INDReporter

La. joins suit against flood insurance hike

by Walter Pierce

Louisiana has joined four other states in filing a so-called "friend of the court" brief in support of Mississippi's lawsuit against the federal government over new flood insurance rates set to go into effect.

Louisiana has joined four other states in filing a so-called "friend of the court" brief in support of Mississippi's lawsuit against the federal government over new flood insurance rates set to go into effect - rates that for many coastal business and homeowners could lead to skyrocketing costs.

The suit filed in September by the state of Mississippi seeks to postpone implementation of the 2012 Biggert-Waters Act reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program and mandating substantial premium increases for homes and businesses including, according to Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon's office, tens of thousands of policyholders in Louisiana. Mississippi argues in its suit that FEMA failed to present to Congress an affordability study on the impact of Biggert-Waters and the law should not go into effect until that study is delivered.

Louisiana joined Alabama, Florida, Massachusetts and South Carolina in signing onto the suit.

Read more about it here. The press release from Donlon's office features a link to a PDF of the brief.