CFO SINK NAMES JACKSONVILLE CLAIMS EXPERT TO CITIZENS CLAIMS HANDLING TASK FORCE

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink announced the appointment of Mike Lancashire to the Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution. Lancashire is the Vice President of Claims for The Main Street America Group, a Jacksonville-based super regional property-casualty carrier, and has more than 20 years of experience with both the commercial and residential property insurance markets.

The Task Force on Citizens Property Insurance Claims Handling and Resolution was created by House Bill 1A during the 2007 Special Session of the Florida Legislature. The task force is composed of four full members with one member appointed by each the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House; and three ex officio voting members, including the Commissioner of Insurance Regulation, Insurance Consumer Advocate and Executive Director of Citizens Property Insurance Corporations or their designees.

Specifically, the committee is directed to develop recommendations for Citizens to complete remaining claims from the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons. A final committee report is due to the Governor, Chief Financial Officer, President of the Senate and Speaker of the House by July 1, 2007. The task force is additionally charged with evaluating Citizens’ procedures on claims handling, claims resolution and customer service, with a final report including those recommendations due July 1, 2008.

“I am pleased to appoint an expert such as Mike to serve as a member of the task force reviewing Citizens’ claims handling procedures,” said CFO Sink. “He will bring extensive insurance claims and management experience to the task force, and I know he will serve with the best interests of Floridians in mind.”