Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, July 1
Jul 1, 2008
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Florida Insurance Commissioner Issues Final Order in Florida Farm Bureau Rate Challenge
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty affirmed the ruling of administrative law judge Susan B. Harrell regarding the rate filing challenge between the Office of Insurance Regulation and Florida Farm Bureau. The commissioner’s Final Order officially disapproves the rate filings submitted by Farm Bureau and adopts the judge’s findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Law adds rules for annuity sales
Gov. Charlie Crist has signed a bill containing new regulations on the sale of annuities.
Financially, state is betting against a major hurricane this year
For the past two summers, Florida has tried unsuccessfully to shift risk from the catastrophe fund to private markets.
Wall Street Journal:Â Insurers Criticized For New Rate Models
Scientists say the jury is still out on whether rising sea temperatures will cause more hurricanes to hit U.S. coastlines. Yet some insurance companies are boosting premiums based on assumptions that they will. Others are withdrawing from coastal communities altogether.
Florida obtains judgment in home-care reimbursement case
The state has obtained an $8.5 million civil judgment against two owners of a company that sold elder Floridians assisted-living service contracts, then failed to reimburse home health agencies for at-home care, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum said Monday.
Florida Elderly Services Crunch Could Spur Demand for Liability Insurance
Florida faces a crisis in meeting the demand for aging services over the next 22 years as the population aged 85 and older is forecast to grow by 126 percent. This will require 15,000 more skilled nursing beds at a time when there is expected to be a severe shortage of nurses, according to a just-published study of the state’s future aging service needs.
Crime is big business in Florida, generating more money than manufacturing. Medicare fraud alone adds an estimated $12 billion to the state’s economy.
Like many hardworking immigrants, 39-year-old Eduardo Moreno arrived in south Florida with pennies in his pocket and dreams of striking it rich. By late 2006, the Cuban-born Moreno was running a fast-growing cluster of medical supply companies and clinics and living the good life, with a spacious lake-view home in Miami and a fleet of cars that included a $200,000 Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Florida suing Countrywide over mortgage sales
Florida will be taking legal action against Countrywide Financial Corp. for what Attorney General Bill McCollum calls misleading and unfair trade practices.
CFO Sink Reminds Floridians Most Homeowners Policies Do Not Cover Flood Damages
Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink recently urged Florida homeowners to review their insurance policies, reminding homeowners that standard homeowners insurance policies do not cover flood damages, even when the flood is caused by a hurricane.
I recently received a call from a columnist who had attended a trade show and Gov. Crist’s hurricane conference. He felt industry was using scare tactics to promote their products. This couldn’t be further from the truth. This is what I call ‘hurricane amnesia’ – a condition where people forget the risks when time passes between storms.
Ocala/Marion County:Â Public hearing Tuesday morning on FEMA flood maps
After five years of back-and-forth appeals and communications between the federal and county governments, the County Commission will have the first of two required public hearings on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s proposed flood maps at 10 a.m. Tuesday.
Palm Bay’s Feldman will give FEMA advice
City Manager Lee Feldman has been named a member of the National Advisory Committee for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. ‘We know from experience how devastating natural disasters can be,’ Feldman said. ‘It is critical that local to national relationships be as transparent to the public as possible in order to provide effective disaster assistance and recovery.’Palm Bay recently fought brush fires throughout much of the city. In addition to a fire rescue station, 33 homes burned down in Palm Bay.
FSU storm exercise helping officials plan for disasters
If a hurricane ever hits Martin County, Martin Memorial Health Systems administrative director Sharon Andre said she’ll be better prepared because of an exercise created by Florida State University researchers.
U.S. farm bill includes money for Florida
The U.S. government’s farm program conjures up images of corn, wheat and subsidies for Midwestern farmers. But the new version that recently became law looks like a “growth” opportunity to Florida farmers.
Governor signs bill for prosecution of gangs
Gang kingpins who recruit members and convicted gang felons who are caught with guns now face life in prison if convicted of those crimes.
Insurer sued for failure to warn policyholder of faulty repair
Emmet and Margaret experienced mechanical difficulties with their Chevrolet Camaro. They arrived in Goldfield, Nev., and drove to a garage.
2 unions deny endorsing Diaz-Balart
Locked in a competitive reelection battle, Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart last week touted endorsements from several local unions.
Negron backs attorney in Fla. GOP primary
The 2006 Republican nominee for Rep. Tim Mahoney’s (D-Fla.) seat on Monday endorsed attorney Tom Rooney in the GOP primary in that district.
Taxes are tasking for District 13 candidates
Buchanan and Jennings criticize each other’s issues with the IRS
Given their own well-documented run-ins with the IRS, one might assume that congressional rivals Vern Buchanan and Christine Jennings would avoid talking about each other’s tax problems in their rematch campaign.
Varn argues kicking him off ballot too harsh
Democrat Fred Varn has filed a legal memo in circuit court, arguing that kicking him out of the Aug. 26 primary for a Florida House seat is too harsh a penalty for his tardy resignation from the Leon County School Board.
Gun law worries some employers
Florida employers and business owners, beginning today, no longer can bar workers and customers from bringing guns onto their property and leaving the weapons locked inside their vehicles.
Lethal injection faces new challenge
Florida’s new procedure for lethal injections could be tested Tuesday when executioners strap down a condemned inmate for the first time since a botched execution.
Miami-Dade projects up for federal funding
Two projects in Miami-Dade County are to receive $10.8 million under legislation passed by the U.S. House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee.
Biotech plans mapped out for Briger tract
It’s Scripps: The sequel.
Palm Beach County and a private landowner are putting the final touches to a blueprint for developing 683 acres, the second phase of biotech construction surrounding Scripps Florida.
Water Board OKs Everglades Plan Talks
A historic conservation deal for Florida to acquire some 300 square miles of land for Everglades restoration moved forward Monday when water managers approved a negotiation process for the potential $1.75 billion purchase.
Sarbanes-Oxley Found Less Difficult Under New Rules
About 40 percent of audit departments with insurance firms and other industries have been able to decrease the amount of time devoted to federal financial reporting law requirements since new rules and guidance were put in place, a survey has found.
Experts say flood terminology misleads the public
Fifteen years ago, after the Midwest was swamped with what was pronounced a ‘100-year’ or even a ‘500-year’ flood, some folks figured they would never again see such a disaster in their lifetime. Some even dropped their flood insurance.
Water Is Just Right For Storms
The first month of hurricane season is in the rear-view mirror without even the slightest hint of anxiety in the Atlantic.
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