Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Jenna Buzzacco-FoersterDecember 31, 2016

Everyone expected Florida to play an important role in politics this year. And why wouldn’t they? Presidential hopefuls hailed from here; the state’s electoral votes were coveted; and its Senate race could have determined control of the U.S. Senate. But just like many predictions in 2016, some of the prophecies for Florida’s outsized role on […]

Jim RosicaDecember 30, 2016

From algebra to Zika, 2016 brought a plethora of material to the Capitol Press Corps. Trying to pick the top state government stories is a subjective pursuit, to say the least, but here are the FloridaPolitics.com picks for the passing year. In (kind of) chronological order: — Kevin McCarty ousted as state Insurance Commissioner, replaced by […]

Michael MolineDecember 23, 2016

An ill-advised boating excursion helped land an Orlando man behind bars for alleged workers’ compensation insurance fraud. Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater on Friday announced the arrest of Ricardo Aponte in “an elaborate scam” involving a purported neck injury that prevented him from bending his body or working. Aponte’s employer paid more than $500,000 in […]

Michael MolineDecember 12, 2016

A state appeal court has set up an expedited hearing schedule in a challenge to Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums. The 1st District Court of Appeal gave the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, until Jan. 11 to file its arguments on the […]

Michael MolineDecember 9, 2016

The public will suffer irreparable harm unless a state appeal court stays Florida’s 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, attorneys challenging the increase said in court papers this week. The National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, “cannot possibly demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on appeal with respect to the trial court’s detailed, well-reasoned […]

Michael MolineDecember 7, 2016

The first blow landed Wednesday in an anticipated legislative battle over workers’ compensation, when state House member Cord Byrd of Neptune Beach filed legislation to make participation in the system optional. The bill also would take on attorney fees, a major bone of contention for business leaders in the state. It would allow lawyers to […]

Michael MolineDecember 5, 2016

Business leaders emphasized the risk rising workers’ compensation costs pose to Florida’s economic competitiveness during an Associated Industries of Florida-sponsored discussion Monday. “There are other governors competing against our governor for the next plant, the next manufacturing facility, the next high-tech jobs,” said Tom Feeney, president and chief executive officer of the business lobby. “They […]

Peter SchorschDecember 1, 2016

This Thanksgiving, a Leon County judge gave trial lawyers one more reason to be thankful. But that may not last long. On Nov. 23 – just one day before Thanksgiving — Circuit Judge Karen Gievers put the brakes on a 14.5 percent workers’ compensation rate increase, scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1. Gievers ruled […]

Michael MolineNovember 29, 2016

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has appealed a trial court ruling blocking a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance premiums, putting that ruling on hold pending review by a state appeals court. The office filed its notice of appeal Monday with the 1st District Court of Appeal. Leon County Circuit Judge Karen Gievers ruled on […]

Michael MolineNovember 23, 2016

A circuit court judge Wednesday struck down a 14.5 percent increase in workers’ compensation insurance rates due to begin taking effect next month, ruling that a ratings agency violated the Sunshine Law in preparing its rate proposal. Judge Karen Gievers said the National Council on Compensation Insurance, or NCCI, failed to open its deliberations to the […]

Tag: workers compensation

Infamous dates: The moments that shaped Florida politics in 2016

Jim Rosica’s review of top state government stories in 2016

Use of boat gets Orlando man arrested for workers’ comp fraud

Appeals court sets speedy arguments over workers’ comp premium hike

Sunshine Law invoked in arguments over workers’ comp rate increase

House freshman’s workers’ comp bill would render system voluntary

AIF emphasizes job-killing aspect of Florida’s workers’ comp increases

Workers comp rate hike ruling gives trial lawyers reason to cheer. But how long will it last?

Insurance office appeals ruling blocking workers’ comp premium hike

Judge voids 14.5 percent workers’ comp rate increase