1. Florida’s professional liability reporting statute (
Chapter 627.912, F.S. ) doesn’t cover all licensed professionals or
institutions. The law requires only that three entities -- insurance
companies, self-insurance funds and joint underwriting associations -- file
reports of alleged error, omission or negligence by insured doctors,
dentists, hospitals, health maintenance organizations (HMOs), abortion
clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, crisis stabilization units and
lawyers.
2. The reports on this site stem from patient or client
allegations and are public record. The site contains a listing of only those
claims in which an insurer made a payment to a claimant to satisfy a
judgment or reach a settlement, which companies sometimes do because it's
less costly than fighting the matter in court. Consumers should also note
that:
(a) Some providers and institutions covered by the closed
claims law will not appear in this listing for various other reasons. For
example, some may not carry professional liability insurance; and, others
may be self-insured.
(b) Some of the closed claims -- because they date back many
years -- involve professionals who have moved, retired or passed away.
Likewise, some institutions may no longer exist; or, they may have changed
names.
(c) Over the years, the claims reporting forms have changed.
Prior to March 1988, for example, insurers could only report the name of a
law firm instead of the name of the individual lawyer deemed responsible for
the claim. In any event, neither the number nor amount of any claim is
necessarily an indicator of professional competence or quality.
3. Consumers are advised to discuss and verify all
information with the professional service provider or institution, and check
all identifying factors to avoid confusion with similar names. Instructions
for obtaining additional information from a closed claim report can be found
by
clicking here. ( The average report is
five pages long. )
4. Additional information from the Florida Medical
Association, the Florida Hospital Association and certain HMOs can be viewed
by
clicking here.
5. Neither the Department of Financial Services nor the State
of Florida accepts legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy,
completeness or usefulness of this information on closed claim reports filed
by insurers.
6. Inappropriate use of any closed claims information to make
incomplete or misleading comparisons of professional providers or
institutions may violate the law.