s Zach Dennis reports.
Arizona court ruling puts insurance agents at risk of lawsuits
A recent ruling from the Arizona Supreme Court may open insurance agents up to malpractice suits if they fail to inform their customers about uninsured and underinsured motorists coverage – even if agents direct clients to sign waivers acknowledging they are rejecting these auto policy endorsement. Insurance Business America reports.
Nebraska officials approve Uber operation
Nebraska’s Public Service Commission has approved Uber being licensed in the state. Officials are still determining whether the company must pay a prorated or full fee for operations this year.
Dispute Simmering Between Uber, de Blasio Over Access to New York City Streets
A dispute is simmering between the ride-booking service Uber and New York Mayor Bill de Blaiso’s City Hall, an increasingly pitched disagreement playing out on smartphones, over the airwaves and in the press over a fundamental question: Who controls access to the streets of the nation’s largest city? The Associated Press’ Jonathan Lemire reports via Insurance Journal.
Government push to regulate driverless cars begins
This week in particular has seen a flurry of new federal action to protect drivers on the road. On Tuesday, Senators Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) unveiled a bill aimed at keeping Web-enabled cars from getting hacked. The Washington Post’s Brian Fung reports for “The Switch” blog.
New York’s Utica First to Withdraw From WYO Flood Insurance Program
Utica First Insurance Company in Oriskany, New York, notified its independent agency partners last week that the company will withdraw from the Write Your Own Program, a cooperative undertaking of the insurance industry and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s National Flood Insurance Program, Insurance Journal reports.
Innovation in Property-Casualty Insurance: Responding to a Changing Value Proposition
A Conning study released yesterday entitled “Innovation in Property-Casualty Insurance: Responding to a Changing Value Proposition” explores the relevance and value proposition of the property-casualty insurance industry in the face of unprecedented challenges. It also presents responses from many leading insurers, as well as scenarios for potential future ​outcomes and solutions.
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