Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report–Friday, October 31, 2014

Oct 31, 2014

 

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

 

There are no events scheduled for today.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News

 

Anchor Property and Casualty Is Newest Florida Homeowners Insurance Carrier

Anchor Property and Casualty Insurance Co. became licensed by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation on October 28 to write homeowners insurance business in the state, Insurance Journal reports.

 

South Florida lawyers, chiropractors accused of insurance fraud

In what could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars of fraud, authorities say a group of South Florida attorneys and chiropractors worked hand-in-hand to exploit the state’s No-Fault insurance system, Brittany Shammas and Adam Sacasa report for the Sun-Sentinel.

 

Donegal Mutual again rebuffs proposal from Florida investor

Donegal Mutual Insurance on Thursday replied to a Florida investor’s latest acquisition proposal with the same two words it’s been using for nearly two years:  No thanks.  Tim McKeel reports for LancasterOnline.com.

 

Gainesville makes first effort at regulating Uber, other car services

Gainesville city commissioners Wednesday night took a first step toward trying to protect both customers of Uber, an app-based ride service, and traditional cab companies by starting to craft a new ordinance regulating vehicles for hire, Cindy Swirko reports for the Gainesville Sun.

 

Insurance Costs for Jacksonville Ghost Hunters Unnerves Historic Property Owners

Some Jacksonville property owners had to give up their buildings because they couldn’t afford the insurance and the cost of repairs due to trespassing ghost hunters, Peter Haden reports for WJTC-TV.

 

Florida Supreme Court removes Tallahassee judge

The Florida Supreme Court is removing a Leon County judge who sold religious books from her office as part of her for-profit ministry, Associated Press reports via Scripps’ “Political Fix Florida” blog.

 

Charlie Crist On Working With GOP:  Forgiveness In My Heart

Florida GOP leaders really don’t like Republican-turned-independent-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist.  Despise is probably the better word, Associated Press’ Brendan Farrington writes via SaintPetersBlog.com.

 

H. Gary Morse, powerful developer of The Villages, dies at 77

H. Gary Morse, the billionaire developer of The Villages megaretirement community and a powerful force in national Republican Party politics, died Wednesday night, Orlando Sentinel’s Jayna Omaye and Jerry Fallstrom report.

 

Florida TaxWatch Showcases Medical Tourism in New Report

Florida TaxWatch released a report on Thursday showing how out-of-state patients seeking medical treatment in the Sunshine State helps the economy, SunshineStateNews.com reports.

 

Mississippi Insurance Commissioner agrees to compare property insurance premiums versus losses

A growing coalition of Coast property owners is pressing for state legislation that would require insurance companies to report what they pay in claims by ZIP code.  But Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney told the Sun Herald on Wednesday he will order up the numbers without a legislative mandate.  Advisen.com carries the story.

 

South Carolina Liquidating Commercial Auto Insurer Risk Retention Group First Keystone

The South Carolina Department of Insurance last week declared an insurer that specialized in providing commercial auto insurance to be insolvent and the insurer is now being liquidated, Insurance Journal’s Michael Adams reports.

 

Mediation Ordered in Suit Against Texas Guardrail Maker

A federal judge has ordered mediation between a Texas company and a whistleblower who won a $175 million verdict over a design change in the company’s highway guardrails, Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.

 

State of Washington Insurance Commissioner focuses on Climate Change Preparedness

Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler was part of a report issued by Ceres on Oct. 22 that slammed the industry for “a profound lack of preparedness in addressing climate-related risks and opportunities.”  Don Jergler updates his bi-monthly “Climate Control” column for Insurance Journal.

 

Boston Mayor Reports Significant Strides in Preparing for Climate Change

Boston has made significant strides in preparing for major natural disasters, rising sea levels and other impacts to the ever-changing climate, Mayor Martin Walsh said on the two-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, Associated Press’ Phil Marcelo reports via Insurance Journal.

 

Disturbing Trends in Workers’ Compensation

WCI360.com’s Joan Collier notes seven workers’ compensation legislative trends and developments that demand the attention of all stakeholders today.

 

 

 

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