Florida assignment of benefits claims News

Florida Court Upholds Policyholder Right to Assign Benefits

An appellate court in Florida has upheld the right of policyholders to assign their right to collect benefits from an insurance claim to contractors, reversing trial court rulings in favor of insurers. The Florida 3rd District Court of Appeals ruled …

Judge Finds Strems Guilty of Misconduct; Advises 2-Year Suspension, Probation

After finding Florida attorney Scot Strems in violation of numerous rules regulated by The Florida Bar last month, the court-appointed referee overseeing his case has recommended a 24-month suspension followed by one year of probation. In a report issued to …

Florida Attorney Behind Thousands of Insurer Lawsuits Violated 14 Bar Rules: Judge

Embattled Florida attorney Scot Strems, who, with his firm, has filed thousands of assignment of benefit and first party lawsuits against Florida property insurers over the last several years, has been found by a court-appointed referee to have violated more …

Florida’s Citizens Urges Insureds to Avoid Fraud, Scams After Hurricane Sally

In an effort to help insureds avoid falling victim to scams and abuse, as well as to speed up the claims process, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is urging its policyholders to “Call Citizens First” as they recover from Hurricane Sally. …

Florida Supreme Court Suspends Attorney Behind Thousands of Insurer Lawsuits

The Florida Supreme Court has granted an emergency request by The Florida Bar to immediately suspend an attorney who, with his firm, has filed thousands of assignment of benefit and first party lawsuits against Florida property insurers over the last …

Report Shows Florida AOB Abuse Worsening as Lawmakers Consider Reforms

The 2018 Florida Legislative Session is underway, and lawmakers have wasted no time taking up legislation to address the assignment of benefits crisis plaguing the state. While they debate which reform option to back, stakeholders say the Florida Legislature must …

Florida Regulators Set Date for Citizens Public Rate Hearing

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) announced it will conduct a rate hearing on Aug. 31, 2017 to receive public comment on Citizens’ proposed rate changes for its business in the Coastal Account (CA), Commercial Lines Account, and Personal …

Florida’s Citizens CEO Gilway Responds to Claims About Managed Repair Program

The following letter to the editor was written by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. President, CEO and Executive Director Barry Gilway in response to an opinion piece from the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters that ran on July 6, 2017 …

Opinion: Floridians Will Pay More For Less Under Citizens Managed Repair Program

Florida is famous for its catastrophic hurricanes, however, we also have our fair share of daily claims such as fire, vandalism and water losses. Florida is now becoming known for what is referred to as the “Assignment of Benefit (AOB) …

Florida’s Citizens Approves Policy Changes, 5.3% Statewide Rate Increase for 2018

Homeowners in South Florida, as well as in many other parts of the state, should expect additional rate increases next year from the state-run insurer of last resort. Citizens Board of Governors approved recommended rates and policy changes for 2018 …