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The Insurance Commissioner needs to do something about
Insurance companies who flagrantly violate Florida's laws.
The Insurance Commissioner needs to take swift action
against Insurance companies who flagrantly violate Florida's laws.
After ten and one-half (10 1/2) years providing dry
cleaning and laundry services in Port Charlotte, FL, Great American
Cleaners closes its doors. In February 2001, a fire destroyed most of
the equipment and other items within the store. Our insurance company,
Fireman's fund, failed to honor the provisions of the policy it had sold
us, making it impossible to rebuild in a timely manner, and without
significant loss of business.
Great American Cleaners subsequently filed a lawsuit
against its insurance company, Fireman's Fund, for breach of
contract and negligence. That suit is still pending in Charlotte county
Court and, in all likelihood, will not be resolved for a long time to
come.
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News clips:
(news clips have not been kept updated - check
archives)
FL
Attacks Jewish Insurance - MIAMI - Jewish charities in Florida and
elsewhere say skyrocketing insurance premiums caused by fears their
buildings could face terrorist attack have forced them to cut programs
and drop coverage.-- Some Jewish groups say their premiums have at
least doubled since Sept. 11, causing them to cut programs for
children, the elderly and poor. Their new policies also exclude
terrorism coverage, leaving them open to financial ruin if their
facilities or employees are attacked. 8/4/02
Jewish agencies face high insurance rates and no terrorism coverage
MIAMI — Jewish charities in Florida and elsewhere say skyrocketing insurance premiums caused by fears their buildings could face terrorist attack have forced them to cut programs and drop coverage. Some Jewish groups say their premiums have at least doubled since Sept. 11, causing them to cut programs for children, the elderly and poor.
8/3/02
State created insurance pools now merged
TALLAHASSEE — The two-state created property insurance pools were merged Friday, creating the Citizens Property Insurance Corp. The Legislature passed a bill earlier this year to merge the Florida Windstorm Underwriting Association and the Casualty Joint Underwriting Association. Combined the so-called insurers of last resort had more than 500,000 policies.
8/3/02
Workers'
comp issue hits firms
State regulators have ordered 779 Florida companies — most of them in
the construction industry and nearly 100 of them in Collier and Lee
counties — to shut down until they can prove they have proper workers'
compensation coverage. In a July 25 letter to the companies, Florida
Department of Insurance Compliance Chief Lee Pease told bosses that AMS
Staff Leasing, the company through which the 779 employers purchased
workers' compensation insurance, hadn't actually secured that coverage.
The state had ordered AMS to quit operating in Florida on June 28,
according to the letter. 8/2/02
New
Law Cripples Small Contractors
... The new law affects 139,000 companies, according to state records, and
most are unhappy. ... The issue of worker's compensation is a hot topic in
Tallahassee, but it will be early 2003 before lawmakers convene again and
changes to the law can be considered. ... `There's been an effort to close
what many people are exploiting as a loophole,'' said state Sen. Tom Lee,
R-Brandon. ``The other side of the coin is that there are a lot of
subcontractors in this state that will go out of business.'' ... The
Florida Department of Insurance, which recently took over the state's
Division of Workers' Compensation, began mailing letters in the middle of
June to every company with an exemption, spokeswoman Tami Torres said. ...
People affected by the law don't have many options now, said Steve Birtman,
state director for the National Federation of Independent Business.
``As to an immediate solution - there isn't one,'' he said. 8/2/02
As
homeowners battle toxic mold, state holds hearing on insurance
coverage -- In the meantime, insurers, builders and homeowners are
battling in the media and in the courtroom.--
The Florida Department of Insurance held the first of a trio of
meetings Tuesday to hear comments from consumers and the industry
about who should pay for mold. Dozens of South Florida residents told
harrowing tales of the effects of mold on their lives.-
In Florida, insurers are only required to pay for mold cleanup if it
resulted from an event that the insurance company covers, such as a
pipe or water heater bursting.--
Other states require insurers to cover mold no matter what. 7/31/02
Florida
suspends license of Wisconsin insurer
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher has suspended
the license of a Wisconsin health insurer after finding that customers'
premiums skyrocketed if they became sick. United Wisconsin Life Insurance
Co.'s suspension is for a year. United Wisconsin can still serve its
30,000 Florida customers but cannot sell any new policies. 7/26/02
Higher
insurance rates after 9-11 impact area
Still smarting from the effects of Sept. 11, insurance companies are
raising rates for just about every type of insurance. 7/5/02
State
Farm spreads the pain - not the policies
Florida latest state to hear all but the truth.7/2/02
Despite
opposition, State Farm collecting on policies
State Farm Florida halted sales Monday of most new homeowners
insurance policies while continuing to collect up to 28 percent more
in premiums from its existing 44,000 residential customers in the
Volusia/Flagler market. 7/2/02
State
Farm loses bid for big rate hike on home insurance -- for now
Only weeks before Florida’s largest property insurer planned to impose a
major rate hike, Florida Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher on Thursday
blocked State Farm Florida Insurance Co.’s request. 6/28/02
Auto
insurance rates rising as much as 18 percent in S. Florida
Florida drivers are paying more for auto insurance nearly a year after
legislation went into effect that lawmakers promised would lower rates.
6/13/02
Workers
reassured in Cabinet merger
Officials pledged Wednesday that no state employee will be "put out
on the street" in the merger of two Cabinet agencies creating a
constitutionally mandated chief financial officer.6/13/02
Bush
signs bill creating chief financial officer position
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Jeb Bush signed a Cabinet reorganization bill
Wednesday creating a chief financial officer to pay the state's bills and
help regulate Florida's financial industry. The measure (HB-3E) merges the
offices on insurance commissioner and treasurer, creating a powerful
political base for the new CFO. 6/13
Increase
the protection for state's homeowners
Insurance hikes likely under current system.- Bad insurance news for
homeowners is as seasonal as predictions for the new hurricane season.
Allstate and State Farm want double-digit increases in homeowners
insurance.-- Those two companies represent 50 percent of the Florida
market. The next eight largest companies haven't made a move yet, but
State Farm wants a 22 percent increase, and Allstate wants 21 percent.5/22/02
Home
insurance likely to jump double digits
TALLAHASSEE — Florida's two largest insurance companies have asked for
state approval to hike home insurance rates by about 20 percent. State
Farm Florida Insurance Co. requested to increase homeowners insurance by
an average of 22 percent statewide, Florida Department of Insurance
spokeswoman Tami Torres said Wednesday. The company requested a 14.3
percent increase to homeowners insurance last year, which went into effect
in January.5/16/02
Windstorm
reform receives boost
The battle to reform windstorm insurance rates, stalled in the
Legislature last week, gained new life Monday when a House committee
approved a bill to cap rate increases and let consumers buy hurricane
and homeowners coverage from a new Citizens' Board.
Bill
puts burden on rich homeowners
Floridians who own vacation cottages and expensive beach homes will
bear the full brunt of escalating windstorm insurance rates under a
compromise insurance bill moving forward in the House.
Banks
and insurance
The state regulates the banking and insurance industries in the interest
of the public, not for the convenience of the industries or of the
politicians. People deserve to have them insulated from political
influence.
Gallagher
bars hikes in premiums
MIAMI - Insurance Commissioner Tom Gallagher has barred the Florida
Windstorm Underwriting Association from making future increases in
hurricane insurance premiums and has ordered the FWUA to justify rates it
is currently charging.
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