Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, August 5
Aug 5, 2009
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Florida Auto Glass Firm Charged in Insurance Overbilling Scam
Florida officials today arrested two people associated with a Jacksonville glass company on charges that they overbilled insurers for as many as 1,300 windshield replacement claims.
Associated Industries: State Farm needs to make changes to protect policyholders
The editorial criticizing State Farm for its recent rate filing to modify discounts for homeowners was off the mark.
Drywall victims’ network targeted White House with calls for help
On Monday, Tirzah Pestenski called the White House and invited President Barack Obama over to her house.
Florida agriculture stands to benefit from Senate farm bill
The Florida farming community is keeping a close eye on the $124 billion agriculture spending bill passed Tuesday night by the U.S. Senate.
$5 million grant revives Rebuild NW Florida
Right when it looked as if Rebuild Northwest Florida might be winding down its efforts to harden local homes for future storms, $5 million came rolling in Tuesday.
Orange County employees will pay fee for smoking
Central Florida smokers, prepare to pay more for smoking come January. During Tuesday’s monthly meeting, Orange County commissioners voted on a surcharge on health insurance for County employees.
Healthcare Advocacy Program Set to Launch at University of Miami
The University of Miami’s Division of Continuing and International Education announces the launch of a certificate program for healthcare advocacy. Set to launch in September, 2009, the program will lead the field in providing training for this growing occupation.
South Florida hospitals compete for international patients
Six years after the death of an ambitious joint effort to make Miami a major healthcare destination for wealthy foreigners, a new group has formed to try to do the same thing — for less money and without any attempts to disguise the fierce competition among local hospitals to lure well paying international patients.
Republican Joe Negron wins District 28 Senate race
In a result that one state legislator called “slightly anti-climatic,” voters overwhelmingly sent Stuart attorney Joe Negron back to Tallahassee Tuesday.
After constitutional struggle, Crist fills Central Florida appeals court post
Gov. Charlie Crist bowed to the state’s high court and filled a judicial post Tuesday, nearly a year after the job opening set off a constitutional test over the governor’s power to put more diversity on the courts.
Lawmakers pay respects to Jim King at Capitol
Sen. Jim King’s final exit from the Capitol was just as he would have wanted it: filled with more laughter than tears, more camaraderie than divisiveness — and plenty of talk about “adult beverages.”
Suzanne Kosmas once was the huntress, stalking Florida’s 24th congressional district against incumbent Tom Feeney.
Colonial bank confirms raid of Fla. branch
The company, which has 355 branches in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Texas and Nevada, said agents with the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program executed a search warrant on its Mortgage Warehouse Lending Division but would not disclose what the agency was seeking.
Florida Bank Group gets $20 million in TARP funding
Florida Bank Group Inc. is the fourth banking company in the Tampa Bay area to receive funding from the U.S. Treasury’s Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Record Number of Guy Carpenter Brokers Selected in 2009, Accounting for More Than Half of All Industry Honorees NEW YORK–(Business Wire)– An unprecedented 29 members of Guy Carpenter & Company, LLC’s global broking team have been selected to Risk & Insurance magazine’s 2009 ‘Reinsurance Power Brokers’ list, the highest number among all reinsurance intermediaries.
Improved Profitability Forecast for Marsh, Guy Carpenter
Marsh & McLennan Cos. Inc. the No. 2 global insurance broker, posted quarterly results in line with expectations on Wednesday and forecast improved profitability for its brokerage business, sending its shares up 4.3 percent.
Hawaii may raid its hurricane relief fund to plug state’s deficit
With no easy options left to close a $786 million budget deficit, Gov. Linda Lingle and state lawmakers are being tempted to use the $185 million in the state’s hurricane relief fund to help balance the budget.
A top official at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has suggested that there may be differences in the way banks, securities firms and insurers should be regulated.
Regulatory Reform, Rewards for Quality Insurers Ahead, Says Chubb Exec
Skepticism over the financial condition of insurance companies is healthy and financially strong insurers stand to gain over weaker competitors in today’s market, an executive for a major property/casualty insurer told a group of underwriters.
Texas-Based Flood control entities to create management association
Representatives of Fort Bend levee improvement districts and other local government entities that deal with flood and storm water management issues took the first steps to organize a Fort Bend Flood Management Association at a July 10 meeting in Sugar Land.
Indictments Brought In Augusta Fraud Case
Georgia Insurance Commissioner John W. Oxendine announced, on Tuesday, that several suspects face insurance fraud and other charges in connection with staging automobile accidents in Augusta.
New Web Site Launched to Coordinate the Fight Against Cargo Theft
Co-chairs of the National Cargo Theft Task Force, Sheriff Ed Dean, Marion County, Fla., and Joe Wehrle, president and chief executive officer of the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), are pleased to announce the launch of https://www.nationalcargothefttaskforce.org — the National Cargo Theft Task Force’s new Web site.
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