Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, October 25
Oct 25, 2010
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Florida property insurers sending billions overseas
Reinsurance firms profit as reserves dwindle
Never before have Floridians paid so much to protect themselves from hurricanes. And never have they received so little benefit.
Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush sought federal solution to reinsurance dependence
In the fall of 2005, Florida Gov. Jeb Bush called for a national catastrophe fund to help deal with disaster such as hurricanes, earthquakes or wildfire.
How Bermuda rigs insurance rates in Florida
In early 2006, Florida was on the verge of a financial disaster. After two deadly hurricane seasons, major insurance carriers were leaving, smaller companies struggled to raise capital and Florida families scrambled to find coverage and pay escalating premiums.
Bermuda’s reinsurance Record Isn’t Spotless
As Floridians coped with the hit of hurricanes and property insurance collapses in 2005, regulators in other states unleashed investigations on the offshore underwriters.
Interactive Graph: How Insurance Companies Stack Up
The Herald-Tribune examined financial filings to rate Florida’s top 100 property insurers on four measures of fiscal strength. See how your company scored, compare insurers or click on a company for more details.
Introducing…The Florida Sinkhole Insurance Fund?
Will Floridians, who already support a state-backed property insurer and a catastrophe fund, support another public insurance entity for sinkhole coverage?
State Farm shedding more policies
For homeowners Jean and Karen Perrod, who live near Coconut Grove, the health of the Florida insurance industry isn’t determined by company surpluses or ratings agencies. They learned all they needed to know from a letter they got several months ago.
Florida-based Brown & Brown Buys Some Business from Pennsylvania’s Greystone
Insurance broker Brown & Brown has acquired part of the business of Berwyn, Pa.-based Greystone Benefits, Inc.
Blog: Florida’s property insurance market since Wilma
The fifth anniversary of Wilma on Sunday led insurance experts to reflect on the health of the market since the storm created a property insurance crisis.
- Editorial: Changes – and luck – have helped us through hurricane season
- Five years after Wilma, South Florida asks: Are we covered?
Commentary: We need the greatest minds to solve this insurance problem
What could a group of professionals touting creativity in business possibly have in common with the insurance industry, which is driven largely by actuarial tables?
Florida condo association struggles with Florida insurer
Five years have passed since Hurricane Wilma sheared away portions of Buckley Towers and cracked the exterior walls, letting water invade so that now, the building is decaying as quickly from the inside out as from the outside in.
Cratem Named Underwriting Chief at Sunshine State Insurance in Florida
Michael R. Cratem, an insurance executive with 18 years in the business, has been named vice president and chief underwriting officer at Sunshine State Insurance Co., which writes homeowners’ insurance in Florida.
Medicare money paid for posh life, court files in Miami case show
The owners of a chain of mental health clinics accused of bilking Medicare spent millions of dollars on real estate and luxury items, authorities say
Solantic doctor’s record stained
A doctor who drew two reprimands and fines in Florida and had his license revoked by California is serving as medical director of five urgent-care clinics in the Jacksonville area, records show.
THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Sink, Scott Debate Monday Night in Tampa
Republican Rick Scott and Democrat Alex Sink are set for their last debate tonight in Tampa.
- Rick Scott, Alex Sink campaigns spent $5 million in single week
- Sink, Scott differ on green issues
- Few ideological stances by Sink
Republicans pick Rob Wallace to replace Jim Norman as state Senate candidate in District 12
Republican Party leaders on Saturday chose former state Rep. Rob Wallace to replace Jim Norman on the November ballot as the state Senate candidate in District 12.
U.S. Senate candidates spar in debate at University of South Florida
In a debate marked by crosstalk and verbal jabs, Florida’s three U.S. Senate candidates tried to stake their territory and sharpen their images, mostly on familiar issues, in a Sunday morning debate on CNN.
Haridopolos says there is a strong chance for a November special session
State lawmakers could find themselves quickly getting back to work after the November 2 election.
Column: 108,000 Floridians to lose unemployment benefits in November
When the unemployment extension expires on Nov. 30, more than 107,518 Floridians will see their unemployment benefits end, according to the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group.
Florida gets $800M more for high-speed rail
The U.S. Department of Transportation will award $800 million more to Florida to build a high-speed rail line slated to run from Tampa to Orlando.
Florida Attorney General McCollum won’t appeal gay adoption ruling
Attorney General Bill McCollum will not appeal to the Florida Supreme Court a recent court ruling declaring unconstitutional Florida’s ban on homosexuals adopting, his office announced this afternoon.
Florida courts’ cash flow falters
As foreclosures dip, so do the filing fees
If the economy improves and foreclosures continue to drop, it could portend a bad outcome for Florida’s courts.
One of two new appointees to the state’s Public Service Commission may start earlier than planned.
Progress Bank of Florida, First City Bank of Jacksonville shut by regulators
Tampa-based Progress Bank of Florida was shuttered by regulators Friday and its assets bought by another Tampa institution, Bay Cities Bank.
NAIC Hears Objections To Proposed Surplus Lines Tax Collection Fix
Regulators’ proposed solution to the allocation of surplus lines taxes met industry opposition as regulators worked on a proposal to present to state legislators by the beginning of the year.
Alabama Wind Pool: No New Policies on Buildings Built Over Water
The state’s insurer of last resort, the Alabama Insurance Underwriting Association, will stop issuing policies for buildings standing in or built over water.
Oklahoma Regulator Seeks $102 Million In Damages From Buy Of Now-Defunct Insurer
Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Kim Holland is seeking to get back about $102 million from all those involved in the acquisition of a now-insolvent insurance company.
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