Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Nov. 2-4

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State Farm drops nearly 74,000 home policies

Total home, mobile home, renter and condominium polices by State Farm reported as of June 30:

 

Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s Surprisingly Successful Evolution

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is no longer the state’s insurer of last resort. With 1.4 million policies, it’s the largest insurer in Florida.

 

Rubio: Petition for more tax cuts

State House Speaker Marco Rubio pays almost $13,000 in taxes on his West Miami home.  He says that he can pay it, but he knows there are people who can’t. So, he started a campaign to reform the property tax system to avoid what he called a possible recession in Florida.

 

State economists say recovery is farther away than expected

The housing-driven economic slump that made Florida legislators cut $1.1 billion from the state budget last month isn’t getting worse, but it will last ”a lot longer” than expected, state economists said Friday.

 

Former senator throws hat in tax ring

Bradenton businessman and former state Senate President John McKay has proposed a tax plan that would reduce homeowners’ property taxes up to 45 percent at the expense of business interests that have been exempted from sales tax for decades.

 

Floridians offer their own property tax plans for ballot

TALLAHASSEE – Don’t think the Legislature has done enough to curb your property tax bill?

 

Newer high-rises built to stand up to sea, experts say

Despite encroaching erosion along the South Florida coast, owners of newer high-rise condos built on the beach need not inflate life rafts in their living rooms. Not yet anyway.

 

Concrete blocks save condo from eroding beach

His South Palm Beach condo had been threatened by heavy surf, but was saved by engineers who rushed in wet cement, sand and concrete blocks the size of baby grand pianos to protect the building’s foundations.

 

Opponent’s lawsuit has no merit, says District 34 House candidate

The Republican nominee for the District 34 state House seat is demanding one of his opponents withdraw a lawsuit against him or face legal sanctions.

 

Publicity worries Allen’s defense

His attorney says it will be difficult to find an impartial jury

State Rep. Bob Allen is facing the fight of his life this week as his trial on a charge of soliciting prostitution begins Monday in a Brevard County courtroom.

 

Carry a card to study abroad

BOCA RATON — Florida Atlantic University has joined a growing number of schools requiring students studying abroad to have emergency evacuation and body repatriation insurance.

 

His job is to make you safe

BROOKSVILLE – Just because hurricane season is winding down, it doesn’t mean Tom Leto gets a break. As Hernando County’s emergency management director, Leto is also charged with finding new ways to make the community safer and more prepared for any kind of disaster, year-round. 

 

North Star VP shutter company files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy

Q:My wife and I live in New York and have a house in Palm Beach. On April 30, we gave North Star VP Shutters $6,474 — a 50 percent deposit — to purchase hurricane shutters.

 

House Flood Reform Bill Seen Less Costly

WASHINGTON —A controversial House-approved bill to reform the National Flood Insurance Program by adding windstorm coverage is cheaper than a Senate measure according to a Congressional Budget Office report.

 

Marsh & McLennan aims to diversify to beat US woes

MUMBAI, Nov 2 (Reuters) – Insurance brokerage Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc believes the U.S. housing market will weaken further, and is looking to diversify its business further to protect from cyclical risk, its chief executive said. 

 

Drugstore giant fights lawsuits alleging fatal prescriptions

JACKSONVILLE – When Terry Paul Smith complained about the drug he’d been taking for back and leg pain, his doctor changed the 46-year-old roofer’s prescription to methadone, a narcotic pain reliever.

 

What’s up with docs?

Information on physicians is harder to come by than information on the best burger in L.A.; Zagat and WellPoint want to change that. 

 

Mold May Meet Its Match in New Building Products: With Insurers Less Willing to Cover Damage

There are better ways to build a house, especially if you want to keep mold under control, Charles Perry says.

 

Auto insurers readying their deals

Some Massachusetts automobile insurers are starting to gear up for competition, offering new policy benefits at no extra cost, adopting more recognizable names, and promising their agents competitive pricing.

 

Workers comp rate decrease sought in Maine

AUGUSTA, Maine –Improved safety efforts on job sites in Maine are cited as a reason for a requested decrease in workers compensation insurance rates.

 

AIG Ex-Chief Greenberg Probes Options for Firm

NEW YORK, Nov. 2 — Maurice R. ‘Hank’ Greenberg, former chief executive of , said Friday that he was considering ‘strategic alternatives’ to increase the value of his remaining shares in the insurance company.