Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Friday, October 29

 

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Lowe’s offers up to $100,000 to drywall victims

Dramatic increase in settlement offer

Lowe’s Companies Inc. amended a controversial Chinese drywall settlement so that customers who bought tainted drywall from its stores are now eligible for up to $100,000 in cash, according to legal documents filed Thursday in Georgia state court.

 

Fourth District Court of Appeal Reverses Trial Court Decision in Citizens appraisal-related case

The Fourth District Court of Appeal reversed a lower court decision today in a case relating to a policyholder’s motion to compel an appraisal before the court resolved the parties’ underlying coverage dispute.   

 

Associated Industries of Florida President Barney Bishop:  Property insurance remains in a crisis

The articles recently published in this newspaper by Paige St. John provided a valuable service. Namely, they remind us all that property insurance regulation in Florida remains in a crisis. However, the crisis is one of Florida’s own making.

 

Florida Department of Health won’t say what it has done with complaint against Scott’s company

Rick Scott would pick agency head, but vows to stay clear of any state Solantic probe

The state Department of Health won’t discuss its handling of a health-care fraud complaint against Solantic, a chain of walk-in centers co-founded by gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott in 2001.

 

Senate race turns into political theater with Clinton, Meek, Crist and Rubio

Florida’s U.S. Senate race turned into late-night political theater, as Democratic Senate candidate Kendrick Meek scrambled at his Miami Gardens campaign office Thursday to quash reports that his mentor and most important political ally, former President Bill Clinton, urged him last week to quit the race.

• Clinton denies asking Meek to drop Senate bid
• Sunshine State News:  Did Bill Clinton’s Belief in Kendrick Meek Cave to Party Priorities?
• The Washington Post:  Blog — Charlie Crist asked Clinton camp to suggest Meek drop out, source says

 

Florida Supreme Court OKs longer terms for gun crimes

Judges can exceed maximum penalties for serious crimes committed with firearms in some cases under what’s popularly known as the “10-20-Life” law, a divided Florida Supreme Court said Thursday.

 

Column:  GOP plans to revive bills Crist vetoed, but Scott would sign

The advertising, the stump speeches and the debates in the governor’s race have made it clear that Republican Rick Scott wishes – successfully so – to make his race against Democrat Alex Sink a referendum on President Barack Obama.

 

Blog:  Crist Adviser — He Would Caucus With The Dems In The Senate

Everyone knows that Republican Marco Rubio is ahead in the polls for the Florida Senate race, helped in part by a split in the anti-GOP vote between independent (and ex-GOPer) Charlie Crist and Democratic nominee Kendrick Meek.

 

Blog:  Former Florida Attorney General Butterworth jumps on Crist bandwagon

Yet another high-ranking Florida Democrat is endorsing independent Gov. Charlie Crist in the U.S. Senate race.

 

Editorial:  Welfare recipients become a campaign issue in governor’s race

Drug testing Florida’s welfare recipients isn’t a new idea, nor is it necessarily a budget-saving panacea. Nevertheless, it’s come up in the heat of this year’s gubernatorial campaign. Republican Rick Scott backs it enthusiastically. Democrat Alex Sink’s only concern seems to be about the costs.

 

Editorial:  Florida Public Service Commission gives another reason to shudder

In July, we declared credibility at the state’s Public Service Commission dead. A nominating council that’s dominated by the Legislature, which in turn is dominated by the utility monopolies, had effectively purged two PSC commissioners, who had rejected the biggest electricity-rate request in Florida history.

 

Congressional Gridlock on Financial Reforms Expected After Elections

If Republicans make big gains in U.S. Congressional elections on Tuesday, as expected, Wall Street and big banks will have sweet, but incomplete, revenge on Democrats who drove through sweeping financial reforms against industry opposition.

 

Judge Schedules Motions in State Farm Whistleblower Suit in Mississippi

A federal whistleblower lawsuit filed against State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. will not go to trial Dec. 1 as scheduled.

 

Californians Asked to Volunteer to Have Earthquake Sensors in Homes

Scientists want to know just how much shaking is going on in California house.

 

 

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