Peoples Trust, the direct response carrier that innovated its way into Florida’s homeowners market in 2008, is now selling some new policies the old fashioned way! [Read more…] about Peoples Trust…New Business the Old Way!
General Property Issues
Citizens Depopulation…Too Little, Too Late!
In what may be the best example I can remember of “too little, too late”; the Tampa Tribune endorsed the so called Citizens E&S depopulation bill on March 11th, the Monday immediately following the Friday night that lawmakers left Tallahassee without passing it. [Read more…] about Citizens Depopulation…Too Little, Too Late!
Legislation & Honesty!
Honesty: 1. the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fairness. 2. truthfulness, sincerity, or frankness. 3.freedom from deceit or fraud.
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Florida’s Property Market…”Day One”
Today is day one, 2012. Lawmakers are less than a fortnight from the annual opportunity to cure causes that consistently leave Florida as America’s least desirable property insurance market.
Redistricting will bog things down a bit; in part, because it’s the perfect excuse for doing less. So, too, will gambling and an occasional petty distraction from a term-limited officeholder. [Read more…] about Florida’s Property Market…”Day One”
Tis the political season…
Tis the night before Christmas and all through the capitol, political creatures are stirring… especially in the Senate where Senator Mike Fasano handed the media a letter requesting the Chairman of the Senate Banking & Insurance Committee (B&I) to summon the president of Citizens to be grilled on camera (my words) about “…coverage changes and homeowner policy practices that will take effect on January 1.” [Read more…] about Tis the political season…
LAWYERS & MONEY….More Than Meets the Eye!
In my last blog, “A License to Steal”, I referenced some rarely seen public documents that prove there’s much more to Florida’s sinkhole equation than meets the eye. Sure, we see the rampant opportunism spawned by an ill-advised, poorly legislated mandate–residents of sinkhole alley, terrified by landsliding home values, filing claims for settlement cracks or, as often, for no damage at all. [Read more…] about LAWYERS & MONEY….More Than Meets the Eye!
SINKHOLES…Florida’s License to Steal!
Before we look at the killing some law firms are making off of sinkhole claims, it may be appropriate to take a look at the killing being made by “some” of their clients and, of course, how they go about making that killing. [Read more…] about SINKHOLES…Florida’s License to Steal!
Bill Newton…Facts are Stubborn Things!
In response to my last blog on actions Citizens board could take to curtail the influx of new policies, I received comments from the president of the Florida Consumer Action Network, Bill Newton. Bill and I have had some productive exchanges in the past. I believe there’s mutual respect and we’ve even seen eye-to-eye on a few depopulation issues. However, even if his heart is in the right place, his facts and reasoning are not. [Read more…] about Bill Newton…Facts are Stubborn Things!
Citizens–New Board, New Direction!
Last session’s singular focus on SB-408 ignored the fact that even massive reform is moot when facing a state run mega-competitor like Citizens. It continues to win “all” the good business, pulling in over 1,000 policies every day. Citizens CFO, Sharon Binnun testified during last week’s Senate Banking and Insurance Committee that the majority of new policies are full multi-peril homeowners which now total over 946,000. Just two years ago, Citizens had only 607,000 such policies. [Read more…] about Citizens–New Board, New Direction!
Citizens Sinkholes…The Whole Truth Again!
I’ve been waiting for the dust to settle–for the editorials to be written, victory to be claimed by Senator Fasano and trial lawyers; accolades to be placed and misplaced–before writing about Citizens sinkhole rate hearing.
And, of course, I’ve been waiting for the statutorily mandated, actuarially sound rate request to be significantly reduced, as it has been.
It’s time now to pay homage to the powerful few who got what they did not need or earn, at the expense of so many who don’t deserve to pay. [Read more…] about Citizens Sinkholes…The Whole Truth Again!