Florida's Tort Reform: A License for Insurance Companies to Screw Consumers

David vs. Goliath

In this week’s episode, hosts Matt Dolman and Stan Gipe discuss that changes to Florida's insurance laws primarily benefit insurance companies at the expense of consumers. The legislation was criticized for allowing companies to escape corporate negligence and shifting the burden to consumers and businesses.

The bill was sold as a benefit to consumers despite lacking language that would lead to reduced insurance premiums. Rather, the new legislation shifts money from consumers to insurance companies without providing any benefit to consumers, while insurance companies continue to welcome record-setting profits.

In this episode:

• [01:01] Escaping corporate negligence: The new law allows insurance companies to avoid being held liable for mistakes, shifting the burden onto consumers and businesses.
• [07:12] Pressure to settle claims: The legislation makes it more difficult for consumers and businesses to pressure insurance companies to settle claims quickly and fairly.
• [09:22] Nuclear verdicts: Framed as excessively high jury awards, nuclear verdicts are not driven by the costs of future medical bills, they’re driven by pain and suffering, and the bill did nothing to curb recovery for pain and suffering.
• [10:16] Political motivation: Was the legislation pushed through as a political move to reward the insurance industry and attack the plaintiff bar?
• [12:24] Impact on injured individuals: How the new legislation leaves injured individuals at a disadvantage in settling claims with insurance companies.
• [15:42] No reduced premiums: The legislation lacks language that would lead to reduced insurance premiums for consumers.

💡 Meet Your Hosts 💡

Name: Matthew A. Dolman, Esq.

Title: Partner at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA

Specialty: Matt is a nationally recognized insurance and personal injury attorney and focuses much of his practice on the litigation of catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.

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Name: Stanley Gipe, Esq.

Title: Partner and Head of Litigation at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA

Specialty: Stan is a Florida Board Certified Civil Trial Lawyer. This distinction connotes expertise in the discipline of trial practice. He has served as lead counsel on over 1,000 Florida personal injury lawsuits.

The insights and views presented in this podcast are for general information purposes only and should not be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. The information presented is not a substitute for consulting with an attorney. Nor does tuning in to this podcast constitute an attorney-client relationship of any kind. Any case result information provided on any portion of this podcast should not be understood as a promise of any particular result in a future case. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers: Big firm results, small firm personal attention.