Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, August 24

Aug 24, 2009

 

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Blog:  Rep. Plakon wants McCarty to explain ‘muddled, ‘conflicting’ information

Another day, another elected official who wants some explanation from Florida’s Insurance Commissioner.

 

Insurance trap snares hurting Lee County homeowners

Advocates for people delinquent on their mortgages say banks often gouge them by replacing lapsed insurance with a more expensive product – sometimes forcing homeowners into foreclosure.

 

Storm-damaged West Palm Tower’s varied asbestos results raising doubts

When the waterfront tower shudders and sinks into a rising cloud of dust, questions will linger like the pulverized particles the demolition lofts through the neighborhood.

 

CFO SINK PUSHES FOR ‘ALLIGATOR TEETH’ IN SENIOR SCAM LAWS

Florida CFO Alex Sink today announced her continued pursuit of stronger penalties against unscrupulous insurance agents who defraud senior investors.

 

Florida’s failed experiment in the 1990s may hold lessons for national health reform

More than 120 million Americans are members of nonprofit cooperatives where they bank, buy groceries or get electricity.

 

Crist adds three more candidates to list to fill Martinez’s seat

Gov. Charlie Crist added three more Florida politicians to his possible appointees to fill U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez’s soon-to-be-vacated seat.

 

Crist could have his alter ego keep Senate seat warm

Is Florida ready for not one, but two Charlie Crists?

 

Chairman Jim Greer cuts spending for GOP

Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer cut his party-issued American Express card in half Saturday, saying GOP elected officials and political operatives will leave home without them — rather than let Democrats revel in a controversy over former House Speaker Ray Sansom’s $173,000 in charges.

 

Federal court ruling unleashes stealthy election ads

Voters who live in the sprawling state Senate District 8 that stretches from Jacksonville down to Daytona Beach are getting a fresh taste of free speech.

 

Records of career politicians seeking to return to Senate are open game

For two of the men seeking the Senate seat of the late Jim King, the journey to state Capitol as a legislator would not be a first.

 

Miami State Rep. Erik Fresen facing foreclosure

State Rep. Erik Fresen’s Miami home is in foreclosure because he stopped making payments to his mortgage company more than a year ago.

 

FPL goes to bat today for 30% rate increase

When Florida’s largest electric utility goes to state regulators today to ask for permission to dramatically raise rates, it will have recent history, powerful supporters and financial clout on its side.

 

SEC Charges Florida Operator of Multi-Million Dollar Fraudulent Pyramid Scheme

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission announced that on August 14, 2009 it filed a civil injunctive action against a Florida resident and a company he controlled alleging that they conducted a multi-million dollar fraudulent pyramid scheme and lured investors with false promises of passive monthly income.

 

Louisiana Citizens Set to Appeal $95M Judgment; No Assessment Needed

The Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation will file an appeal today of a $95 million award in a class action lawsuit that accused the state-backed property insurer of last resort of taking too long to pay claims after Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.  

 

Guy Carpenter:  Reinsurers’ capital levels rise in first half of 2009

Reinsurers generally increased their level of capital the first half of this year, with some regaining more than half of what they lost as a result of last year’s hurricanes and financial shocks, says Guy Carpenter & Co. L.L.C. in a new report.

  • Copies of the report, “2009 Reinsurer Financial Update: Capital Returns,” are available online at www.gccapitalideas.com.

 

AIG Wins Dismissal Of $1 Billion Workers Comp Lawsuit

American International Group Inc (AIG.N) won dismissal of a federal lawsuit accusing the troubled insurer of fraudulently shortchanging state workers’ compensation pools out of more than $1 billion.

 

New York Times:  Graphic Memories of Katrinas Ordeal

Thousands upon thousands were affected by Hurricane Katrina, which struck Louisiana on Aug. 29, 2005.

 

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