I am glad PiP is gone, people shouldn’t have to make a claim under their policy for medical payments if they are not at fault. People crying here are agents who lose 10-15% premium off their policies.
However, if PIP is gone now, agents can now offer Medical coverage as a replacement so people can still get their coverage.
Andy is, as usual, incorrect here, but then, lobbyists for certain special interest groups (see below) are best at distorting the truth.
The people crying over the demise of PIP are the pigs who feed at it’s trough, the personal injury attorneys (watch their late night ads!), chiropracters, and Drs. who love it because there are no controls over it’s abuse. Their lobbyists have made sure there are no controls so they can submit false bills with impunity and the insurers have to pay them, without question.
The legislators rolled over for them so PIP costs far more than it should. Just look at your annual premium for $10,000 of coverage. The rates are outrageous.
It’s made worse by the fact that an estimated 1/3 of all motorists in Fl. have no insurance at all, not even the absurdly low amounts required by law.
Florida agents would not mind keeping PIP if controls were established to eliminate the fraud, but, of course, those who really benefit from it (see above) have far more powerful lobbyists that the insurance agents do, and our legislators love the money.
1) someone is always at fault for the accident yet, fl does not require you to carry BI cvg…and yet they do require you to carry pip coverage ($10k)…this in reality only delays the process of the actual coverage they truly need…
2) um cvg?, well, if you are that worried about it, add it as a coverage which in most cases it is available; so long as you add bi cvg….
3) not all health cvgs cover any medical bill associated with an accident…in florida, u have many military folks (active and retired) whom can be treated by a military medical facility – which means no cost to any party, except the military itself…
4) this state with the so-called many uninsured drivers, then make it mandatory that just to have a license u have to have insurance….in north carolina, u have to show proof of insur to get lic and then again, when u reg a veh…even in that state, if you have lic but no insur, it’s considered driving w/o insurance and can be a costly adventure.
5) the only true no-fault state is MI, where ur are responsible for the pymnt of ur medical bills and ur veh thru ur insurance…u can only be surch for an at-fault accident…
—-
so in reality, there is someone always at-fault for the accident in FLORIDA…it just a matter of whom is paying and how much….this is why PIP is a shortfall…u have um cvg anyways….don’t ever have anyone fool you with that fl has No-Fault, because in reality they do have fault; it just the first $10k come fm their own pol…i am glad that is changing, and forcing the issue of everyone carrying the bi…
I am glad PiP is gone, people shouldn’t have to make a claim under their policy for medical payments if they are not at fault. What if you do not have medical- and you are not at fault. Will you till me why we can not wake up- Lets give the INS Compay more – Please tell all of us what this will do . My policy keeps getting cut- The Law makes see to it. Dose this really seem right to you–?
They argue the system is so filled with fraud and abuse that it cannot be fixed.
It,s the system the INS rats . Like at the Fraud by the people who sold us paper with the policy they made up. IF you all do not want Liabilty you should have not sold us your pipe dreams! The Fraud by the rats and the cover up for the rats. The congress needs to open!!! the law books up, for the people- THE KINGS
GULFPORT –The leader of South Diamondhead’s Slingshot Gang, organized to fight for Katrina insurance payments, has given up on settling her dispute outside a courtroom.
Judy Dutruch and her husband, Kenneth, have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Gulfport that seeks full coverage under their policy, attorney’s fees, plus $20 million in punitive damages from State Farm Fire and Casualty and its parent company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
The Dutruches claim State Farm breached its insurance contract maliciously and in bad faith. The lawsuit, filed by the Merlin Law Group, describes a “calculated course of corporate conduct” conceived by top officers to minimize the company’s exposure in the face of the nation’s worst natural disaster.
State Farm has denied any wrongdoing. The company says it considers each claim individually and pays what is owed under its policies. To date, State Farm has paid more than $3 billion in Katrina claims and considers 99 percent settled. A company spokesman said State Farm is trying to resolve lingering claims through a re-evaluation ordered by Insurance Commissioner George Dale.
