First District Court of Appeal Overturns ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ By NANCY SMITH – April 18, 2018 – 5:45 pm First District Court of Appeal The First District Court of Appeal avoided another “lawsuits ‘r’ us” black eye for Florida Wednesday, when it reversed the infamous “Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case” — […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-04-19 15:56:532025-07-21 19:39:18First District Court of Appeal Overturns ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’
Florida lawmakers fail to pass AOB reform Laura Sanicola 20 March 2018 Lawmakers in Tallahassee have once again failed to tackle the assignment of benefits (AOB) crisis that reform advocates say is rapidly pushing up insurance rates and dragging down the Florida economy. The 2018 legislative session, which ended on 11 March, marked more […]
Despite increasing assignment of benefits fraud, some see hope for reform By Carrie Bradon | Mar 20, 2018 A surge of assignment of benefits fraud has left Florida residents with higher rates for their insurance, and the Florida Legislature has let another year go by without enacting changes to stop such instances of fraud. TALLAHASSEE— A surge […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-03-20 15:56:472025-07-21 19:44:59Despite Increasing Assignment of Benefits Fraud, Some See Hope for Reform
Heritage Insurance seeking hefty rate hikes, blames claims fraud By Ron Hurtibise Sun Sentinel – March 2, 2018 Heritage Property & Casualty, one of the state’s largest homeowner insurance companies, is seeking double-digit rate increases for new and renewing customers this year. It’s part of a storm of large rate increases by insurers throughout […]
Florida Considering Changes to Civil Court System ALEX PICKETT – March 2, 2018 (CN) – Florida’s civil court system could undergo significant changes if state lawmakers pass a bill shifting tens of thousands of cases to the state’s county courts. HB 7061 would give county courts jurisdiction over claims of $50,000 or less, while circuit civil […]
‘PIP’ repeal hits wall in Senate By Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Posted: 8:41 PM, February 28, 2018 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Senate panel Wednesday rejected a measure that would eliminate Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system, with opponents arguing the proposal could lead to a slight increase in costs for motorists. The Health and […]
The ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ Goes to Appeals Court … as the Legal World Watches By NANCY SMITH February 27, 2018 – 2:15pm First District Court of Appeal A Hamilton County jury verdict that has drawn the attention of national legal scholars and civil justice reform advocates goes before the First District […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-27 15:59:362025-07-29 14:19:53The ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ Goes to Appeals Court … as the Legal World Watches
By: Samantha Joseph – February 23, 2018 Under Florida law, county courts handle cases with up to $15,000 at stake, but that limit could more than triple under proposed legislation. Proposed legislation making its way through the Florida House and Senate would increase the county court jurisdictional limit to $50,000, potentially clearing thousands of cases […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-23 15:58:272025-07-29 16:10:08Not Just ‘Small’ Claims: County Courts Might Soon Handle Cases Up to $50,000
PIP car insurance, built to curb lawsuits, spurs record pile instead Feb 22, 2018 By Charles Elmore, Protecting Your Pocket A no-fault car insurance system that was supposed to reduce lawsuits in Florida has instead produced an all-time high mountain of more than 60,000 of them in 2017, a new report shows. Source: […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-22 15:58:392024-12-11 18:01:11PIP Car Insurance, Built to Curb Lawsuits, Spurs Record Pile Instead
By Charles Elmore – Palm Beach Post Staff Writer More than 60,000 cases were filed in Florida courthouses in 2017 involving the state’s no-fault car insurance system, research shows. Posted: 2:06 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2018 A no-fault car insurance system that was supposed to reduce lawsuits in Florida has instead produced a record mountain […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-22 15:58:382025-07-29 16:47:24PIP Lawsuits Explode to Record
