Things To Do In SW Florida

The chairman of the Senate Budget Committee has opened an investigation into Florida’s Citizens Property Insurance Corp. and its ability to pay claims for “climate-related” disasters before seeking federal help.

A news release from U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse on Thursday, written on Senate Budget Committee letterhead, said the committee is seeking “documents and information about plans by Florida’s state-owned ‘insurer of last resort’ to address increased underwriting losses from climate-related extreme weather events and other disasters such as tropical cyclones, intense precipitation events, droughts, heatwaves, sea level rise, and wildfires.”

The probe, the release said, builds on two previous and ongoing investigations into the insurance industry’s response to climate change and the committee’s “growing concern about the economy-wide harms from widespread uninsurability.”

Citizens’ market share of multi-peril homeowner policies was approaching 20% in 2022 and had more than doubled since 2020, the release said. read more

A community of residents 55 years old and up, displaying endurance and spunk, is emerging from a marathon legal battle with a big win over a leading home builder who charged them hefty “membership fees” to use pools, clubhouses and other amenities in their own neighborhood.

More than 5,000 households of Solivita, at the edge of metro Orlando, are in line for estimated average rebates of $10,000 from Solivita’s developer, Taylor Morrison Home Corp. The anticipated payouts are the resolution of a grueling lawsuit the Florida Supreme Court recently declined to reconsider.

In the wake of that epic victory, the homeowners were told just before Thanksgiving that they will no longer have to pay the monthly charge of nearly $100 for access to Solivita recreational amenities, a charge that came on top of their operation and maintenance fees. 

The legal saga provides an inside look at what is common in Florida: Developers wielding financial controls over their residential projects as they grow toward completion. The outcome may inspire other communities to scrutinize fees they must pay to those developers, said the victors, who noted gut-check moments. read more

Boards of directors

Mark Shanoff, superintendent of the School District of Osceola County, was appointed to the 2023-24 board of directors of the Education Foundation – Osceola County.

The Honorable Stefania Jancewicz, Osceola County Judge, was appointed to the 2023-24 board of directors of the Education Foundation – Osceola County.

Health care

Dr. Matthew Wilson, board-certified colon and rectal surgeon, has joined AdventHealth Medical Group, Port Orange.

Lisa Bowman was appointed chief nursing officer at AdventHealth Waterman, Tavares.

Law

Attorney Feibai Ma has joined the law firm of Winderweedle, Haines, Ward & Woodman P.A., Winter Park, practicing in the areas of business entities and bankruptcy.

Attorney Cortney Beth Szafran has joined McDonald Toole Wiggins P.A., Orlando.

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