“There’s clearly a willingness and desire on the part of State Farm to resolve issues policyholders have,” spokesman Jonathan Freed said. “We have mounted an information campaign where we are inviting and encouraging any policyholder with concerns to engage in this process.”
Judy Dutruch responded: “If I was ignorant of how things were going, I might fall for that. We already told them what we wanted. They have it in a letter. Why am I going to ask them again?
“We want to be made whole. We are suing for punitive damages not because I want the money but because they’re wrong. They’re cheating people.”
The Dutruch case is one of more than 200 lawsuits pending in federal court against State Farm. Many were filed by policyholders whose homes Katrina swept away, leaving only slabs.
Pilings were all that remained of the Dutruches’ vacation home. Shortly after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane, Kenneth Dutruch tried to schedule an appointment with State Farm adjuster Ross Bagby to inspect their property.
“Mr. Bagby claimed that he did not have to conduct an inspection, ‘because all of them look the same,’
” the lawsuit says. Kenneth Dutruch asked that he be notified before any inspection, but said State Farm didn’t call.
State Farm says Bagby inspected the property Oct. 8, 2005.
The Dutruches received full payment for water damage under their National Flood Insurance policy, followed by an Oct. 27, 2005, denial letter for coverage under their State Farm homeowner’s policy. No engineering report was completed on their property before the claim was denied.
When Judy Dutruch requested information supporting the denial, State Farm said it would not supply what the company considers “work product.”
Company documents have since shown that State Farm adjusters were under instructions to deny claims where wind acted “concurrently” with water to cause the loss. The company’s position was based on policy language contrary to the Mississippi Insurance Department’s interpretation. U.S. District Court Judge L.T. Senter Jr. has since found the language “ambiguous” and “unenforceable.”
The Dutruches and other Slingshot Gang members spent thousands of dollars to prove wind damaged their property before the tide surged in, even hiring a forensic arborist.
Along with others, Judy Dutruch spoke at a U.S. District Court hearing Feb. 28 in favor of a class-action lawsuit against State Farm. Senter rejected the request, which came from an Ocean Springs policyholder suing the company. He said each claim is too unique for mass litigation.
He was, however, impressed with Dutruch’s prepared remarks and told her, “I’m afraid you’re going to be chased out of here by lawyers,” meaning they would want to take her case. After some research, Dutruch settled on Florida attorney William F. “Chip” Merlin Jr., who specializes in insurance litigation and has partnered with local attorneys to represent policyholders.
State Farm has denied any wrongdoing- Okay you can denie no more STATE FARM. we have your number,,,,, Call PEOPLE Tell STATE FARM NO MORE DENIng 1-866-873-6952. ask for the big dog ED Rust.O who owns State Farm , I was told the Policy holders- thats all of us. We do not like the why you all have been running things time for a big change.
Semi-Literatre? Except the one copy/pasted, I’m still trying to understand the messages, could you translate the parts you did understand? Maybe if we all got together we could sort through it.
who must be out of medication. As far as PIP, just like homeowners, if the insurer
wants no more part of the coverage, its a money loser. So with that in mind, why would anyone at a state level want to assume that risk for what would undoubtably be a higher cost? I know the insurance haters (on this web site?) don’t
understand the simple relationship between policyholders and those they transfer risk to for money. To them, risk transfer for money is evil, unlike the rest of us who understand what risk to assume and what risk to transfer. Now watch out for that grassy knoll.
I was trying to be kind.I’m still trying to understand the messages, could you translate.I will be happy to fault automobile insurance system- if you have paid for pip for years and not used it great we made a lot of money off you – So we want to take protection away for driversand we can make laws for that.. Dear people if you do not have medical Ins do not drive. I would like to know if you all realy think or not!
I am glad PiP is gone, people shouldn’t have to make a claim under their policy for medical payments if they are not at fault. People crying here are agents who lose 10-15% premium off their policies.