Ted Bunker – 20 February 2018 Florida’s assignment-of-benefits (AOB) crisis shows no sign of abating, and the one-way attorney fee rule often leaves insurers with little choice but to settle inflated claims without a fight, according to a study released today by a group advocating a reform of AOB laws. The group, the Florida Justice Reform […]
Attorney, Vendor AOB Lawsuits Top Insurance Litigation in 2017: FJRI Report By Amy O’Connor | February 20, 2018 Litigation from the abuse of assignment of benefits by third parties represented more than half of all Florida insurance litigation in 2017, and without a legislative fix those fueling the abuse will continue to get rich […]
Legal advocacy group opposes legislation to repeal Florida nonjoinder of insurer provisions By Karen Kidd | Feb 16, 2018 Legislation introduced in the Florida Legislature last month that would repeal nonjoinder of insurer provisions in state law is opposed by a legal advocacy group. TALLAHASSEE — Legislation introduced in the Florida Legislature last month that would repeal nonjoinder […]
Tort reformer William Large keeps plugging away for PIP bad-faith revamp MICHAEL MOLINE February 12, 2018, 8:37 am One argument in the debate over repeal of Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system isn’t finding much love in the Legislature — that the real key to lower premiums is reform of the legal rules governing coverage disputes […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-12 15:59:362025-07-29 16:08:32Tort reformer William Large keeps plugging away for PIP bad-faith revamp
Steube AOB bill passes judiciary panel despite business opposition by Michael Carroll | Feb. 7, 2018, 9:41am TALLAHASSEE – A revamped bill that aims to address rising assignment-of-benefits concerns in Florida passed the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee Tuesday, but still failed to win support from the insurance industry and business interests. SB 1168, authored […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-02-07 15:59:242024-11-25 23:08:32Steube AOB Bill Passes Judiciary Panel Despite Business Opposition
Takeaways from Tallahassee — Legislative misses PETER SCHORSCH February 3, 2018, 5:35 am PIP quibbles The Legislature is barking up the wrong tree on PIP repeal, according to Florida Justice Reform President William Large. Fixing Florida’s bad-faith laws would do more to lower premiums, he said in a written statement. “This landmark PCI report on HB […]
Florida Agents March on State Capitol in Lawmaker Push to Reform AOB By Amy O’Connor | January 25, 2018 More than 125 insurance agents from across Florida, along with members of the Consumer ProtectionCoalition (CPC), march to the Florida Capitol on Wednesday to highlight the need for Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform. Photo by […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-01-25 15:57:052024-11-25 23:10:16Florida Agents March on State Capitol in Lawmaker Push to Reform AOB
by Michael Carroll | Jan. 24, 2018, 6:52am TALLAHASSEE – A Florida Senate panel gave a thumbs-up Tuesday to a bill that would prevent property insurers from including attorney fees and other legal costs in their rate base, despite opposition from insurance firms and other business interests. Insurers and business leaders complained before the […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-01-24 15:57:052024-11-25 23:11:43Florida AOB Bill Passes Senate Insurance Panel Despite Business Opposition
Ormond Heritage condos languish under a legal cloud By Mike Finch II Posted Jan 17, 2018 at 6:07 PM Updated Jan 18, 2018 at 2:28 PM ORMOND BEACH — Paramount Disaster Recovery offered its potential clients a deal after Hurricane Matthew: Sign over your insurance claim and we’ll take care of the rest. Property insurance can be a messy business, so Paramount found a willing […]
Monday, January 15, 2018 House Votes to Cap Claimants’ Attorney Fees at $150 an Hour By J. Todd Foster On the fourth day of the 2018 legislative session, members of the Florida’s House of Representatives voted along party lines to pass a bill that would cap claimants’ attorney fees at $150 an hour even though […]
https://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/fjri-news.jpg800800RAD Techhttps://www.fljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Florida-Justice-Reform-Institute.jpgRAD Tech2018-01-15 15:57:562025-07-13 19:15:14House Votes to Cap Claimants’ Attorney Fees at $150 an Hour
