Citizens Property Insurance is in the news yet again for aggressive, wasteful, and anti-consumer conduct. This time, the state-run insurer is on the losing end of a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for a condominium sinkhole claim, which Citizens insisted they had no obligation to pay.
One of the homeowners at the condominium is quoted in the Tampa Bay Times, saying Citizens’ conduct reflects “monumental bad faith” in dealing with its customers. Unfortunately, Citizens are exempt from the same “bad faith” laws enacted decades ago to compensate consumers harmed by insurers who unreasonably delay, underpay, or—as in this instance—completely deny valid claims. See Citizens Prop. Ins. Corp. v. Perdido Sun Condo. Ass’n, Inc., 164 So. 3d 663 (Fla. 2015).
If you are a Citizens policyholder, I urge you to contact your local state representatives and ask them to amend Citizens’ legislation so that the company must provide you with the same rights to compensation available to policyholders of private insurance companies.
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