Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
Top Florida Stories of 2016: The AOB ‘Insurance Crisis’
Dec 13 2016 // Assignment of benefits abuse has become such a well-known problem in the state of Florida this year that it now just goes by the nickname “AOB.” The issue with AOB comes from when a policyholder suffers a loss,...
Top Florida Stories of 2016: Workers’ Comp Market in Turmoil
Dec 12 2016 // It’s been a tumultuous year for the Florida insurance industry. It would seem the biggest story would be the end of Florida’s hurricane drought as the state got hit by not one, but two hurricanes this year, the...
Hub International Acquires Assets of Florida-Based MDW Insurance and Affiliates
Dec 12 2016 // Hub International Limited, a global insurance brokerage, has acquired the assets of MDW Insurance Group, Inc. and its affiliates Agents Insurance Resources, Inc. and A.I.R. Insurance Marketing, Inc. (MDW). Terms of the...
$29.5M to be Paid Out From Florida’s Pulse Nightclub Victims’ Fund
Dec 9 2016 // Officials with a fund created from donations for victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting say they will distribute $29.5 million on 305 claims when the process is completed. Officials with OneOrlando Fund said Dec. 2 that...
Florida’s Citizens to Lawmakers: AOB Reform Must be Passed in 2017
Dec 8 2016 // Florida lawmakers can expect substantial pressure to tackle the assignment of benefits (AOB) and water loss claims crisis from the state’s insurer of last resort when Florida’s legislative session begins early...
400 Orange Trees Stolen From Florida Grove
Dec 7 2016 // Authorities in a central Florida county are looking for a thief who stole more than 400 newly-planted orange trees from a grove. Orlando television station WFTV reported Monday that Polk County Sheriff’s Office...
Florida Supreme Court Rules Against Insurer in Concurrent Loss Case
Dec 6 2016 // The Florida Supreme Court has ruled in favor of policyholders seeking coverage on claims where there is the possibility of multiple concurrent losses but at least one of the losses is covered under their policy. Though the...
2016 State Specialist P/C Insurers Revealed: Demotech
Dec 5 2016 // The Demotech Company Classification System categorizes insurers into one of 11 categories based on an analysis of data reported by companies to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). The 11 categories...
Acentria Expands Into Miami Through Partnership with iSure Insurance Brokers
Dec 2 2016 // Acentria Insurance has expanded its presence in South Florida through a merged partnership with iSure Insurance Brokers, located in Miami. Established in 1984, iSure Insurance Brokers specializes in commercial insurance,...
Citizens Assesses Hurricane Response as 2016 Season Comes to a Close
Dec 1 2016 // Citizens Property Insurance Corporation expressed satisfaction with its response efforts to the first hurricanes to hit Florida in more than a decade as the end of the 2016 hurricane season officially ended Nov....
Maximum Adds P&C Expert Murray to Florida Office
Dec 1 2016 // Maximum, an independent, Chicago-based excess and surplus lines wholesaler, has added Michelle Murray, who has a property and casualty background, to its office in Tampa, Fla. Murray is a Tampa native and will offer...
Sirius May Settle Music Copyright Suit Brought by The Turtles for $100M
Nov 30 2016 // Sirius XM Holdings Inc. may pay close to $100 million after settling a copyright lawsuit brought by founding members of the 1960s band The Turtles over the satellite radio company’s broadcast of songs made before...
Florida Appeals Judge’s Order Halting 14.5% Workers’ Comp Rate Increase
Nov 29 2016 // The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is appealing a court order invalidating its approved 14.5 rate increase on Florida workers’ compensation rates that was set to take effect Dec. 1. OIR filed its Notice...
Judge Halts Florida’s 14.5% Workers’ Compensation Hike Set for Dec. 1
Nov 27 2016 // A Florida circuit judge has blocked a 14.5 percent workers’ compensation rate increase due to go into effect Dec. 1 after finding that the insurers’ rating organization and state officials did not comply with...
U.S. Senator Wants Federal Investigation Into Florida’s Use of Driver Records
Nov 23 2016 // U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson wants a federal investigation of how Florida uses the personal information of its 15 million licensed drivers. The Florida Democrat wrote U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Friday asking her to...
Unlicensed Miami Agent Faces 72 Felony Counts for Stealing Escrow Payments
Nov 23 2016 // A Miami man has been arrested for alleged unlicensed insurance activity that resulted in the theft of at least $48,507 in escrow payments from 10 South Florida homeowners. The Florida Department of Financial...
How Tech Can Turn the Tide of Flood Insurance
Nov 21 2016 // As residents of coastal Louisiana, New York and New Jersey have discovered, a house with a sea view can carry a serious and soggy downside. In terms of storms and their severity, a building’s location has never...
Former Florida Commissioner McCarty Recognized for International Insurance Work
Nov 15 2016 // The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) has recognized former Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin M. McCarty for his service to international insurance regulation. McCarty is a past president of the...
Florida Becomes 26th State to Approve Medical Marijuana
Nov 14 2016 // Florida voters approved a state constitutional amendment last week to legalize medical marijuana, broadening access to pot beyond the limited therapeutic uses approved by the legislature two years ago. Amendment 2 passed...
What Happens When Golf Carts Hit the Streets
Nov 10 2016 // At retirement communities from California to Florida, golf carts have become a way of life. They’re energy-efficient, cheaper to buy and maintain than regular cars, and, seniors say, fun to drive. For many,...