However, if PIP is gone now, agents can now offer Medical coverage as a replacement so people can still get their coverage.
Whats the big deal
Read the accompanying article from the Tampa Tribune:
http://www.tbo.com/news/money/MGBD46KIG3F.html
Andy is, as usual, incorrect here, but then, lobbyists for certain special interest groups (see below) are best at distorting the truth.
The people crying over the demise of PIP are the pigs who feed at it’s trough, the personal injury attorneys (watch their late night ads!), chiropracters, and Drs. who love it because there are no controls over it’s abuse. Their lobbyists have made sure there are no controls so they can submit false bills with impunity and the insurers have to pay them, without question.
The legislators rolled over for them so PIP costs far more than it should. Just look at your annual premium for $10,000 of coverage. The rates are outrageous.
It’s made worse by the fact that an estimated 1/3 of all motorists in Fl. have no insurance at all, not even the absurdly low amounts required by law.
Florida agents would not mind keeping PIP if controls were established to eliminate the fraud, but, of course, those who really benefit from it (see above) have far more powerful lobbyists that the insurance agents do, and our legislators love the money.
What in the world do these last three semi-literate postings have to do with Personal Injury Protection coverage in Florida?
here’s the main problem with the PIP…
1) someone is always at fault for the accident yet, fl does not require you to carry BI cvg…and yet they do require you to carry pip coverage ($10k)…this in reality only delays the process of the actual coverage they truly need…
2) um cvg?, well, if you are that worried about it, add it as a coverage which in most cases it is available; so long as you add bi cvg….
3) not all health cvgs cover any medical bill associated with an accident…in florida, u have many military folks (active and retired) whom can be treated by a military medical facility – which means no cost to any party, except the military itself…
4) this state with the so-called many uninsured drivers, then make it mandatory that just to have a license u have to have insurance….in north carolina, u have to show proof of insur to get lic and then again, when u reg a veh…even in that state, if you have lic but no insur, it’s considered driving w/o insurance and can be a costly adventure.
5) the only true no-fault state is MI, where ur are responsible for the pymnt of ur medical bills and ur veh thru ur insurance…u can only be surch for an at-fault accident…
—-
so in reality, there is someone always at-fault for the accident in FLORIDA…it just a matter of whom is paying and how much….this is why PIP is a shortfall…u have um cvg anyways….don’t ever have anyone fool you with that fl has No-Fault, because in reality they do have fault; it just the first $10k come fm their own pol…i am glad that is changing, and forcing the issue of everyone carrying the bi…
I am glad PiP is gone, people shouldn’t have to make a claim under their policy for medical payments if they are not at fault. What if you do not have medical- and you are not at fault. Will you till me why we can not wake up- Lets give the INS Compay more – Please tell all of us what this will do . My policy keeps getting cut- The Law makes see to it. Dose this really seem right to you–?
They argue the system is so filled with fraud and abuse that it cannot be fixed.
It,s the system the INS rats . Like at the Fraud by the people who sold us paper with the policy they made up. IF you all do not want Liabilty you should have not sold us your pipe dreams! The Fraud by the rats and the cover up for the rats. The congress needs to open!!! the law books up, for the people- THE KINGS
By ANITA LEE
GULFPORT –The leader of South Diamondhead’s Slingshot Gang, organized to fight for Katrina insurance payments, has given up on settling her dispute outside a courtroom.
Judy Dutruch and her husband, Kenneth, have filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Gulfport that seeks full coverage under their policy, attorney’s fees, plus $20 million in punitive damages from State Farm Fire and Casualty and its parent company, State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co.
The Dutruches claim State Farm breached its insurance contract maliciously and in bad faith. The lawsuit, filed by the Merlin Law Group, describes a “calculated course of corporate conduct” conceived by top officers to minimize the company’s exposure in the face of the nation’s worst natural disaster.
State Farm has denied any wrongdoing. The company says it considers each claim individually and pays what is owed under its policies. To date, State Farm has paid more than $3 billion in Katrina claims and considers 99 percent settled. A company spokesman said State Farm is trying to resolve lingering claims through a re-evaluation ordered by Insurance Commissioner George Dale.
