Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, October 17
Oct 17, 2008
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Allstate sues 13 Florida firms, says they staged accidents
Allstate Insurance has sued 13 Florida companies, including auto body shops, tow truck operators, chiropractic clinics and their owners and some policyholders, alleging the group staged at least 17 auto accidents and filed fraudulent claims.
Jury finds for condo owners in 1st local suit against Citizens
A jury found Thursday that state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. should pay an additional $950,000 to owners of a condominium in Daytona Beach Shores for damages sustained during Hurricane Frances in 2004.
Clearwater insurer takes over 45,000 Citizens policies
A subsidiary of Clearwater startup Homeowners Choice has taken 45,000 home insurance policies from Citizens Property Insurance. The policies are centered in Dade, Pinellas, Broward, Palm Beach and Hillsborough counties.
Despite trouble, AIG still writing policies in Florida
American International Group’s insurance units continue to write policies in Florida, despite the financial woes of the parent company.
Where’s St. Lucie’s hurricane-recovery money, county administrator asks FEMA
The letter comes a day after an ABC News report that Martin County received a $3.4 million grant for the collection of hurricane debris in gated communities because U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens, was allegedly having an affair with a county employee and helped her get the grant.
Six health insurance companies to offer bare-bones plans
The Crist administration has chosen six health insurance companies to offer bare-bones plans to Florida’s nearly 4 million uninsured — four of which will sell policies in Broward.
Governor Crist Signs Bill Increasing Access to Dental Care
Legislation is part of administration’s commitment to improving Floridians’ health
Governor Charlie Crist today, continuing his commitment to improve the health of all Floridians, held a bill-signing ceremony for legislation that increases low-income and underinsured residents’ access to dental care. House Bill 1367, sponsored by Representative Stan Jordan, addresses the shortage of Medicaid dentists in Florida by changing Florida’s licensure requirements to allow licensed dentists from other states to work in health care settings that serve some of Florida’s most vulnerable citizens.
Florida’s economic outlook called dim to 2011
Economists see plenty of trouble in Florida, with some of the state’s strengths in the past showing signs of weakness.
In case they didn’t know it from their own books, a group of Florida business executives heard this message from a pair of economists here Thursday: Business is pretty bad right now.
Florida puts one of its executive airplanes on sale
Florida state government wants to unload the oldest and smallest of its three executive airplanes.
The twin-prop seven-seater can be ready to go in time to whisk its new owner home for Thanksgiving. That’s right about the time a powerful state senator, who’s been pressuring the executive branch to downsize its air fleet, is expected to take over a budget committee.
Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Casino postpones addition of blackjack
Gamblers at Tampa’s Seminole Hard Rock Casino won’t double down any time soon.
Seminole Tribe of Florida gaming officials targeted the Tampa casino this summer as its second location for blackjack and other new card games by year’s end, with as many as 1,000 additional jobs.
Broward company targeted in alleged mortgage fraud scheme
Florida’s attorney general announced on Thursday that he’s filed a lawsuit against a Broward County company and its owners for their alleged involvement in a scheme to defraud homeowners facing foreclosure.
In Orange County: Lessons in voter rejection
Florida’s ‘No match, no vote’ law kicked back many Orange registrations — mostly near UCF and Rollins.
Stories of rejected voter registrations have focused on fraudulent applications submitted by liberal grass-roots organizations — and even one filed by “Mickey Mouse” in Central Florida.
State Senate incumbent in race against unknown
State Sen. Tony Hill has never seen his election opponent Louis Tart out campaigning.
Climate panel emphasizes savings
Floridians can save $28 billion by 2025 by cutting greenhouse gases blamed for global warming, members of a climate-change panel appointed by Gov. Charlie Crist said Thursday.
COMMENTARY: $18B National Flood Insurance Debt Does Not Add Up!
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is in debt to the American tax payer to the tune of $18 billion. Congress is considering forgiving the debt and they approved a six-month program extension to discuss this option.
Credit Mess Will Push U.S. Insurer Regulation, Analyst Says
The economic problems created by credit default swaps for American International Group and other firms is likely to result in federal regulation of the swaps market in general and insurance companies in particular, a regulatory analysis firm said.
PCI Report Says N.C. Beach Plan Could Run $6B Deficit
A report on the North Carolina Beach Fund, the state’s property insurer of last resort, says a worst-case storm season could create a more than $6 billion deficit if the plan remains underfunded.
Insurers to New York: It’s Not Just Gas That Drives Insurance Rates
The Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) said it was disappointed by New York regulators’ decision to deny most auto insurers’ rate increases based on the assumption that higher gas prices would mean lowered risks to insurers.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com