Irma claims top $6 billion mark

Herald Tribune By John Hielscher Staff Writer Posted Dec 4, 2017 at 3:31 PM Claims for damage caused by Hurricane Irma in Florida have blown past the $6 billion mark. More than 853,000 property owners have filed claims for insured losses from Irma, which smashed through Florida on Sept. 10, according to a report Monday…

Support for new texting-while-driving law grows. So do concerns it will lead to more racial profiling.

Tampa Bay Times Steve Bousquet, December 5, 2017 Support is building across Florida for a stronger texting-while-driving law, but some black legislators will fight the idea, claiming that it would invite more abuses by police. A broad coalition of groups representing police, sheriffs, parents, retirees, doctors, businesses and others is mobilizing to pass a bill…

Approval of rate increases for Citizens insurance customers underscores need for Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform

Approval of rate increases for Citizens insurance customers underscores need for Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform TALLAHASSEE (Dec. 7, 2017) – This week’s approval of rate increases for policyholders in Citizens Property Insurance Corp. shows that Assignment of Benefits abuse is having a direct pocketbook impact on Florida families and is another clear indication that…

CONSUMER PROTECTION COALITION PRAISES HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE FOR PASSING ASSIGNMENT OF BENEFITS (AOB) BILL

Originally published by Consumer Protection Coalition   |   View Release TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (Nov. 14, 2017) – The Consumer Protection Coalition praised the House Judiciary Committee today for passing a bill that would protect consumers from Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse related to homeowners’ insurance. The bill, PCB JDC 18-01, contains commonsense consumer protections that would curb…

House AOB package clears committee despite some qualms

Michael Moline Florida Politics November 14, 2017   House assignment of benefits (AOB) legislation cleared its sole committee Tuesday and appears headed to the floor, despite reservations about its limits on attorney fees and lack of language directly sanctioning insurance fraud. Judiciary Committee members also expressed skepticism about insurers pressing policyholders to accept their preferred…

Bill aimed at reducing insurance claims abuses advances in state House

Ron Hurtibise, Contact Reporter November 14, 2017   Attorneys fees would be more difficult for “bad actor” water restoration companies and their attorneys to collect from insurance companies under a bill advanced Tuesday by the state House Judiciary Committee. The committee voted 13-5 to advance the bill to the full House despite concerns by some…

AOB Abuse Tops Agenda at Florida Chamber Insurance Summit

November 7, 2017 Insurance Journal   The Florida Chamber of Commerce brought together regulators, lawmakers, insurance industry executives and other stakeholders last week for the chamber’s annual insurance summit. Through several panel discussions on pressing and emerging issues facing the state’s insurance market, the summit touched on everything from recent cases expected to raise workers’…