News & Updates

assignment of benefits

AOB Question Certified to Florida Supreme Court

AOB Question Certified to Florida Supreme Court

Florida’s Fifth District Court of Appeal (DCA) has certified the following question pertaining to Assignments of Benefits (AOB) to the Florida Supreme Court as a matter of great public importance: Does article X, section 4(c) of the Florida Constitution allow the owner of homestead real property, joined by the spouse, if married, to assign post-loss […]

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Rate Hearings Point to Continuing Concerns

Rate Hearings Point to Continuing Concerns

In December 2019, Joe Petrelli of Demotech, Inc. sent a letter of Barry Gilway of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation describing several concerns with Florida’s residential property insurance market.  Petrelli mentioned that several insurers could see downgrades to their Financial Stability Ratings.  He acknowledged that last year’s assignment of benefits (AOB) reforms might be beneficial later.  […]

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Legislative Session Creates Fast Start to New Year

Legislative Session Creates Fast Start to New Year

With this year’s legislative session nearly upon us, the holiday season soon will seem like just a blur.  The Florida legislature has one 60-day regular session each year.  This year, the session begins on January 14, 2020. The legislature tackled assignment of benefits (AOB) reform in the 2019 session.  The new law took effect mid-year, […]

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Next Legislative Session Just Around the Corner

Next Legislative Session Just Around the Corner

It’s hard to believe September is here. It seems like the 2019 legislative session just concluded.   In reality, though, the 2020 session is just around the corner. The 2020 session will have an early start date—it runs from January 14 through March 13 (assuming it ends on time). The early start date means committee meetings will […]

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Dismissal of AOB Case Leaves Unanswered Questions

Dismissal of AOB Case Leaves Unanswered Questions

The Florida Supreme Court recently decided by a 4-3 vote to dismiss its review of Restoration 1 of Port St. Lucie v. Ark Royal Insurance Company.  Interestingly, the three justices in the minority were Governor DeSantis’ recent appointees. The majority was comprised of four justices who were on the court when it accepted the case. The […]

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Governor Signs AOB Reform Bill

Governor Signs AOB Reform Bill

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed HB 7065 reforming the use of assignments in Florida’s property insurance market. He also signed HB 337 relating to Florida’s court system and also accelerating the effective date of HB 7065’s attorney’s fee revisions. Most of the law changes relating to assignments of benefits (AOB) take effect July 1. However, […]

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AOB Reform Ranks Among Top Issues of Session

AOB Reform Ranks Among Top Issues of Session

The 2019 Florida legislative session has come to a close.  After several years of “wait ’til next year” results on the Assignment of Benefits (AOB) issue, this year’s legislature finally passed much-needed reform.  Media outlets around the state are calling this one of the biggest results of the 2019 session. The legislature’s paramount duty, of […]

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