Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, May 23
May 23, 2008
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Louisiana Supreme Court Backs Insurer In Katrina Case
The Louisiana Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s valued policy law cannot be invoked by homeowners where the loss is partly caused by a noncovered flood peril if the policy explicitly contains a loss computation method different from the valued policy law.
Will Florida be spared this hurricane season?
Forecasts of an active hurricane season offer a mixed bag for Florida.
Forecasters see busier hurricane season
The 2008 Atlantic hurricane season could be slightly busier than average, with a good chance of six to nine hurricanes forming, federal forecasters said yesterday in a new way of making predictions.
OPINION: We must understand that global warming is a real threat
The Monday article, ‘Study blasts global warming fears,’ on hurricanes and global warming, is biased and misleading, and it encourages complacency when urgent action is needed.
COMMENTARY: May God save us from Crist’s insurance fix
The first day of hurricane season is an official day of state prayer.
Will changes cause more nightmares this Election Day?
With record turnout expected and the state’s biggest counties switching to new optical-scan voting machines, Florida’s elections supervisors acknowledged Thursday that they are anxious about this fall’s elections.
Crist signs measure to spur innovation
Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law a measure allowing administrators to invest nearly $2 billion in state pension funds in advanced industries.
In a move meant to signal to investors Florida’s intent to spur innovation, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed legislation on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange on Thursday that allows nearly $2 billion in pension money to be invested in high-tech and growth industries within the state, such as biotechnology and green energy.
Bradford County Sheriff Bob Milner surprised many people this week by announcing that he is withdrawing from the race for Florida House District 12, the seat Rep. Aaron Bean is vacating due to term limits.
Ads attack Miami’s GOP House incumbents
National Democrats plan to hit Miami’s three Republicans on the radio waves for the second time.
National Democrats will run Spanish-language radio ads in three Republican-held Miami Congressional districts, accusing the Republicans of failing U.S. troops by sitting out a vote on Iraq War funding.
Ads target Feeney over war bill vote
U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney and seven other House Republicans who voted “present” on a war funding bill will be targeted this weekend in a radio ad campaign sponsored by Democratic strategists.
State commission discusses nuclear plant
New facility would be built in Levy County
Progress Energy Florida officials Wednesday said their proposed Levy County nuclear plant will provide needed clean energy while opponents argued that customers would be on the hook if the cost goes up.
Penalties for unpaid tolls could lessen in Florida
Toll-road operators are making a U-turn after a month of fending off accusations that they punish drivers unfairly.
Businesses file motion to stop guns at work law
Florida business groups want to stop a new law allowing residents to keep guns locked in their cars at work from taking effect until after a legal challenge is settled.
Ask the Governor: Let’s support mass transit
Q. Why doesn’t one city take the initiative and set up a reliable transportation system to be a model for other cities in Florida?
Cities balk at enforcing year-round water limits
Some local utility managers are revolting against the South Florida Water Management District’s plans for stringent year-round restrictions on lawn sprinkling, suggesting they won’t enforce them.
Fire in Florida’s Lake County Forces Evacuation of Dozens of Homes
Florida firefighters in Lake County are battling a blaze that has scorched over 1,000 acres of dry forests and marshlands.
FTC raid snags Pinellas companies
The Federal Trade Commission zeroed in on Pinellas County as a hotbed for fraudulent telemarketing schemes Tuesday as it announced the largest telemarketing sweep in its history.
Tom Wilson has a New-Age streak to his management style.
In late 2006, the then-president of Allstate Corp. took a dozen managers from the Northbrook-based insurer to the Human Performance Institute in Florida for a three-day seminar.
Market Discipline? You’re Kidding, Say Actuaries
While there are differences between the current soft market and previous periods of rate declines, some destructive insurer behavior never seems to change, a group of reinsurance actuaries suggested here.
Actuary Group Disowns Ferguson
A major actuarial group has issued a statement disavowing efforts by some of its members to secure a lenient sentence for Ronald Ferguson, the former General Reinsurance chief executive convicted for his role in a reinsurance accounting fraud.
FBI Says Fighting Financial Crimes a Priority; Insurance Cases Top 200
The Federal Bureau of Investigation pursued 529 financial crime cases in its most recent fiscal year, including 209 insurance fraud cases.
Results from the 2008 GMAC Insurance National Drivers Test released today found that 16.4 percent of drivers on the road – amounting to roughly 33 million licensed Americans – would not pass a written drivers test exam if taken today.
Alabama and Mississippi Officials Ready for Hurricane Response
With no Gulf Coast hurricane since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Alabama and Mississippi officials have worried that residents and tourists could become complacent about the seriousness of orders to flee the next disaster that strikes Gulf shores.
Chubb Offers Unlimited Replacement Coverage to Texas Homeowners
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies announced it has broadened its homeowners coverage in Texas by introducing unlimited extended replacement cost coverage.
2008 a record year for Georgia’s storm damage, official says
Insurance Commissioner John Oxendine says 2008 has turned into a record year for storm damage in Georgia, with more than $400 million in insured losses during the first five months.
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