Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, May 18
May 18, 2010
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Financial Advisor: Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund on solid ground for 2010 hurricane season
A new round of estimates for the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund show that it should have enough to pay off all of its obligations as it heads into the 2010 hurricane season.
Florida Legislature sends Governor Charlie Crist insurance-related bills, among others
Lawmakers on Monday sent Governor Charlie Crist 45 bills, including ones dealing with sexual predators, space, spring training and hurricane insurance.
Blog: Consumer advocates divided on property insurance bill as it hits Crist’s desk
Consumer advocates are divided on a property insurance bill that aims to strengthen the state’s property insurance market by making it easier for insurers to raise rates and reduce certain claims costs.
Insurers target drywall supplier in additional Florida court cases
Chartis Inc. and several subsidiaries are among insurers attempting to deny coverage of tainted drywall damage under pollution exclusions.
In February, Chartis and four subsidiaries filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida against Miami-based drywall and building materials supplier Banner Supply Co., advising they would deny coverage of umbrella policies based on their total pollution exclusion.
Former Crist aide’s home burned in arson
City and state arson investigators suspect the weekend fire that virtually destroyed the home of Governor Charlie Crist’s former spokeswoman was deliberately set.
CFO Sink’s Statewide Disaster Preparedness Blitz Kicks Off Today with 16 Events through Saturday
Florida CFO Alex Sink announced today the launch of a statewide weeklong blitz to educate Floridians on how to prepare financially for any potential disaster.
West Palm Beach to refund tickets for those caught by cameras turning right on red
Mayor Lois Frankel is paying her $150 fine for allegedly making a rolling right turn through a red light. And then she’ll donate the money to charity after commissioners voted 5-0 Monday to refund all payments for right on red violations caught by the city’s traffic cameras.
Florida Orders Workers’ Compensation Insurance Companies to Refund Millions in Excess Profits
Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty today announced the Office has ordered 16 workers’ compensation insurance companies or groups to return a total of over $9.4 million in excessive profits to their policyholders.
Florida Attorney General investigating Jacksonville’s Fidelity National subsidiary
Fidelity National Financial, based in Jacksonville, provides title insurance, specialty insurance, claims management services and information services.
Florida Medicare plan suspended, fined
Quality Health Plans, a Tampa-based company, has been suspended from the federal Medicare program and socked with a fine of almost $600,000.
BP promises $25 million to Florida for advertising, $15 million each for 3 other Gulf states
BP announced Monday it will spend $25 million for an advertising campaign promoting Florida’s beachfront resorts and restaurants, which claim to have lost millions in business despite no reports of oil washing ashore.
Business group joins Florida lawsuit against Obama healthcare plan
A lawsuit filed by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum challenging the constitutionality of the federal health care legislation has a co-plaintiff: the National Federation of Independent Business.
Gov. Crist approves measure to extend jobless benefits for 100,000
Gov. Charlie Crist on Monday signed a bill that is expected to give 100,000 jobless Floridians 14 more weeks of unemployment compensation.
Judge orders McCollum to pay up in $6 million-plus bingo hall case
A local judge has once again ordered the Attorney General’s Office to pay a now more than $6 million legal bill in a years-old case over bingo halls in Central Florida.
It’s just the latest development in the 15-year legal battle between the state and Bradenton Group Inc. – a case now set to cost taxpayers about $7 million.
State Citrus Taxes Raised After Crist Veto
Citrus officials to review a proposed $53.8 million budget Wednesday.
Gov. Charlie Crist’s Saturday veto of an agriculture bill sent Florida Department of Citrus officials scurrying Monday to find more than $2 million to replace lost money for disease research.
U.S. Supreme Court limits life sentences for young Florida criminals
High court declares it unconstitutional to sentence young offenders to life imprisonment with no chance of parole for crimes short of homicide
Nearly 20 Florida prison inmates serving life for crimes they committed in Broward and Palm Beach counties while juveniles are entitled to new sentences under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling issued Monday.
Judge won’t drop charges against former Florida House Speaker
A judge on Monday refused to dismiss new charges of grand theft and conspiracy against former House Speaker Ray Sansom and two co-defendants.
Three Florida lawmakers among applicants for Public Service Commission
The list of applicants to replace the two ousted members of the Public Service Commission includes a term-limited state senator, two state representatives, the current general counsel of the PSC and a former commissioner.
Report: Florida highly dependent on imported coal
Florida ranks second in the country when it comes to importing coal to generate electricity.
Governor Charlie Crist weighs bill to help cities go green
Governor Crist is reviewing a bill passed by the Legislature last month that would help establish a ‘green corridor’ PACE program among several South Florida cities. The measure would allow the communities to purchase clean energy systems for residents’ homes
Editorial: Lack of appointments mires Florida rail commission
The commission doesn’t even exist more than four months after the Legislature created it to help steer expanded passenger rail service in Florida, from metro Orlando’s SunRail and South Florida’s Tri-Rail, to high-speed rail and hoped-for rail lines for Tampa and Jacksonville.
State Senator Dan Gelber: Riding oil spill momentum
The Orlando Sentinel’s Thursday editorial, “Fix regs, nix session,” dismissed the call for a special session to address offshore drilling as a “selfish political ploy.”
Florida Rep. Kosmas pushes incubator fund for small businesses
Representative’s bill would get fed support for new small businesses
Hoping to spur more entrepreneurial development and innovation, U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas on Monday announced proposed legislation to provide business incubators with federal grant money to help them get small companies off the ground.
Who is Buying Troubled Banks in Florida?
Florida depositors are starting to see new names competing for their money, as the state’s troubled banks are closed and sold by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Agile bank groups from Arkansas to North Carolina to Canada are boosting ties to the Sunshine State with lightning quick deals.
Toronto-Dominion’s Florida Bet Still Has Significant Risk
While Canada’s Toronto-Dominion Bank is continuing its march into Florida with its purchase of South Financial Group Inc. at a bargain-basement price, the state still appears to be in a precarious position.
Mississippi Insurance Commissioner Chaney: Governor’s Veto Will Not Cause Wind Pool Premium Increase
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour’s veto of $20 million to the state’s Wind Pool will not result in an increase in premium rates this year or next, the state’s insurance commissioner said.
Bermuda Signs Tax Accord with Italy
Bermuda’s Minister of Finance, the Hon. Paula A. Cox, announced that Bermuda has concluded negotiations for a bilateral agreement with the Italian Republic that will, “upon signing later this year, provide for a full exchange of information on criminal and civil tax matters between the two countries.”
Utah Supreme Court: Workers’ comp denial no bar to third-party lawsuits
An administrative law judge’s denial of a workers compensation claim does not bar an employee from suing companies with which her employer contracted, the Utah Supreme Court has ruled.
List Of California Insurers Forgoing Iran-Linked Investments Grows
The list of insurance companies agreeing to forgo Iran-linked investments is growing, with more than 75 percent of insurers licensed to do business in California agreeing to refrain from future investing, but some big names have not complied.
New York Regulator Recovered $32 Million for Consumers in 2009
Last year, insurers in New York paid consumers $32 million and offered to reinstate 116,000 policies that had been improperly cancelled or non-renewed, according to the New York State Insurance Department’s new annual report.
U.S. Agency Clarifies Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Rules
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has released a memorandum clarifying the requirements to include Medicare Part D prescription drugs in Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangements.
Northern Trust Accelerates Growth in Insurance Segment
Northern Trust announced today that it has seen rapid growth in delivering solutions to insurance companies, with new insurance mandates accounting for a 20 percent increase in global insurance assets serviced over the past 18 months.
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