Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Michael MolineApril 25, 2017

The House cleared its version of assignment of benefits reform for a final vote Tuesday, defeating an amendment that would have frozen property insurance rates and required a premiums rollback next summer. PCS/HB 1421 would tighten requirements for contractors to report claims to insurance companies and establish a graduated scale for determining whether contractors holding […]

Michael MolineApril 6, 2017

Advocates of assignment of benefits reform delivered 1,500 petition signatures to House Speaker Richard Corcoran’s office Thursday, renewing their campaign against what they consider dodgy lawsuits by unscrupulous contractors and attorneys. And no — they didn’t mean to imply anything untoward about the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. The advocates, operating under the Florida […]

Staff ReportsMarch 29, 2017

Citizens Property Insurance Corp. lost money for the first time in a decade because of water loss claims, assignment of benefits abuse, and rising litigation costs, the company said Wednesday. Staff at Florida’s insurer of last resort told its board of governors that they expect to post a $27.1 million loss for 2016. “Every year, we […]

Guest AuthorMarch 20, 2017

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Florida homeowners need to start taking action regarding an escalating problem that will lead to increases in their insurance premiums in the near future. Abuses of the Assignments of Benefits (AOB) process have already led to substantial insurance rate increases in South and Central Florida and it is only a matter of time before those […]

Peter SchorschMarch 15, 2017

An op-ed in The Wall Street Journal Tuesday called out the assignment of benefits (AOB) system in Florida, saying the abuse of AOB by trial lawyers will get Florida taxpayers “whacked with Category 5 bills.” “Florida homeowners already face risks from hurricanes, hail storms and other natural phenomena,” the article states. “Do they need to face […]

Michael MolineFebruary 7, 2017

Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier laid out his office’s solution to the insurance assignment-of-benefits problem to Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet Tuesday, and it includes limiting contractors’ ability to recover attorney fees in litigation against insurance companies. Florida’s one-way attorney fee statute is intended to shield policyholders against legal bills if they want to sue their insurers for failure […]

Michael MolineFebruary 2, 2017

With the Legislature poised to confront major challenges to Florida’s insurance industry and the businesses and consumers who rely on it, the Florida Chamber of Commerce will convene in Miami Thursday to map out possible solutions. On the agenda are mandatory personal-injury protection, or PIP, coverage for motorists; abuse of assignment-of-benefits agreements in property insurance; […]

Staff ReportsFebruary 1, 2017

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has cleared Southern Oak Insurance Co. to take over as many as 15,000 home policies from Citizens Property Insurance Corp. Southern Oak is eligible to assume the policies effective April 18 under the “take-out” process — a way for Citizens to shift policies to private insurers. The process is […]

Michael MolineJanuary 10, 2017

Home repair contractors lashed out against calls for a crackdown on assignment of benefits agreements during testimony before a key Senate committee Tuesday, insisting such contracts protect homeowners and reputable remediation businesses. They argued instead for increased regulation of their industry, to put fly-by-night contractors out of business. “Would you please regulate us?” said Dave […]

Staff ReportsDecember 22, 2016

Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on Thursday announced the arrest of a Miami man on charges that he posed as a licensed public adjuster to defraud Citizens Property Insurance Corp. of nearly $100,000 in inflated insurance claims. Julian Garcia-Sellek faces multiple felony fraud and grand theft charges following an investigation by the Department of Financial […]

Tag: Citizens Property Insurance Corp.
Mike Johnson. Image via AP.

House assignment of benefits reforms move closer to final vote

AOB reformers, bearing petitions, insist no offense intended against House chair

Citizens Insurance lost $27.1 million during 2016; first loss in a decade

Maria Wells: Assignment of Benefits — A growing problem for Florida families

Wall Street Journal op-ed highlights assignment of benefits abuse

Insurance Office going after one-way attorney fees in AOB fight

Florida Chamber hosting summit in Miami to take on state’s insurance woes

Private insurer cleared to assume 15,000 Citizens Insurance policies

Contractors mount defense of assignment of benefits agreements

Jeff Atwater: Arrest made in $100,000 fraud against Citizens Insurance