Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Monday, August 2
Aug 2, 2010
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Connecticut Supreme Court Sides with Florida’s Brown and Brown in Disclosure Case
The Connecticut Supreme Court has limited state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal’s ability to subpoena confidential business documents, siding with a Florida insurance company that sued to prevent disclosure of information.
CoreLogic: Oil spill could cost Jax coastal property $493M
Coastal residential real estate in the Jacksonville area could lose a total of $493 million in property value over five years if the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill drifts around the state in the coastal loop current, according to the data provider CoreLogic.
Florida State University researchers invent new tool to calculate hurricane risk
November 2010 study to show Miami most vulnerable to wind
Bad news, Miami. Of all Florida’s major population centers, the city is the most vulnerable to strong hurricane winds, according to Florida State University researchers who developed a new tool to estimate the frequency of extreme hurricane winds at a particular location.
A.M. Best Co. has upgraded the issuer credit ratings to “bbb+” from “bbb” and affirmed the financial strength rating of B++ of Florida Family Insurance Company and Lakeview Insurance Company (collectively known as the companies)
Korducki Elected President of Sunshine State Insurance in Florida
Stephen A. Korducki, a senior insurance and reinsurance executive, has been elected president and CEO of Sunshine State Insurance Co., Inc., a homeowners insurance writer in Florida. Korducki succeeds John E. Rogan who is retiring after leading the company for five years.
Sinking yard in Highlands County sparks Emergency Operations Center response
Highlands County officials were called to the home of a Sebring Ridge woman Tuesday who called after her son noticed the back yard had sunken since he last cut their grass.
Orlando-based Medicare bid winner had fraud claims
After Congress overturned a competitive-bidding program for home-health equipment two years ago because of problems, Medicare officials promised they’d be careful in their second attempt.
Hayward Brown Flagler Inc. buys Palm Coast Insurance Services
Hayward Brown Flagler Inc. has bought Palm Coast Insurance Services, company officials announced.
Florida ordered to reduce crossing accidents
Federal officials have ordered Florida to reduce railroad crossing accidents, even as the number of collisions between trains and automobiles has been cut in half over the past four years.
Florida’s ‘Stand Your Ground’ law put to test
Florida Supreme Court expected to weigh in on self-defense legislation
Howard Strickland stabbed Anthony Pignataro in the abdomen with a pocket knife during an argument outside a keg party near Cocoa just days before Christmas in 2007. Rescuers flew Pignataro to a hospital in Melbourne, but he died later that morning from his injuries.
Mike Sole resigns as Fla. environmental chief
Mike Sole has resigned as secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
News Release: Governor Crist Announces Closed Harvesting area in Escambia County Reopens
Governor Charlie Crist announced that The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has reopened coastal state waters offshore of Escambia County to the harvest of saltwater fish, at 12:01 a.m. July 31.
Blog: Everglades back on the “danger” list
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar is hailing today’s decision by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee to once again add Everglades National Park to the list of World Heritage in Danger.
Miccosukee tribe launches counterattack against IRS
The Miccosukee Tribe has launched a counterattack against the IRS, saying that millions of dollars in gambling profits distributed to members are not subject to federal income taxes
In a legal showdown with the IRS, the Miccosukees say their members don’t owe any taxes on income they receive from the tribe’s gambling operation — a stance that sets them apart from possibly every Indian tribe with casinos in the United States.
Column: Judges veto lawmakers’ constitutional amendment language
Who would have thought that by trying to block redistricting changes, weaken class-size requirements, fight ObamaCare and cut property taxes for some property owners, Florida lawmakers were effectively legalizing a duck hunt in Tallahassee’s courts?
Tampa Bay corporate headquarters of PBSJ Corp. to close following company’s acquisition by WS Atkins
The PBSJ Corp. agreed to be acquired by WS Atkins plc in a cash deal valued at $280 million.
Column: Strong returns help pension fund crawl back
SBA has a good year with investments
There is some good news for state employees regarding their pensions.
Washington Post: Self-funders on the rise in Florida
Unlike other large states, Florida does not have a long history of wealthy candidates successfully self-funding their pursuits for political office but this cycle may change that.
GOP gubernatorial candidates McCollum, Scott to face off in debate Monday
In a 2002 debate with Republican Gov. Jeb Bush, Democratic candidate Bill McBride stumbled over a question about the potential cost of the class-size amendment, guessing the price would be “somewhere in the middle” of $8 billion and $29 billion.
Republican Florida attorney general candidates match wits in TV debate
In their first joint TV appearance Saturday, all three Republican candidates for attorney general matched wits and contrasted their qualifications to be the state’s next chief legal officer.
Greene and Meek don’t hide ill will in debate
For two candidates who disagree on so little, it’s striking that Jeff Greene and Kendrick Meek can loathe each other so much.
Republicans compete to take on Debbie Wasserman Schultz
Three Republicans seek nomination to challenge Democratic congresswoman
Door to door campaigning in blistering summer heat. Getting slammed by anonymous Internet commenters. Pleading for money.
Mystery attack ads literally call candidate ‘ugly’
You know a political campaign has gotten dirty when a candidate sends out an advertisement calling one of his opponents ”ugly.” As in, not good-looking.
The women behind the men who would be Florida’s senator
Florida’s Senate race is about four men elbowing each other in a fierce bid to join the most powerful legislative branch in the United States.
Crist made frequent use of bill signing ceremonies
“Mazel tov,” Gov. Charlie Crist told the crowd at a South Florida retirement village. He kissed cheeks and shook hands, fishing for tidbits of common ground. He and his wife are condo owners, too. She is a New York transplant, like many of them are.
Florida land-line phone utilities lost 1 million customers in 2009
The three largest landline telephone providers in Florida – Verizon, AT&T and CenturyLink – lost 1 million customers in 2009.
US Lawmakers Try to Work Out Wind, Flood Issues as Session Closes for Summer
One U.S. senator thinks the solution for wind vs. flood disputes over storm damage should be — in the case of a disagreement between insurers — to initially split the coverage 50/50.
International Accounting Standards Board proposes common rule for insurers
The international body that sets accounting rules used in more than 110 countries including Britain, Japan and Germany said insurance companies should standardize bookkeeping to give investors better data.
Property/Casualty Insurers Report Rise in Questionable Claims Led By Hail, Auto Glass
Property/casualty insurance companies are reporting that the number of claims requiring more scrutiny than normal rose again in the first half of this year compared to 2009.
Pennsylvania May Use Traffic Cameras to Confirm Insurance
Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell says a network of surveillance cameras could be used to identify uninsured drivers and help raise money for the state treasury.
Insurers hold billions in federal death benefits in unprotected accounts
The package arrived at Cindy Lohman’s home in Great Mills, just two weeks after she learned that her son, Ryan P. Baumann, a 24-year-old Army sergeant, had been killed by a bomb in Afghanistan.
The Wall Street Journal: Consumer-Czar Candidate Waits in Wings
Barr, a White House Top Pick for New Post, Has Called for Dramatic Changes at Banks and ‘Plan Vanilla’ Products for Consumers
Many Democrats and liberal interest groups have launched an all-out campaign to have Elizabeth Warren nominated as the first consumer financial-affairs regulator. Many bankers and Republicans are hell bent on stopping her.
Marsh Names 59 Managing Directors in U.S., Canada
Marsh announced the appointment of 59 new managing directors in North America.
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