First District Court of Appeal Overturns ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’
/in Sunshine State NewsFirst District Court of Appeal Overturns ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ By NANCY SMITH – April 18, 2018 – 5:45 pm First District Court of Appeal The First District Court of Appeal avoided another “lawsuits ‘r’ us” black eye for Florida Wednesday, when it reversed the infamous “Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case” — […]
Florida Lawmakers Fail to Pass AOB Reform
/in The Insurance InsiderFlorida lawmakers fail to pass AOB reform Laura Sanicola 20 March 2018 Lawmakers in Tallahassee have once again failed to tackle the assignment of benefits (AOB) crisis that reform advocates say is rapidly pushing up insurance rates and dragging down the Florida economy. The 2018 legislative session, which ended on 11 March, marked more […]
Despite Increasing Assignment of Benefits Fraud, Some See Hope for Reform
/in Florida RecordDespite increasing assignment of benefits fraud, some see hope for reform By Carrie Bradon | Mar 20, 2018 A surge of assignment of benefits fraud has left Florida residents with higher rates for their insurance, and the Florida Legislature has let another year go by without enacting changes to stop such instances of fraud. TALLAHASSEE— A surge […]
Heritage Insurance Seeking Hefty Rate Hikes, Blames Claims Fraud
/in Sun SentinelHeritage Insurance seeking hefty rate hikes, blames claims fraud By Ron Hurtibise Sun Sentinel – March 2, 2018 Heritage Property & Casualty, one of the state’s largest homeowner insurance companies, is seeking double-digit rate increases for new and renewing customers this year. It’s part of a storm of large rate increases by insurers throughout […]
Florida Considering Changes to Civil Court System
/in Courthouse News ServiceFlorida Considering Changes to Civil Court System ALEX PICKETT – March 2, 2018 (CN) – Florida’s civil court system could undergo significant changes if state lawmakers pass a bill shifting tens of thousands of cases to the state’s county courts. HB 7061 would give county courts jurisdiction over claims of $50,000 or less, while circuit civil […]
‘PIP’ Repeal Hits Wall in Senate
/in News4Jax‘PIP’ repeal hits wall in Senate By Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Posted: 8:41 PM, February 28, 2018 TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Senate panel Wednesday rejected a measure that would eliminate Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system, with opponents arguing the proposal could lead to a slight increase in costs for motorists. The Health and […]
The ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ Goes to Appeals Court … as the Legal World Watches
/in Sunshine State NewsThe ‘Five Million Dollar Ant Bite Case’ Goes to Appeals Court … as the Legal World Watches By NANCY SMITH February 27, 2018 – 2:15pm First District Court of Appeal A Hamilton County jury verdict that has drawn the attention of national legal scholars and civil justice reform advocates goes before the First District […]
Not Just ‘Small’ Claims: County Courts Might Soon Handle Cases Up to $50,000
/in Daily Business ReviewBy: Samantha Joseph – February 23, 2018 Under Florida law, county courts handle cases with up to $15,000 at stake, but that limit could more than triple under proposed legislation. Proposed legislation making its way through the Florida House and Senate would increase the county court jurisdictional limit to $50,000, potentially clearing thousands of cases […]
PIP Car Insurance, Built to Curb Lawsuits, Spurs Record Pile Instead
/in The Palm Beach PostPIP car insurance, built to curb lawsuits, spurs record pile instead Feb 22, 2018 By Charles Elmore, Protecting Your Pocket A no-fault car insurance system that was supposed to reduce lawsuits in Florida has instead produced an all-time high mountain of more than 60,000 of them in 2017, a new report shows. Source: […]
PIP Lawsuits Explode to Record
/in The Palm Beach PostBy Charles Elmore – Palm Beach Post Staff Writer More than 60,000 cases were filed in Florida courthouses in 2017 involving the state’s no-fault car insurance system, research shows. Posted: 2:06 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2018 A no-fault car insurance system that was supposed to reduce lawsuits in Florida has instead produced a record mountain […]
