Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, July 16
Jul 16, 2009
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
State Farm Florida Withdrawal Plan May Go To Judge
After months of trying, Florida state officials and State Farm Florida have been unable to agree on the details of the insurer’s plan for withdrawing from the state, so steps have been taken to have an administrative law judge decide.
Blog: State Farm and regulators agree on hearing date — kind of
The Office and Insurance Regulation and State Farm have (sort of) agreed on the dates for an administrative law judge to hear arguments about the company’s plan to exit the state property insurance market.
Editorial: Chinese drywall … tax break for drywall victims comes at needed time for most
Homeowners who report problems with Chinese drywall have few places to turn.
SEC targets Central Florida men in illegal insider-trading case on insurance-company purchase
A Central Florida man who once worked as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs & Co. has agreed to settle allegations by federal regulators that he participated in illegal insider trading, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday.
Florida cremation company fined over Colorado trust fund totals
A cremation provider that turns human remains into an undersea reef and other memorials will pay $1.2 million in fines for violating Colorado insurance laws.
Stimulus dollars paying off for Florida, state agencies say
Florida’s approximately $15 billion, three-year take of federal stimulus spending is starting to pay off, agency heads told Gov. Charlie Crist Wednesday.
Maddox enters race for Ag commissioner
Joined by two small agri-business owners whom he helped, former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox formally entered the race for agriculture commissioner Wednesday.
Hillsborough Elections chief Lennard sworn in, becomes latest ‘double dipper’
Earl Lennard officially became Hillsborough County elections supervisor in a 10 a.m. swearing-in ceremony today in the elections supervisor’s office.
Bradenton minister running for Congress
The Rev. James T. Golden has played many roles in Bradenton. He’s been a city councilman, church pastor and community leader. But now, the outspoken Democrat is pushing for a new title: Congressman.
Rubio says he won’t pull out of Senate race
Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio Wednesday night said he’s sticking in the U.S. Senate race, shooting down reports he’d enter the race for Florida attorney general.
Third Agreement Reached in Hess Kennedy Debt Settlement Case
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a settlement has been reached in a case brought by Chase Card Services against affiliated Hess Kennedy companies which engaged in fraudulent debt settlement activities.
$310 a pint? Blood banks’ pricing, business practices draw scrutiny from Florida Senate
A Florida Senate committee is launching an investigation into the pricing practices and business connections of the state’s blood-bank industry, including Metro Orlando’s main blood center.
Column: Florida legislators have a message for Congress
There’s a backlash building against President Obama’s domestic policies, and Florida’s Legislature may be right in the middle of it.
Senate confirms ex-astronaut Bolden to head NASA
The Senate confirmed on Wednesday retired astronaut Maj. Gen. Charles Bolden as administrator of NASA, just in time for the space agency’s 40th anniversary celebrations of man’s first steps on the moon.
SEC, Congress Eye Increasing Liability of Credit Ratings Agencies
U.S. securities regulators are looking at ways to rely less on credit ratings and prevent issuers from shopping for their ratings, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro told lawmakers Tuesday.
NCOIL Hears Proposals For Fed-Funded Mutual Bond Insurers
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) heard proposals at its latest meeting for the establishment of mutual bond insurance companies that would be financed by the federal government.
Keep Insurers From U.S. Consumer Unit Purview, Say Trade Groups
Proposed legislation to create a U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Agency should be revised to eliminate mortgage, title and credit insurance, a coalition of insurance trade groups has written Congress.
State Farm plans home insurance rate hike in Texas
State Farm, Texas’ largest home insurer, plans to raise rates statewide an average of 8.5 percent.
North Carolina Rolls Back, Freezes Auto Insurance Rates
North Carolina is ordering auto insurers to roll back their rates to 2006 levels and send up to $50 million in refunds to about 1 million policyholders in a settlement announced Wednesday by Insurance Commissioner Wayne Goodwin.
AIG Speeds Up Life Insurance Unit IPO
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) today announced it will accelerate steps to position American Life Insurance Co. (ALICO) as an independent entity and seek an initial public offering and public listing in New York, depending on market conditions and subject to regulatory approval.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com.