Bona fide expertise in Florida property insurance law is inching closer to reality, with new rules and new education initiatives.
The Florida Bar’s Board of Governors in September approved propose
d rules for a certification in insurance coverage law, and a comment period on the rules closed last week. The next step is review by the state Supreme Court.
A certification, as outlined in the proposed rules, would require a number of measures that show experience in insurance litigati
on. These include at least five years of legal practice with at least 40% of that in insurance coverage law (down from seven
years initially planned), and proof that the lawyer has performed at least 3
0 insurance-related services, such as drafting insurance provisions in contracts and representing policyholders or insurers in court, administrative, regulatory or arbitration proceedi
ngs.
Crockett
Applicants also would have to pass an examination that tests skills and proficiency.
The idea, in the works since 2018, will help distinguish between attorneys – plaintiffs’ or defense side – who specialize in insurance matters and those who only dabble in that area, pro
moters have said. If finalized, it will be one of 28 certifications offered by the Florida Bar.
To help educate Florida attorneys in the wide-ranging and still-evolving a
rea of insurance law, a group of lawyers also is offering a Florida Insurance Coverage College seminar March 5 in Orlando.
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The inaugural event, with continuing education credits, is held in conjunction with the Florida Construction Law Institute. It will cover recent legislative changes, landmark appellate
court decisions, bad-faith issues and emerging trends in technology and coverage disputes.
“This is an advanced course, not a beginner’s course. It’s for judges, too,” said Debbie Crockett, a policyholder attorney with the Cheffy Passidomo law firm.
Brown University’s president on Monday placed its campus police chief on leave as the Rhode Island university reviews i
ts security policies after a gunman killed two students and injured nine others earlier this month.
Questions surrounding Brown’s security policies have only intensified since the Dec. 13 shooting that rocked the Providence community and led to a lengthy search for the killer. Much of t
he focus has centered on whether the Ivy League school had security cameras installed in the building where the attack took place in and the overall ease of accessing campus buildings.
University President Christina Paxson said Rodney Chatman will be replaced by Hugh T. Clements, former police chief of the P
rovidence Police Department. Chatman had previously faced a vote of no confidence by the union represe
nting school police officers in October. Local media outlets reported at the time that the union said the vote reflected “serious con
cerns over the failed leadership, contract violations, and policies that jeopardize public safety.”