Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, November 4

Nov 4, 2010

 

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Blog:  Citizens’ hurricane discount inspections broadened to include roof and sinkhole inspections

Citizens Property Insurance inspectors will not only scour policyholders’ homes next year to see if they really qualify for the hurricane-proofing discounts they’re getting, but the inspectors will also check the age and condition of roofs and other parts of homes.

 

Blog:  Special session could cancel hurricane-resistance report cards for home buyers, reinstate energy rebates

Prospective home buyers in hurricane-prone areas like South Florida want to know how strong a home is before buying it.

 

Florida House Committees Re-Organized; Insurance and Banking Subcommittee Under Economic Affairs

The Florida House of Representatives’ Insurance and Banking Subcommittee will be part of the Economic Affairs Committee under a House re-organization announced by the Office of House Speaker Designate Dean Cannon yesterday.  Insurance Committee oversight will include the Florida Department of Financial Services and the Office of Financial Regulation.

 

News Release:  Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate Makes Recommendations to Curb Fraud and Improve Personal Injury Protection Coverage

The interim Insurance Consumer Advocate, R. Terry Butler, Esq.  delivered a report to legislative leadership yesterday detailing recommendations to improve Florida’s Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law.

 

Pan-American to establish Miami office

New Orleans-based Pan-American Life Insurance Co. says it will open an office in Miami concentrating on medical insurance to wealthier people.

 

Letter to the Editor:   How long do we pay for hurricane catastrophe recoupment?

Like most seniors in the Sunshine State, I’ve had my fill of politicians telling me what a marvelous job they are doing protecting us, especially from insurance companies. Two of the biggest offenders are Alex Sink and the insurance commissioner.

 

Malpractice Insurer settles Rothstein suits for $10M

The accounting firm that worked for Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein has agreed to settle two malpractice lawsuits connected to the scandal for $10 million.

 

Cities’ insurance plans save money for public services

Dunedin had plenty of reasons to resort to drastic measures to control its medical costs for city employees and their families: inflation in costs of 12 to 16 percent per year; a few big claims that caused costs to skyrocket; and a proposed 23 percent rate hike for 2011 from the city’s medical insurance provider.

 

Governor-elect Rick Scott to announce transition plans Thursday

George LeMieux, Toni Jennings part of Advisory Committee

Governor-elect Rick Scott will hold a press conference at 9 a.m. Thursday to unveil his transition team.

 

Blog:  Legislators to convene one-day special session

Florida’s Republican legislative leaders, fresh off winning veto-proof new margins in the House and Senate, plan to announce a one-day special session on Nov. 16 to override a couple of Gov. Charlie Crist’s vetoes.

 

Florida Supreme Court rules court fees constitutional

The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday approved the practice of diverting part of each fee paid to file lawsuits from a court system trust fund to the state’s general purpose fund.

 

Election results could derail train projects

Two train projects slated for Metro Orlando weren’t on Tuesday’s ballot, but their fates could be in doubt because of the election results.

 

Lawmakers sue to halt Amendment 6, approved Tuesday by voters

Two members of Congress are challenging a new amendment that sets rules for drawing congressional districts in Florida, less than 24 hours after it was approved by voters.

 

Hours after redistricting amendments pass, lawsuit targets one

Less than 24 hours after its surprise passage, a constitutional amendment that restricts state lawmakers when they draw new congressional districts was challenged in court by two members of Congress.

 

Unhappy with Norman, thousands picked write-ins or didn’t vote

Jim Norman, as expected, cruised to an easy victory in state Senate District 12 Tuesday, facing nominal opposition from two virtually unknown write-in candidates.

 

Sunshine State News:  Former Senate President Ken Pruitt Double-Digit Winner in St. Lucie Property Appraiser Race

The man who was a significant force in state politics for 20 years — first in the House, then in the Senate — returned to public office Tuesday when the voters of St. Lucie County elected him their property appraiser.

 

North Carolina Court Rejects Counties’ Challenge to 2008 Homeowners Rates

Municipalities do not have standing to challenge decisions on insurance rates issued by the state insurance department, a North Carolina Court of Appeals has ruled.

 

Texas High Court:  Successor Liability Law not Retroactive

The Texas Supreme Court has ruled that a state law limiting corporations’ “successor liability” for personal injury claims from asbestos exposure violates the state constitution when applied to a common law suit that pre-dated the enactment of the law.

 

Lloyd’s to Open Russian Office

Lloyd’s announced that it will open a representative office in Russia next year.

 

Montgomery ambulance fee rejection means tough budget questions

Among the toughest feats of linguistic gymnastics attempted by supporters of Montgomery County’s ambulance fee was trying to convince the public that it was not a fee at all.

 

 

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