News & Events

The Florida property insurance market is teetering on the edge of collapse just as the state is starting to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. After years of increased litigation and fraudulent claims, the majority of insurance companies in the state have had to raise their rates to consumers, tighten up their underwriting guidelines, deny coverage for new applicants, and stop renewal of non-profitable businesses just to stay afloat. There has been an increase in consumers and businesses seeking the state’s property insurance, Citizens, as its rates have only increased slightly as a result of statutory requirements. Even without a major storm in 2020, insurers lost $1.5 billion from water damage and roof fraud as well as costly litigation awards. Insurance companies are now feeling hopeful as Bill 76, recently passed by the Florida Legislature on April 30, 2021, was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis.

Workplace accidents can result in serious injuries or death. Workers’ compensation insurance is required by Florida law for all employers who have four or more employees working for their company. Construction companies in Florida are required to provide this insurance for every employee, no matter how many employees are currently employed. This coverage is designed to provide financial compensation that covers injuries suffered by an employee while on the job. The compensation may cover medical costs, lost wages, other recovery-related costs, as well as funeral and burial costs in the tragic event of an employee's death at work. Employers who abide by state law and acquire either private or state workers’ compensation insurance, or self-insure, are given strong protection against their employees suing them and the company itself having to cover expenses from workplace injuries. This immunity to civil lawsuits has incredibly few exceptions, but when met, those exceptions can disrupt the course of business and cause serious harm to the company. 

Insurers must be consistently aware of their loss and expense ratios while fulfilling the needs of their policyholders and meeting all legal requirements as an insurance company. Managing risk while remaining profitable can be difficult and insurers must be proactive in managing the cost of each litigated claim. This means acquiring and retaining experienced insurance coverage representation. For more than 40 years, Conroy Simberg has provided comprehensive representation to insurers across the nation, including in the state of Georgia. We are prepared to represent insurers in coverage disputes through every step of the claims and legal process, including avoiding unnecessary litigation whenever possible. We are familiar with the extreme pressures that our clients are under and are here to help provide reassurance through our knowledgeable and experienced legal advice and representation in coverage matters. 

Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed CS/CS/SB 54 “An act relating to Motor Vehicle Insurance” late Tuesday Evening.  The Bill, which sought to repeal the over 40 year old No-Fault system, was the subject of much criticism since its April 30, 2021 passage.   The bill was presented to the Governor June 28, 2021 and his veto followed shortly thereafter.  The Governor withheld his approval of the Bill, noting the bill did not adequately address the current issues Florida drivers. 

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Targeted advertising to consumers is one of the most common methods companies use to sell their products and services and/or influence how consumers perceive company values. Consumers are shown ads based on their location, demographics, previous buying history, search engine history, or inferred interests. Many social media networks can easily find a consumer’s information and provide that information to companies who want to place strategic ads that consumers might engage with or be influenced by. These targeted advertisements may do more than just encourage a consumer to buy a product. Many companies that are currently involved in lawsuits also use targeted advertising. The question then becomes, can targeted advertising used by a company impact how a potential jury pool views the company’s values and products before trial?