People’s Trust Insurance Sues Dozens Of Its Own Policyholders In Claims Disputes

Suddenly, People’s Trust Insurance is suing dozens of its own policyholders. The Deerfield Beach-based insurer, opening a new front in the long-running war over third-party claims assignments, has filed more than 80 lawsuits against customers it accuses of failing to comply with the requirements of their policies. After suing policyholders in Broward and Miami-Dade counties just 12 times in the first half of 2017, People’s Trust has filed 67 such suits since July 1. The company has targeted policyholders in other parts of the state, including Orange, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, but in much smaller numbers. “It’s very disconcerting. I’ve heard it’s increasing in frequency,” said Paul Handerhan, spokesman for the insurance industry watchdog group Florida Association for Insurance Reform.