Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, October 28
Oct 28, 2010
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Separate State Farm Florida-Related Opinions Issued Today by District Courts of Appeal
Florida’s Second and Third District Courts of Appeal issued opinions today in two separate property insurance cases involving State Farm Florida Insurance Company. To view the complete opinions, click on the hyperlinks below:
Insurance Information Institute President Robert P. Hartwig: Florida can’t reinsure itself
Paige St. John’s stale and xenophobic account of a faraway meeting held more than two years ago (“How Bermuda controls insurance rates”, Oct. 26) reveals a fundamental misunderstanding and mischaracterization of what reinsurance is and how it works.
Paige St. John’s articles about the reinsurance industry correctly call attention to three facts.
Florida Republican Rick Scott says that if he is elected governor he will require state-backed Citizens Property Insurance to stop offering multi-peril policies in order to bring its costs in line with premiums, while Alex Sink, Democratic candidate, supports moving gradually toward actuarial sound rates for Citizens on the current so-called glidepath.
News Release: 21st Century Holding Company Announces Earnings Release Date
21st Century Holding Company today announced that it will release its 2010 third quarter financial results at 2:00 PM on Thursday, November 11, 2010 followed by an investor conference call at 4:30 PM.
Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the arrest of a Broward County man on charges of Medicaid fraud.
Judge won’t block state campaign law enforcement
A federal judge has refused to temporarily block enforcement of a state campaign finance law that a group of Sarasota-area residents says is so burdensome that it violates their free speech rights.
Florida Supreme Court upholds Baltimore Orioles deal with Sarasota County
Sarasota County did not violate public meetings laws when it struck a $31 million spring training deal with the Baltimore Orioles, the Florida Supreme Court ruled today.
Regulators give First Commercial Bank deadline to raise capital; banks says deal is in the works
Calling it “significantly undercapitalized,” federal bank regulators have ordered Orlando-based First Commercial Bank to bolster its cash reserves or arrange to be acquired by another financial institution, according to documents released Thursday.
Lee County suit to fight foreclosure fees
It can cost as much as $1,900 to file in Florida
Three Lee County property owners who say they are being priced out of the court system will file a lawsuit today against top Florida officials, arguing a 2009 law that raised the cost of foreclosure lawsuit filings is unconstitutional.
Crist, Meek, Rubio begin final push
A day after the sixth and final debate in the race for U.S. Senate, Gov. Charlie Crist insisted he can make a move on frontrunner Marco Rubio, pointing to a new Zogby poll that shows him trailing the Miami Republican by about 6 percentage points.
Scott continues attack on Sink for text during debate
The Rick Scott campaign launched an advertising barrage accusing Democrat Alex Sink of cheating in their debate, as the Republican nominee for governor blasted her Wednesday as an “Obama liberal” in small towns across South Florida.
Candidates for governor light up Florida TVs with a bonfire of money
Florida’s top two candidates for governor have spent more on TV ads in the past 10 weeks than what the state budgeted for textbooks in Hillsborough County the past three years
In governor’s race, Sink and Scott’s inner circles reflect distinctive styles
When Democrat Alex Sink fired Miami lobbyist Brian May from her campaign Monday for sending her a message in the midst of her last debate, she lost one of her campaign’s top political advisers, and her temper
Cut environmental red tape, Scott says
Candidate for governor takes aim at laws designed to protect animals, natural spaces
Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott is sharpening his message that Florida government has overregulated its way into an anti-business funk.
Florida attorney general candidates say gang racketeering a priority issue
Both have plans to ensure there are resources available to reduce gang population
Although issues like federal health care reform have dominated headlines in the Florida attorney general’s race, Republican Pam Bondi and Democrat Dan Gelber say they intend to keep the pressure on a growing statewide gang menace.
Last District 8 debate features Grayson but no Webster
In the final debate before the election, one of U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson’s opponents branded him “Ayatollah Alan,” another promised she’s not in cahoots with him to spoil the election, and two of the three slammed Republican Dan Webster for not showing up.
Thrasher-Gianoulis contest excites partisans
The race between incumbent John Thrasher and Democrat Deborah Gianoulis is one of Florida’s most closely watched legislative battles
For two decades, Deborah Gianoulis was a nightly fixture in Northeast Florida living rooms as anchor for the region’s most popular news station.
State Senate race is likely ‘dumbbell district’s’ last
East vs. west campaigns may soon come to end
State Senate District 27 stretches from the hubbub of Fort Myers to the hurly-burly of West Palm Beach – urban areas as different as east and west.
Daytona commissioner charged with ballot fraud
A Daytona Beach city commissioner and his campaign manager are facing absentee ballot fraud charges following a complaint by the local elections supervisor.
Blog: Absentee voting even when he doesn’t want to
Eric Baker of Orlando was surprised the other day when his absentee ballot arrived in the mail.
Herald: Ros-Lehtinen’s role could grow in House
Miami Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen is poised to chair the House Foreign Affairs Committee if Republicans take control of the House in November, effectively quashing congressional efforts to ease restrictions on Cuba.
Bankrate.com: Florida among the best, worst states for business
As the economy slowly sputters back to life, states with business-friendly tax systems will be the most successful in attracting new companies.
NAIC Surplus Lines Implementation Task Force Adopts “Bare Bones” Tax Collection Plan
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners will likely adopt a minimal plan to collect surplus lines insurance taxes without tackling the bigger issue of uniform regulation between the states, after an association task force vote earlier this week.
Berkshire buying Sun Life’s reinsurance business
Sun Life Financial Inc. said Wednesday it is selling its life reinsurance business to Berkshire Hathaway Life Co. of Nebraska, noting that it is not a growth area for the company.
Blog: NAIC Sends Medical Loss Ratio Definitions to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners sent its medical-loss-ratio definitions to the Department of Health and Human Services for approval on Wednesday, but the debate is far from over.
The property and casualty industry has been through tough economic times, a slow recovery and “unparalleled” government expansion, but has “weathered the economic storm,” an industry executive said here.
Louisiana building codes help solve insurance crisis
State commissioner touts department’s success
Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon kicked off the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s seventh-annual Business Symposium on Wednesday night with a discussion on innovation in the state’s insurance market.
Insurance Information Institute President Hartwig Responds To Professor On Policy Transparency
The leader of an insurance industry organization responded to a National Underwriter opinion piece, authored by a university professor, calling for greater transparency in homeowners insurance.
Court Orders Employer to Pay $100K to Texas Mutual
A Travis County district court has sentenced Joffrey Majors of Parker, Texas on workers’ compensation fraud-related charges. The court sentenced Majors to four years’ deferred adjudication and ordered him to pay $100,000 to Texas Mutual Insurance Co.
Insurers Boost California Economy By $30.1 Billion
California has a $1.85 trillion economy that ranks it as a global financial power, thanks in part to a multi-billion dollar boost from the property/casualty insurance industry, according to a new report.
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