Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report – Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Oct 26, 2016
David Altmaier Outlines Legislative Priorities at Insurance Conference
Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier outlined his Legislative Priorities Tuesday during an Industry Conference, promising above all to work with Industry Stakeholders in drafting responses to Market Pressures. Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Anitere Flores: Florida Insurance Commissioner Should Be Elected
Over the last year, GOP Lawmakers have unsuccessfully pushed to return other Officers to Elected Positions from Appointed, including Education Commissioner and Secretary of State, SaintPetersBlog.com reports.
Flood Insurance Chief Concedes His Program Failed to Put Customers First
The Head of the National Flood Insurance Program conceded Tuesday the Program has stumbled in responding to Natural Disasters, but said he has already begun changes intended to emphasize service to its Customers. Michael Moline reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Questions Linger over Trump’s $17M Insurance Payout in 2005 for Florida Club
Donald Trump says he received a $17 million Insurance Payment in 2005 for hurricane damage to Mar-a-Lago, his Private Club in Palm Beach. But The Associated Press has found little evidence of such large-scale damage. Insurance Journal runs the follow-up.
Why the “Major-Hurricane Drought” is the Most Overblown Statistic in Meteorology
A Category 3 or stronger Hurricane, defined as a “Major” Hurricane, has not made landfall on the U.S. Coastline in exactly 11 years. By far, this 11-year stretch is the longest period on record without a Major Hurricane Strike. Jason Samenow reports for the Washington Post’s “Capital Weather Gang” blog.
FEMA Distributes More Than $7 Million Across Area
A little more than two weeks after Hurricane Matthew roared through the Region, Debris Contractors in Volusia and Flagler have collected thousands of dump truck loads of debris, while the Federal Emergency Management Agency has distributed more than $7.5 million in individual assistance across the area, including the two Counties. Dinah Voyles Pulver reports for the Daytona Beach News-Journal.
State Drivers License System Crash Turning Away Thousands of Customers
Irate Florida Tax Collectors say they are being forced to turn away thousands of Customers because of repeated breakdowns in the State Database that stores records of millions of Drivers Licenses and car and truck Registrations. The Tampa Bay Times reports via “The Buzz” blog.
Florida’s Division of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Seeking Permission to Use Drones
Florida’s Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles will ask Lawmakers next session to consider Legislation to “Allow Law Enforcement to use Drones for Traffic Crash Management.” Jim Rosica reports for FloridaPolitics.com.
Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Section Chair-Elect: Stereotypes Won’t Help Florida Workers
The bulk of what the Insurance Industry sought in a Rate Increase was, by NCCI’s own admission, related to the fact that Injured Floridians who retain Attorneys receive more in Benefits than Workers who do not retain Counsel. Yet the decision in Castellanos did not increase the pool of benefits available to injured Floridians, Florida Bar Workers’ Compensation Chair-Elect Paul Anderson writes in the Palm Beach Post.
Florida Cabinet Approves Purchase of 11,000 Acres to Protect 10 Springs, and More
Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet agreed Tuesday to purchase the multi-faceted 11,027-acre Horn Spring property, located within Leon and Jefferson counties, Allison Nielsen reports for SunshineStateNews.com.
Emotional Florida Voters Flock to the Polls on First Day of Early Voting
Florida Voters packed early Voting Sites across the State on Monday, producing long lines and expressing intense passions for and against Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. The Tampa Bay Times reports via SunshineStateNews.com.
With Senate Race Tight, Rubio and Murphy Debate Wednesday Night at Broward College
Voters can expect more of the same blend of Policy and Politics in Wednesday night’s Debate as they saw in Rubio and Murphy’s First Debate, the Miami Herald’s Kristin M. Clark reports.
Emergency Spinal Surgery Gives Lawmaker a New Perspective on Public Life
State Representative Shevrin Jones didn’t plan to end Election Season like this, the Florida Times-Union’s Tia Mitchell writes.
Insurance Think Tank Forecasts More Mergers, Political Gridlock
Whoever wins the White House in November, relations between the Major Political Parties in Washington may be as combative as ever, as neither Democrats nor Republicans are likely to secure control of both Houses of Congress. Warren S. Hirsch reports for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.
PCI: Vandalism Claims Are Highest on Halloween
On October 31, more Vandalism Claims are filed with Insurance Companies than any day of the year, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America.
NAIC Hosts Sixth Insurance Dialogue with Japanese Regulators
The NAIC hosted the Sixth Insurance Regulatory Dialogue with the Financial Services Agency of Japan on Friday to discuss Key Issues for Insurance Regulators.
Danger! They Think We’re Stupid!
Reported and Actual Products-Related Lawsuits have lead to the attachment of some Unusual Product Warning Labels – intended to protect us from ourselves. As you prepare for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas, reflect on some of these Labels and think how much “Crazy” there must be when we are so limited in the manner in which we are allowed to use products (some of these really spoil all the fun), Insurance Journal Academy blogs.
Click here to follow Colodny Fass on Twitter (@ColodnyFassLaw)
To unsubscribe from this newsletter, please send an e-mail to colodnyfassnews@gmail.com.