Paul Renner, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, has said in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed that Florida's reforms have effectively ended litigation abuse and now serve as a model for other states.
"Florida reforms have ended litigation abuse and set the example for other states to follow," said Renner, Former Speaker of the House.
According to Renner, the state's recent tort reforms have begun stabilizing the insurance market. He explained that prior to these reforms, Florida’s insurance system was beset by litigation abuse, with attorneys exploiting loopholes to file excessive or fraudulent claims. Renner noted that these practices led to soaring premiums and drove insurers out of the state, leaving homeowners with limited options and increased costs. The reforms have curtailed these abuses, resulting in a more stable market and attracting new insurers back to Florida. He added that trial lawyers oppose the changes not out of concern for consumers but because they have lost lucrative legal fees.
InsuranceBusiness.com reported that a Florida House panel advanced HB 1551, a bill intended to restore policyholders' ability to recover attorney fees if they win lawsuits against insurers. This move partially reverses major tort reforms passed in 2022 and 2023. Introduced by Representative Hillary Cassel, the bill aims to balance discouraging frivolous lawsuits with protecting consumers from bad-faith insurance practices. Industry advocates warn that the measure could destabilize Florida’s fragile insurance market, while supporters argue it restores fairness in disputes with insurers. Speaker Daniel Perez has signaled support for consumer-focused reforms, contributing to a shift in legislative tone toward reevaluating previous changes.
A report from Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse highlights the economic burden of excessive litigation in Florida, referring to it as a "tort tax." The report estimates that the U.S. lost $557.8 billion in output and over 4.8 million jobs in 2023 due to lawsuit abuse, with Florida ranking 33rd in per capita tort costs at $1,238. These costs are transferred to consumers through higher prices and insurance premiums, impacting industries such as retail, manufacturing, and health care most significantly. Under Governor Ron DeSantis's administration, several reforms were implemented including the 2023 tort reform which helped attract insurers back to the state. Advocates now urge lawmakers to build on this progress by targeting third-party litigation funding in upcoming legislative sessions.
Florida Insurance Commissioner Mike Yaworsky announced the approval of Apex Star Reciprocal Exchange as the 12th property and casualty insurer entering the state’s market since recent legislative reforms. Yaworsky credited these historic reforms for driving market growth and emphasized their continued importance. Homeowners insurance costs fell by 0.7% in late 2024, with nearly 100 residential rate filings either requesting decreases or no increases. A recent S&P Global report indicated that Florida had the lowest average homeowners rate increase nationwide last year. The Office of Insurance Regulation continues welcoming new insurer applications to further strengthen the market.
Renner represented District 19 during his tenure as Speaker and is currently Of Counsel for Nelson Mullins law firm. He was appointed to the Board of Governors of the State University System effective April 15, 2025. A U.S Navy veteran, Renner began his legal career as a state prosecutor after earning his bachelor’s degree in history from Davidson College and his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida.