Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, December 6
Dec 6, 2010
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A federal district court judge in Florida ruled that the liability insurer of a property development group has no duty to provide coverage for property damage or defend for Chinese drywall claims that manifested prior to the issuance of the insurance policy.
Paige St. John: How State Farm cashed in on a crisis
When State Farm stepped up its march out of Florida, it loudly and publicly claimed hurricanes were
Is State Farm leaving Florida?
Florida’s largest private insurer began a major effort to drop coastal policies in 2006. But thousands of homeowners told they were too risky to insure unknowingly continue to get get hurricane coverage indirectly from State Farm.
The Herald-Tribune used financial filings to rate Florida’s top 100 property insurers on four measures of financial strength. While no single score is the final word, together they suggest a company’s overall health.
Report: Bermuda’s ‘Back-Door’ Role
A Florida newspaper claims a Hamilton-based reinsurance firm allowed giant US insurer State Farm to continue doing business there even while the American company argued it had to pull out of Florida – and drop almost half a million customers – because it was being pushed to the brink of financial disaster by a state hit by so many storms.
Florida GOP legislative changes may favor insurers
- Despite five straight years without a hurricane hitting Florida, the Republican-controlled Legislature is set to move quickly to enact a host of changes to help insurance companies.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Insurance matters likely to return
Snubbed last session by an election-year veto, backers of property insurance reform say they’ll return with a similar package of changes that likely won’t include the sweeteners added in an unsuccessful attempt to earn the governor’s support.
Column: Brace for storm of property-insurance rate hikes despite what Rick Scott says
Another hurricane season has passed with nary a puff of wind, making it five years in a row now, and my property insurance has gone up $1,200 a year.
Sewage Drives Polk City Families From Homes
City blames old pipes for the backup in seven residences
A big, smelly mess that seeped into the home of seven family residences highlights the fact that the city’s sewer pipes are old and in need of replacement.
Push to repeal Florida septic tank mandate called a “copout”
The new chairman of the Senate’s environmental committee has introduced a bill that would repeal a new requirement that septic tanks be inspected every five years.
Some Florida emergency agencies see the need for fire, police
Only one local emergency agency has a volunteer fire police, but they’ve been needed in a lot of places.
Florida lawsuit critics eager for their day in court
With a new governor and Senate shifts, business owners are giddy about tort changes.
In 2003, Gov. Jeb Bush tried to push an expansive package of civil-justice changes through the Florida Legislature. Bills moved easily through the House; the main obstacle to some of the more sweeping ideas was the Senate.
Florida insurance officials may say no thanks to fed money for health insurance
Florida insurance officials have dropped plans to increase regulation over health insurance plans and to use a $1 million federal grant to collect better data.
New state-ordered inspections of pain clinics delayed, inspectors may be scarce at $100 an hour
State Department of Health inspections of pain clinics were delayed last week after a new Florida law passed, and that legislation could inadvertently keep the rules necessary to start inspections from taking effect until spring.
Gary Fineout reported that Monday was the deadline for members of the administration of Gov. Charlie Crist to formally submit their resignations in advance of the switch to Governor-elect Rick Scott.
- Blog: Rick Scott names Good Government transition team
- Scott names controversial school reformer Michelle Rhee to education team
- Hillsborough schools chief named to Rick Scott’s education transition team
Donors line up for Scott inaugural
Well-heeled donors are lining up to make sure that Gov.-elect Rick Scott, the political newcomer who promised no more politics as usual, will celebrate his Jan. 4 inauguration in style.
Florida Ethics panel approves Haridopolos settlement
The state Ethics Commission has approved a settlement of financial disclosure violations by Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, but it includes no penalty.
Another GOP U.S. Senate Showdown Brewing in Florida
After witnessing Florida Republican Sen.-elect Marco Rubio’s landslide win in this year’s open race, about half a dozen rising Republicans already are jockeying to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 in what the Florida GOP says will be a spirited primary.
Blog: Sansom case lands back in Florida Attorney General McCollum’s lap
Ray Sansom has an early Christmas gift for Attorney General Bill McCollum.
Blog: Florida loses driver manual lawsuit, appeal uncertain
The well-connected publisher of the official state driver manual can print the handbook for another five years, a Leon County judge ruled Thursday over the objections of the state Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
Enterprise Florida opens Ontario, Quebec offices
Enterprise Florida, the state’s public-private economic development agency, has opened offices in Ontario and Quebec in a bid to increase trade and investment opportunities between Florida and Canada.
New York Plans to Reduce Red Tape in Insurance Filings
The New York Insurance Department said it implement recommendations aimed at streamlining and improving the process for insurers to file their rates and forms with regulators.
Reinsurer Groups: Privatize all or part of National Flood Insurance Program
The National Flood Insurance Program should be partially or entirely privatized, the heads of two reinsurance groups have told a government-sponsored forum on the NFIP.
Blog: Having home office no reason to deny insurance, Texas Supreme Court rules
The Texas Supreme Court ruled today that an insurance company improperly denied workers’ compensation coverage to a traveling saleswoman injured while driving her company car toward her company-furnished office.
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