State-owned Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has agreed to a $1 million settlement against a Coral Gables-based The Strems Law Firm, P.A. Insurers claim Strems was one of the biggest drivers of excessive litigation, which they say drives up homeowner premiums.
State records show that over the course of six years, between May 2014 and June 2020, Scot Strems and his firm filed 8,756 lawsuits against property insurers, mostly in South Florida, averaging 1,459 lawsuits per year.
The settlement caps a two-year court battle with The Strems Law Firm, P.A. In a lawsuit filed in June 2020, Citizens accused the firm and several of its associates of running a racketeering operation in violation of the federal Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
“When companies use kickbacks to influence prescribing, they erode trust in healthcare providers,” said special agent Helsing. Takeda Pharmaceuticals, U.S.A. Inc has agreed to $13,670,921 amid alle...