Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, October 23
Oct 23, 2008
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Florida Supreme Court issues ruling regarding attorneys’ fees in workers’ comp cases
The Florida Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that claimant attorneys are entitled to “reasonable” fees in workers’ compensation insurance cases.
After reviewing today’s Florida Supreme Court decision in the case of Murray v. Mariners Health, the Florida Chamber is very concerned that Florida employers could experience a workers’ compensation insurance rate crisis. Unfortunately, the Court did not adopt the arguments set out by the Florida Chamber in its amicus brief, and the Florida Chamber is extremely disappointed with today’s ruling.
“The Office of Insurance Regulation is reviewing the court’s decision to determine its potential impact on the workers’ compensation system as a whole and on future workers’ compensation insurance rates in Florida.”
State Farm plans to defend proposed rate boost at hearing
State Farm is set to defend its proposed 47 percent average statewide property insurance rate boost at a hearing in Tallahassee on Monday.
Florida Insurance Council Concern About FHCF Voiced
The Florida Insurance Council has sounded a warning to state lawmakers about the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund’s condition after officials said it would be unable to pay all losses if a catastrophic storm hit.
Citizens Insurance could face $250M investment loss
Citizens Property Insurance, the state-run insurer, may face losses of more than $250 million from investments in asset-backed securities that have declined sharply in value as the mortgage and credit markets have fallen apart in the past year.
Amendment 3 could bring tax breaks for homeowners’ house work
A proposal on the Nov. 4 ballot offers a tax break to homeowners who harden their homes or add alternative energy devices.
Since the 2004 hurricanes, lawmakers and regulators have been preaching mitigation as the best way to protect Florida homes against storms and possibly reduce insurance costs — and many consumers have heeded the call.
Insurance ‘Bad Faith’ Subject of Recent State Supreme Court Cases & New York Conference
If recent activity at the supreme courts of Florida, Idaho and Ohio is any indication, disputes over the so-called ‘bad faith’ conduct of insurance companies continue to be hotly contested.
Governor Crist Delivers $75,000 in Grants to Survivors of Tropical Storm Fay
Florida Disaster Recovery Fund grants to be used for long-term recovery efforts
Governor Charlie Crist today, while visiting survivors of Tropical Storm Fay, announced that the Florida Disaster Recovery Fund will provide three $25,000 grants to long-term recovery organizations in Brevard, St. Lucie and Volusia counties to help storm survivors rebuild from the devastation of Fay.
Deadlines close in to get assistance from Fay damages
State and local officials are encouraging residents to apply now for federal aid if their home or business was damaged by Tropical Storm Fay as many deadlines are rapidly approaching.
EDITORIAL: Auto-insurance fraud hurts all motorists
Insurers aggressively should pursue the con artists
The lawsuit that Allstate Insurance recently filed in federal court in Miami may be bad news for the defendants — tow-truck operators, chiropractic clinics, auto-body shops, some policyholders and others — but it could be a good omen for policyholders. It definitely will be if it emboldens insurers to aggressively pursue fraud.
Florida Joins FTC, States Targeting Credit Repair Operations in “Operation Clean Sweep”
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced Florida’s participation in a collaborative effort targeting credit repair operators, many of which deceptively claim they can remove any and all negative information from consumers’ credit reports. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and 23 states joined forces in Operation Clean Sweep, a nationwide initiative to address this consumer protection issue.
Record numbers in Florida now receiving food stamps
Like most professionals with good jobs, Sandra Kramer never thought it would happen to her. But when she lost her major client and used savings to pay down a pile of medical bills, she had no choice.
Agreement to Help Hess Kennedy Victims Will Eliminate Credit Card Debt
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that a settlement has been reached in a case brought by Capital One against affiliated Hess Kennedy companies which engaged in fraudulent debt settlement activities.
‘No match, no vote’ law puts state, counties at odds
Breaking with the state’s top elections official, an attorney for the state supervisors of elections issued a memo Wednesday telling them to ignore Secretary of State Kurt Browning’s instructions about how to handle new voters whose registration has not been verified.
More Florida Counties Give Unverified Voters Leeway
Other counties are joining Pinellas in letting voters who fail Florida’s “no match, no vote” test to confirm their identities at the polls and cast regular ballots on Election Day.
Some voters are mailed incomplete ballots
Erroneous absentee ballots have been sent to 69 North Port voters, a gaffe that came to light 13 days before Supervisor of Elections Kathy Dent stands for re-election.
Challenger downplays incumbent’s state House achievements
Republican Bill Proctor said he has a good record as the State House District 20 representative.
Democratic volunteer accuses Legg of ethics violation
A Democratic party volunteer has filed a state ethics complaint against Republican Rep. John Legg, saying he has been less than truthful about his living arrangements.
Maryland: Ambulance Fee Appears Headed for Defeat
County Executive Isiah Leggett’s proposed ambulance fee does not have enough votes to pass the County Council, vice president Phil Andrews said this afternoon.
SEC Reports Big Jump in Enforcement Actions
The Securities and Exchange Commission said that that the second-highest number of enforcement actions in agency history took place in fiscal year 2008. For the second year in a row, the SEC also returned more than $1 billion to harmed investors through Fair Fund distributions.
Insurers Question NAIC’s $70 Million Budget
Insurance industry representatives examining the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ proposed 2009 budget are questioning a variety of items including the severance package for the NAIC’s former chief executive and outlays for a new rating agency.
Lawmakers Blast Rating Agencies for Role in Financial Crisis
The top executive of Moody’s warned his board in 2007 that the quality of credit ratings was in danger due to trends that could “place the entire financial system at risk.”
NAMIC: Turmoil in Financial Markets Unrelated to State-based Insurance Regulation
Congress must remain focused in order to bring about the appropriately targeted reforms needed to protect the country’s struggling economy. That was the message of the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies as the House Financial Services Committee held another hearing yesterday in response to the current financial crisis. The committee was assessing the need for a comprehensive restructuring of the regulatory system for financial markets, including financial institution oversight and regulation, systemic risk, and housing finance.
Jury Finds Insurance Giant Unum Defrauded the U.S.
A Boston jury has found that Unum (NYSE: UNM), the nation’s largest disability provider, defrauded the United States by forcing its customers to submit false claims for disability benefits to the Social Security Administration (SSA), when Unum knew that they were not eligible for government benefits.
New South Carolina Lab will Test Full-size Homes in Wind, Hail
Property and casualty insurers are hoping a new facility coming to South Carolina will do for home building what crash-test dummies have done for car safety.
Texas Monitoring for Fairness in Treatment of Ike-Affected Policyholders
In the aftermath of Hurricane Ike, the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) reported it has received complaints from consumers indicating that through the words, tone, demeanor or actions of their insurance adjusters, they are feeling inappropriately pressured to engage the services of certain building and repair contractors identified by the adjuster.
Cleveland Court Tosses 30,000 Asbestos Lawsuits
County judges in Cleveland, Ohio have tossed more than 30,000 asbestos injury claims to comply with an Ohio Supreme Court ruling that upheld limits on such cases.
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