Lt. Governor Urges Lawmakers to Prioritize AOB Insurance Reform
2.18.2016 Lt. Governor Lopez Cantera Letter
Assignment of Benefits Bill Postponed; Insurers Group Urges Action
The Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday postponed a vote on a measure that would regulate homeowners’ ability to sign over their right to collect insurance benefits to third parties. Logan McFaddin, state government relations manager for the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), issued this statement: “Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse is a critical…
Hidden Camera Investigation Reveals the High Cost of ‘Free’ Roof Offers
ORLANDO,Fla. — Action 9 exposed some bogus offers to replace home roofs for free. In a hidden camera investigation, Action 9’s Todd Ulrich found out how the offers drive up the cost of insurance. The fliers left on front doors may claim a roof is damaged, and can be replaced for free. Several homeowners contacted…
AOB Fraud and Abuse: Suspicious Activity is a Pocketbook Problem for Florida Families
The most recent edition of the Florida Chamber of Commerce’s exclusive member newsletter Chamber Insider highlights efforts to help consumers fight fraud and abuse associated with Assignment of Benefits (AOB). While AOB is a legal tool that can be used appropriately, it also provides an opportunity for shady repair companies to partner with trial attorneys…
Fraud Pushing Up Premiums In Florida
By some accounts, Florida has the highest homeowner’s insurance rates in the country and rates keep rising, despite not having a major hurricane in the last decade. The culprit – a concentration of non-weather related water claims. In many cases, these claims are pushed along by unscrupulous contractors and attorneys. According to Citizens Property Insurance…
Restoring Balance in Insurance Litigation – An Analysis from the Florida Justice Reform Institute
Curbing Abuses of Assignments of Benefits and Reaffirming Insureds’ Unique Right to Unilateral Attorney’s Fees Certain providers have partnered with attorneys to create a profitable litigation arrangement. In this arrangement, a service provider agrees to make a repair potentially covered by an insurance policy in exchange for the insurance policyholder’s right to sue his insurer…
Consumer Advocate Challenges Insurers on Water Damage Claims
Florida’s new insurance consumer advocate wants property insurance companies to produce data to back up their statements about rising water damage claims in South Florida. Sha’Ron James, who took over the statewide position in August, told participants at a public workshop Tuesday that she has asked the top 15 insurers to document their assertions that…
Florida Cab Companies Launch Insurance Challenge in Uber War
TALLAHASSEE — Taxicab companies in Broward County and Tallahassee filed their second lawsuit against the state in as many days, this time accusing app-based transportation services like Uber and Lyft of operating without proper insurance in Florida. The cab companies alleged in a lawsuit filed Wednesday that the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor…
Consumers Need Legislative Fix to Home Repair Scam
on July 19, 2015 the Miami Herald ran the following op-ed by PIFF Executive Director Michael Carlson: For three years, state lawmakers have received mounting evidence about a scam in which frazzled homeowners are unknowingly signing away their insurance benefits to shady vendors during home repair emergencies. This spring’s annual legislative session melted down with…
Florida Homeowner Insurers Deluged by Assignment of Benefit Lawsuits
Although hurricane season has yet to cause havoc this year, 2015 has already been a brutal year for insurance companies which provide homeowners’ coverage in Florida. The problem for property insurers? No one is willing to take a firm position against the surge of Assignment of Benefits (AOB) lawsuits, which are proliferating to the point…