Lessons for Health, Beauty & Wellness Companies [Part 3]: When to Consider Acquiring a Distressed Company
The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 2-A (“SB2A” or the “Act”), which was signed into law on December 16, 2022. The Act has the potential to significantly reduce litigation of first party property cases in the state of...more
The last week of September, 2022, the State of Florida braced for what was categorized to be one of the worst storms to make landfall in U.S. history. Initially, all weather channels displayed the storm’s trajectory...more
Section 627.7152, Florida Statutes went into effect on July 1, 2019 and regulates assignment of post-loss benefits agreements between an insured under a property insurance policy and any “person providing services to protect,...more
Two years after implementing meaningful assignment of benefits reform, Florida enacted broader property insurance claim reform. On June 11, 2021, Governor DeSantis sign S.B. 76, which takes effect on July 1, 2021. ...more
On April 26, 2019, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law Florida House Bill 7065. The law, which took effect on July 1, 2019, was designed to reduce the amount of assignment of benefits (“AOB”) agreements that could...more
One practice that has plagued the insurance industry in recent years has been contractors soliciting homeowners to make insurance claims after a hailstorm, for example, and then obtaining an assignment of rights to the claim...more
The Florida Legislature passed House Bill 7065 (“HB 7065” or the “Act”), which takes effect today, July 1, 2019, as Section 627.7152, Florida Statutes. The Act regulates post-loss assignment of benefits (“AOB”) contracts...more
A new law represents a major step forward to remedy Florida’s assignment of benefits (“AOB”) crisis, which Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has described as a “racket” in recent years....more
• The Florida Senate recently passed assignment of benefits (AOB) legislation that is expected to be signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill is intended to bring much needed reform to the abused and litigious practice of...more
On April 24, 2019, the Florida Legislature passed a bill (the “Act”) to reform the requirements for the assignment of benefits of claims for residential and commercial property insurance. The Act is expected to become law....more
Significant changes appear to be in the pipeline for Florida property insurers after the Florida legislature passed sweeping assignment of benefits (AOB) reform legislation last week....more
This week, after 7 years of failed efforts, the Florida Legislature passed a meaningful Assignment of Benefits (“AOB”) reform bill. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced yesterday that he would sign the legislation...more
At least two Florida appellate courts have directly contradicted each other on an increasingly-important question facing Floridians and the insurance industry. The question is as follows: “Are insurance provisions valid which...more
Assignment of Benefit Scams - According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, about $80 billion is stolen every year by unscrupulous companies supposedly acting in the best interests of U.S consumers during critical...more
Because there can be more than one individual or entity that holds an interest in property, a property insurance policy is generally drafted in such a way to identify and protect all the individuals or entities who have an...more
The storms of 2017 not only affected lives and property, they occasioned a flurry of litigation in Florida that has revived perennial calls for reform. During hurricane Irma, strong winds blew trees onto roofs, and heavy...more
The Florida House of Representatives recently approved HB 7015 with an 82-20 vote. HB 7015 would make significant changes to state law relating to assignment of benefits (“AOB”) and related legal fees in property insurance...more
On January 12, 2018, the Florida House of Representatives passed a bill (HB 7015) that would dramatically affect the way contractors and their lawyers use assignments of benefits (“AOBs”) in first-party property insurance...more
An assignment of benefits (AOB) is a legal tool that allows a third party to be paid for services performed for an insured property owner who would normally be reimbursed by the insurance company directly after making a...more
In a recent opinion, Judge Schmehl of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania denied a forced placed insurer’s Motion to Dismiss a suit brought by the assignee of a homeowner for water damage to the home. In Williams v....more
As the waters recede from Hurricane Irma, there are many issues for property insurers to consider as they adjust claims in Florida, including unique issues raised by assignment of benefits, Florida law on concurrent...more
As the waters recede from Hurricane Irma, property insurers have many issues to consider as they adjust claims in Florida. This alert discusses a few of those issues. Claims Reporting - The Florida Office of Insurance...more
The practice known as the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) is a big problem for Florida property insurers. AOBs have been driving up the cost of property insurance claims in the state for several years....more