LMA NEWSLETTER February 4, 2019

The Private Flood Insurance Rule

This past week I attended the Windstorm Insurance Conference put on by WIND (the Windstorm Insurance Network), which is an association that was formed to bring together defense and insurance company lawyers and other professionals on a variety of topics.  Nearly 800 attendees from all insurance disciplines attended this mid-winter conference in Orlando.…

New Commitments to Hurricane Michael Recovery

Feds now paying 100% of debris removal

There is encouraging news to report on recovery efforts in Florida’s Panhandle from Hurricane Michael.  The federal government has agreed to pay 100% on interim debris removal, FEMA is pumping $2 million into recovery at ground zero in Mexico Beach, the Air Force is committing $3 billion to …

Bill Watch

The third week of legislative committee meetings

We’re recapping the third week of legislative committee meetings from January 22-24 and previewing this week’s fourth week of meetings – the first of three weeks in a row.  The legislature will then take off the last week of February and begin the formal 60-day legislative session on …

Model Flood Law Considered for All 50 States

AOB gaining growing attention, too

The Assignment of Benefits (AOB) abuse in Florida and other states has attracted the attention of the National Council of Insurance Legislators (NCOIL) which has scheduled a general discussion on the problem at its upcoming meeting in March.  The group may schedule further discussions about model legislation to encourage the …

Florida’s Long-Term Care Insurance Dilemma

Imbalance between adequate and affordable rates

The Long-Term Care insurance business continues to be one of the toughest lines to offer and manage, as premiums haven’t been able to keep pace with rapidly rising medical costs and longer life expectancies.  Double- and even triple-digit rate increases have become common over the past few years, with …

Three New Justices Seated on Florida Supreme Court

Includes first Hispanic woman to serve on high court

Governor DeSantis has appointed his third and final justice to the Florida Supreme Court, filling vacancies prompted by the mandatory retirement of Justices Barbara Pariente, Peggy Quince, and Fred Lewis.  Who are these new justices and how may they impact the Court’s future rulings, especially on …

Valentine’s Thoughts

As we approach yet another Valentine’s Day (next week Thursday, don’t forget!), we extend some thoughts on love and friendship from thinkers and authors who, frankly, articulate these sentiments in ways only they could.

“Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.” – Lao Tzu

“You don’t love