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Michael Moline - page 33

Michael Moline has 306 articles published.

Michael Moline is a former assistant managing editor of The National Law Journal and managing editor of the San Francisco Daily Journal. Previously, he reported on politics and the courts in Tallahassee for United Press International. He is a graduate of Florida State University, where he served as editor of the Florida Flambeau. His family’s roots in Jackson County date back many generations.

Senate bill would eliminate tobacco companies’ discounted appeals

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The Florida Legislature will consider legislation that would make it more expensive for tobacco companies to appeal verdicts in liability cases filed by smokers made sick or injured by their products. SB 100, filed by Sen. Greg Steube, contains just two lines: “Section 569.23, Florida Statutes, is repealed.” And “This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.” That section, enacted in 2009, caps the amount tobacco companies must post when appealing trial court verdicts against them. Supporters argued at the…

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Kevin McCarty misses out on job leading national insurance association

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The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has passed over former chief Florida insurance regulator Kevin McCarty in selecting its next chief executive officer. The organization went with Michael Consedine, former insurance commissioner for Pennsylvania. The CEO represents the state insurance regulators who comprise the association and acts as go-between with federal and international policymakers, the states, and consumer and industry representatives. SNL Financial had reported in January that McCarthy was discussing the job with other insurance commissioners. McCarty, who had served as president of the association, tendered…

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Personnel note: Developer Sydney Kitson named to universities board

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Sydney Kitson, a former professional football player turned developer, has secured a one-month appointment to the Board of Governors of Florida’s State University System. Gov. Rick Scott announced the appointment Thursday, subject to Senate confirmation. Kitson will complete what’s left of former governor Morteza “Mori” Hosseini’s term. Hosseini stepped down in March to become a trustee of the University of Florida. The term ends on Jan. 6. Lauren Schenone, an aide in the governor’s press office, could not say what…

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Sunshine Law invoked in arguments over workers’ comp rate increase

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The public will suffer irreparable harm unless a state appeal court stays Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, attorneys challenging the increase said in court papers this week. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, “cannot possibly demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal with respect to the trial court’s detailed, well-reasoned 73-page final judgment, which is founded upon fundamental open-government principles of Florida law,” plaintiffs attorney John Shubin argued. Furthermore, NCCI, which proposes workers’ compensation insurance…

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Janet Cruz highlights diversity in picking Democratic leadership

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Florida House Democratic chief Janet Cruz announced her leadership team Wednesday, saying she strove for diversity in their selection. “In order to build consensus on how to confront the difficult issues facing our state, we must take into account the many varying stakeholders whose futures will be affected by the decisions we make in the Legislature,” Cruz said in a written statement. Leading on policy will be Evan Jenne and Cynthia Stafford. Jenne, of Dania Beach, had served in leadership…

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This is your Florida House — men, whites, youth have the numbers

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The Florida House is 76 percent male, 66 percent white, and has an awful lot of newcomers this year, according to data released by the Majority Office. The Republican caucus is 82 percent male and overwhelmingly white, also at 82 percent, with 17 percent Hispanic and 1 percent African-American. That last would be Rep. Byron Donalds, representing Hendry and Collier counties. The 41-member Democratic caucus is 63 percent male, and nearly half — 49 percent — are African-American. Whites comprise…

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House freshmen get educated on how state budgetary ‘sausage’ is made

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Florida House freshmen attended an introductory course to writing a state budget Tuesday. They learned that the process gives them sweeping authority, but within the limits of fiscal reality. At present, Florida government is running a $3 billion reserve within a total budget of around $83.5 billion. But if spending continues at existing levels, that reserve will fall by half by this time next year. And if that happens, the state will find it impossible to maintain its ability to…

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