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If you are looking for tips on how to prepare for hurricane season, or interested in tracking a storm- try these helpful links:
http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/intro.shtml
http://www.floridadisaster.org/
http://www.bereadyescambia.com/
For those of us on the Gulf who have experienced the aftermath of a hurricane, we know firsthand that it’s better to look ahead and prepare then to look back and regret. So collectively, we begin preparations for the impact that the oil spill will have on our beautiful beaches, coastal wildlife, and fragile economy. Like so many of you, TWW is hoping for a swift solution to contain the massive spill and minimize its’ destruction to our area. Whether you live or work on the coast, there are some things you can do to protect your rights and increase your chances of economic recovery should you suffer a loss. (more…)
Florida Farm Bureau Casualty Insurance Company v. Mathis —So.3d—, 35 Fla. L. Weekly D868a, 2010 WL 1542631 (Fla. 1st DCA April 20, 2010)
Mr. and Mrs. Mathis suffered damage to their two story home in Navarre Beach following Hurricane Ivan. The Mathis’ were insured under a flood policy and a separate homeowners policy which covered windstorm coverage. The home was deemed a total loss by the county and in order to rebuild or repair, the Mathis’ would need to comply with current building codes requirements with regards to elevation heights. The expense to repair as well as the unsafe nature of the structure left the Mathis’ with no choice but to demolish their home. (more…)
There are a variety of medical facilities in our local area for those who need financial assistance with healthcare costs. Many of these organizations are funded by donations, grants, and staffed by volunteer doctors and nurses. Pensacola has three such clinics: Escambia Community Clinic, St. Joseph’s Clinic, and the Health and Hope Clinic.
1. The Escambia Community Clinic is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FQHCs are community-based organizations that provide primary care and preventative care including health and mental health/ substance abuse services to persons of all ages, regardless of their ability to pay. The Escambia Community Clinic has a sliding fee scale and payments can be as low as $5 a visit. For more information visit www.ecc-clinic.org
2. St. Joseph’s Medical Screening Clinic is located in downtown Pensacola. It is staffed by volunteer physicians and nurses . Social workers are at the clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning at 9 am. Call 850-434-8162 for additional information.
3. The Health and Hope Clinic is a donor and volunteer-driven service of the Pensacola Bay Baptist Association. To make an appointment or to find out about patient eligibility, please call 850-479-4456 or visit http://www.pbbassociation.com (more…)
State Farm v. Menendez, So.3d, 35 FLW D133 (Fla. 3d DCA 1-6-2010)
In this case, Gilda Menendez allowed her granddaughter, Fabiola, to use a vehicle insured by State Farm. Ms. Menendez and her granddaughter’s parents were passengers in the car while Fabiola was driving. Fabiola negligently operated the vehicle and caused an accident resulting in injuries to everyone. At the time of the accident, Fabiola lived in her parents’ home and Ms. Menendez lived at a separate address.
State Farm considered Fabiola an “insured” under the policy because she had permission to operate her grandmother’s vehicle. However, State Farm denied her parents’ bodily injury claims because of a “household exclusion” provision. The provision excluded “any insured or any member of an insured’s family residing in the insured’s household.” State Farm concluded that the parents were members of their daughter’s “household” and not eligible for bodily injury coverage under the policy. (more…)
Lloyds Underwriters v. Keystone Equipment Finance Corp., 25 So3d 89 (Fla. 4th DCA 2009)
In this case, Keystone Equipment (the “insured”), purchased insurance coverage from Lloyds Underwriters (the “insurer”) for a commercial tractor trailer. The insurance policy had an effective date of November 30, 2004. On December 18, 2004, the tractor trailer was stolen. The insurer denied the claim although the policy provided coverage for theft. The written policy contained a “Garaging or Secured Yard Warranty” which required the insured to keep the tractor trailer in a closed garage, a guarded enclosed parking lot, or parked beside the insured’s residence. Because the insured had failed to store the tractor trailer in either of these ways, Lloyds found that Keystone was in breach of this warranty and was not entitled to recover damages for the stolen tractor trailer. At the time of the loss, Keystone had not yet received a copy of the insurance policy and was unaware of the warranty provision. (more…)
