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2 Florida insurers accused of using inexperienced or unlicensed claims adjusters to 'lowball' damages claims
Recent lawsuits filed in southern Florida have accused two property insurers – Heritage Property & Casualty Insurance Co. and American Home Assurance Co. Inc. – of using inexperienced, unlicensed or unqualified adjusters to lowball damages claims.
Florida Insurance Commissioner: ‘recent legislation is having positive impacts to the property insurance market’
Florida Insurance Commissioner, Michael Yaworsky, recently announced that the newly implemented legislative reforms, such as the elimination of attorneys’ fee multipliers, are bolstering the state’s insurance market. Yaworsky made this statement in a press release dated April 3.
Florida attorney general sues ACC over withholding of media rights contracts
Florida’s attorney general is suing the Atlantic Coast Conference for failing to turn over media rights contracts involving the Florida State University football program in violation of the state’s Public Records Act.
R Street insurance expert: Florida insurance market recovering after ‘reform legislation’ targeted ‘unmerited litigation’
Jerry Theodorou, the Policy Director for Finance, Insurance, and Trade at the R Street Institute, has stated that Florida's insurance market has reaped benefits from legislative reform measures such as capping attorney's fee awards. These measures have led to a reduction in the volume of "unmerited litigation" within the state. Theodorou made this statement in a commentary on April 4.
Florida insurance expert on HB 837: ‘the plaintiffs’ bar went to great lengths to avoid application of the new laws to existing cases’
Michael Pagenta, Assistant Vice President of the reinsurance firm Gen Re, stated that Florida plaintiff’s attorneys filed "more than 70,000 lawsuits" in the week leading up to the enactment of tort reform bill HB 837. This action was taken in hopes of "avoiding application of the new laws to existing cases." Pagenta's statement was made in a March 25 post on Gen Re’s website.
Federal appeals court weighing Florida law banning Chinese citizens from owning property
A federal appeals court appeared somewhat conflicted last week as judges heard oral arguments over the legality of a Florida law that bars Chinese citizens from buying homes in many parts of the state.
Florida jury sides with J&J in rejecting talc powder link to cancer
A Florida jury has rejected arguments by plaintiff’s attorneys that a Johnson & Johnson baby-powder talc product caused a Sarasota County’s woman’s fatal ovarian cancer after she used the powder for more than 50 years.
AGs urge federal court to review EPA’s new tailpipe emissions rules
CHARLESTON — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is leading a group of 25 states calling on a federal appeals court to review the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s new rule on car tailpipes.
Judge temporarily bars Florida officials from restricting high school teacher's pronoun use
A federal judge has sided with a Hillsborough County transgender high school teacher by barring Florida education officials from enforcing a section of a state parental rights law on pronoun use against the teacher.
Massachusetts federal judge releases DeSantis from lawsuit over 2022 migrant flight
A Massachusetts federal judge has dismissed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and several other Florida defendants from a lawsuit filed on behalf of immigrants who were flown to Martha’s Vineyard in an immigrant-relocation program funded by the state.
North Carolina judge rejects FSU's bid to dismiss lawsuit aimed at validating ACC agreements
Dueling lawsuits related to Florida State University’s quest to leave the Atlantic Coast Conference to seek more lucrative sports deals are continuing on separate legal tracks in two states.
Company sued for making Mexican-style ice cream in California wins
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - A controversial class action lawyer is not be able to sue the maker of Mexican-style frozen treats because they are made in California.
Social media firms brace for lawsuits after Florida enacts law banning kids from platforms
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision to sign legislation that bans children under 14 years old from social media platforms – and puts in place new online restrictions on 14- to 15-year-olds – may spark litigation over the new law, critics say.
Florida high court allows state abortion-rights initiative to go on November ballot
A constitutional amendment limiting government interference with the practice of abortion will go before state voters this fall as a result of a 4-3 Florida Supreme Court decision approving the measure’s ballot wording.
DeSantis appointees, Disney settle state lawsuits over governing board actions
Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and its Florida oversight board have agreed to a settlement that ends state litigation filed by the parties over governance and development of the company's Orlando-area theme parks.
Suspended Florida attorney who filed over 3,000 tobacco industry claims loses bid for reinstatement
The Florida Supreme Court has declined to reinstate an attorney who was suspended in 2022 for filing more than 3,000 claims from smokers against tobacco firms without properly investigating the cases.
Lawsuit filed over fatal shooting at Florida high school football game
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - The family of a Jones High student has filed a wrongful death lawsuit in Florida court against Orange County Public Schools for failing to prevent his murder.
Florida driver sues General Motors, alleging his driving data was illegally shared with insurer
A Palm Beach County driver is suing General Motors, OnStar LLC and LexisNexis Risk Solutions Inc. in federal court, alleging that his auto insurance costs soared after the defendants shared his driving data without his permission.
Gambling firms challenging Seminole Tribe gaming compact lose round before state's high court
The Florida Supreme Court has rejected a petition by parties involved in the gaming industry that challenges the state`s multibillion-dollar compact with the Seminole Tribe, citing procedural grounds to deny the motion.
'A mess': Expert in Fla. toxic tort plagiarizes cancer research of others, tries to submit it to court
ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - More plaintiffs have been booted from a Florida toxic tort lawsuit because the expert hired by lawyers to connect their cancers to substances released at a Lockheed Martin plant plagiarized the work of a research group.