Tuesday, May 17,2011

TALLAHASSEE — The insurance industry celebrated Tuesday after Gov. Rick Scott signed a sweeping property insurance bill into law.

Senate Bill 408 contains tough new language prohibiting any form of
rebates. Specifically, the bill says that, if a policyholder who accepts a rebate from any person performing repairs, their coverage becomes void!

Morever, any person who offers a rebate has committed insurance fraud, punishable as a third degree felony!

Homeowners Beware:

Do not jeopardize your claim by accepting rebates.

Do not take the risk of becoming an accessory to insurance fraud.

If anyone seeking to perform repair services offers you something of value as an incentive and claiming that it is “Not a rebate,” you should be skeptical.

Section 32. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

Senate Bill 408

It has come to the attention of FAS³ that there appears to be misconduct happening within the industry. This misconduct involves incorrect application of the "successor engineer" rule as it applies to a successor engineer adopting the project and work of an original engineer.

It has been brought to the attention of FAS³ through various avenues that many permits are being pulled throughout Florida counties without the proper guidelines for becoming a successor engineer being followed. Engineering reports are being used erroneously, fraudulently and in violation of Professional Engineering standards in order for permits to be pulled.

It is the goal of FAS³ to make the industry aware of these happenings and that this problem has run rampant at the detriment of honest, hardworking industry professionals and their clients.

What are Underpins?
Underpins, commonly referred to as micropiles or mini-piles are steel, hollow pipes which are advanced into the earth until a competent bearing strata is achieved. Underpins are typically less than five inches in diameter with a wall thickness ranging from 0.203 inches to 0.375 inches. Underpins are attached to the foundation of a structure with a properly designed bracket system and the underpin pipe piles are advanced into the earth with either hydraulic rams or a rotary motor, depending on the underpin system being used. The 2007 Florida Building Code has defined Micropiles and Pile Foundations within Chapter 18, section 1808. The definition of underpins as used throughout the industry to date would be encompassed in these definitions.