Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report, Monday, August 14, 2017

Aug 14, 2017

 

Geologists Descend on Florida Neighborhood to Study Massive Sinkhole

Experts might ever know exactly what caused Pasco County’s Largest Sinkhole in Decades, but a Team of University of South Florida Researchers have descended upon Lake Padgett Estates to learn as much as they can about what happened.  Insurance Journal reports.

 

Florida Senator Renews Effort to Combat One-Way Attorneys’ Fees in Assignment of Benefits Cases

Insurance Industry Groups are backing a Florida State Senator’s Reintroduction of Legislation intended to reduce Water Damage Claims Litigation by preventing Attorney Fee Awards in Cases involving Assignment of Benefits to Third Parties.  The Personal Insurance Federation of Florida reports.

 

Florida’s Flood Insurance Market Is Full Of Perils

Lawmakers hammer out Re-Authorization of National Flood Insurance Program.  WPLG’s Glenna Milberg and Andrea Torres report.

 

Dispute Dumps Short-Term Rental Study By FIU

Florida International University won’t pursue a proposed study of Airbnb-Type Accommodations that the American Hotel & Lodging Association hoped would expose what it believes is a Lack of Safety at Short-Term Rentals.   The Miami Herald reports via Crain’s Miami.

 

Consumers Should Be Cautious About Florida PACE Loans

There remain many reasons for Homeowners to be Cautious in Financing Repairs with a PACE Loan.  Florida Alliance for Consumer Protection Director Alice Vickers tells the Tallahassee Democrat.

 

Florida Highway Patrol Boss Says “No Ticket Quotas”

A Florida Highway Patrol July 28 Memo created much Social Media Chatter, led some Local TV Newscasts and prompted a Warning from a Key Legislator.  Senator Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, that ticket quotas are illegal under state law.

 

Florida is Cheapest Place to Buy Used Cars in U.S., Study Says

According to Autolist.com, Florida is the perfect State to Buy Used. The Site Offers Car Buyers Advice on how to find the Best Deals Across the Country and it Ranked Florida #1.  ABC Action News reports.

 

In Florida, Medicaid is a Matter of Life or Death

Broken Down into spending per Full-Benefit Enrollee, Florida Ranks at the Bottom – 49th in Fiscal 2014, according to information compiled by the Kaiser Foundation.  Noreen Marcus reports for U.S. News and World Report.

 

Florida Hospital Tries New Program To Stop Opioid Overdoses

The Florida Times-Union Reports the Program Launches at St. Vincent’s Medical Center Riverside in Jacksonville in October.  Officials say it’s the First Program of its kind in Florida.  The Associated Press reports.

 

A Billion-Dollar Fight Over Bonds

A Federal Court’s Ruling this week in Kansas has bolstered Florida’s Lawsuit against the Feds over U.S. Savings Bonds it holds as Unclaimed Property.  FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch reports.

 

Florida Governor Wants Tax Measure On Next Year’s Ballot

Florida Governor Rick Scott wants to put a Constitutional Amendment on the Ballot that would make it harder for State Legislators to Raise Taxes or Fees.  The Associated Press reports via the Tampa Tribune.

·         Rick Scott Pushes for Constitutional Amendment on Tax Hikes

·         Richard Corcoran, Paul Renner Support Tax Amendment

 

Governor’s Race Beginning to Heat Up in Florida

Florida is creeping through the middle of a sweltering summer in a Non-Election Year.  THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Turner reports via the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

 

Preparation is Key as Joe Negron Remains a Force Heading Into 2018 Session

Halfway between Legislative Sessions, Florida Senate President Joe Negron is not standing still.  FloridaPolitics.com Publisher Peter Schorsch reports.

 

Homeowners Insurers Criticize Assignment Of Benefits In Nebraska

The Issue of Assignment of Benefits to Home-Repair Contractors has gained Lawmakers’ and Insurance Regulators’ Attention in Nebraska recently, with Insurers saying the practice can result in Abuse and Lead to Higher Premiums.  The Omaha World-Herald reports via the PCI SmartBrief.

 

California Supreme Court Affirms Homeowner Reimbursement Protections

The California Supreme Court this week ended a long Legal Battle between a Richmond Homeowner and her Homeowners Insurance Company by Declining to Consider the Insurance Industry’s Petition to Overturn a Lower Court’s Decision that Insurers must pay to Repair a Home even if Repair Costs Exceed the Home’s Market Value.  Insurance Journal reports.

 

Catastrophe Bond Is Said To Be First Using Blockchain For Settlement

A Catastrophe-Bond Transaction this month is reportedly the first to Harness Blockchain, Creating the potential for Settlement within seconds and with No Intermediary.  Bloomberg reports via the PCISmartBrief.

 

 

 

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