“There’s clearly a willingness and desire on the part of State Farm to resolve issues policyholders have,” spokesman Jonathan Freed said. “We have mounted an information campaign where we are inviting and encouraging any policyholder with concerns to engage in this process.”
Judy Dutruch responded: “If I was ignorant of how things were going, I might fall for that. We already told them what we wanted. They have it in a letter. Why am I going to ask them again?
“We want to be made whole. We are suing for punitive damages not because I want the money but because they’re wrong. They’re cheating people.”
The Dutruch case is one of more than 200 lawsuits pending in federal court against State Farm. Many were filed by policyholders whose homes Katrina swept away, leaving only slabs.
Pilings were all that remained of the Dutruches’ vacation home. Shortly after the Aug. 29, 2005, hurricane, Kenneth Dutruch tried to schedule an appointment with State Farm adjuster Ross Bagby to inspect their property.
“Mr. Bagby claimed that he did not have to conduct an inspection, ‘because all of them look the same,’
” the lawsuit says. Kenneth Dutruch asked that he be notified before any inspection, but said State Farm didn’t call.
State Farm says Bagby inspected the property Oct. 8, 2005.
The Dutruches received full payment for water damage under their National Flood Insurance policy, followed by an Oct. 27, 2005, denial letter for coverage under their State Farm homeowner’s policy. No engineering report was completed on their property before the claim was denied.
When Judy Dutruch requested information supporting the denial, State Farm said it would not supply what the company considers “work product.”
Company documents have since shown that State Farm adjusters were under instructions to deny claims where wind acted “concurrently” with water to cause the loss. The company’s position was based on policy language contrary to the Mississippi Insurance Department’s interpretation. U.S. District Court Judge L.T. Senter Jr. has since found the language “ambiguous” and “unenforceable.”
The Dutruches and other Slingshot Gang members spent thousands of dollars to prove wind damaged their property before the tide surged in, even hiring a forensic arborist.
Along with others, Judy Dutruch spoke at a U.S. District Court hearing Feb. 28 in favor of a class-action lawsuit against State Farm. Senter rejected the request, which came from an Ocean Springs policyholder suing the company. He said each claim is too unique for mass litigation.
He was, however, impressed with Dutruch’s prepared remarks and told her, “I’m afraid you’re going to be chased out of here by lawyers,” meaning they would want to take her case. After some research, Dutruch settled on Florida attorney William F. “Chip” Merlin Jr., who specializes in insurance litigation and has partnered with local attorneys to represent policyholders.
State Farm has denied any wrongdoing- Okay you can denie no more STATE FARM. we have your number,,,,, Call PEOPLE Tell STATE FARM NO MORE DENIng 1-866-873-6952. ask for the big dog ED Rust.O who owns State Farm , I was told the Policy holders- thats all of us. We do not like the why you all have been running things time for a big change.
My thoughts exactly Temblor.
Semi-Literatre? Except the one copy/pasted, I’m still trying to understand the messages, could you translate the parts you did understand? Maybe if we all got together we could sort through it.
I was trying to be kind.
who must be out of medication. As far as PIP, just like homeowners, if the insurer
wants no more part of the coverage, its a money loser. So with that in mind, why would anyone at a state level want to assume that risk for what would undoubtably be a higher cost? I know the insurance haters (on this web site?) don’t
understand the simple relationship between policyholders and those they transfer risk to for money. To them, risk transfer for money is evil, unlike the rest of us who understand what risk to assume and what risk to transfer. Now watch out for that grassy knoll.
I was trying to be kind.I’m still trying to understand the messages, could you translate.I will be happy to fault automobile insurance system- if you have paid for pip for years and not used it great we made a lot of money off you – So we want to take protection away for driversand we can make laws for that.. Dear people if you do not have medical Ins do not drive. I would like to know if you all realy think or not!