Possible End Of The Road For No-Fault Insurance
April 3, 2013
Efforts to drive fraud out of the state’s no-fault auto insurance system may not get a full test run.
The Senate Banking and Insurance Committee on Tuesday began looking at the possibility of replacing the system, just a year after a major overhaul that is now tied up in court. Lawmakers last year tried to tackle fraud in the state’s Personal Injury Protection, or PIP, insurance system, but the changes ran up against a Tallahassee circuit court judge, who last month blocked, at least temporarily, part of the law.
That has lawmakers now looking at simply scrapping PIP, the required coverage for other motorists injuries that was intended to avoid car crash claims getting tied up in court.
“I think it’s clear that PIP has got a defined life in the state of Florida,” said Committee Chairman Sen. David Simmons, R-Maitland.
Simmons is confident that if lawmakers were to decide next week to move forward with a bill to replace the no-fault system that premium prices for most Florida drivers would come down. He pointed Tuesday to an Office of Insurance Regulation report that nearly 90 percent of Florida drivers with insurance already are covered with some form of bodily injury protection.
“All of this certainly leads to the conclusion that for many policy holders in the state of Florida they would see a reduction in policy premiums by getting rid of PIP,” Simmons said.
The trade off to bodily injury coverage as the bargain basement of coverage, is that without no-fault, court cases would be expected to increase as crash victims have to recoup medical coverage from the party at fault.
Insurance companies quickly lent their support to discussions of replacing no-fault, the state system that was designed in the 1970s to steer people away from court after auto accidents by providing up to $10,000 in medical crash coverage regardless of the party at fault.
“We understood that the monumental effort to try one last time to reform PIP was important, we supported that,” Michael Carlson, executive director of Personal Insurance Federation of Florida, told the committee. “On behalf of about 45 percent of the marketplace, despite the chilly temperature in this room, we are warming up to this idea. We think that after years, decades of attempt to reform PIP, to drive out fraud, I think we have reached the point of impasse.”
Backers of the 2012 no-fault reform had hoped that nearly 70 percent of the cost in claims prior to last year’s law would be eliminated with the end of repayments for non-emergency massage therapy and acupuncture treatment.
However, Judge Terry Lewis sided with the claim by chiropractors and massage therapists that the law illegally prevents accident patients from using PIP claims to pay for their treatment.
The state has already filed an appeal with the strong backing of Gov. Rick Scott, but some supporters of the 2012 law said the reform effort has effectively been “kneecapped” by the judge.
Paul Jess, representing the Florida Justice Association, a trial lawyers group, said that even without Lewis’ ruling, the “new PIP isn’t going to work any better than the old PIP.”
The new law required insurance companies to cut the rates on the no-fault portion of coverage by at least 10 percent starting Oct. 1 or demonstrate why they couldn’t. A second filing, where rates are expected to drop 25 percent, is set for Jan. 1, 2014.
By The News Service of Florida
Blue Angels Grounded This Week; Future Practices Unclear
April 3, 2013
The Navy has canceled remaining Blue Angels practices for this week, as the future of the elite flight demonstration team remains uncertain amid budget cuts.
It was unclear following Tuesday’s announcement if practices would resume next week. The Navy did confirm that the Blue will are out of all air show appearances throught April. Shows in May and beyond, including the July Pensacola Beach show, remain in limbo.
NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.
Northview Baseball To Hold Hit-a-Thon, Silent Auction Saturday
April 3, 2013
The Northview Chiefs will hold a Hit-a-Thon and Silent Auction Saturday to raise funds for the school’s baseball program.
The Northview Diamond Club has spent well over $2,000 this year on field improvements, and there are still needs including new uniforms and equipment.
The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Northview baseball field with the hit-a-thon, silent auction and bake sale. The concession stand will be open during the event.
Red Light Runner Seriously Injured On Nine Mile Road
April 3, 2013
A driver that ran a red light on Nine Mile Road caused a three vehicle accident about 6:50 Tuesday evening.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 21-year old Charlie A. Brown of South Carolina was traveling west on Nine Mile Road at Chemstrand Road in a 1978 Datsun pickup when he ran a red light and hit two vehicles — a 2001 Ford Explorer driven by 51-year old Russell G. Norton of Milton and a 2009 Hyundai driven by 38-year old Alyssa N. Boyer of Cantonment.
Brown’s Datsun pickup came to rest upside down on the west side of intersection. Brown, who was taken to Sacred Heart Hospital in serious condition, was cited by the FHP for running a red light and no proof of insurance.
Norton and Boyer received minor injuries.
