The Torch: April 2018 Monthly Newsletter!

President's MessageHappy Spring to all...

It seems like we are finally getting into Springtime and hopefully the Northern part ofthe country is done being tormented by Old Man Winter. Here at the LAAIA we havekicked off Spring with some very interesting classes along with a great MembershipDrive on April 19th. I would personally like to welcome the following new members toour "LAAIA family":

50 To 1 Insurance, LLCA.B.S Insurance ConsultantsB&B Insurance and Taxes, LLCMint Insurance Group, LLCSimply Insurance Advisor, IncSupra InsuranceUSA General Insurance

I would also like to encourage these new members, as well as all other members, to get involved in YOURassociation. If you have something you feel passion for, help us continue to grow and succeed inrepresenting the Independent Insurance Agents. Together we can make a difference not only in our individualbusinesses but also in our industry in general. We are only as strong as our members help us to be. Wehave plenty of committees you can be involved in and if that works for you, volunteer to be part of our Board.

We are also very glad to announce that the registration for the LAAIA's 48th Annual Convention is nowOPEN. Please make sure to register early as our room block at the Diplomat Beach Resort is close to beingSOLD OUT....yes you heard right - rooms are almost sold out! We are expecting, yet again, another record

breaking year in attendance.

If you have not made your reservation at the Diplomat Beach Resort, please click on this link to make it rightaway!

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM AT THE DIPLOMAT

We are working feverishly on yet another great convention and we are looking forward to welcoming all of youat the Diplomat Beach Resort in August! See you then! In the meantime, enjoy this beautiful Spring weatherand I look forward to seeing many of you at our upcoming events!

-David GilDavid Gil

Upcoming Events

Agent Tips & Tools

Now is the time to encourage your clients to review their insurancepolicies - Hurricane Season is around the corner! Here are some tips to give to your customers both before and after the storm.

Before the storm:Read your policy carefully and ask questions long before a storm approaches. Does it cover wind damage?

Insurance laws change from year to year. Check the "Exclusions" portion of your policy for recent changes.

Review the "Duties After Loss" section of your policy. Failure to follow the provisions in this section couldresult in non-payment on your legitimate claim.

Read More...

Faulty Workmanship, Even if Charged as Negligence, Isn't FortuitousEnough to Be an "Occurrence" Under Liability Policy

Every once in a while, a court teaches us by judicial decision an entire chapter of insurance law lessons wecan carry with us, secure in the knowledge that we can reason our way to the right result in insurancecoverage disputes. Such a court opinion was filed March 30, 2018 by the US District Court for the EasternDistrict of Pennsylvania, applying Pennsylvania law. The case is State Farm Fire & Cas. Co. v. DTLMechanical. It is reported at 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54953. It reminds us that commercial liability insurance istypically limited to defending against, or paying, damages from lawsuits against policyholders for propertydamage, bodily injury or personal and advertising injury, caused by an "occurrence"- an accident.

Read More...

LLAAIA's Charity Corner

Legislative Corner

Legislative Update It has been brought to our attention by some agency members, that they have been receiving, in someisolated instances, a non-renewal from the carrier for open Irma claims. Since Irma hit the state of Florida, wehave seen a total of 924,439 claims filed and so far, 88.5% of the claims are closed! There is no doubt that ourcarriers have worked very hard to bring a resolution to the homeowners and business owners in this greatstate.

The LAAIA wanted to bring to your attention that there is a consumer protection provision in FL Statutesection 627.4133(2) that prohibits insurers from non-renewing policyholders who still have open claims, whenan Emergency Order has been issued for the state. Though there have been some isolated non-renewalsissued, some have been lifted just by making a quick call to the insurer. However, if you are facing this issuein your office, of an unresolved non-renewal by the carrier for an open claim, it is prohibited by statute; kindlysend an email to Lissette Delgado, LAAIA Legislative Chair to ldelgado@jvsins.com with the necessaryinformation as to the carrier and circumstances and she will assist in giving you the steps to follow. For yourconvenience below are the links to the Emergency Order and the Statute to use as reference if you comeacross this in your office.

Emergency Order:

https://www.floir.com/siteDocuments/Emergency_Order_Irma09132017.pdf

FL statute 627.4133: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0600-0699/0627/Sections/0627.4133.html

Legislative Wrap-Up

The Legislative Committee will have its annual legislative wrap-up again at our 48th Annual Convention onWednesday August 1 at the Diplomat. You can register for the event at http://www.cvent.com/d/dtqh84/4W

Political Committee SocialLAAIA's Political Committee invites you to a night of appetizers, a few drinks, and a whole lotta funcompetition on Thursday May 24 @ Bolero, 6:30-8:30 and we promise this will be a night of fun and nopolitical talk! Register now

Top Insurance Headlines

FEMA Eyes Letting People Rebuild Homes After Taxpayer Buyouts

he Federal Emergency Management Agency is proposing to allow owners of homes destroyed by storms andbought out by the government to rebuild on the same flood-prone land.

