Joseph Abraham, left, and Michael Haggard, right. Courtesy photos Joseph Abraham, Miami left, and Michael Haggard, Coral Gables, right. Courtesy photos

Florida's Chief Financial Officer acknowledged a "broken law" governs the state's insurance industry, and said officials are ready to do something about it.

In response, lawyers across the state are now bracing for a round of lawsuits as the floodgates open for more litigation against insurance companies, whose actions are coming under new scrutiny.

Jimmy Patronis Jr., Chief Financial Officer of the state of Florida. Credit: DFS Florida via Wikimedia Commons Jimmy Patronis Jr., Chief Financial Officer of the state of Florida. Credit: DFS Florida via Wikimedia Commons

Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis said the state is broadening its investigation into alleged insurance fraud.

At a gathering of journalists in Orlando, Patronis was asked if insurance executives of present or former Florida carriers would be arrested and charged with crimes.

Patronis replied, "If the law was broken, yes, of course."

Patronis' Department of Financial Services is investigating alleged fraud in the wake of Hurricane Ian, and also reopening cases from prior storms, alleging carriers cheated homeowners, his office said.