Florida insurance costs set to rise because of failed insurers
Florida homeowners are about to pay more in insurance premiums due to failed insurance companies. The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported Sunday that late last month the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association approved a 1.3% assessment on the premium cost of all policies sold in Florida. If the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approves the assessment later this month, it will raise $190 million to cover any claims or litigation for Orlando-based St. Johns Insurance Co., which as recently as 2019, was one of the 10 largest insurers in Florida, and went into receivership late last month. Spectrum News 13
Postal employee on disability pleads guilty to making false statements
A 56-year-old Belleville, Illinois man has pleaded guilty to two counts of making false statements to obtain federal disability compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. According to court documents, He allegedly began receiving federal disability payments after he was injured working for the United States Postal Service in 2013, but after his injury, he began working at his family’s restaurant in East St. Louis, Illinois. RiverBender
The Illinois Supreme Court recently held the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act’s exclusive remedy provision does not extend immunity to a general contractor who paid workers’ compensation premiums for its subcontractor, a wholly-owned subsidiary, and the subcontractor’s employees. Only an employee’s “immediate employer” is entitled to immunity under the act’s exclusive remedy provision, writes Nicholas Ruble of Baker Sterchi Cowden & Rice LLC. Lexology
Jury awards $36.5M in compensatory and punitive damages to former Grace employee
A Montana jury recently awarded $36.5 million dollars to an Oregon man who worked at the Libby mine in Montana. It is the first of more than 800 cases filed against Maryland Casualty Company, provider of workers’ compensation coverage to Grace from 1963 until 1973, to go to trial. Elizabeth Lautenbach of Goldberg Segalla breaks down the issues. JD Supra