CORRECTION: Capitol to Courthouse Florida Insurance Report: Tuesday, April 15

Apr 15, 2014

 

CORRECTION:  Please note that, in the Castle Key Insurance-related case below, that the First District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Castle Key, not against it, as previously reported.

 

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

 

10:00 a.m.–Florida Division of (Insurance) Agents and Agency Services (“IAAS”) Rule Development Workshop.  Proposed amendments to Rules 69B-220.051, “Conduct of Public Adjusters,” and 69B-220.201, “Ethical Requirements,” would incorporate legislative changes to Part VI of Chapter 626, F.S.  To view the Workshop notice, click here.

 

 

Daily Florida Insurance-Related News


Florida’s First District Court of Appeal Rules in Favor of Castle Key Insurance in Summary Judgement Question

In a case relating to renovations performed subsequent to a Florida house fire, the Florida’s First District Court of Appeal ruled in favor of Castle Key Insurance yesterday, explaining that summary judgment is appropriate only where there is no genuine issue of material fact and where the moving party is entitled to a judgment as a matter of law. 

 

How Will Depopulating Citizens Insurance Affect Florida?

As Citizens continues to drop policies, is Florida growing financially stronger, or is it undermining the things that make it successful?  Alice Holbrook ponders the question for NerdWallet.com.

 

Hall-of-famer’s lawsuit exposes insurance-related liability limits of Seminole gaming compact

Under Florida’s legal agreement with the Seminole Tribe, if someone is injured at a tribal casino and wants to sue, the tribe’s payment is capped at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, the same limits enjoyed by the state when it is sued for negligence, the Miami Herald’s Mary Ellen Klas reports.

 

Audit:  Florida’s Electronic Motor Vehicle System Has Security Problems

A newly released audit of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ electronic processing system raises some serious red flags, William Patrick reports for FloridaWatchdog.org via SunshineStateNews.com.


Florida lawmakers will re-evaluate funding model for safety net hospitals

With the federal government making clear last week that no new Medicaid money is coming Florida’s way, legislators say it’s important they re-evaluate a new funding model that safety-net hospitals say will cost them hundreds of millions of dollars a year, the Miami Herald reports.

 

U.S. Supreme Court could take up Scott’s drug-testing policy for state workers

More than three years after Gov. Rick Scott issued an executive order seeking across-the-board drug testing for state employees, the U.S. Supreme Court could be poised to decide whether to weigh in on the policy, THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA’s Jim Saunders reports.

 

“Give me Scott,” Crist says after awkward handshake with Lopez-Cantera

Lieutenant Governor Carlos Lopez-Cantera was upstaged by Charlie Crist yesterday as the former allies met at a Palm Beach County event, explains Marc Caputo in the Miami Herald’s “Naked Politics” blog.

 

Democrats try to raise Florida’s minimum wage, but the conversation goes nowhere

Democratic lawmakers have not been able to spark a discussion about increasing the state minimum wage, the Miami Herald’s Kathleen McGrory reports via the “Naked Politics” blog.


Slow week at Capitol before budget talks

It’s going to be a slow week at the Capitol – lawmakers are taking a break to celebrate Passover and Easter before coming back to pass a budget, the one thing they’re required to accomplish each session, Tallahassee Democrat’s Jeff Burlew reports.

 

Gary Siplin looks to return to the Legislature

Former state Senator Gary Siplin is looking to return to the Legislature, Phil Ammann reports via SaintPetersblog.com.


In Florida politics, the death of the campaign finance story

In 2013, the Florida Legislature passed a so-called elections reform package aimed at keeping the flow of money from finding the cracks in the campaign finance system, writes Peter Schorsch of SaintPetersBlog.com.

 

Mississippi drops lawsuit against Federal Flood Insurance Program

Mississippi’s lawsuit against the Federal Flood Insurance Program will be withdrawn pending the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s implementation of a new law passed by Congress meant to alleviate some of the dramatic rate increases facing Mississippi homeowners, April Havens reports for GulfLive.com.

 

Federal Reserve Content with Slow, Steady Approach to Insurance

Federal Reserve Board officials are making clear that they have a wait-and-see attitude about support for international initiatives aimed at establishing uniform capital standards for insurance companies, explains Arthur Postal for National Underwriter’s PropertyCasualty360.com.

 

New York Regulators to Start Licensing Title Insurance Agents for First Time

New York’s new budget gives state financial regulators authority to issue licenses to title insurance agents for the first time, Associated Press reports via Insurance Journal.


New York Lawmakers Examining Auto Insurance Costs, Rate Factors

Auto insurers use many factors, including a motorist’s education and occupation, to accurately gauge their risk, industry representatives told state lawmakers on April 10, a week after a consumer advocacy group called the practice unfair, Associated Press’ David Klepper reports for Insurance Journal.

 

New York Senator says TRIA Renewal Vital for Economic Development in Cities Across Country

The U.S. Senate is close to extending an insurance program that New York Senator Charles Schumer said is vital to New York’s post-9/11 resurgence and economic development in cities across the country, Associated Press’ Michael R. Sisak reports via Insurance Journal.

 

 

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