Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Thursday, Dec. 27

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2 sentenced in insurance crash scams

Prosecutors hope the sentence handed down to two men who staged a car accident in 2005 will deter others tempted to try and cheat insurance companies.

Two men sent to prison for staging a car crash in Lauderdale Lakes are the first in Broward County sentenced under a tough Florida law enacted to combat no-fault insurance fraud, prosecutors say.

 

Crist vows to lower insurance rates for homeowners, businesses

Despite Gov. Charlie Crist’s best efforts to persuade insurance companies to lower the rates they charge home and business owners, little progress was made in 2007.

 

Florida population growth slows; Louisiana rebounds

The population of Louisiana fell by a quarter-million people after Hurricane Katrina tore through New Orleans in August 2005. The damage was so bad, some worried whether anyone would ever come back. Some did.

 
The Orlando-area’s most powerful people

On Tuesday, we started counting down The 25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida by unveiling 10 people, including two who are shaking up the establishment, a couple of media mavens and several behind-the-scenes political players and fundraisers.

 

Insurer finally settles with storm-torn family

Judy Franklin’s family Christmas dinner took place in a neighbor’s house this year. More than two years after Hurricane Wilma blew away the second floor of the Franklin home and filled it with rainwater, the family is still out of its Lake Worth residence.

 
Smaller disasters hit insurers hard in ’07

This year was marked by an absence of ‘megacatastrophes’ but an increase in the number of smaller-scale natural disasters caused higher losses than the insurance industry saw in 2006, Munich Re said.

 

Florida cities set pace in declining home prices across the country

Home prices in South Florida dropped more than anywhere else in the country in the past year, according to a widely watched index showed on Wednesday.

 

Baccarat would bring big players, experts say

Blackjack is the most popular table game among American gamblers, and if the compact between the state and the Seminole tribe is approved, expect to hear players calling “Hit me” at green felt gaming pits all around the tribe’s casinos.

 

Taxes, insurance top ’07 issues

In 2007 there was a new governor and no hurricanes in Florida, but storms nonetheless over property taxes and homeowners insurance.

 

Behind small business failures is the high cost of health care

Remember that great new shop you found recently, only to return to find it had already closed? You’re disappointed, because it was a great idea and the owner was excited to offer his products or services to those who happened in the front door.

 

Protecting a $155 Billion Pot

New Yorks comptroller, Thomas DiNapoli, one of the most powerful people in the state, was chosen by his friends in the State Assembly over more qualified contenders.

 

S.Korea seeks changes in law to help insurers grow

(Reuters) – South Korea’s Finance Ministry announced on Thursday a set of deregulation proposals to help insurance companies grow in scale and enhance their services in the domestic market, the world’s seventh-largest by premiums.

 
“Why shouldn’t we all expect these favors from the government?”

Some borrowers got into the game by skin of their teeth

Every day, we hear more about new problems with the subprime-lending market and new plans to avert what should have been obvious.

 

Buy Some Insurance

The financial market turmoil triggered by the subprime mess is setting new lows for financial services stocks. Banks, real estate investment trusts, brokerages and mortgage companies have endured valuation drops that defy explanation.

 

Forbes Insurance Picks

The insurers from our 400 Best Big Companies in America list have a median five-year earnings per share growth of 30%, best among all Platinum 400 industries.