Latest Florida Headlines

All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Africa Can Tap Global Reinsurance Markets; Why Not Florida?

May 23 2014 // In what can only be taken as an exceedingly encouraging sign for emerging markets around the world, an African Union-created agency has established the continent’s first-ever catastrophe insurance pool, offering...

Florida’s Heritage Insurance Sets IPO Price Per Share at $11

May 23 2014 // Clearwater, Florida-based Heritage Insurance Holdings Inc., a property/ casualty insurance holding company, announced the pricing of its initial public offering of 6,000,000 shares of its common stock at a price to the...

Florida Metro Areas Rated Most Dangerous for Pedestrians

May 22 2014 // A new report says Orlando is the most dangerous metro area for pedestrians, and three other Florida cities are also at the top of the list. The report by the National Complete Streets Coalition says the Tampa, Jacksonville...

Hilb Group Acquires Florida’s Newman & Crane

May 20 2014 // The Hilb Group of Richmond, Va., has acquired Newman Crane & Associates of Orlando, Fla. NCA will continue to operate at its current location under the leadership of Steve and Jamie Buckner. Established in 1965, NCA...

Museum in D.C. Features Florida University’s Hurricane Simulator

May 20 2014 // Florida International University’s 12-fan “Wall of Wind” hurricane simulator is on display at the National Building Museum in Washington. The “Designing for Disasters” exhibit explores new...

Ratings Recap: Penn National, MGA, MAPFRE USA

May 19 2014 // A.M. Best has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of ‘A-‘ (Excellent) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “a-” of Pennsylvania National Mutual Casualty Insurance Company and its...

Florida Cat Fund Has $13 Billion As Hurricane Season Starts

May 16 2014 // Florida is heading into hurricane season with good news. The state-created fund that backs up private insurers in Florida appears to be in very good financial shape again this year. New projections show that the Florida...

United Insurance to Acquire Florida’s Sunshine State Insurance

May 16 2014 // United Insurance Holdings Corp. (UPC) has agreed to acquire 100 percent of Sunshine State Insurance Co. (SSIC), a Florida domiciled property/casualty insurance company. SSIC, based in Jacksonville, Fla., offers homeowners,...

Florida Gov. Scott to Veto 75 mph Speed Limit Bill

May 15 2014 // Responding to pleas from highway troopers and the state’s sheriffs, Florida Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday he will veto a bill that could increase the speed limit on Florida highways from 70 to 75 mph. Scott said that...

Florida Hospital Says Workers Test Negative for Middle East Virus

May 14 2014 // Two Florida hospital workers suspected of exposure to a potentially lethal Arabian virus have tested negative for the disease, a hospital spokesman said. A Saudi Arabian patient who was confirmed to be infected with Middle...

MERS Virus Suspected in Illnesses of 2 Florida Hospital Workers

May 13 2014 // Two workers at the Florida hospital where federal officials reported a case of a potentially lethal Arabian virus have fallen ill after coming into contact with the patient. One of the workers has been hospitalized and...

Brown & Brown Buys 2 Florida Agencies Targeting RV Market

May 13 2014 // Insurance agency Brown & Brown has acquired the assets of two agencies specializing in the recreational vehicle market. The businesses acquired are Agency Management Corp. (AMC) and its affiliate, Recreational...

Florida Court: ‘Exploding Corpse’ Not Covered Under Property Policy

May 8 2014 // A Florida circuit court has found that a condominium owner’s property policy did not include coverage for the “explosion” of an advanced decompose body since it did not fall under a name peril listed in...

Florida AG Finds Way to Fund Drug Database to Fight ‘Pill Mills’

May 8 2014 // Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi is keeping the state’s prescription drug database up and running after state legislators decided against funding it. The Florida Legislature did not set aside any money for the...

MEMIC Group Appoints Austin to VP of Underwriting Post in Florida

May 7 2014 // Workers’ compensation insurer The MEMIC Group has appointed Tod Austin as a vice president of underwriting. Austin will work out of MEMIC’s Tampa, Florida, office and will oversee production underwriting staff...

Mariners General Names Mallard to Head Florida Operation

May 6 2014 // Mariners General Insurance Group has named Richard Mallard to assume operations of the company’s regional office in Bradenton, Florida. Mariners Insurance provides insurance for boats, yachts and marine...

Florida Supreme Court Leaves PIP Reforms Intact

May 5 2014 // The Florida Supreme Court has declined to review the state’s no-fault automobile insurance personal injury protection (PIP) reforms that were designed to lower the cost of the coverage by targeting fraud and...

People – Southeast

May 5 2014 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (Big “I”) recently awarded agent Cloyce Anders of North Carolina with the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the association bestows on one of its...

Florida Revises Insurer Solvency Review Process

May 4 2014 // The Florida legislature has approved legislation setting out new insurer solvency requirements while also requiring individuals to disclose information about any affiliated company. Sponsored by Senator David Simmons...

Bill to Raise Florida Speed Limit to 75 mph Goes to Gov. Scott

May 1 2014 // The speed limit on Florida highways would increase from 70 to 75 mph under a bill the House narrowly passed, despite arguments that it would lead to more deaths. The measure passed on a 58-56 vote and now goes to Gov. Rick...