Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, April 6

Apr 6, 2010

 

 

To view a complete story, click on a headline below:

 

Blog:  Should insurers disclose financial information for affiliates?

A Senate panel on Wednesday will weigh several property insurance measures, including a bill that would require insurers to file financial information for their affiliates.

 

Florida’s Federated National Gets $10 Million in Capital; Rating Affirmed

Florida’s 21st Century Holding Co. announced that its subsidiary Federated National Insurance Co. has received a capital infusion of $10 million.

 

Florida State Representative Bill Proctor:  State-dominated insurance system poses threat to Florida’s economy

A serious threat to Florida’s economic recovery is the possibility that a major hurricane will strike a large metropolitan area this summer or next. The resulting damage to residential and commercial properties could exceed $80 billion.

 

Editorial:  Homeowners at risk

Insurance market correction urgent

Lawmakers seem increasingly prepared, and so they should be, to challenge Gov. Charlie Crist’s threat to once again veto legislation that would open up the property insurance market – and make it stable enough to ensure property owners would actually get a payout if the worst comes to pass.

 

Two Lake County Suspects Arrested in Arson Investigation

Florida CFO and State Fire Marshal Alex Sink today announced the arrests of Lake County residents Bruce A. Tomon, 40, and Chad L. Sines, 40, after they conspired to hire an individual to burn down Tomon’s home. While reasons for the arson are still under investigation, it is alleged that Tomon was having difficulty making his mortgage payments and was looking to relieve the debt with an insurance claim on the property.

 

Florida’s head toxicologist is trying to determine the physical effects of Chinese drywall on homeowners.

In the mid-1990s, while serving as an industrial hygienist and coordinator of the Florida Department of Health’s Indoor Air Quality program, David Krause began hearing reports of soot-like deposits appearing on surfaces inside people’s homes – in air-conditioning systems, refrigerators and freezers and even the walls. More puzzling, the black stains were often appearing in newly built homes.

 

News Release:  American Integrity Insurance Company Sustains A (Exceptional) Rating by Demotech

American Integrity Insurance Company headquartered in Tampa announced today that for the third consecutive year, its Financial Stability Rating of A (Exceptional) from Demotech, the leading rating organization that reviews Florida-based property insurance companies, has been sustained.  

 

Florida’s Brown & Brown Elects Western Regional President

The Board of Directors of Brown & Brown Inc. has elected C. Roy Bridges regional president responsible for most of the company’s retail operations in the western United States.

 

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum:  Why I’m seeking to overturn health care law

Recently, Florida and a dozen other states asked the federal courts to measure the new health care law against the Constitution’s requirements. This new law is an unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of federal power that will cost Florida taxpayers billions of dollars.

 

Florida House to unveil Medicaid plan Tuesday; expects it to be part of end-game

The House will unveil a wide-ranging, multi-year effort Tuesday to revamp Florida’s costly Medicaid program – a plan that surpasses the Senate’s already ambitious approach to expand managed-care coverage for low-income Floridians, according to those familiar with the proposal.

 

Governor Crist Announces Expansion of

Florida Discount Drug Card Access to All Florida Residents

Governor Charlie Crist today announced the Florida Discount Drug Card, initially offered to qualifying seniors or low-income families and individuals beginning in December 2007, is now available to all Florida residents. 

 

Blog:  Medical parts supplier jumps in to take on Florida U.S. Rep. Grayson

The pack of Republicans vying to topple firebrand U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson will grow again this week.

Republican Ross Bieling plans to formally announce his candidacy to take on Grayson, D-Orlando, and the owner of Select Medical Products Inc., a medical parts supplier, could tap into his own personal resources to get the campaign rolling, spokesman Adam Goldman said.

 

Jury awards $10 million in Volusia County ambulance birth

Volusia woman sued EVAC over injuries son received during transport

A Volusia jury has awarded $10 million to a Volusia County woman, finding EVAC Ambulance service at fault for the injuries her son received during his premature birth in 2003.

 

Despite eight hours of scolding and pleading from teachers, a House panel advances the merit pay bill along party lines

But the House Education Council, where Republicans outnumbered Democrats by more than 2-to-1, fended off the criticism and a run of amendments to approve the bill about 8 tonight in a partisan vote, 12-5, and push it within two seemingly trouble-free steps of the state law books.

 

Governor Crist announces billion dollar gaming deal with Seminole Tribe

A proposed gambling agreement between the Seminole Tribe of Florida and the state was expected to be signed as early as Wednesday afternoon, paving the way for more than $1 billion to flow from the tribe into state coffers over the next five years, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist told reporters Tuesday.

 

In Tallahassee today, Crist must act on leadership funds bill

Gov. Charlie Crist must decide Tuesday whether to sign into law a bill that would allow a few legislators to create powerful new fundraising machines known as leadership funds to influence future election cycles.

 

Foreclosure bill would shorten process to 90 days

A controversial bill in the legislature would speed up foreclosures in Florida and remove the process from the court system.

 

AP: Giuliani endorses Rubio over Crist for U.S. Senate

Rudy Giuliani emphasized Marco Rubio’s trustworthiness Monday as he endorsed him for Florida’s open Senate seat over an opponent he said broke a promise to support him in his presidential bid.

 

Daily News: As new census begins, latest estimates show Lee population decline, Collier increase

Just as the 2010 census got under way, the U.S. Census Bureau released population estimates from the past year that showed how the recession has affected growth in various parts of the nation.

 

A rush to buy failed Florida banks

Dead banks auctioned off by the FDIC have become all the rage among the smartest money on Wall Street. Florida, which has dozens of small banks on the ropes, has emerged as one of the hot spots for such deals.

 

Court Tosses Pennsylvania Regulator’s Suit Against Kingsway

A Pennsylvania court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by Pennsylvania insurance regulators that alleged Toronto-based Kingsway Financial illegally jettisoned its ownership in Lincoln General Insurance Co. to a group of 20 charities.

 

Oklahoma Raises $65M Selling Data; Customers Include Insurance Cos.

The state of Oklahoma has collected at least $65 million in the past five years by selling personal information from motor vehicle records, according to newspaper reports.

 

U.S. to Make Trucking Firm Repeat Violators Install Electronic Recorders

A new federal regulation will require trucking companies that repeatedly violate driver time limits to install electronic recorders that track how long drivers are at the wheel.

 

New NAIC Insurance IQ Study Reveals Americans Lacking In Confidence, Knowledge of Insurance Choices

Survey indicates only 45% of Americans feel confident making insurance decisions and 86% do not fully understand terms used in current health care reform discussions.

 

Munich Re America Changes Brand Name to Munich Re

Munich Reinsurance America, Inc. has changed its brand name from Munich Re America to Munich Re and adopted the Munich Re logo for all marketing materials.

 

10 Technologies with Biggest Impact on P/C Insurance Companies

A Stamford, Conn.-based research and consulting firm has identified 10 technologies that will have the greatest impact for the property/casualty (P/C) insurance industry.

 

To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to bellis@cftlaw.com.