Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
People
May 18 2009 // Zurich Financial Services Group appointed Francis Bouchard head of the Climate Office. Bouchard will succeed Mike Kerner, who was appointed CEO of Global Corporate in North America. Bouchard will work to institutionalize...
Merry Crist Mess
May 18 2009 // Not all deregulation measures are good; some are a mixed blessing. Consider HB 1171 that passed the Florida House and Senate and was sent to Gov. Charlie Crist, a regular critic of the industry who was reportedly hesitant...
Florida Restores Cap on Workers’ Compensation Attorneys’ Fees
May 18 2009 // Florida has passed legislation to restore a cap on attorneys’ fees in workers’ compensation cases, a measure backed by the state’s insurance regulator. The bill (HB 903) effectively overturns a Florida...
People
May 18 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (the Big “I”) has awarded Alex Soto with the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the association bestows on one of its members. Soto is president and CEO...
Florida Approves Bill to Raise Property Insurance Rates
May 18 2009 // Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has said he would sign legislation passed at the eed of the legslative session that increases property insurance rates by 10 percent on more than 1 million customers of the state-backed Citizens...
Declarations
May 18 2009 // Few Signs “Most risk managers continue to see flat or slightly lower premiums at renewal. The insurance market is still very competitive and, while some insurers are predicting an imminent hard market, there are few...
Florida Governor to State Farm: On Your Way Out, Here’s an Award
May 15 2009 // The man who is letting insurance giant State Farm exit the state, which some fear will foster a property insurance disaster in Florida, gave the insurer an award this week for innovation and disaster mitigation. State Farm...
For Some in Florida, Hurricane Season Is Time to Party
May 14 2009 // When a hurricane approaches South Florida, Robin Sing-Cunningham makes sure she has plenty of ice, candles and a generator. Then there’s the gas-powered blender, storm-themed music (think ‘It’s Raining...
Florida Rejects Extending Surcharge Ban for Not-At-Fault Accidents
May 14 2009 // Florida officials have rejected a rule that would have expanded a ban on auto insurance surcharges for drivers involved in collisions where they were not found at fault. The state currently prohibits insurers from...
Florida Agents, Consumer Advocate Agree: Insurance Rates Must Go Up
May 14 2009 // With the start of the hurricane season just a few weeks away, a leading Florida consumer advocate joined independent agents at a press conference today to warn that property insurance rates need to be raised if insurers...
Florida Officials, State Farm Expect to Resolve Withdrawal Terms By June 15
May 13 2009 // Representatives of Florida insurance regulators and State Farm Florida believe they will be able to resolve their differences over how the insurer may exit the state’s insurance marketplace by June 15. Lawyers for...
Florida Gov. Crist to Sign Property Insurance Rate Hike Bill
May 6 2009 // Florida Gov. Charlie Crist says he’ll sign legislation that increases property insurance rates by 10 percent on more than 1 million customers of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Crist said that...
Florida Insurance Broker Can’t Take It Any Longer
May 5 2009 // Well, I’m sorry but I just cannot take it any longer. To quote our very own Insurance Commissioner: “I must also finally break down and respond to some of the more recent articles. Errors in fact and rhetorical...
The Woodlands Financial Group Opens Branches in Florida, Maryland
May 5 2009 // Texas-based The Woodlands Financial Group Inc. (TWFG), a retail and managing general agency specializing in property/casualty and life/ health insurance, and financial planning, announced the opening of new branch...
Improved Credit Markets Could Aid Shaky Florida Hurricane Fund
May 4 2009 // The Florida Cabinet received a bit of encouraging news recently about the state’s tenuous hurricane catastrophe fund when the head of Florida’s investments told them a loosening credit market provides the...
Florida Lawmakers Pass Surplus Lines Insurance Regulation Exemption
May 4 2009 // Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has a bill on his desk that promises to clarify the state’s regulation of the surplus lines insurance business. The Florida Senate on May 1 joined in the House in passing the measure...
Florida’s Soto Honored with Top Insurance Agent Award
May 4 2009 // The Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers (the Big “I”) has awarded Alex Soto with the Woodworth Memorial Award, the highest honor the association bestows on one of its members. The Woodworth Memorial...
Florida Restores Cap on Workers Compensation Attorneys’ Fees
May 4 2009 // The Florida Senate voted 22-16 to restore a cap on attorneys’ fees in workers’ compensation cases. The measure, backed by the state’s insurance regulator and previously passed by the House, 84-35, now...
Key Provisions of Property Insurance Bill Passed in Florida
May 4 2009 // Key provisions of the measure, HB 1495, sent to Gov. Charlie Crist by lawmakers on May 1, as identified by the Florida Banking and Insurance Committee staff include: Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Implements a rate...
Florida Governor Undecided on 10% Property Insurance Hike Measure
May 4 2009 // Customers of the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in Florida will be paying 10 percent more for their property insurance by Jan. 1 under a bill headed to Gov. Charlie Crist. The Senate passed the bill (HB...
