Latest Florida Headlines

All the headlines from our Florida Topic Page, ordered by recency.

Florida High Court Upholds Slashing of Punitive Damage Award in Tobacco Case

Jan 8 2023 // The Florida Supreme Court has struck down $16 million in punitive damages against R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. as “excessive,” a decision that could bode well for insurers and businesses relying on courts to...

Insurer vs. Insurer: Appeals Court Affirms Bad Faith Verdict in Florida Work Injury Case

Jan 6 2023 // After a job-site injury left independent contractor Ernest Guthrie paralyzed below the waist, two insurers for the contractor that hired him agreed to pay the full policy limits — $1 million each — only one month after...

New Florida Law Makes Joint Settlement Offers ‘Legit’ But May Not Go Far Enough

Jan 6 2023 // In the celebration over the Florida Legislature’s sweeping insurance reforms approved last month, one statutory change has slipped under the radar a bit – one that insurance attorneys said will streamline the...

Florida Workers’ Comp Division Busy with Panel Review, Hearings, Rule Changes

Jan 5 2023 // The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation’s Division of Workers’ Compensation is having a busy January.Starting today, Jan. 5, the Division of Workers’ Compensation will hold meetings on key medical...

Emergency Berm Said to Have Helped Florida Beaches During Ian, Nicole

Jan 3 2023 // While crews finish final details of a widespread St. Johns County beach repair project, county officials are considering work next year to correct erosion from Tropical Storms Ian and Nicole.“In five to six months,...

Appeals Court Rules Against Transgender Man in Florida Bathroom Suit

Jan 2 2023 // A federal appeals court has ruled that a Florida school district’s policy of separating school bathrooms based on biological sex is constitutional.The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals announced its 7-4 decision on...

First Florida Joins Forces with King Insurance

Dec 29 2022 // First Florida Insurance Network, headquartered in Palm Coast, is now a part of the King Insurance Partners team. King, a fast-growing insurance brokerage, announced the agreement in a news release. First Florida is a...

Florida Crops Appear to Have Escaped Serious Damage From Unusually Cold Weather

Dec 29 2022 // Florida’s citrus, fruit and vegetable crops appear to have escaped any widespread damage from some of the coldest weather in years, officials with state growers associations said Tuesday.A cloud cover helped protect...

Extreme Heat in Florida: Miami-Dade Has a Plan

Dec 28 2022 // You’re not imagining it: Miami-Dade County has gotten hotter in the last fifty years, a trend that’s set to continue if climate change remains unchecked.That’s more than a discomfort for residents in...

Florida Attorney Strems Disbarred; Public Adjuster’s License Could be Revoked

Dec 27 2022 // Florida officials have taken strong action against two of the insurance industry’s most-detested adversaries, disbarring a notorious plaintiffs’ attorney who filed thousands of frivolous claims lawsuits, and...

Florida Citizens’ CEO Gilway Announces Retirement

Dec 22 2022 // He waited until the Florida Legislature had passed long-sought reforms, but now Citizens Property Insurance Corp. CEO Barry Gilway is ready to retire after almost 11 years at the helm.Gilway announced at the Citizens Board...

Florida’s Ascendant Names Three to Marketing Positions

Dec 20 2022 // Ascendant Names Three Marketing RepsAscendant Insurance Solutions, based in Coral Gables, Florida, has named three new marketing representatives. Jackie Cook, with more than 30 years of experience in commercial and...

Risk Strategies Buys Florida Condominium Insurance Agency

Dec 19 2022 // Boston-based broker Risk Strategies announced it has acquired Statewide Condominium Insurance, a Vero Beach, Florida, retail broker focused on the condominium and apartment complex sectors.Founded in 1996, Statewide...

Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Bill Seeking to Stabilize Insurance Market

Dec 19 2022 // Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a sweeping property insurance bill on Friday. How much and when it will work to stabilize the stormy market are among the questions being asked.One of the key goals of the legislation is to...

Florida Insurance Commissioner Resigns, Gives No Reasons or Future Plans

Dec 15 2022 // Florida’s insurance commissioner on Thursday announced his resignation, effective Dec. 28, surprising some in the industry despite rumors that have swirled for the past few days.David Altmaier, who has been in the...

Florida House Approves Historic Insurance Reforms, Sending Bill to Governor

Dec 15 2022 // One day after the Florida Senate approved a landmark revision to Florida’s property insurance rules, the House followed suit, perhaps bringing to a close an era of surging claims litigation, insurer insolvencies and...

Independent Adjusters Charge Florida Insurers With Doctoring Damage Estimates

Dec 14 2022 // Do some Florida property insurance companies hire independent adjusters to inspect property claims, then routinely alter their inspection reports to reduce estimated losses?Yes, and it’s a widespread and fraudulent...

California, Florida and Texas have the most properties at risk of wildfire

Dec 13 2022 // This post is part of a series sponsored by CoreLogic.Wildfires continue to be a massive threat to millions of properties across the United States. With the population growing and major metro areas continuing to develop...

Florida Senate Committee Passes Reform Bill; Would Make Citizens ‘Noncompetitive’

Dec 13 2022 // A Florida Senate Committee spent about two hours Monday reviewing a sweeping property insurance reform bill before approving it along party lines – with no changes.All nine Republicans on the Senate Banking and Insurance...

USDA: Florida Orange Crop Down 36% After Two Hurricanes

Dec 12 2022 // Production of oranges in Florida this season is forecast to be down 36% from earlier estimates, in part a reflection of twin hurricanes that battered growing regions, according to U.S. Agriculture Department figures...