Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, August 7

 

To view a complete story, click on a headline below:

 

Florida Launches Updated Web Site for Homeowners Insurance Shoppers

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty launched the updated www.ShopAndCompareRates.com Web site. The two offices activated the free, online tool in July 2007 to assist consumers looking to acquire or switch homeowners insurance coverage.

EDITORIAL:  Insurance rates v. state solvency–Did overreaction create a crisis?

Property insurance in Florida is not cheap — that is no revelation. What also is not a revelation is the reason: Florida has more than 1,100 miles of coastline on two very different bodies of water; this makes us the hurricane and lightning capital of the world. Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty acknowledged as much earlier this summer when he told the Chairman of Lloyds of London, “The threat of continuing global warming is an issue that all Floridians need to be thinking about, because unless we all take action to help reduce its effects, the frequency and severity of future storms that strike Florida could bring about devastation greater than we ever have seen.”

Officials:  Florida more prepared for disasters than ever before

Florida is more ready for a hurricane and other disasters than ever before, Gov. Charlie Crist and top emergency-management officers said Wednesday. ‘We’ve been fortunate thus far this season, but we’re not even into the height of the season yet,’ Crist said after a briefing at the state’s Emergency Operations Center. That won’t come for another month, he said.

General:  Fla. National Guard in best shape since 9/11

The Florida National Guard is better prepared for hurricanes and other disasters than any time since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, its commanding general said Wednesday during an emergency exercise.

Des Champs & Gregory Inc:  Hurricane season means flood season

Flood insurance continues to be one of the most obvious insurance needs for Florida residents. All of us need to get used to the fact that flooding occurs in and out of hurricane season whether you live directly on the beach, bay or river or not.

In wake of broker exposé, legislators seeking change

In light of breakdowns in the oversight of Florida mortgage brokers, two legislators said they’ll seek to revamp accountability in the Office of Financial Regulation.

If it were up to the state’s Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, the state’s top mortgage regulator would be out of a job. But she can’t fire him, even though her office houses his department.

Congressman Mahoney backs Rader in state House 78 race

Kevin Rader, an independent insurance agent running for state House 78, got the backing of Congressman Tim Mahoney, D-Palm Beach Gardens.

Crist disavows letters opposing tax swap

Gov. Charlie Crist said his aide got it wrong six months ago when he wrote constituents to say the governor would oppose any plans to swap property tax cuts for other tax increases.

Land-use vote deserves ballot spot, group says

The statewide battle royal over whether the November ballot should include an amendment requiring a citizen vote on changes to community land-use plans landed in the lap of a federal judge Wednesday.

Florida pouring $50M into solar energy research at state universities

By this time next year, one of the biggest solar energy systems on a U.S. college campus will be in Florida.

Nine Florida Counties Rank Among Nation’s Oldest Populations

The people in nine Florida counties are among the nation’s oldest populations, according to information released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau.

AG sues Quincy ad company

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum filed a lawsuit Wednesday against a Quincy-based Internet advertising company, accusing the owners of operating a huge pyramid scheme and seeking civil damages for the victims

State Legislators Reject Congressional Calls for OII

In an August 1 letter to U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Chairman Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) leaders spoke out against Congressional efforts to fast-track legislation to create a federal Office of Insurance Information (OII)—recommending that their federal colleagues slow down the legislative process for further debate and discussion.  The letter followed in the wake of a July 29 hearing during which Sen. Dodd signaled that the Senate could consider a legislative package that may include parts of H.R. 5840, the Insurance Information Act of 2008, before adjourning in September.

Mississippi attorney general settles with State Farm over Katrina claims; insurer to pay $74M

Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood said Wednesday that his office has settled its dispute with State Farm Insurance Cos. over how the insurer handled Hurricane Katrina damage claims in Mississippi.

Fewer people expected to have filed for jobless benefits after claims spike to five-year high

Government data due out Thursday is expected to show that the number of newly laid off people filing claims for jobless benefits went down last week after spiking to a five-year high.

Judge rejects 4 Sept. 11 settlements as excessive

Lawyers for the families of four 9/11 victims are urging a judge to reconsider his decision to reject $28.5 million in settlements that he now says are excessive compared with those other survivors received.

FBI: LA hospitals used homeless in medical fraud

For hundreds of homeless people, posing as phony hospital patients provided them a clean bed and cash. For the hospitals that processed them, it meant a full patient-load and a paycheck from the government.

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com