Reform News
Reform
Half-measures won't be enough to stabilize Florida property insurance market, industry observer says
Florida’s one-way attorney fee system favoring plaintiffs in litigated insurance claims should be abolished, the time to file a litigated claim should be limited to one year and assignments of property insurance benefits ought to be banned entirely, an insurance industry insider says.
Reform
Chamber of Commerce panel aims to advance civil litigation reforms in Florida
Tort reform supporters seem buoyed by the formation of a new Florida Chamber of Commerce panel called the Council of General Counsels as well as Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a second 2022 special legislative session to deal with the property insurance crisis.
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Reform
Florida litigated property insurance claims jump 37% in January, raising industry concerns
After fluctuating up and down slightly in recent months, the number of litigated property insurance claims in Florida shot up 37% in January, the first significant jump since a high of 6,663 litigated claims in July 2021, new data shows.
Reform
Home-hardening program aims to benefit Florida consumers, insurers
Florida officials are hoping to roll out a program to encourage residents to retrofit their homes against future hurricane damage in a bid to reduce property insurance claims and the litigation that often accompanies such claims.
Reform
Florida legislature tops 'Watch' list in new 'Judicial Hellholes' report
Although Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Supreme Court have helped the state shed its “Judicial Hellhole” status, the state legislature’s failure to pass key justice reforms this year led a reform group to place the lawmakers on its “Watch" list.
Reform
Florida Bar Board of Governors rejects proposal allowing non-attorney law firm ownership, shared legal fees
The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors unanimously voted to reject proposals that would have allowed people who are not lawyers to own law firms and share legal fees.
Reform
Local governments spar over city of Port St. Lucie's developer fee system
St. Lucie County officials are hoping to avoid litigation with the city of Port St. Lucie over a new plan to impose developer fees to offset the transportation effects of regional growth.
Reform
Florida law mandating reporting on new independent contractors takes effect in October
As a result of legislation passed this year, Florida employers will be required to report information on new independent contractor hires to state officials beginning Oct. 1 to improve Florida’s child-support system.
Reform
Florida caregiver advocates weigh need to extend COVID-19 legal liability protections
Advocates for health care organizations are weighing whether to push Florida legislators to extend COVID-19 legal liability protections for medical professionals beyond the March 2022 expiration date.
Reform
South Florida headlines new 'Everlasting Judicial Hellholes' report
South Florida’s recent placement on the American Tort Reform Association’s “Everlasting Judicial Hellholes” list has prompted a Florida small business group to urge state lawmakers to recommit themselves to key civil justice reforms.
Reform
Rate of homeowner insurance lawsuits filed in Florida outpaces all other states, new data shows
Florida residents opened more than three-fourths of all the homeowner insurance lawsuits filed in the U.S. in 2019, new data from the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) shows.
Reform
Florida privacy rights bill advances amid concerns about added business burdens
A bill to better protect consumers’ privacy rights has won unanimous approval from a Florida House subcommittee, but business groups worry that the measure would lead to a deluge of class-action lawsuits.
Reform
Trucking association pushes Florida to turn corner on litigation reforms
The Florida Trucking Association’s efforts to reshape the state’s civil litigation climate during this year’s legislative session have shifted into high gear in the wake of a state Supreme Court ruling changing the summary judgment standard.
Reform
Tort-reform advocates point to wave of Florida TV ads soliciting coronavirus lawsuits
A study showing that Florida TV ad markets were inundated last year with legal services spots mentioning COVID-19 or the coronavirus has buoyed the hopes of tort-reform supporters pushing the state legislature to pass legal liability protections.
Reform
Florida property insurance industry in tenuous financial state, despite AOB reform
Restrictions on assignment-of-benefits (AOB) property insurance claims signed into law in 2019 have failed to control lawsuits blamed for pushing up insurance premium costs in Florida, according to a nonprofit insurance consumers group.
Reform
Fine makes third attempt to address legal notices in newspapers with House Bill 35
In a third attempt, a Florida legislator is seeking to repeal a state law requiring newspapers to publish legal notices and advertisements.
Reform
Florida lawmakers urged to take go-slow approach to taxing online sales
Moving too hastily on legislation to tax goods sold online by out-of-state merchants could lead to more civil litigation and burdensome rules, public policy experts said in a warning to Florida lawmakers.
Reform
Florida bill would rein in 'contingency risk multipliers' in property insurance claims
A Florida lawmaker has introduced a bill that would restrict a practice that ramps up fees paid to attorneys who represent a property owner suing an insurer on a contingency-fee basis.
Reform
Florida TaxWatch: COVID-19 liability language needed to help grow economy
A Florida nonprofit is promoting the creation of state legislation liability shields for businesses in light of two reports it recently released.
Reform
Civil justice reform advocates welcome Florida Supreme Court's summary judgment ruling
The Florida Supreme Court’s Dec. 31 decision to adopt the federal standard for summary judgments in civil lawsuits will make the justice system more fair and efficient, according to business associations.