Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, July 7
Jul 7, 2010
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First District Court of Appeal partially reverses wind/water/mobile home Citizens case
The First District Court of Appeal partially reversed a jury’s decision against Citizens Property Insurance Corporation today in a wind/water case involving the total loss of mobile home and its attendant structures in Milton, Florida.
Florida Office of Insurance Regulation: GAO Will Clarify Florida Catastrophe Report In The Future
A report that Florida’s catastrophe funds have over $2 trillion in loss exposure will be clarified in the future, according to officials from the state’s insurance department.
U.S. Postal Service: Citizens mail likely not misdirected
The U.S. Postal Service is delivering an optimistic message to mail fraud victim Citizens Property Insurance: Don’t worry, the system most likely worked.
Florida Among 10 Least Affordable States for Car Insurance
Massachusetts, often rapped as a costly state for drivers, is actually the most affordable state for auto insurance while Louisiana is the least affordable, according to one insurance provider’s research that considers how much of a family’s income goes to pay for car insurance.
Florida investigators want access to fight Medicaid fraud
Florida officials want more access to federal Medicaid records so they can fight billing fraud in the massive program.
City of Delray Beach tweaks pill mill law to close ‘pharmacy’ loophole
In an effort to further regulate pain clinics, city commissioners adopted a new law that regulates how many controlled substances pharmacies can sell.
Feds sign off on Seminole gaming agreement in Fla.
The Seminole Indian tribe’s latest agreement to operate blackjack in Florida has been approved by the federal government, ending years of tense ambiguity.
News Release: Governor Crist Applauds Opening of Florida’s First Oil Spill Response Branch Office
Branch office will allow federal, state and local government to streamline response efforts
Governor Charlie Crist, continuing his commitment to recovery efforts in the Gulf of Mexico, today attended the opening of Florida’s first branch office committed to oil spill response.
Spill spells more trouble for Florida real estate
Chris Reid was pumped. After suffering through a few years of tight credit and the U.S. housing meltdown, the Pensacola-based realtor was ready to sell some beach-front property. Summer was coming and that is the region’s busiest season.
BP claims czar Kenneth Feinberg drawing fire from Attorney General Bill McCollum
With the authority to dole out $20 billion to BP oil spill victims, Kenneth Feinberg has yet to provide exact details about who gets money and who doesn’t.
When Lawton “Bud” Chiles, III, independent candidate for governor of Florida, filed his financial disclosure form last month, he listed his annual income as $143,000, his net worth as $1.3 million and an additional $1,763,546 in assets as of Dec. 31, 2009.
Potential Arizona-style immigration law divides Florida public, law enforcement
Neil Lewis’ cramped immigration law office reverberates from the ring of yet another telephone call. Each anxious voice on the other end poses the same question.
Fasano and Bunting battle for the heart and soul of Pasco GOP
It would be a pretty safe bet to say that Mike Fasano and Bill Bunting have crossed each other off their Christmas card lists. The Republican Party of Pasco seems to reflect nationwide trends of a split between more moderate forces and vehement conservatism.
U.S. Representative Buchanan’s path to re-election gets smoother by the day
RE-ELECTION BID: Lawsuits dogging the lawmaker are quietly fading away
A series of lawsuits that were once considered a threat to U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan’s political career are quietly fading away, strengthening Buchanan’s bid to win his third term this fall.
Yesterday, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation and the Cape Coral Police Department protected consumers by arresting two unlicensed air conditioning contractors.
Illnesses blamed on prison recycling program
Former prison workers and inmates say they have become ill from exposure to toxic materials at a Panhandle penal institution’s electronics-recycling operation
When former prison worker Freda Cobb developed sores on her arms, legs and back in 1997, she didn’t connect them to an inmate work program that recycles computers and other electronic goods at a penal institution in the Florida Panhandle.
Space Coast jobs: Proposals aim for part of $40M in grants to create jobs after shuttle
With $40 million in federal grants on the table, Space Coast entrepreneurs, companies and local government agencies had no shortage of proposals Tuesday of how to spend it to bring jobs to an already-struggling region that is bracing for deep NASA cuts.
Editorial: Doubling down on pensions
Tallahassee gambles, and soaks taxpayers for pensions
Facing big deficits in their public-employee pension systems, some cash-strapped local governments in Florida have come to a politically difficult but mathematically inescapable realization: They must pare back generous benefits for their retirees.
State Senator Haridopolos: Nothing Off the Table at Summit on Energy Future
Two weeks ago, I joined Citizens for Clean Energy in their announcement of a summit focused on bringing together experts from across the state and nation to discuss Florida’s energy future.
Consumer Product Safety Commission Report: Drywall may be fire risk
Corrosion of wires may cause problems
A report on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website expresses concerns that corrosion caused by Chinese drywall is a fire and safety risk.
U.S. House panel to examine value of red-light traffic cameras
Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. thinks he knows why cash-strapped communities around the country are installing red-light traffic cameras, and it has nothing to do with making streets and highways safer.
Ex-Marsh Executives’ Bid-Rigging Convictions Tossed on New Evidence
A New York judge has thrown out the convictions of two former Marsh & McLennan Cos. executives for their roles in an insurance bid-rigging scheme that led to an $850 million settlement with the state.
Actuarially Sound Property Rates Remain Elusive Along Texas Coast
Insurance company interests have long complained that the state-backed Texas Windstorm Insurance Association charges rates that are not actuarially sound for the risks it insures, making it impossible for private insurers to compete for business in the areas TWIA serves.
State of Connecticut to Buy, Then Demolish Flood-Prone Properties in East Haven
The federal government has approved a grant of nearly $1.4 million for the state of Connecticut to buy and then demolish five flood-prone properties in East Haven.
New York OKs med mal rate hike, ends moratorium
The New York State Insurance Department said Tuesday that it has approved an average increase of 5% in medical malpractice rates, ending a two-year moratorium on rate increases.
Solvency II impact study specifications released
The European Commission has published its specifications for the fifth quantitative impact study on Solvency II, the forthcoming risk-based capital regulatory model for insurers in Europe.
The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday recommended a new water-conservation plan that would allow residents to water lawns and gardens three days a week, instead of the two days now permitted.
Consumer Group Says Travelers Ad Is Deceptive, Wants It Pulled
In a letter to Texas Insurance Commissioner Mike Geeslin and Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, Texas Watch Executive Director Alex Winslow calls a television advertisement from the Travelers Cos. Inc. deceptive and urges that it be pulled.
Retiring CEO Of Louisiana Residual Insurer Credited With Turnaround
The task of John Wortman, who has announced his retirement, was not an easy one when he was hired as the new chief executive of Louisiana’s homeowners insurer of last resort.
Medical records go online, but at what cost to privacy?
You’re a South Florida resident on vacation in Boise or Bogotá. You suffer stomach pains and visit a local doctor. You whip out your BlackBerry, punch in your access code and show the doctor a list of your medications, allergies, past illnesses, tests, surgeries and advice from your physician back home.
This year’s winners of the Foundation for Fair Civil Justice’s 13th Annual “Wild, Wacky Warning Labels” contest will be selected by studio audience on FOX Business News’ “Stossel,” which airs at 8 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, July 8, 2010.
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