Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Owner of Florida Medical Clinic Arrested for PIP Fraud
May 4 2015 // The Florida Department of Financial Services’ Division of Insurance Fraud has arrested Roxana Suarez La Rosa on charges related to PIP (personal injury protection) fraud. In 2012, the Saint Jose Injury Center in...
Beating Up on Workers’ Comp: Grand Bargain Taking Jabs from Multiple Directions
May 4 2015 // The state-based workers’ compensation system has stayed on its feet for 100 years in part by being able to defend itself against blows and then counterpunch when necessary. It has shown an ability to reform to fit...
Supreme Court Narrow Ruling Finds Elected Judges Aren’t Politicians
May 1 2015 // Chief Justice John Roberts isn’t a politician — and he wants you to know it. That’s the message of a surprising 5-4 decision issued Wednesday by the U.S. Supreme Court in which Roberts provided the...
Family of Paralyzed Florida Teen Will Get $3.5M Settlement From New Law
May 1 2015 // The family of a Jacksonville teenager who was left paralyzed by a falling tree limb will receive a $3.5 million settlement under a bill the Legislature sent to Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday. If Scott signs the bill, Joseph...
Risk Transfer Success Leads to Ratings Upgrades for Florida Citizens
Apr 30 2015 // It’s an exceedingly rare thing that I’d ever point to anything my adoptive state of Florida does in the area of insurance markets as an example that others might want to copy. But in at least one important...
Bill Limiting Drone Use in Florida Sent to Governor
Apr 30 2015 // Using drones to take photos of people on their own property could soon be illegal in Florida. The Florida Legislature sent a bill to Gov. Rick Scott this week that places limits on the use of remote-controlled drones. If...
Florida-Based Orchid Underwriters Names New CIO
Apr 30 2015 // Orchid Underwriters Insurance Agency, LLC, a specialty underwriter of property insurance focused on coastal properties and based in Vero Beach, Fla., has named Chuck Fillizola as chief information officer. In this newly...
Florida Houses Passes Bill to Study, Regulate Fracking in State
Apr 29 2015 // The Florida House passed a bill Monday to study and regulate fracking, as well as prevent local governments from banning the oil and gas drilling practice. Democrats strongly opposed the bill, saying hydraulic fracturing...
Major Florida Theme Parks Report 13 Injuries in First Quarter
Apr 29 2015 // Six ride-related injuries have occurred at Walt Disney World during the first three months of 2015, and seven were reported at Universal. The major theme-parks released their quarterly injury reports to Florida as part of...
Florida-Based The Villages Insurance Adds Cameron as Managing Advisor
Apr 28 2015 // The Villages Insurance has added Matt Cameron as managing advisor to its Pinellas Plaza, Fla., office. Cameron has over 23 years experience in the insurance industry, most recently as an agent at the local AAA...
Florida Bill Extends Civil Rights Protections to Pregnant Women
Apr 27 2015 // Florida is making it clear that anti-discrimination laws extend to pregnant women. The Florida Legislature on Friday passed a bill that would add pregnant women to the state’s existing civil rights law. The measure...
Big ‘I’ Recognizes Top Young Agent, States in Political Fundraising
Apr 23 2015 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (the Big “I”) this week presented awards to state affiliates and agents that have been the most effective raising money for the agents’ political...
Florida Gov. Scott Agrees to Limit Drug Testing of State Employees
Apr 23 2015 // Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s long running battle over whether the state could drug test state workers is finally coming to an end. Scott and the union that represents state workers have reached a settlement in the case...
Florida’s Prepared Insurance Joins Write Your Own Flood Program
Apr 21 2015 // Prepared Insurance Company (PIC), a Florida property/casualty carrier, has been approved to participate in the Write Your Own Flood Program (WYO). The insurer is offering Florida consumers the ability to purchase flood and...
Skaletsky Joins All Risks in Florida as Casualty Broker
Apr 20 2015 // Nationwide independent wholesaler All Risks has added Steve Skaletsky to its Jupiter, Fla., office as a casualty broker. Skaletsky will target commercial risks in Florida and throughout the Gulf Coast, providing general...
Deputies in Florida County Face Investigations If Guns Are Pointed
Apr 20 2015 // Deputies in Palm Beach County, Fla., are under new rules on the use of their weapons. WPTV reports the sheriff’s office has introduced a policy that mandates anytime a gun is pointed, the incident must be reported to...
Southeast Schools Hoping to Fill Need for Insurance Cybersecurity Experts
Apr 20 2015 // The insurance industry, like other businesses, has come to realize it needs to do more to protect its companies, customers, employees and portfolios from cyber threats. Cyber-savvy professionals are in high-demand and are...
$1B Bond Sale to Bolster Florida’s Citizens ‘Just In Case’
Apr 16 2015 // Florida hasn’t been hit by a hurricane since 2005, the longest stretch in more than a century. Its state-run property insurer isn’t taking any chances. Even though forecasters predict this year will produce the...
Florida PIP Fraud Investigation Spanning Two Years Concludes with 7 Arrests
Apr 15 2015 // A two-year PIP fraud (personal injury protection) investigation involving Integrated Healing Clinic in Tampa, Fla., has concluded with the arrests of 7 residents, according to a statement by the Florida Department of...
Instructor at Walt Disney World Race Car Attraction Killed on Track
Apr 14 2015 // For fans of speed, the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World offers a heart-pounding thrill. People who drive minivans during the week can settle in behind the wheel of a Ferrari, a Porsche or another one of the...
