Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, Oct. 22

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

No fault takes a break, lawsuits may proliferate

Florida motorists may want to use their best defensive driving skills between now and New Year’s.

 

Canceled Coastal Insurance Policies Argue For National Disaster Fund

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has been pushing it since he was elected state insurance commissioner more than a decade ago, and Gov.Charlie Crist pounded the Washington pavement earlier this year hoping to persuade lawmakers a national disaster fund is necessary to protect the home front.

 

Insurance show must not go on

Ever feel like you’re stuck watching the same melodramatic and pointless skit in Tallahassee over property insurance?

 

Failed insurer lives on, sort of

When Susan Massaconi first saw the letter earlier this week, she thought it was an apology. Then she opened it. Inside was a sales pitch from Poe & Associates LLC, a Tampa insurance agency. But not just any agency.

 

Our view: Keeping the pressure on

The state’s investigation continues this week into the soaring rates paid by Florida property insurance consumers.

 

Poor areas got more storm aid

After the 2004 hurricanes, Floridians who lived in low-income areas received, on average, twice as much disaster aid money as residents of the wealthier areas, an analysis shows.

 

Brent Batten: Calm before the storm (shutters) 10:01 p.m.

For someone who’s about to see a spike in business, Claes Mouret doesn’t sound all that happy.

 

More cities charging insurance companies for emergency response

Cities desperate for new income are ready to cash in on wrecks on their roads.

Saying they can’t provide the service for free, they want to charge insurance companies for responding, whether someone is hurt or not.

 

Want insurance? OK: But only if you don’t need it

Don’t look now, but Florida is going to get some help with its struggles with the insurance industry.

 

Water-Project Cuts Will Test Crist

Gov. Charlie Crist will face a key test of his environmental policies this week.

On his desk is a budget bill and legislation that cuts $20 million in water-project funding.

 

Republican presidential candidates seek support from Florida

ORLANDO–Republican presidential candidates were arriving here Saturday hoping to gain support in the nation’s fourth largest state while Gov. Charlie Crist was hoping to earn their support for Florida issues.

 

Fla. Dems launch parody Web site comparing GOP candidates to Katherine Harris

TALLAHASSEE — If Republicans don’t think their presidential candidates are on the conservative extreme of issues important to them, Democrats are reminding them there is another choice: Katherine Harris.

 

Munich Re reportedly buys South Korean insurer

SEOUL (Reuters) – Munich Re , the world’s second-biggest reinsurer, will buy a 65 percent stake in the online insurance unit of South Korea’s Daum Communications Corp. <035720.KQ> for about $120 million, a newspaper said on Monday.

 

A Son of Immigrants Rises in a Southern State

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 21 – The first words from Bobby Jindal to his supporters after he won the Louisiana governor’s race on Saturday night were not about his victory, but L.S.U.’s triumph over Auburn the same day.

 

La. gov.-elect wants to end corruption

Louisiana Gov-elect Republican Bobby Jindal answers a question at a news conference in Kenner, La., Sunday, Oct. 21, 2007.

 

Insuring success

Orlando Business Journal Four local firms were chosen to be part of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America’s Best Practices Study Group.

 

City’s flood law drains land values dry

In the spring of this year, Houston property appraiser Floyd E. Sumrall Jr. performed two appraisals of the same vacant lot in northwest Houston and submitted two dramatically different reports of its estimated value.

 

Know your fire insurance before it’s too late

Wind-whipped fires sweeping across the Southland should serve as an ominous reminder: We’re all at risk.

 

When do I need to purchase travel insurance?

A reader who is driving to a U.S. destination for Thanksgiving and flying to Paris for Christmas asks if he should buy travel insurance for either trip.

 

Afterthoughts birthday insurance
 
There’s a saying that grandchildren are life’s greatest bargain, because you can give them a handful of loose change and they’ll give you a million dollars worth of pleasure.