Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, April 22
Apr 22, 2008
Â
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
Â
Allstate banned in Florida — for 30 minutes
It could be the shortest suspension of a company in Florida regulatory history.
Court rejects (maybe) appeal of suspension
Oops!
Florida’s Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was in the middle of a news conference announcing that the First District Court of Appeal had denied Allstate’s motion for a rehearing on the state’s suspension of its license. Then he paused.
Court rescinds Allstate order, cites clerical error
Oops.
The 1st District Court of Appeal took it all back. Allstate agents are still, for the time being, in business.
Court Mistake Keeps Allstate In Business
State Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty was one happy man Monday – for a few minutes, at least – after getting word that an appeal court sided with him in barring Allstate companies from conducting new business in Florida.
Allstate suspended – then un-suspended – after court error
A ‘clerical error’ by the 1st District Court of Appeals this afternoon ended a suspension Florida’s Insurance commissioner had imposed on Allstate Insurance Co.’s ability to write new policies.
Court mistake keeps Allstate in business
Allstate’s 1,100 insurance agents in Florida are still in business, thanks to a mistake Monday by a Florida appeals court.
Forecast of rising waters paints bleak future for S. Fla. coasts
A Miami-Dade research group said that codes, land-use, transportation and other policies must change to combat the threat of rising seas.
Under conservative predictions of a three-foot rise in sea level, high tide would wash daily into downtown Miami, South Beach and Hollywood by century’s end.
AM Best: Florida Proposals Meant to Spread Risk From State-Run Insurer
Florida continues to struggle with its homeowners insurance dilemma, and with hurricane season fast approaching, Floridians may fall victim to a perfectly horrific storm despite ongoing efforts by the state legislature to alleviate risk from its insurer of last resort.
Lawmakers unveil autism insurance plan
A new package that would provide enhanced health insurance coverage for children with autism was unveiled at a special House committee meeting Monday night, with House Speaker Marco Rubio making an unusual appearance to promote the proposal.
Cost of being bad driver, going to court to rise
Despite the lack of money, legislators refuse to raise taxes. But raising fees is another story.
Florida House Republicans held three Democratic bills hostage Monday, hoping to guarantee a smooth return to business today, the first time lawmakers will return to the chamber since a political standoff Friday forced them to work into the Passover weekend.
House Speaker Marco Rubio may agree to drilling into state trust funds to blunt the devastating budget cuts lawmakers are poised to make to health care for dying Medicaid patients, organ transplant recipients and other fragile Florida residents.
Condo associations in eye of foreclosure storm
As the economy slumps and home prices fall, a growing number of home and condo owners are not paying their community fees.
GOP challenges appraisers’ grip on property tax
Republicans in the Florida House want to make it easier for property owners to challenge their assessments, reviving an idea they considered and dropped a year ago.
Rubio plan cuts property taxes for Florida cities, counties by $6.3 billion
A special panel of economic advisors calculated Monday that a plan backed by House Speaker Marco Rubio for limiting property taxes would cost cities, counties and other taxing districts about $6.3 billion.
Business groups sue to block new Florida guns-at-work law
Business interests filed suit in federal court on Monday seeking to block the guns-at-work law Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law less than a week before.
Liability protest doesn’t impede House commuter rail bid
A proposal to establish a 61-mile commuter rail corridor connecting Poinciana and DeLand rolled forward in the state House Monday night.
Florida bill targets check-cashing firms
Check-cashing stores provide valuable services to largely low-income consumers and recent immigrants who can have trouble opening a traditional bank account.
Poker-playing in Florida card rooms would be allowed around the clock on the weekend and 18 hours a day during the week under a measure that has made its way through the state Senate but is at a standstill in the House.
EDITORIAL: Political ploy: Gas-tax suspension a dubious idea
Gov. Charlie Crist is channeling Sen. John McCain again. The Republican presidential candidate pitched the notion of a summertime federal gas-tax holiday to ease the financial pinch on consumers from the sluggish economy, and our governor has suggested Florida do likewise on the state excise fee.
Sales tax holiday for back-to-school shoppers set for Aug. 2-8
Back-to-school shoppers have 3 fewer days to save
Shoppers, mark your calendars: Florida’s weeklong back-to-school sales tax holiday will be Aug. 2-8 under a legislative compromise nearing final approval.
New Risk Retention Group Bill Would Allow Expansion Into Property Insurance
Legislation introduced in the House last week that would expand the authority of risk retention groups to provide commercial property insurance to members is drawing strong support from risk managers eager for an additional coverage option if another major catastrophe strikes.
Federal Ins. Information Office Bill Seen As First Step To Optional Charter
Taking a cue from the Bush administration, a key House lawmaker last week introduced legislation that would create an interim federal insurance office within the Treasury Department, with backers and detractors alike seeing it as most likely the first step toward establishing an optional federal charter.
Who qualifies for help under housing bill
Legislation by Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., the House Financial Services Committee chairman, would relax the Federal Housing Administration’s underwriting standards to allow the hardest-pressed homeowners to qualify for government-backed loans.
States Look to Tobacco Tax for Budget Holes
To keep the state’s landmark universal health coverage plan afloat, Massachusetts lawmakers are looking to tap an increasingly popular source of financing for health-related initiatives: tobacco taxes.
Insurers to Build Research Center for Natural Disaster Property Losses
A new state-of-the-art applied research facility will use science and technology to expand capabilities to create more durable homes and businesses and reduce the human, financial and societal costs of natural disasters.
Supreme Court Won’t Hear Exxon Appeal of Louisiana Damages Award
The Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an Exxon Mobil Corp appeal over $112 million in punitive damages awarded for radioactive contamination of a 33-acre tract of industrial property in Harvey, Louisiana.
Corps Plans to Complete South La. Levee System Upgrade in 2011
The Corps of Engineers told Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon, staff from the Governor’s Office of Coastal Activities and insurance company representatives that upgrades to the Hurricane Protection System in the Greater New Orleans area is on track for a 2011 completion date.
Judge rejects fraud claim against State Farm in Katrina suit
A federal judge on Monday dismissed claims of fraud in a key Hurricane Katrina lawsuit that accused State Farm Fire & Casualty Co. of using different engineering reports to deny a couple’s insurance policy after the storm.
State Farm, Allstate Report Few Claims in Earthquake Aftermath
Despite a sizable earthquake event in the Midwest on Friday, April 18th, Bloomington, Ill.-based State Farm and Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate Insurance say they haven’t heard of much damage from the southern Illinois earthquake, where both companies have homeowners insurance customers.
Changes proposed for California auto and homeowner insurance rate rules
California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner proposed emergency changes Monday to regulations that help determine rates for auto and homeowner policies, saying the changes would ‘help speed lower insurance rates to consumers.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to ccochran@cftlaw.com