Reform News
Reform
Push to regulate third-party litigation funding hits roadblock stalling transparency legislation in Florida
Florida's push to regulate third-party litigation funding (TPLF) hit a roadblock in 2024 as key bills, HB 1179 and SB 1276, stalled in the House Judiciary Committee.
Reform
Work begins in Florida to enact expert evidence rule reform
In the last few months, five states have adopted amendments to their expert evidence admissibility rules to conform with an recently amended federal rule.
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Reform
Insurance Commissioner: New Florida budget supports ‘stable and competitive insurance market’
Florida Insurance Commissioner Michael Yaworsky stated in a June 13 press release that the budget signed by Governor Ron DeSantis supports the Office of Insurance Regulation’s (OIR) priority of strengthening the state’s insurance market.
Reform
Florida Chief Financial Officer on insurance prices: ‘there’s a light at the end of this tunnel’
Jimmy Patronis, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and State Fire Marshal, stated in a June 5 video on X that the state’s insurance market and the cost of insurance are improving due to litigation reforms spearheaded by State Representative Tom Leek and the state’s hurricane preparedness program.
Reform
Report finds Florida’s tort reform lowered lawsuit volume
Consulting and research firm Sedgwick released a report titled "Liability Litigation" on May 31, just over one year after Governor Ron DeSantis signed tort reform bill HB 837 into law. Sedgwick found that HB 837’s enactment coincided with a decrease in lawsuit filings in Florida.
Reform
Third-party litigation funding continues to grow, Sedgwick report finds
A report issued by consulting firm Sedgwick on May 31 found that the practice of third-party litigation funding (TPLF) continues to grow, contributing to social inflation and raising concerns about foreign influence in the judicial system.
Reform
State Sen. Passidomo on insurance market: ‘the reforms passed in recent years are working’
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo stated in a May 16 memo to the Florida Senate that the state’s property insurance market is strengthening due to legislative reforms.
Reform
Consumers Defense executive director thanks ‘Florida policymakers who made comprehensive tort reform a reality’
Sal Nuzzo, executive director of the nonprofit Consumers Defense, expressed his appreciation for Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Florida officials who implemented tort reform measures last year. Nuzzo shared his May 21 statement in response to news that eight companies are reducing their property insurance rates in Florida this year.
Reform
Executive director of Florida nonprofit: ‘Civil lawsuit abuse is not a victimless impact’
Tom Gaitens, executive director of the Florida chapter of the nonprofit Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA), stated in an April 30 op-ed that "civil lawsuit abuse" continues to negatively impact Florida's economy and taxpayers.
Reform
Tort reform leads to decrease in Florida’s 'nuclear' verdicts, according to report
Marathon Strategies, an independent public relations firm, has published a report suggesting that tort reform measures in Florida have led to a reduction in the number of nuclear verdicts, defined as jury verdicts exceeding $10 million. The report was released on May 3.
Reform
Florida Insurance Commissioner: ‘recent legislation is having positive impacts to the property insurance market’
Florida Insurance Commissioner, Michael Yaworsky, recently announced in an April press release that newly implemented legislative reforms, such as the elimination of attorneys’ fee multipliers, are bolstering the state’s insurance market.
Reform
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.
Reform
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.
Reform
Tort reforms help Florida to shed its 'Judicial Hellhole' designation
Florida has been a regular in the American Tort Reform Foundation’s annual Judicial Hellholes report for decades, but the latest ATRF report removed Florida from the dishonorable designation, citing recent legal reforms signed into law.
Reform
Appeals court: Public adjusters doubling as appraisers is limited by law
Section 626.854 of the Florida Statutes outlines double duty limits
Reform
Sen. Rick Scott signs Moms for Liberty parental rights pledge
The Moms for Liberty parent pledge was launched in Jan. 2021
Reform
SPLC monitoring school threat assessment rule for possible legal action
The Marjorie Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission developed the rule after House Bill 543 was approved
Reform
NFIB: 'The most pernicious pressure for Florida business owners is wage inflation'
NFIB released its Small Business Economic Trends report this week
Reform
CALA: If judge's ruling is upheld, cases filed to skirt tort reform law will be dismissed
Hillsborough Judge Ann Leigh Gaylor Moe ruled that HB 837 applies retroactively
Reform
AAA to limit home insurance policies in Florida
The American Automobile Association cited rising levels of risk as the reason for non-renewal of certain policies