Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, September 23
Sep 23, 2010
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In an opinion issued yesterday, September 22, 2010, Florida’s Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed a lower court’s order against the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association (“FIGA”) in a case involving a Sunrise, Florida condominium association’s Southern Family Insurance Company Hurricane Wilma claim.
Over 2 million Floridians to benefit from Congressional flood insurance program extension
To the relief of Florida homebuyers and lenders, Congress is moving this week to extend the controversial National Flood Insurance Program for one year.
Homestead drywall suit goes forward — short plaintiffs
On Monday, the owners of about 80 Homestead houses will finally get their day in court, hoping to get the money they want to fix the emotional and physical damage they have experienced because of defective imported drywall.
Parts of Lehigh seeing home insurance rates go down
At a time when many families are looking to cut costs, home insurance rates are going down in parts of Lehigh Acres. But those homeowners will see any savings depends on where they get their coverage.
Letters to the Editor: Prospect of higher insurance rates put homeowners in a bind again
Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor, apparently advocates raising rates for the nearly 1.2 million customers of state-run Citizens Property Insurance.
Grants available to Hillsborough County homeowners who had sinkholes this winter
Hillsborough County residents whose properties were damaged by a sinkhole during last winter’s record freeze will soon be eligible for grants of up to $3,000 from the county.
Today marks the six-month anniversary of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010.
Lawsuit seeks to block state law that will crack down on pain clinics
Two pain doctors with six offices in South and Central Florida have filed a federal lawsuit to block the state law that cracks down on pain clinics starting Oct. 1.
Florida says it will contest U.S. Department of Health and Human Services audit on kids
Florida might have to pay back $5.3 million because some children were enrolled in Medicaid and the KidCare health-insurance program at the same time, a new inspector general’s report says.
Florida man settles McDonald’s suit over hot sandwich
A Florida man has settled his $2 million lawsuit against a McDonald’s restaurant in southwest Virginia that allegedly served him a chicken sandwich that exploded with hot grease.
Congressional panel puts spotlight on Florida investment debacle
A congressional panel is putting a spotlight on an investment debacle that could cost local governments millions
A congressional commission investigating the nation’s financial crisis has demanded ”responses and documents” from Florida about an investment debacle three years ago that could cost local governments hundreds of millions of dollars.
Florida led nation in mortgage fraud, federal commission says
Experts discussed Florida’s multibillion-dollar mortgage fraud problem during a hearing hosted by the federal Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission
Mortgage fraud is responsible for untold trillions of dollars in bad loans currently defaulting across the country, and Florida has played a starring role in the tragedy, a federal commission said during a hearing in Miami on Tuesday.
Crist won’t enforce ban on gay adoptions
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist announced Wednesday afternoon he will cease enforcing the state’s 33-year-old gay adoption law, which was declared unconstitutional by a Miami appeals court Wednesday morning.
Florida Supreme Court schedules arguments on class size amendment
The Florida Supreme Court has decided to hear arguments on a proposed state constitutional amendment that would loosen class size limits.
Grand jury to review $48 million appropriation for Florida ‘Taj Mahal’ courthouse
A grand jury will consider a citizen’s complaint about what critics are calling a “Taj Mahal” courthouse being built in Tallahassee.
Florida laws involving recording complicated
The case against Kathleen Harvey, a Tallahassee small-business owner charged with illegally taping Leon County Commissioner Cliff Thaell, could come down to his word against hers, legal experts say.
Crist: Shore up Social Security by allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship
Gov. Charlie Crist is calling for supplementing Social Security by offering illegal immigrants ‘a pathway to citizenship’ so they can pay into the trust fund
Campaigning amid walkers and canes at a Pembroke Pines retirement community, Gov. Charlie Crist pledged Wednesday to protect Social Security and suggested an unconventional solution to shoring up the trust fund: allowing illegal immigrants to earn citizenship.
Fear of Rubio in Senate driving some Democrats, maybe even Wexler, to Crist
Carol Roberts became a national celebrity in 2000 when, as a Palm Beach County commissioner, she fought vociferously, if unsuccessfully, for every dimpled, hanging and pregnant chad to be counted as a vote for Democratic presidential candidate Al Gore.
Rick Scott tells Tampa crowd economy will flourish with less government and taxes
Rick Scott is an optimist. Florida may have one of the worst economies in the country, but at a campaign stop Wednesday in Tampa, the Republican gubernatorial candidate said its weather, beaches, limitations on unions and lack of an income tax make it ripe to become a mecca for new businesses.
- Rick Scott’s plan to cut jail budget called unrealistic
- U.S. House cracks down on cases like Rick Scott’s
Sink agrees to October CNN debate at USF with Scott
With the statewide broadcast debate on NBC between Alex Sink and Rick Scott canceled because Scott declined to participate, Alex Sink said today she has agreed to the Oct. 25 debate at University of South Florida televised by CNN.
Debbie Wasserman Schultz faces three challengers
Candidates seek to unseat congresswoman viewed as sure bet for re-election
It may be the most unique field of any race in South Florida, with the longest odds: A first-time candidate, a self-described socialist and an activist who’s run unsuccessfully for so many offices he can’t remember them all, competing to unseat a Democratic powerhouse running for her fourth term.
Possible 2012 Republican Candidates Testing Waters in Florida
Romney, Palin, Huckabee, Gingrich and others keeping an eye on the Sunshine State
Tampa will be hosting the 2012 Republican National Convention, and that fact hasn’t escaped a bevy of potential presidential candidates who are eyeing the Sunshine State two years ahead of time.
Court upholds ruling on Louisiana Citizens suit
The state Supreme Court upheld a lower-court ruling tossing out Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp.’s $35 million settlement of a class action suit because the deal was unfair to some policyholders.
New York Looks to Reform Coastal Homeowners Insurance Market
New York insurance regulators are proposing a new set of consumer protection measures as part of a package of rules aimed at improving the availability and pricing of homeowners insurance in high-risk areas along the state’s coast.
Washington Supreme Court: Actual Cash Value Includes Sales Tax
The Washington Supreme Court has ruled that an insurer is required to pay sales tax when reimbursing a client for the actual cash value of damaged property.
Michigan Officials Seek to Force Broker to Remit $1.3M Owed to Insurers
Michigan insurance officials have gone to court to force a Troy insurance broker to remit $1.3 million in premiums he owes to multiple insurance companies.
New Solvency II Rules May Reduce Insurers’ Capital, Study Says
European insurers may be forced to restructure their businesses as new risk-based regulation is likely to reduce surplus capital, according to Morgan Stanley and Oliver Wyman.
The New York Times: States Ask for Phase-In on Health Insurance Change
State insurance regulators told the White House on Wednesday that health insurance markets in some states would be disrupted unless President Obama gave insurers a temporary dispensation from one major provision of the new health care law.
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