Reform News
Reform
Legal partner on House Bill 1551: 'Cases became about the lawyers, not the insured'
Matthew Lavisky, a partner at Butler Weihmuller Katz Craig LLP, expressed concerns regarding House Bill 1551, which he claims would reinstate a litigation framework where attorneys benefit disproportionately and clients' interests become secondary.
Reform
Tort reforms bringing benefits to average Floridians, consumer group's report finds
Florida insurance premium costs are dropping, the number of civil lawsuits being filed is decreasing, “nuclear verdicts” are becoming less common and more insurers are entering the Sunshine State, a new study on the impact of tort reforms concluded.
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Reform
Tort reform advocates: More changes needed to right Florida's 'economic boat'
Despite progress in passing tort reforms in recent sessions of the state Legislature, Floridians pay on average $1,238 per person in the form of a “tort tax” that eradicates almost 240,000 jobs annually around the state, tort reform advocates said Thursday.
Reform
DeSantis, business leaders bullish on insurance market trends, rate decreases
Florida’s insurance market, which has been battered by active hurricane seasons, excessive litigation and spiraling rates, is undergoing a turnaround, the governor said last week as he touted premium decreases and more insurers moving into the state.
Reform
Gov. DeSantis: Lawsuit abuse reform has led to 'significant reductions in auto insurance rates'
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that the state has achieved significant reductions in auto insurance rates, with companies such as State Farm and Progressive lowering premiums.
Reform
AG’s Medicaid Fraud Unit secures more than $2.6M in two actions
The Office of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit has secured more than $2.6 million in two recent actions.
Reform
Insurance Information Institute announces that Florida will target transparency in third-party litigation funding
The Insurance Information Institute (III) announced that Florida lawmakers plan to revisit transparency requirements for third-party litigation funding (TPLF) in an email sent on January 23.
Reform
The Perryman Group: Tort tax costs Florida $1.2B in revenue loss
Florida's excessive tort costs, referred to as the "tort tax," are resulting in a $1.2 billion annual revenue loss, according to a report from The Perryman Group.
Reform
Citizens Insurance CEO Cerio: 'Reforms brought the insurance market back from the brink'
Tim Cerio, CEO of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, informed the board on December 4, 2024, that legislative reforms have stabilized Florida’s property insurance market.
Reform
Moody, other AGs send warnings to robocall companies
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is part of a bipartisan task force warning four voice service providers that have been transmitting suspected illegal robocall traffic on their networks on behalf of one or more customers.
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.
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.