Currently, FEMA offers to buy homes that have been repeatedly damaged by floodingbut then tears down thestructure and turns the land into open space. The policy is intended to limit future disaster costs, by removingbuildings in locations that make them particularly vulnerable to floods.

Continue Reading...

Texting and Driving Only a Minor Ding in Car Insurance PremiumInsurance companies are finally putting a price on the risk of distracted driving, and it's relatively cheap.

Last year, a ticket for using a mobile phone while driving added $226 to the average insurance policy, anincrease of 16 percent, according to a new analysis from The Zebra, a Texas-based startup that helpsconsumers weigh insurance rates. That's up from just $23 in the span of two years, but still a lot less thansome other violations.

Continue Reading...

Florida Lawyer Gets Prison for Role in $23M PIP Fraud SchemeA Florida man has been sentenced to more than a year in prison for his role in a $23 million auto insurancefraud involving chiropractors' clinics.

The SunSentinel reports 55-year-old Jason Dalley wept in court Monday as a judge sentenced him to spend ayear and nine months in prison and pay more than $1.8 million in restitution.

Continue Reading...

Brightway Insurance Opens New Agencies in Florida, South CarolinaBrightway Insurance is continuing its expansion across the country with the opening of two new stores inFlorida and South Carolina:

Jeff Howard has opened Brightway, The Howard Agency in Charleston, S.C.Troy Novotny has opened Brightway, The Novotny Agency in Jacksonville, Fla.

Brightway, a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independentstores throughout the country, offers its agency owners support including customer service, carrierrelationships, marketing, accounting and technology.

Continue Reading...

Flood insurance rate hikes take effect; most to see small increases

Flood insurance premiums just got more expensive - again.

Effective April 1, the average premium rose 8 percent, from $866 per policy to $935. But the vast majority ofhomeowners will see increases of 5 percent or less.

The increases aren't tied to losses from any of the 2017 hurricanes, but required by two congressional fixesenacted in 2012 and 2014 that were intended to steer the debt-laden National Flood Insurance Programtoward self-sufficiency.

Continue Reading...

Citizens Updates

Process for Hurricane Irma ClaimsApril 19, 2018

Citizens will communicate with our Hurricane Irma claimants later this week to help them understand

the two-tier claim-payment process: the initial payment, which is based on the initial claim estimate;and possible additional payments, for which claimants may be eligible if at least one of the followingapplies:

Additional covered losses are discovered.Market conditions increase costs.

Claimants who believe they should receive additional payments or have questions or concerns abouttheir claim can contact the Citizens Claims Resolution Unit at 866.411.2742, ext. 7794, oremail ResolutionUnit@citizensfla.com.

Policyholder CommunicationsPolicyholder communications will include a letter that will be sent to all Hurricane Irma claimants and asimilar email that will be sent to claimants with an email address on file. For your reference, the links tothese communications are:

Email: Will be sent tomorrow, April 20Letter: Will be mailed the week of April 23

Note: Monroe County claimant communications include an additional paragraph about the availability ofCitizens staff to meet with them on May 1-3 at a temporary office in Marathon.

ResourcesCitizens has policyholder resources on the Public and Agents site:

Select Learning è Brochures è Claims

· You've reported your claim to Citizens. What happens now?* Note: A Spanish version is available.

· How Citizens Estimates Repair Costs

Agents can order printed brochures by emailing Sara Golding or by contacting their Citizens' AgencyManager. Include the quantity needed, language preference and mailing address (no P.O. boxes).

For more information, log in to the Agents site and, from the website's top menu,select Search è Search Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and enter:

Actual Cash ValueReplacement CostIrma

Note: This information is being sent only to agency principals. Distribute to agents and staff asappropriate.

Appointed agents can submit questions to Citizens by logging in to the Agents website and choosingthe Contact Us link on the top of the website. Citizens should respond within three business days.This email is not spam. Citizens Property Insurance Corporation communicates by email. You receivedthis email because you are an appointed agent with Citizens or we received a request to add youraddress to our email distribution list. If you are an appointed agent, removing your name from thedistribution list requires termination of your appointment. To have your appointment terminated, contactAgent Administration at agents@citizensfla.com. If you are not an appointed agent or if you receivedthis message in error, you can unsubscribe via our website.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporationwww.citizensfla.com

The LAAIA is proud to have FORTEGRA INSURANCE to our family of Benefits.

Programs available: E & O Program and Cyber Liability

Cyber Liability Specs

E&O Program Specs

E & O Application

Once you have filled out the application email it to dginden@slbig.com

Remember that you must be a member in good standing with the LAAIA in orderto take advantage of this program. If you are not

a member of the LAAIA and wish to take advantage of this program Click here to join us today!

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