A Florida judicial circuit court on March 30 agreed with 'sclaim of trade secret protection for its Quarterly and Supplemental Reporting Systemdata that is submitted to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation pursuant tostate law, according to a news release issued the same day.

The data includes the number of policies written by company bycounty. The State Farm Mutual AutomobileInsurance Co. unit has asserted that the policy distribution by countyis trade secret.

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty expressed disappointmentover the ruling, saying in a statement that it weakens consumer access to information.He added that his office will evaluate available options to determine any furtheraction.