Articles by Staff and Wire Reports

Florida Supreme Court Lets Recreational Marijuana Stay on November Ballot

U.S.-listed shares of pot producers rose premarket on Tuesday after the Florida Supreme Court on Monday allowed voters to decide on the fate of recreational use of marijuana in the state through a referendum on the November ballot. If voters …

Florida-Based HCI Group Reports Strong Gain in Q4 Earnings

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — HCI Group Inc. (HCI) on Thursday reported fourth-quarter earnings of $38.1 million, a significant improvement over Q4 2022. The Tampa, Florida-based company said it had profit of $3.40 per share. Earnings, adjusted for non-recurring gains, were …

Miami Trial of J&J Talc Powder Cancer Claims Ends in Hung Jury

The latest trial over claims that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products cause cancer ended in a mistrial on Tuesday, as a Florida state court jury said it could not agree on a verdict. The lawsuit was brought by Bob Sugarman, …

Florida Specialty Insurer Fortegra Shelves IPO Plans at the Last Hour

Jacksonville-based specialty insurer Fortegra Group has withdrawn its plans for an initial public offering in the United States, just hours before the IPO and nearly three years after the company scrapped its earlier listing plans. The move by Fortegra, a …

Customer Sues Dunkin Donuts Over ‘Exploding’ Toilet in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — A customer has filed a negligence lawsuit against Dunkin`, claiming he was injured by an exploding toilet at one of the coffee chain`s locations in central Florida. Paul Kerouac is seeking more than $100,000 in a …

Citizens Suspends Binding, Could Be Most Affected as Hurricane Aims for Big Bend

Florida property insurers were keeping their fingers crossed Tuesday as the latest projections indicated that the worst of Hurricane Idalia may miss some of the most heavily populated parts of the state’s west coast. The National Hurricane Center predicted the …

Mayfield, Kentucky, Hit by Floods 18 Months After Devastating Tornado

Parts of Kentucky cannot seem to catch a break from extreme weather events. Some 18 months after a powerful tornado ripped up much of downtown Mayfield, in southwestern Kentucky, heavily damaging businesses, homes, churches and a few insurance agencies, the …

HCA Data Leak Affects 11 Million; Class Action Says 9 Million Hit by Dental Insurer Breach

Nashville-based HCAHealthcare, the largest for-profit operator of hospitals and clinics in the U.S., said that patient information had been leaked to an online forum. The breach leaked data for as many as 11 million patients, making it the largest known …

Florida Driver in 116-mph Fatal House Crash Sentenced to 27 Years

A Florida man who was driving his Tesla at least 116 mph (186 kph) before crashing into a house and killing two people in 2021 has been sentenced to 27 years in prison. Vaughn Mongan, 45, of Palm Harbor, was …

Alabama DOI Needs Insurers to Light Up the Nascent Medical Pot Business in the State

Alabama lawmakers legalized medical marijuana two years ago this month. But it came with a high hurdle: Dispensaries, growers, processors and other license applicants must have at least $2 million of liability and casualty insurance. Now, the Alabama Department of …