Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Wednesday, September 29
Sep 29, 2010
To view a complete story, click on a headline below:
News Release: Florida Insurance Commissioner Addresses Reinsurance Professionals in Bermuda
Yesterday the Florida Insurance Commissioner was in Bermuda to address the Board of Directors for two prominent reinsurance groups – the Reinsurance Association of America, and the Association of Bermuda Insurers and Reinsurers.
Tropical storm warnings discontinued in Florida
Tropical Storm Nicole has formed over Cuba, but all storm warnings and watches for South Florida and the Keys have been canceled.
Lee County families join class-action drywall lawsuit against National Gypsum
Thousands of people who bought houses with Chinese drywall have filed hundreds of lawsuits against builders, suppliers and manufacturers.
Most Palm Beach County homeowners covered by Citizens Property Insurance will see a rate increase in 2011, although some coastal homeowners will get a break in their bill.
Flood policy holders in Manatee County will see savings thanks to floodplain management
Local flood insurance policy holders will see a greater savings in 2011 due to extra measures Manatee County has taken in floodplain management.
As Floridians make our voting decisions in electing a governor and all of the state’s Cabinet posts, we shouldn’t be shy about asking each of them how they plan to fix a property insurance market that is now needlessly unstable, could expose our next generation to tens of billions of taxpayer debt, and is further handicapping our alreadyâ€ailing economy.
Health care mandate will aid 2 million in Florida
Working class said a major beneficiary
Almost 2 million Floridians will qualify for subsidized insurance premiums when federal health coverage requirements are due to start in 2014, according to a study released Tuesday.
The Florida Medical Association’s controversial decision to express a lack of confidence in the American Medical Association is drawing criticism from its northern counterpart in Maine, which says it’s time to support AMA leaders.
Florida Supreme Court powerless to freeze state foreclosures
The Florida Supreme Court said Tuesday it cannot freeze foreclosures in the state as requested by a Florida congressman and amid a tempest of allegations and admissions that flawed paperwork has been used to take people’s homes.
Florida investment chief says pension fund strong
Florida’s investment chief said the state retirement fund is one of the nation’s healthiest in a report Tuesday that contrasts with a Republican Party ad suggesting public employees’ pensions are in jeopardy.
Fight about Florida water rules growing as deadline nears
EPA’s standard will set how much nitrogen, phosphorus a river or lake can carry
New clean-water standards for Florida’s rivers are triggering a political struggle with national fallout weeks before a deadline for federal action.
U.S. Rep. Ron Klein, D-Boca Raton, is going after one of the companies bidding to build a high-speed rail project in Florida because of its role in the Holocaust.
Florida will keep AC rebate money but program frozen
U.S. Department of Energy officials say Florida will not lose federal grant funding for its “cash-for-clunker” air-conditioner rebates if state officials miss the Thursday deadline to authorize spending the cash.
Florida incomes plummet to pre-2006 levels
Recession’s punch hits harder here
South Florida household incomes fell in 2009 to the lowest level in at least three years, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report.
Orlando-area sites added to Superfund list
Two business properties in Central Florida have been put on the federal government’s list of the most dangerously polluted sites in the United States.
Protesters call on Governor Crist for help on unemployment benefits
Community groups from around Florida are urging Gov. Crist to use his power to expand unemployment benefits for jobless workers.
Lee County to challenge state law allowing guns in parks
Lee County will challenge the state law that allows gun owners with permits to carry concealed weapons in county parks.
Former state Democratic chairman Whitehead endorses Crist
Former Florida Democratic Party Chairman Charles Whitehead has endorsed Gov. Charlie Crist in his independent bid for the U.S. Senate race, the campaign announced Tuesday.
Sink, Scott outline job-creation plans
Florida’s unemployment rate is about 12 percent, and so job creation has become a prime topic in the campaign for governor.
Scott signals shift in wooing donors
GOVERNOR’S RACE: Sides differ on what his switch from self-financing means
For months, Republican Rick Scott proudly declared his independence from special interest groups by eschewing the traditional fundraising circuit and using $50 million of his own money to fund his campaign for governor.
Blog: African-American steering committee to fight FairDistricts
The “Protect Your Vote” campaign fighting two ballot initiatives to revamp the redistricting process today announced its African-American steering Committee.
California Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Surplus Line Bill Into Law
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed AB 1708 (Villines) into law, requiring the total capital and surplus requirements for nonadmitted insurers in California to be at least $45 million, up from $15 million.
NCOIL: ‘Little Cause’ For NAIC Credit Scoring Data Call
The National Conference of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) is urging the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) to get behind its credit-based insurance scoring model law and drop an idea to conduct a “questionable data call.”
A whistleblower suit alleging that Allstate Insurance Co. defrauded taxpayers by overbilling the National Flood Insurance Program has been unsealed in federal court in New Orleans.
Hundreds of Ike suits storm Texas courthouse; Blitz reminiscent of tort reforms of 2003
Seven years ago, Southeast Texas trial lawyers blitzed the Jefferson County courthouse with a record 700 lawsuits in one month in response to Texas’ tort reform laws passed in 2003.
Study finds laws banning texting while driving don’t reduce crashes
A new study says laws that ban texting while driving don’t reduce wrecks and might actually increase risks.
Schwarzenegger Extends California Low Cost Auto Insurance Program
Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation – AB 1597 authored by Assemblyman Dave Jones to maintain California’s innovative auto insurance program for low-income Californians with good driving records.
A federal judge has ruled that an attempt by a group of workers to sue their employer under federal anti-racketeering law is pre-empted by Michigan’s workers compensation law’s exclusive remedy.
Woman admits insurance fraud in food complaints in multiple states
A Massachusetts woman charged with submitting false insurance claims asserting that she and her husband had ingested glass-tainted food from several establishments in multiple states pleaded guilty to 23 counts of fraud and other offenses in federal court in Boston yesterday, attorneys said.
Federal Court to Hear West Virginia Families’ Claims Against DuPont
A federal court will hear the complaints of 14 West Virginia families who blame illnesses ranging from cancer to rashes on long-term exposure to toxic waste piled up at a former DuPont zinc-smelting plant.
Surplus Lines Premiums Fall, Again, But Brokers Remain Optimistic
The surplus lines industry continues to experience a decline in direct premiums written. For a third consecutive year in 2009, the surplus lines industry’s DPW fell 4.1 percent, an improvement over 2008 where the DPW fell 6.2 percent.
Help Wanted: U.S. Insurance Chief; Salary to $179K, Good Benefits; D.C. Office
The U.S. Treasury is looking for a Director of the Federal Insurance Office. The full-time job pays $119,554 to $179,700 per year depending on experience. Applications will be accepted from all qualified individuals until Oct. 20.
Marsh Exec Tells European Companies to Take Longer View on Risks
Europe’s largest companies will need to spend more time and resources over the next year on long-term strategic risk planning to avoid being vulnerable to changing market conditions.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to bellis@cftlaw.com.