Latest Florida Headlines
All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.
NCCI Seeks to Raise Florida Workers’ Comp Rates by 17% in Light of Court Ruling
May 31 2016 // Florida businesses could soon be paying almost 20 percent more for workers’ compensation coverage. In response to a recent decision from the Florida Supreme Court, the National Council on Compensation Insurance...
Florida ‘Drug Pusher’ Doctor Sentenced to 25 years for Patient Deaths
May 26 2016 // A federal judge in Tampa, Fla., has sentenced a 76-year-old doctor to 25 years in prison for the deaths of three patients who were prescribed pain medications at his clinic. U.S. District Judge James D. Whittemore told...
Citizens Board Approves $2.46B Risk Transfer Program for 2016 Hurricane Season
May 25 2016 // Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corporation’s Board of Governors has approved a $2.46 billion risk transfer program as the state heads into the 2016 hurricane season, the insurer said in a statement. By...
The Villages Insurance Hires Shannon as Advisor in Florida
May 24 2016 // The Villages Insurance Agency has hired Jason Shannon as advisor for its Commercial Risk Management Division. The Commercial Risk Management Team specializes in protecting business owners and their employees...
New Florida Insurance Commissioner Altmaier Takes the Reins
May 23 2016 // David Altmaier After nearly 13 years, Florida has a new insurance commissioner. The Florida Cabinet appointed David Altmaier April 29 to succeed long-time insurance commissioner Kevin McCarty, who announced earlier this...
Business Moves
May 23 2016 // Confie, Automobile Insurance Specialists Inc., Trinity Insurance LLC, Whitehead Insurance Inc. Confie has acquired three insurance agencies in Las Vegas, South Florida, and Washington State. Confie acquired the assets of:...
PartnerOne Environmental Adds Huitt, Maxwell to New Jacksonville, Florida Office
May 22 2016 // PartnerOne Environmental has opened a new regional office in Jacksonville, Fla., and added Michelle Huitt as assistant vice president and Marie Maxwell as underwriter. The new team members will help manage the PartnerOne...
Florida Construction Company Owner Nabbed in Workers’ Comp Fraud Scheme
May 22 2016 // The owner of a construction company in Naples, Fla., was arrested this month for an alleged workers’ comp scheme, according to an announcement from Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater. Raimundo...
Report: Florida Boating Accidents Increase, Fatalities Decline
May 20 2016 // A report shows the number of boating accidents in Florida sharply increased in 2015 over 2014, despite there being a 25 percent decrease in fatalities. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says in a...
Nenezian to Retire from Florida-Based NSI Insurance, Seikaly Becomes Chairman
May 20 2016 // Oscar Seikaly has purchased the remaining stake in Florida-Based NSI Insurance Group from long-time partner and company founder George Nenezian, who concurrently announced his retirement. A privately held insurance agency,...
RMS Opens New Office in Tallahassee, Florida
May 19 2016 // RMS, a global catastrophe risk management firm, has opened a new office in Tallahassee, Florida after the acquisition of HWIND Scientific in October 2015. According to a statement from RMS, the new Florida office gives it...
Brightway Insurance Adds New Agency Owners in Florida, North Carolina
May 19 2016 // Brightway Insurance, a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent agencies throughout the country, has added new agency owners in North Carolina and Florida. New...
House, Senate Republicans Divided Over Zika Funding
May 18 2016 // House and Senate Republicans can’t get on the same page when it comes to fighting the Zika virus — and Democrats are pouncing. The Senate, on a 68-29 vote, advanced $1.1 billion of the administration’s...
Florida Insurance Agent Sentenced to 7 Years for Insurance Fraud
May 18 2016 // The Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud, which operates under the direction of CFO Jeff Atwater, announced the conviction and sentencing of former Orlando insurance agent Mario Ferreri....
Assurant to Offer Private Flood Insurance in Florida
May 17 2016 // Assurant, Inc. has launched Assurant Primary Flood Insurance for Florida customers. The new Assurant Primary Flood Insurance offers structural coverage up to $800,000 and up to $250,000 in contents coverage, at competitive...
Florida Hurricane Fund Financially Sound, Ready for Storm Season
May 16 2016 // Florida’s continued lucky streak when it comes to dodging hurricanes is helping a key state fund reach its best financial shape ever in the two decades it has been in place. The state-created fund known as the...
American Strategic Insurance in Florida Promotes Tharpe
May 16 2016 // American Strategic Insurance in St. Petersburg, Fla., has promoted Michael Tharpe to account executive for ASI’s National Accounts team. Tharpe has worked with ASI for five years, previously serving as account...
Edison Insurance Launches Online Quoting System for Florida Homeowners Coverage
May 12 2016 // Edison Insurance Co. has launched an online quoting system that offers specific premium quotes for homeowners insurance coverage in Florida. According to Clint Strauch, Edison Insurance president and co-founder, Edison has...
Citizens Implements Contract Changes to Address Florida Water Losses
May 10 2016 // Citizens Property Insurance Corp. is alerting policyholders to important policy changes beginning July 1 as part of the state-backed insurer’s efforts to improve communication and protect customers early in the...
Jury Convicts Florida Doctor of 162 Counts of Health Care Fraud
May 10 2016 // A federal jury has convicted a north Florida doctor of 162 counts of health care fraud. U.S. Attorney Christopher Canova said in a news release that 59-year-old Dr. Ona Colasante defrauded Medicare, Medicaid and Blue Cross...
