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Two weeks ago, the Citizen Coalition executed a historic event in Florida: the performance appraisal of Representative Tom Leek in a public forum. Because this elected official failed to act in their best interest, his constituents held a public inquiry to examine his voting record, character and integrity, and potential conflicts of interest.
What is the relevance of a rather obscure representative in a little-known Florida county? Arguably, most of us need a roof over our heads and must insure our homes. Rates in Florida have skyrocketed, with increases of up to 40% in the last few years. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the national average for home insurance is $1,700 per year. Florida led the country with an average of $2,165 in 2020.
Three years later, the average climbed to approximately $4,200 or higher. Insurance companies are fleeing the state or closing shop, others are choosing not to renew or are tightening their eligibility criteria. The cost of insuring properties has not only gotten out of hand but is now an impossible situation. Perhaps this explains the considerable pause of newcomers arriving to Florida: they can’t afford to insure their new properties. Small business owners are also feeling the brunt of this crisis as landlords are forced to increase their rent, casting an economic shadow upon the Sunshine State.
Tom Leek has served for eight years in the House. He is President and Chairman of Cobb Cole Law and Chief Legal Officer for Foundation Risk Partners. The latter is a prominent national insurance brokerage representing over 30 agencies and one of the fastest-growing firms in the United States.
Given this background, one would presume Leek knows the insurance industry. He could have drafted and supported fair and equitable laws for the citizens of Florida OR he could draft and support laws that benefit the insurance companies that fund his business interests.
Since 2021, several insurance bills have passed through the Florida legislature, including Senate Bill 76, House Bill 837, and others the Citizen Coalition has named “Leek Laws.” Every one of these bills must pass through the influential Appropriations Committee to determine their financial viability, impact, and influence. Since 2018, Tom Leek has been a member of this committee and assumed Chairmanship in 2022.
Since 2016, whoever leads Florida’s legislature is largely responsible for the poor laws on the books managing insurance. These laws provide incentives for insurance carriers to underpay claims, allowing them to manipulate the legal system. The insurance companies regularly underpay property claims, forcing homeowners, who may be in a desperate situation, to sue in court for the correct claim amount for their damage.
Even if a homeowner wins their case, Leek Laws compel them to pay for their own legal fees. Normal practice is the insurance company pays the insured’s legal fees for underpaying a claim. The purpose of this structure is to incentivize companies to be fair in their adjudication of claims and payment. Victims of insurance companies should not have to bear the financial burden of obtaining what is rightfully theirs.
Another detrimental aspect was their reduction of the time to file a claim, from 3 to 2 years. Damage caused by wind or storms can often take years before full roof failure. Because most people are not well versed in roofing or housing materials, the damage can exist for an extended period. It is only after the roof starts leaking that the homeowner is alerted to the issue. Under Leek Laws, damage found outside the two-year window will not be covered under the policy.
Furthermore, the new laws permit insurance carriers to deny or limit replacement coverage for roofs that are 10 years or older. If a roof is 10+ years old, the homeowner receives only a percentage of what it is worth after depreciation, which is not nearly enough to replace it. For those on fixed incomes, this poses a significant economic hardship. Yet, roofs are built to last for 20 years.
Leek Laws overwhelmingly serve the interests of insurance carriers allowing them to evade responsibility for full roof replacements, deny payment for damage outside the two-year limit, and enabling underpayment and denial of valid claims.
With his deep ties to the insurance industry, Tom Leek should have done better for his constituents and the rest of Floridians. The ramifications of this insurance crisis are so vast that Governor DeSantis called a special session to address this mushrooming problem.
Beyond insurance issues, the Citizen Coalition scrutinized Leek's voting record, revealing a preference for Big Business in insurance, healthcare, and utilities at the expense of ordinary citizens. Further investigation into Leek’s PAC, Living Life with Purpose, uncovered legislative inclinations aligned with his biggest contributors.
As Tom Leek’s term nears its end, he has announced his candidacy for a senate seat covering a larger geographical territory. Despite numerous attempts to contact his offices, Leek did not show up to address the concerns raised by his constituents. The Citizen Coalition of Volusia County has broken the mold, daring to move from complaints to competent organization, paving the way for their brighter political future. America, shouldn't we all be doing the same?
Watch this short video, courtesy of the Citizen Coalition of Florida:
To learn about the entire content, click here (35 minutes):
Father,
We express gratitude for an event that surpassed the organizers' expectations and was warmly embraced by the audience. We appreciate your guiding hand as we journey in your shadow. You've opened doors, provided protection, and we take refuge in knowing you are by our side.
Lord, please continue to bless the work of the Citizen Coalition. Grant courage and stamina to all who joined together to engage in the affairs of governance. May they persist in advancing your work, fulfilling their heavenly purpose with the spirit of wisdom, understanding, and divine counsel.
Father, unleash the heavenly host to stand against evil spirits and the power of the enemy. Let them wage war against the forces of darkness, putting a stop to the Enemy's activities that aim to hinder the people, efforts, and enterprises seeking the restoration and well-being of our country.
In Jesus' holy name,
Amen
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Shirley Lee is an unfortunate example of how Leek Laws affect ordinary citizens in terribly detrimental ways:
https://www.givesendgo.com/ShirleyLee
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Outstanding article! Also our insurance companies invested heavily in the bond market which collapsed and lost millions of dollars. I agree with this article however roofers telling their customers they need a new roof then sue the insurance companies for not covering the costs of new roof when the roof didn’t need to be replaced hurt legitimate homeowners. Overall the insurance companies are the problem and their stupid investment decisions along with bad hurricane season and phony lawsuits have driven up the costs of homeowners insurance in Florida. Common sense loses to greed !
Unfortunately, commie tube truncated the org's URL so there's no way to volunteer even if you wanted to. I notified it via comment and they deleted it so evidently, it's all for show, rather than the real deal.