Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Friday, October 19

Oct 19, 2012

 

To go directly to the section of your choice, click on a hyperlink below.  Other hyperlinks to meeting information, bills and news are noted in bold type.




Daily Florida Insurance-Related Events

 

1:00 p.m.–Citizens Property Insurance Corporation Board of Governors meeting; Teleconference:  888-942-8686; participant code:  5743735657#.  To view the meeting notice, click here.

     

     

    Daily Insurance-Related News

     

    President Obama declares 11 Florida counties disaster areas

    President Obama has declared 11 Florida counties a disaster area for damage sustained during Tropical Storm Isaac.

     

    Citizens Property Insurance defends dismantling watchdog office, Governor Rick Scott not pleased

    Citizens Property Insurance Corp. said it is merely “realigning” its corporate watchdog efforts, but Governor Rick Scott is still “troubled” by the move.

    • Click here to read Governor Scott’s letter to Citizens Property Insurance CEO Barry Gilway.

     

    Arctic could wreak havoc on Florida’s weather

    Forecasters say winter in Florida and along the southeastern U.S. coast will be wetter and a tad cooler than normal, but an unprecedented loss of Arctic sea ice this fall could wreak havoc with that prediction.

     

    United Insurance Holdings Corp. Appoints John F. Langowski, III as Vice President of Claims

    United Insurance Holdings Corp., a property and casualty insurance holding company, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed industry veteran John F. Langowski, III as its Vice President of Claims.

     

    Broward Sheriff’s Office:  Sting Nets Arrests Of 19 Unlicensed Contractors

    They came looking for work.

     

    As Florida Weighs 6.1 percent Workers’ Compensation Hike, Legislators Urged to Act

    A proposed statewide average 6.1 percent increase in Florida’s workers’ compensation rates could spur the first major legislative changes in the state’s system since 2003.

     

    Florida labor officials release September unemployment

    For the final time before the Nov. 6 general election, states are releasing unemployment numbers, and Florida is among those hoping to see improvement in the September figures.

     

    Florida judge says legislators can be put under oath

    In a major blow to the GOP-controlled Florida Legislature, a judge has ruled that legislators and legislative staff may have to answer questions about a contentious lawsuit over new congressional districts.

     

    Florida asks feds to drop ethanol requirement for gas

    Florida Governor Rick Scott wants the federal government to drop a requirement for corn-based ethanol in gasoline.

     

    Investment advisers register with state in wake of Dodd-Frank

    More than 300 investment adviser firms have applied with state financial regulators to comply with a Securities Exchange Commission rule designed to increase oversight of financial institutions. The rule was promulgated as part of the federal Dodd-Frank Act passed in 2010. 

     

    Blog:  Skeptical judges hear arguments in Bernard appeal of Florida Senate District 27 election

    A three-judge panel appeared skeptical Thursday of state Representative Mack Bernard’s appeal of a lower court decision affirming his Democratic opponent Jeff Clemens as the winner in a Palm Beach County state senate race.

     

    Blog:  Miami lawmaker seeks political revenge against predecessor

    After losing two state legislative races against Juan C. Zapata, state Representative Frank Artiles is trying to get his revenge.

     

    Million-dollar battle rages for state House seat near University of Central Florida

    Another million-dollar battle for a seat in the Florida Legislature has erupted in Orange County.

     

    Newcomer Christopher Pennington takes on Andy Gardiner in Florida Senate race

    Political novice Christopher Pennington reluctantly acknowledges that he has only a slim chance of winning a state Senate seat by beating one of the most influential lawmakers in Central Florida.

     

    Nightmare Election Day scenarios worry both parties

    Here in a county that knows a thing or two about Election Day meltdowns, both parties are fretting over what might go seriously wrong before, during or just after the Nov. 6 presidential election.

     

    Florida Governor Rick Scott does “work day” at Florida crime laboratory

    Florida Governor Rick Scott has put in another “Let’s Get to Work Day,” this time as a crime laboratory analyst.

     

    Enterprise Florida wants a brand

    The economic development agency has contracted with two marketing firms to promote Florida as a business destination.

     

    State Supreme Court Reduces Late Payment Penalty Against Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance

    The Louisiana Supreme Court has relieved the state’s property insurer of last resort of the burden of paying a $125,000 penalty for late payment of a claim settlement stemming from Hurricane Gustav in 2008.

     

    Senators Join Industry in Calling on Regulators to Avoid Bank-Centric Rules for Insurers

    Ahead of a comment-period deadline, almost two dozen members of the Senate from both sides of the aisle sent a letter to the top federal-banking regulators warning them that the application of a bank-centric capital regime to the insurance industry would fundamentally alter the nature of the business, undermine prudential supervision and unintentionally harm insurance policyholders. 

     

    New York Times Blog:  Barclays Sets Aside $1.1 Billion More for Insurance Claims

    The British bank Barclays said on Thursday that it had set aside an additional £700 million ($1.1 billion) related to the inappropriate sales of insurance to British customers.

     

     

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