Articles by Amy O'Connor

O'Connor is the Southeast editor for Insurance Journal and associate editor of MyNewMarkets.com.

Florida Insurers Sustain ‘A’ Ratings, For Now, As 2020 Industry Losses Top $1.5B

Ratings agency Demotech has affirmed the ‘A’ ratings of the Florida homeowners carriers it rates, which account for approximately 66% of the state’s market, after review of 2020 year-end and projected Q1 2021 results. However, Demotech warned of tough times …

Insurance Agents on the Front Line of Florida’s Mounting Property Market Problems

While carriers face growing financial losses in Florida’s distressed property insurance market, insurance agents are on the front lines trying to help their clients who are being hit with double-digit rate increases, non-renewals, coverage restrictions or refusals from the admitted …

Demotech Withdraws Rating of American Capital, AM Best Issues Downgrade

American Capital Assurance Corp., a Florida-based insurer focused on commercial residential and non-residential property risks, as well as flood coverage, had its Demotech rating withdrawn and was downgraded by AM Best. Demotech announced March 5 that it had withdrawn American …

‘Desperate’ Times: Stakeholders Urge Florida Lawmakers to Enact Insurance Reform

It’s the start of another Florida Legislative Session with a familiar theme — insurers pushing for reforms they say are needed to help the state’s distressed insurance market. Only this year the need is more urgent than ever, according to …

Florida Legislative Session 2021: Insurance Bills to Watch

The Florida insurance industry will be fighting for property insurance reforms in the 60-day legislative session that kicked off this week, but there are several other insurance-related bills to watch. Read on for a breakdown of the bills being considered …

Diversity, Resilience, Innovation Among Altmaier’s Priorities as NAIC President

Florida’s top insurance regulator has a busy year ahead, and it won’t just include overseeing his own state’s insurance market, one of the most dynamic and complicated insurance markets in the world. Rather, for the next year, Insurance Commissioner David …

Q&A With David Altmaier, President, National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Florida’s insurance regulator has a busy year ahead, and it won’t just include overseeing his own state’s insurance market, one of the most dynamic and complicated insurance markets in the world. Rather, for the next year, Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier …

Surfacing Emerging Risks From Covid, Cyber, Civil Unrest, Mergers, and More…

Insurance Journal examined industries experiencing changes and challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, societal unrest and other market forces experienced in 2020. Here are 10 industry sectors that could see new and emerging risks in 2021 and beyond. Commercial Real …

Citizens Immune from Bad Faith, Not Liable for Non-Contractual Damages: Court

The Florida Supreme Court has resolved A 14-year-old lawsuit against Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in favor of the insurer in a ruling that was expected but still has far-reaching effects on the state’s property market. The court issued the unanimous …

Goosehead Insurance Employee Who Participated in Storming of Capitol Fired

Texas-based personal lines insurance agency Goosehead Insurance fired an employee who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. According to a posting on Goosehead’s Twitter account, Paul Davis, who was associate general counsel, was no longer …