Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Week Ending Sept. 21

Click on a headline to read the complete story:

 

Deal cut in effort to keep no-fault

Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system, which was set to expire Sept. 30, may get a last-minute reprieve.

 

Legislature’s compromise could keep PIP insurance alive

Florida’s no-fault auto insurance law may get a second chance at life, but with much tougher safeguards against fraud.

 

Poll:  What do you think the state should do about Florida’s no-fault auto insurance law?

 

PIP, toll-road debacles show lack of leadership in Tallahassee

The elimination of personal injury protection is Florida’s latest attempt to salvage an incompetent effort to lower storm insurance rates. Under this latest scheme, Florida drivers — who greatly outnumber Florida homeowners — will soon be forced to buy expensive uninsured driver insurance.

 

Rulings may curb property insurer liability

Two Florida Supreme Court rulings released Thursday could dramatically curb liability for insurers, allowing them to pay only actual losses from a covered peril, such as a hurricane or a fire, even if a home is totally destroyed.

 

Cincinnati Insurance says it’s under investigation in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Cincinnati Financial Corp. has told shareholders that two property insurance companies it controls are under investigation by Florida officials looking into whether insurers are complying with a new law requiring rate reductions.

 

Cost of a roof to rise 25 percent

Or more. But the tougher building code is supposed to bring insurance discounts.

Come Oct. 1, the cost for all Florida homeowners to replace their roofs is expected to rise at least 25 percent — and even more for those who live in coastal communities.

 

Ruling defies car rental law

Should a rental car company have to pay damages when one of its customers gets into a wreck?  Judges have ruled differently.

 

Flood Exclusion Upheld by Fla. High Court

Florida ’s law requiring full payment when a home is a total loss does not apply when part of the destruction involves flood damage excluded by policy language, the state’s highest court decided yesterday. 

 

Insurers fall behind over discount forms

Most major property insurers have doubled the premium discounts homeowners will receive for hardening their homes, but finding out how much in advance of shelling out thousands of dollars is another story.

 

House turns its back on hurricane risk

If the U.S. House of Representatives can justify being a backstop for the commercial insurance industry in the event of another terrorist attack, it can do the same for hurricane risk.

 

Former condo president in Hollywood accused of stealing insurance premiums

Authorities have charged the former president of a beachside condominium with grand theft for using condo funds to pay health insurance premiums for herself and her husband.

 

Official Defends Bank of England’s Response to Crisis

The governor of the Bank of England, Mervyn King, offered an unapologetic defense yesterday of the bank’s decision to reverse course and inject cash into the financial system. He said politics was responsible for the crisis that led to the near-collapse of a large mortgage bank, Northern Rock.

 

Spitzer Grants Illegal Immigrants Easier Access to Driver’s Licenses

New York State, home to more than 500,000 illegal immigrants, will issue driver’s licenses without regard to immigration status under a policy change announced yesterday by Gov. Eliot Spitzer.

 

UCF turns to high-powered consultant

A major player in Tallahassee and aroundthe country will advise on economic matters.

TALLAHASSEE – The fight for higher education dollars could get ugly when lawmakers meet next month, with Gov. Charlie Crist recommending more than $300-million in budget cuts that would – among other things – put off funding for new medical schools at the University of Central Florida and Florida International University.

 

Bush Drops Effort to Standardize Government Risk Assessments

The Bush Administration is dropping its effort to standardize how government agencies develop risk assessments intended to protect the public or the environment.

 

GOP candidates send the wrong message

President Bush advised the party’s presidential candidates yesterday to reach out to minority voters. That’s good advice, but the candidates don’t seem to be paying attention.