Homeowner Insurance Rates Are On The Rise

Homeowner Insurance Rates are on the rise….but not because of hurricanes! Water Intrusion Claims are also on the rise…but not because of hurricanes! What are the causes of these increases? Learn how you can better protect yourself from these increases!

Learn the latest regarding:

  • the national flood insurance program and efforts to create a private market in Florida, and
  • legislative efforts to limit the post-loss assignment of insurance benefits under homeowner property insurance policies

The Florida Bar is hosting a 1 hour CLE on Upcoming Legislation for Flood Insurance and Assignment of Insurance Benefits Reform Friday, June 3, at 3pm. For our friends and clients you may all attend the FREE CLE from the comfort of your office or home. Call in and find out what legislative changes to flood insurance are being considered before the NFIP expires in September of 2017. The call-in number and passcode are 1-888-376-5050 Pin: 842 548 4201# (# sign is required)

About the Speakers:

Lisa Miller, CPM, has served as Deputy Chief Financial Officer and Chief of Staff for the Florida Department of Financial Services, and as Deputy Commissioner and Chief Lobbyist for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. Ms. Miller was also the Office of Insurance Regulation’s Board Liaison to many quasi-governmental entities including Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, The Florida Automobile Joint Underwriting Association, The Medical Malpractice Joint Underwriting Association, the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association and the Florida Insurance Guaranty Association. She is currently the owner of her own firm Lisa Miller & Associates, based out of Tallahassee, Florida. She also regularly serves as an expert witness on a variety of insurance and regulatory matters.

Paul Handerhan is board member, FL Association of Public Insurance Adjusters (FAPIA) and policy director for the FL Association for Insurance Reform (FAIR) which is the consumer group who was the lead advocate for Assignment of Benefits legislative reform.

Frederick R. “Fred” Dudley is a partner with Dudley, Sellers, Healy & Heath, P.L. in Tallahassee, Florida. He is a Board Certified Construction Lawyer with over 46 years of experience in real estate and construction law. He is a member of the Executive Councils of both the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section and the Administrative Law Section, and practices statewide from Tallahassee, Florida, where he located in 1998 after 16 years of legislative service in both the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida Senate, where he served as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Trey Goldman is Legislative Counsel for the Florida Realtors®. He participates in all of their legislative and regulatory efforts, and represents Realtors® before the Florida Legislature, state regulatory agencies, the Governor’s office, and the Cabinet.

5th Annual Tampa Bay Entrepreneurship Gala -Attorney Josef Rosen Will Be Master Of Ceremonies

On Friday, May 20, 2016, the USF Alumni Association will host their 5th Annual Tampa Bay Entrepreneurship Gala benefitting the Michael W. Fountain Scholarship Fund with 2016 Entrepreneur of Year Recipient and Keynote Speaker, Richard Gonzmart. Attorney Josef Rosen will be the Master of Ceremonies for this distinctive event taking place at The Centre Club beginning at 7pm. Attendance, sponsorship and donations have a direct impact on Tampa Bay’s future business leaders as the next scholarship recipient will be announced and previous award winners will be recounted. Please visit the link below for ticket sales, event details and sponsorship information to this special celebration of entrepreneurship and recognition of some of Tampa Bay’s finest business leaders.

5th Annual Tampa Bay Entrepreneurship Gala – Ticket Sales, Event Details and Sponsorship

My spouse and I are thinking about getting divorced. Shouldn’t I revoke my Power of Attorney?

Florida law provides that a Power of Attorney naming the other spouse as agent: Florida Statute 709.2109 states that a person named as agent under his/her spouse’s Florida Durable Power of Attorney for Property loses legal authority to act on the spouse’s behalf in the event of divorce or annulment, or when an action is filed for divorce or legal separation. The only exception is if the Durable Power of Attorney specifically states otherwise (i.e., that the agent’s powers continue in these circumstances. The law became effective Oct. 1, 2011; however, it applies to every Florida Durable Power of Attorney regardless of the date the document was executed.

The attorneys of Allen Dell pride themselves on their knowledge of laws affecting our clients. Stay calm and call us.

38th Annual Institute for the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers

Marian P. McCulloch and Philip S. Wartenberg attended the 38th Annual Institute for the Florida chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers at The Vinoy Renaissance Hotel in beautiful St Petersburg. Speakers from across the state spoke on evidentiary and litigant preparation issues, parenting issues, equitable distribution double dipping problems, business valuations and rate of return on investment issues, in addition to law practice growth advice from Atticus. To see more about the AAML, and to stay updated on next year’s Institute and other events, visit the website for the Florida chapter at www.aamlflorida.org.

Last day to vote for Attorney Michelle G Hutt for 2016-2017 HCBA Board of Directors

All eligible Hillsborough County Bar Association members please vote for Michelle Hutt in HCBA’s elections for the 2016-17 Board of Directors – the voting closes today at 5 p.m.
All eligible voters should have received an email from Intelliscaninc.com, a third-party polling service, with instructions for online voting.
If you have any problems or didn’t receive an email, please contact HCBA at hcbarsvp@hillsbar.com or (813) 221-7777.

One week left to vote for Attorney Michelle G Hutt for 2016-2017 HCBA Board of Directors

There are just 6 more days left to vote for the 2016-2017 HCBA Board of Directors! Allen Dell Attorney Michelle G Hutt, would appreciate your support and vote. If you are an eligible voter and have not yet received your on-line balloting instructions, please contact HCBA at hcbarsvp@hillsbar.com.

Four Allen Dell Women Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers

Noted Tampa lawyer Cynthia A Mikos of Allen Dell has earned recognition in Best Lawyers Business Edition 2016 listing of the Lawyers of the Year Honorees. This is the 2nd time she has been recognized in the annual list based on her expertise in Health Care Law, and the 11th year she has been named in Best Lawyers in America.

Best Lawyers Business Edition Women in the Law also named Allen Dell lawyers Donna L Longhouse, Trusts and Estates; Marian P McCulloch, Family Law; and Tabatha A Liebert, Construction Law, as 2016 Women in the Law. Best Lawyers Business Edition features these peer-nominated Lawyers, naming them once again to this prestigious list. This is the 6th year Ms. Longhouse has been named, the 10th year for Ms. McCulloch, and the 2nd year for Ms. Liebert.

Ms. Mikos is Board Certified in Health Law and Ms. McCulloch is Board Certified in Marital & Family Law.

Best Lawyer’s Business Edition 2016 listing of the nation’s top attorneys was determined through peer nominations submitted by thousands of attorneys throughout the United States. An independent panel of distinguished lawyers helped the editors select the honorees.