Florida AOB Crisis Worsens as Reform Efforts Struggle
/in The Insurance InsiderTed Bunker – 20 February 2018 Florida’s assignment-of-benefits (AOB) crisis shows no sign of abating, and the one-way attorney fee rule often leaves insurers with little choice but to settle inflated claims without a fight, according to a study released today by a group advocating a reform of AOB laws. The group, the Florida Justice Reform […]
Attorney, Vendor AOB Lawsuits Top Insurance Litigation in 2017: FJRI Report
/in The Insurance InsiderAttorney, Vendor AOB Lawsuits Top Insurance Litigation in 2017: FJRI Report By Amy O’Connor | February 20, 2018 Litigation from the abuse of assignment of benefits by third parties represented more than half of all Florida insurance litigation in 2017, and without a legislative fix those fueling the abuse will continue to get rich […]
Legal Advocacy Group Opposes Legislation to Repeal Florida Nonjoinder of Insurer Provisions
/in Florida RecordLegal advocacy group opposes legislation to repeal Florida nonjoinder of insurer provisions By Karen Kidd | Feb 16, 2018 Legislation introduced in the Florida Legislature last month that would repeal nonjoinder of insurer provisions in state law is opposed by a legal advocacy group. TALLAHASSEE — Legislation introduced in the Florida Legislature last month that would repeal nonjoinder […]
Tort reformer William Large keeps plugging away for PIP bad-faith revamp
/in Florida PoliticsTort reformer William Large keeps plugging away for PIP bad-faith revamp MICHAEL MOLINE February 12, 2018, 8:37 am One argument in the debate over repeal of Florida’s no-fault auto insurance system isn’t finding much love in the Legislature — that the real key to lower premiums is reform of the legal rules governing coverage disputes […]
Steube AOB Bill Passes Judiciary Panel Despite Business Opposition
/in Florida RecordSteube AOB bill passes judiciary panel despite business opposition by Michael Carroll | Feb. 7, 2018, 9:41am TALLAHASSEE – A revamped bill that aims to address rising assignment-of-benefits concerns in Florida passed the state Senate’s Judiciary Committee Tuesday, but still failed to win support from the insurance industry and business interests. SB 1168, authored […]
Takeaways from Tallahassee — Legislative misses
/in Florida PoliticsTakeaways from Tallahassee — Legislative misses PETER SCHORSCH February 3, 2018, 5:35 am PIP quibbles The Legislature is barking up the wrong tree on PIP repeal, according to Florida Justice Reform President William Large. Fixing Florida’s bad-faith laws would do more to lower premiums, he said in a written statement. “This landmark PCI report on HB […]
Florida Agents March on State Capitol in Lawmaker Push to Reform AOB
/in The Insurance JournalFlorida Agents March on State Capitol in Lawmaker Push to Reform AOB By Amy O’Connor | January 25, 2018 More than 125 insurance agents from across Florida, along with members of the Consumer ProtectionCoalition (CPC), march to the Florida Capitol on Wednesday to highlight the need for Assignment of Benefits (AOB) reform. Photo by […]
Florida AOB Bill Passes Senate Insurance Panel Despite Business Opposition
/in Florida Recordby Michael Carroll | Jan. 24, 2018, 6:52am TALLAHASSEE – A Florida Senate panel gave a thumbs-up Tuesday to a bill that would prevent property insurers from including attorney fees and other legal costs in their rate base, despite opposition from insurance firms and other business interests. Insurers and business leaders complained before the […]
Ormond Heritage condos languish under a legal cloud
/in Daytona Beach News-JournalOrmond Heritage condos languish under a legal cloud By Mike Finch II Posted Jan 17, 2018 at 6:07 PM Updated Jan 18, 2018 at 2:28 PM ORMOND BEACH — Paramount Disaster Recovery offered its potential clients a deal after Hurricane Matthew: Sign over your insurance claim and we’ll take care of the rest. Property insurance can be a messy business, so Paramount found a willing […]
House Votes to Cap Claimants’ Attorney Fees at $150 an Hour
/in WorkCompCentralMonday, January 15, 2018 House Votes to Cap Claimants’ Attorney Fees at $150 an Hour By J. Todd Foster On the fourth day of the 2018 legislative session, members of the Florida’s House of Representatives voted along party lines to pass a bill that would cap claimants’ attorney fees at $150 an hour even though […]