LMA NEWSLETTER March 1, 2021

The Drive

I spend my days like many of you working from home.  I’m under the 65 year-old threshold, so the vaccine isn’t available for me yet, but hopefully soon.  Once in awhile, I venture out and last week I had the privilege of visiting with House Insurance and Banking Chairman, Nick DiCeglie, driving to his hometown …

Bill Watch

Opening week of the 2021 Legislative Session

We open Bill Watch on the eve of the 60-day Florida legislative session with a $100 million commitment to combat sea-level rise from House Speaker Chris Sprowls, whose district is flood central – Pinellas and Pasco Counties on the Gulf Coast.  Couple that with the Governor’s previous announcement …

Florida Regulators Make the Case for Reform

New report sheds light and solutions

In order to craft appropriate insurance marketplace reforms, Florida House Commerce Committee Chairman Blaise Ingoglia asked Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier in January to provide additional information on cost drivers in residential and automobile insurance lines.  The Commissioner’s report from the Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) is out and includes …

Florida Bar v. Scot Strems

Second complaint goes to court

Last week the Florida Bar’s second of four complaints against suspended South Florida plaintiff insurance attorney Scot Strems was the subject of a lengthy hearing.  This case addresses alleged misconduct in representing elderly client Margaret Nowak in a claims case involving Florida Peninsula Insurance.  The Bar says Strems betrayed his …

Custom Cookie Machine’s Failure Excluded as “Impaired Property”

By Laura M. Gregory, Esq., CPCU

In February, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, addressed the impaired property exclusion, an exclusion contained in most commercial general liability and business owners policies. Despite its inclusion in these popular policy forms, there is limited case law on its application.

In Hallmark Specialty Insurance

Coronavirus & the Florida Market

FEMA now reimbursing at 100%

FEMA has implemented new cost sharing adjustments with governments who’ve made COVID-19 declarations, paying Public Assistance projects at a 100% federal cost share.  There’s also another dismissal of a business interruption (BI) insurance coverage lawsuit that went all the way to trial.  Plus, a challenge to Palm Beach County’s mask …

Uncluttered

Whether at home, at the office, or at the work-from-home office, keeping our spaces organized and free of clutter can be a difficult task all on its own.  The pandemic has created challenges for thousands of employees in every state.  Now a growing number of them are turning to “professional organizing businesses” to help organize …