Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Sink: Fla. Workers’ Comp Rates to be Cut in Half Next Year
Jul 10 2007 // While Florida business owners may still be struggling with high property insurance costs, another major business expense will go down next year: workers’ compensation assessment rates are set to be cut in...
Hydrant Problems Hampered Efforts to Save Florida Church
Jul 10 2007 // Trouble with fire hydrants in Freeport, Fla., hampered efforts to save a burning church, firefighters said. Firefighters used water from a nearby retention pond to fight the June 6 fire at New Beginnings Church in Freeport...
Insurer Group Refutes Fla. Gov. Crist’s Claim of ‘Broken Promises’
Jul 6 2007 // Insurance companies have taken exception to a reported accusation by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist that the insurance industry has broken its promises to lower rates and help restore the state’s private property...
Fla. CFO Cuts State’s Workers Comp Charge to Insurers
Jul 5 2007 // Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink ordered a 50 percent cut in the 2008 Workers’ Compensation Administration Trust Fund assessment rate. The reduction is projected to result in as much as $19 million in...
News Briefs
Jul 2 2007 // Insurer United P&C ordered to refund Florida homeowners Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty is requiring United Property & Casualty Insurance Co. to refund millions of dollars in unapproved...
Figures
Jul 2 2007 // 27 The number arrested by Florida officials in an ongoing investigation dubbed “Operation TGIF” because the group perpetrated staged accidents on Fridays. The staged accident ring billed auto insurers more than...
Fla. regulators again irk insurers over credit rule
Jul 2 2007 // Property/casualty insurers are complaining that the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation is “off the mark” in developing rules implementing a law passed in 2003 addressing insurers’ use of credit...
Insurers: Fla.Consumers Will Benefit at Demise of No-Fault Insurance
Jun 29 2007 // Consumers in Florida will soon see significant cost savings and a more consumer-friendly automobile insurance system when the state’s fraud ridden no-fault personal injury protection (PIP) law sunsets October 1,...
Lanier Upshaw Forms Private Risk Management Group for Florida Market
Jun 28 2007 // Lanier Upshaw has created a practice group tailored to meet the private insurance needs of high net worth clientèle throughout Florida. The group, named Private Risk Management, will insure high value items such as...
Burns and Wilcox Announces Pollution Liability Coverage in Florida
Jun 28 2007 // In Florida, the Tampa and Daytona Beach offices of Burns and Wilcox announced the availability of ACE Westchester Specialty Group’s pollution liability insurance product, as offered through Westchester Surplus Lines...
Fla. Agents Want to Keep Personal Injury Protection
Jun 28 2007 // Insurance agents in Florida are gearing up for a special legislative session on whether to keep the state’s no-fault personal injury protection auto insurance law. Professional Insurance Agents of Florida Government...
Fla. Office of Insurance Regulation Announces Staff Changes
Jun 27 2007 // Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty recently announced new staff changes for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. “The new additions to our management team give the Office an exceptional combination...
Fla. Coalition: Briny Plan is Recipe for Chaotic Hurricane Evacuation
Jun 27 2007 // The Florida Coalition for Preservation has asked Secretary Thomas Pelham of the Florida Department of Community Affairs to consider a host of costs that will be borne by taxpayers if the agency accepts the...
Fla. Gov. Signs Citizens’ Rate Freeze at Home of Katrina Victims
Jun 27 2007 // In Miami, Florida Governor Charlie Crist ceremonially signed legislation to continue insurance reforms by freezing Citizens Property Insurance rates and implementing additional measures he said will help stabilize the...
Florida Task Force to Hold Meeting in Tallahassee
Jun 27 2007 // In an ongoing effort to improve Citizens’ policyholder and applicant services, Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is convening the fifth meeting of the legislatively-created Task Force on Citizens Property...
Fla. CFO Revokes Tampa Bay Agent’s License
Jun 26 2007 // Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink issued an order revoking the license of a Tampa Bay-area insurance agent for exploiting seniors in the sale of annuities. The Department of Financial Services accused Sharon...
Fla. Gov. Launches ‘Shop and Compare Insurance Rates’ Web Site
Jun 26 2007 // Gov. Charlie Crist launched “Shop and Compare Rates” today, a Web site that assists consumers comparing homeowners insurance rates throughout Florida. “Many Florida homeowners find it difficult and...
Citizens’ Forum to Highlight Sinkhole Coverage Change in Florida
Jun 20 2007 // Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will co-host an educational forum with Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, and Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, to discuss a change in sinkhole coverage that affects residents in...
Ratings Recap: Travelers, Mapfre (NJ & FL), AXA Art, Progressive (debt)
Jun 19 2007 // A.M. Best Co. has affirmed the financial strength rating (FSR) of “A+” (Superior) and issuer credit ratings (ICR) of “aa-” of Travelers Insurance Companies and its P/C members. Best also affirmed...
Lessons learned and applied
Jun 18 2007 // Among lessons that local businesses have learned and are putting into practice are: Get a plan. Officials with several Midstate companies that do business along the coast say they are offering training and providing...
