Declarations

Media Alert

“In an attempt to goad the media into writing another article about their suit, State Farm continues to add more irrelevant, inflammatory and frivolous allegations. I hope the learned members of the media recognize this fact and refuse to fall for their game.”

—Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood after State Farm Insurance accused him of using the threat of a criminal investigation to force settlements in civil litigation over Hurricane Katrina damages.

Fancy Footwork

“I haven’t seen so much bobbing and weaving since Muhammad Ali’s rope-a-dope.”

—Florida Sen. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, referring to what he felt were Allstate Insurance executives’ evasive answers to questions posed by the Senate Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability in Tallahassee on Feb. 4.

‘F’ for Florida

“We’ve crafted a solution to the wrong problem. We must treat the root of the problem. We must admit what the real problem is: wind; exposure; and human behavior that continues to produce the exposure. The course we’re on is not the correct course.”

—Fla. Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, after Florida got an “F” grade on a national insurance report card based on a study outlining the state’s insurance ills. According to the study conducted in collaboration with the James Madison Institute, the Competitive Enterprise Institute and Heartland Institute, Florida insurance reforms passed in 2007 failed to achieve lasting rate reductions for property owners and caused massive liabilities for taxpayers.

Workers’ Comp Woes

“This was an improper attempt to influence the commission. This goes to the foundation of our whole system of justice for workers’ compensation claims.”

—Greenville, S.C. attorney, Kathryn Williams, regarding a restraining order blocking the state Workers’ Compensation Commission from following an executive order issued by Gov. Mark Sanford last year that expired Feb. 15. Sanford told commissioners to begin using uniform medical standards in deciding how much should be paid to injured workers with long-term disabilities.

Toxic Trailers

“I am sure you agree that no one, whether living in temporary government-issued housing or in a manufactured home purchased by private individuals, should be subjected to health threats in their homes due to high levels of toxic fumes from materials used to build these homes.”

—North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley asked the head of the state’s manufactured housing industry group for information and help to ensure residents living in manufactured homes are safe from any health threats due to toxic chemicals in the materials used in their construction.

Topics Florida Workers' Compensation