Pictured: The driver of this pickup, which came to rest upside down, was charged with running a red light Tuesday evening at Nine Mile and Chemstrand roads. Reader submitted photo, click to enlarge.
Tate’s Stacey Signs Scholarship With Huntingdon College
April 3, 2013
Tate High School senior Austin Stacey, recently signed with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. He was awarded the college’s highest academic award, the Bellingrath Scholarship, and will be playing soccer for the college.
He played soccer all four years for the Tate Aggies. This past season, Stacey had 10 goals and six assists for the Aggies.
Stacey currently has a 4.2 GPA, is a member of the Tate Student Council, National Honor Society, Interact Club and yearbook. He is also a Children’s Ministry intern at Hillcrest Baptist Church.
Pictured: Tate High School senior Austin Stacey signs with Huntingdon College in Montgomery. Submitted photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Georgia Murder Suspect Jailed In Escambia County
April 3, 2013
A 24-year old man wanted for murder in Georgia has surrendered in Escambia County.
Stephen Anthony O’Reilly, 24, turned himself in to officers in Escambia County, and authorities located the murder victim’s stolen 1994 Toyota Camry in Pensacola. O’Reilly is currently being held in Escambia County, awaiting extradition and transport back to Gwinnett County, GA.
The Gwinnett County Police Department said O’Reilly attacked and stabbed his roommate, 28-year old Brent Francis, on March 30 in unincorporated Snellville, GA. Before he died at the Gwinnett County Medical Center .Francis was able to tell officers that he was attacked by O’Reilly.
Molino Woman’s Vehicle Rolls Into Walton County Canal
April 2, 2013
A Molino woman received only minor injuries after her Ford Mustang rolled into a canal in Walton County Monday.
The Florida Highway Patrol said 20-year old Holly Shenae Brown of Molino was eastbound on Highway 98 in Santa Rosa Beach when 39-year old James Matthew Murray II of Santa Rosa Beach changed lanes to make a turn and struck her Mustang about 7:20 a.m.
Brown’s vehicle rotated and slid onto a sidewalk and then overturned onto its roof in a canal at the corner of Highway 98 and Walton County Road 393. Brown suffered minor injuries and was transported to Sacred Heart Hospital of the Emerald Coast for observation.
Murray was charged with violation of right-of-way and failure to yield to thru traffic, according to the FHP. He was not injured.
Molino Branch Library Is Now Open
April 2, 2013
The new Molino Branch Library in the Molino Community Complex opened Monday morning.
The new library in the Molino Community Complex will be open 52 hours per week – from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
An opening reception gave the public an opportunity to meet the library staff, peruse the opening day collection, register for a library card and tour the facility.
The Molino Branch Library is located at 6450 Highway 95A (just south of Molino Road) in the Molino Community Complex, which opened back in October 2012.
The Molino Community Complex project included the conversion of the old Molino School in to a library, community center and museum. There was also a new 7,000 square foot facility constructed for the tax collector and property appraiser. The project was funded by local option sales tax monies.
Pictured top: Young library visitors enjoy a story together Monday morning at the new Molino Branch Library. Pictured inset: A patron looks at the book collection. Pictured below: Library staff quickly became busy checking out materials and issuing library cards. Pictured middle below: A portion of the adult book collection at the Molino Branch Library. Pictured bottom: Opening day refreshments were available Monday morning. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Urgent Need For Blood Donors
April 2, 2013
There is an urgent need for O-negative blood donations, according to the Northwest Florida Blood Center, because of increased usage in area hospitals due to accidents and traumas.
Blood donations of all types are currently needed. Donor centers are located at 999 East Nine Mile Road and 2209 North Ninth Ave. There will also be a blood drive at the Century City Hall on Thursday from 4-6 p.m.
For more information, visit www.nfbcblood.org or call (850) 473-3853.
Escambia Man Claims Share Of $2 Million Jackpot
April 2, 2013
An Escambia County man has claimed his share of a $2 million lottery jackpot.
Joseph Leccese, 54, of Pensacola, claimed his share of the March 19 Mega Money jackpot of $2 million at Florida Lottery headquarters. Leccese chose the one-time, lump-sum payment option for his winnings, in the amount of $808,134.53. A second jackpot-winning ticket was claimed by Alberto Colon of Sanford.
Leccese’s winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at Publix at 9251 University Parkway in Pensacola. The retailer received a bonus commission of $500 for selling the jackpot-winning Mega Money ticket. This ticket was the ninth jackpot-winning Mega Money ticket sold in Escambia County since 2004.