James Rosone, CEO of Frontline Publishing, said that Florida's tort reform is addressing an insurance crisis worsened by trial lawyers, fraudulent roofing schemes, and frivolous claims. These factors have driven insurers out of the state and increased premiums.
"Tort reform is fixing the insurance crisis. Trial lawyers in Florida made billions through frivolous lawsuits via legislation they crafted and lobbied to pass and then protect," said Rosone. "Insurance companies are not going to operate in Florida when they have zero protection from third party groups going through entire neighborhoods telling people their 2 year old roof needs to be replaced when all that's wrong is a $30 shingle needs to be fixed. The houses in our neighborhood are two years old. All brand new homes. We had one of these crooks come to our house and show us a drone picture of our roof and a spot they claim was damaged, asked us if we wanted to sign the rights over to them and Morgan & Morgan to get us a new roof. It's BS, and crap like that is why we had an insurance crisis."
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Florida House Speaker Paul Renner commented on the state's recent tort reforms, saying they have helped stabilize the insurance market. He explained that prior to these reforms, Florida's insurance system suffered from litigation abuse, with attorneys exploiting loopholes to file excessive or fraudulent claims. Renner noted that these practices led to increased premiums and drove insurers out of the state, leaving homeowners with limited options and higher costs. The reforms have curtailed these abuses, creating a more stable market and attracting new insurers back to Florida. He mentioned that trial lawyers oppose these changes not out of concern for consumers but because they’ve lost lucrative legal fees.
According to InsuranceBusiness.com, a Florida House panel advanced HB 1551, a bill aiming to restore policyholders' ability to recover attorney fees if they win lawsuits against insurers. This move partially reverses key tort reforms passed in 2022 and 2023. The bill was introduced by Representative Hillary Cassel and seeks to undo some recent reforms, which could destabilize Florida's already fragile insurance market. Speaker Daniel Perez has expressed support for Cassel's legislation, indicating a shift in legislative tone toward reassessing prior changes.
A report from Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse highlights the economic impact of excessive litigation in Florida, referring to it as a "tort tax." The report estimates that lawsuit abuse cost the U.S. $557.8 billion in output and over 4.8 million jobs in 2023, with Florida ranking 33rd in per capita tort costs at $1,238. These costs are passed on to consumers through higher prices and insurance premiums, affecting industries like retail, manufacturing, and healthcare significantly. Under Governor Ron DeSantis' leadership, Florida has enacted key reforms such as the 2023 tort reform which has 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 fostering market growth and emphasized the need for continued policy commitment. Homeowners insurance costs dropped by 0.7% in late 2024 with nearly 100 residential rate filings requesting either decreases or no increases. A recent S&P Global report showed 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.
Rosone began writing as a form of PTSD therapy after serving as an interrogator in Iraq before working as a military contractor and biometrics specialist; his hobby evolved into a successful writing career. Today he mentors fellow veterans in becoming authors while holding multiple degrees including a Master of Science from the University of Oxford.