Miscellaneous

• Bad Faith Claims Tell the True Story About Insurers

  K.C. Bouchillon | November 15, 2009 2:27 PM | 1 CommentCentral Florida, FL

  Ever wonder if your insurance company is really as good as they claim? Are you really in good hands? Is your insurance company really like a good neighbor? There's a way you can find out. Click...

• HURRICANE VICTIMS OFTEN SUFFER AT HANDS OF UNETHICAL ADJUSTERS

  K.C. Bouchillon | February 11, 2008 9:34 AM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  The hurricanes of 2004 devastated tens of thousands of homeowners and their families in central Florida. But for many, the shoddy treatment and lack of professionalism shown by insurance adjusters was worse than the storms themselves. Unfortunately, far too many insurance adjusters forget that Florida law imposes ethical obligations on them when dealing with policy holders with insurance...

• Hurricane Ida - does central Florida need to worry?

  Bob Grode | November 09, 2009 9:52 AM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  Is it still hurricane season? We have been blessed with a very mild hurricane season but Ida is making her way across the Gulf of Mexico headed towards the panhandle. What does this mean for central...

• Florida Legislature Reauthorizes PIP Statute, With a Twist

  K.C. Bouchillon | October 20, 2007 3:48 PM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  The Florida Legislature has reauthorized the Florida Personal Injury Protection ("PIP") statute, which will become effective on January 1, 2008. One particular provision of the new PIP statute dealing with reimbursement of a claimant's attorney's fees is particularly interesting. In some cases, there may be no attorney's fees awarded at all. When a claimant files suit against his or her...

• Castleberry's voluntarily recalls botulism-tainted canned meat products

  K.C. Bouchillon | July 25, 2007 9:07 AM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  Castleberry's, a Georgia-based outfit owned by Bumblebee Foods, has voluntarily recalled approximately 75 brands of chili sauce, beef stew, and canned meat because of concerns they could be tainted with botulism. The problem was discovered during an investigation of botulism poisoning in Indiana and Texas, although the distribution of the at-risk products is far broader.Given the recent...

• Allstate Withholds Documents, Angers Regulators, Backs Off Rate Hike

  K.C. Bouchillon | January 18, 2008 8:15 AM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  The State of Florida has suspended Allstate's license after the insurer refused to hand over documents subpoenaed by state insurance regulators. The documents had been requested after Allstate requested rate increases as high as 41%.The suspension follows a heated hearing earlier this week between Allstate and the regulators. What was supposed to be a two-day hearing before Florida insurance...

• Florida Property Insurers Face Possible Class Action over Broken Promises

  K.C. Bouchillon | January 08, 2008 7:00 PM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is investigating a possible class action suit against property insurers for failing to lower rates and pass on savings to insurers after receiving historic concessions from the Florida Legislature.In the face of massive lobbying by insurance companies begging for relief from several years of disasters and allegedly declining profits, the Florida Legislature in January...

• "Rambo" Litigators Are Losers -- And So Are Their Clients

  K.C. Bouchillon | June 24, 2008 9:25 PM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  My partner, Bob Grode, and I just lectured at a seminar about how to deal with "Rambo" litigators. The seminar was geared to attorneys for the purpose of counteracting the unethical and...

• Man's Trading Company Recalls Super Magnet Toys

  Jenny Albano | December 24, 2007 1:32 AM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  Man's Trading Company, in conjunction with the CPSCSuper Magnets because they can pose aspiration and intestinal hazards to children who swallow the magnets. The magnet attached to the bottom of a small toy panda can detach. If swallowed or aspirated by young children, the magnets can attract each other internally and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.The recalled...

• Recovery of pain and suffering over the death of a pet

  K.C. Bouchillon | May 28, 2007 12:33 PM | 0 CommentsCentral Florida, FL

  In the wake of the recent deaths of pets resulting from contaminated pet food, New Jersey is considering a law permitting pet owners to sue for recovery of their pain and suffering if their pet gets sick or dies from eating the affected food. This will undoubtedly rekindle the debate over the status of pets in the law. Should pets be considered "part of the family" such that their owners can...