State Democratic leaders this week urged Gov. Ron DeSantis to seek the empanelment of a statewide grand jury to investigate claims insurance companies illegally denied homeowners’ Hurricane Ian claims.
In a letter sent Monday by Florida House Democratic Leader Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Tampa) and signed by caucus leaders, including Rep. Christine Hunschofsky (D-Parkland), lawmakers asked DeSantis to immediately petition the Florida Supreme Court to seat the grand jury and issue any recommended indictments to hold insurers accountable.
The Democratic leaders also sent a letter to Florida House Speaker-Designate Daniel Perez (R-Miami) urging him to create a select committee with the authority to investigate claims that some Florida property insurers are systematically altering adjusters’ reports to reject or underpay valid claims stemming from damage caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022.
The lawmakers said their letters were prompted by a Sunday 60 Minutes segment that included evidence of adjuster report estimates being lowered by over 90 percent in some instances and assertions that multiple insurers were involved in the scheme to defraud policyholders.
The news segment was made possible by whistleblowers who shared damning evidence and injured homeowners who told their stories, the Democratic leaders said.
Much of the segment reiterated testimony state legislators heard in committee alleging that some insurers were intentionally and wrongfully denying Hurricane Ian claims through fraudulent tactics.
Several national insurance companies have left Florida—and at least nine insurers have collapsed in the past four years—following years of devastating storms that impacted the state.
Some of the remaining companies, whistleblowers told 60 Minutes and lawmakers, have illegally altered damage reports.
“We cannot allow these companies to exploit vulnerable Floridians at their darkest moment and clog our court system with needless cases fighting against claims they know they should have paid,” states the lawmakers’ letter to DeSantis. “In light of the testimony we have repeatedly heard over the course of several years, which is confirmed by this segment, I ask that you immediately petition the Florida Supreme Court to empanel a statewide grand jury … charged with getting to the bottom of these allegations, issuing any indictments that may be appropriate under existing law, and issuing presentments on any additional meaningful reforms that may be needed to hold these companies accountable.”
State Rep. Dan Daley (D-Coral Springs) said the Legislature “could address our property insurance crisis, but instead, they’re focused on banning books, restricting abortion access, and stoking division.”
“Meanwhile, they pretend Florida’s insurance nightmare will fix itself,” he said.
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