Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater Appoints Robin Westcott as Florida Insurance Consumer Advocate
Jul 20, 2011
Above: Florida’s new Insurance Consumer Advocate, Robin Westcott
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater has appointed Robin Westcott as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate today, July 20, 2011.
She most recently served as the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation Acting Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty.
A news release issued by the Office of CFO Atwater about the appointment is reprinted below.
Should you have any questions or comments, please contact Colodny Fass.
CFO Jeff Atwater Appoints Watchdog to Serve as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate
TALLAHASSEE-Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater today announced the appointment of attorney and insurance watchdog Robin Westcott to serve as Florida’s Insurance Consumer Advocate. CFO Atwater signaled that Westcott’s vast insurance knowledge as well as her career-long experience safeguarding Florida’s consumers will be a tremendous asset to the insurance-buying public.
Over the last several years, Westcott has repeatedly called on the insurance industry to hand over data on various insurance products important to consumers, including auto insurance and sinkhole coverage, and demanded accountability from insurance companies charging excessive fees for servicing policyholders through affiliated companies.
“Robin will be an ardent, outspoken and persistent advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers,” said CFO Atwater. “She is committed to holding insurance companies accountable and to ensuring consumers get exactly what they pay for and are protected from fraud and abuse. She has seen firsthand the tactics used to game the system and simply won’t stand for it.”
“I’m honored that CFO Atwater has given me the opportunity to continue to advocate for Florida’s insurance consumers-a passion I have dedicated my career to,” said Westcott. “I am excited and committed to ensuring Florida’s consumers have the best products at the most competitive prices.”
Westcott said her first goal is to address cost drivers hurting Florida’s consumers who are paying escalating auto and property insurance rates.
Westcott began her career in 1993 with the Florida Department of Insurance, Division of Rehabilitation and Liquidation. She served with the department until 2001, when she entered private practice. Westcott returned to the public sector in 2002 with the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, where she served as Assistant General Counsel and Counsel to the Florida Partnership for School Readiness. In 2004, she returned to the Office of Insurance Regulation, most recently serving as the Acting Deputy Commissioner of Property and Casualty.
Westcott will also continue to serve as the Executive Director of the Medicaid and Public Assistance Fraud Strike Force.
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an email to Brooke Ellis at bellis@cftlaw.com.