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Peter SchorschJanuary 15, 2018

Right out of the gate, the Florida House took several major steps toward statewide insurance reform during the first week of the 2018 Legislative Session. On Friday, lawmakers advanced a trio of House bills: repealing the state’s motor vehicle no-fault law and PIP insurance requirements, addressing “assignment of benefits” abuse and making significant changes in […]

Scott PowersDecember 6, 2017

Stories of first responders to the 2016 massacre at Orlando’s Pulse nightclub who have developed post-traumatic stress disorder, including a police officer dismissed Tuesday night, spurred several Orlando lawmakers Wednesday to renew their call for Florida’s Workers Compensation to provide mental health coverage for them. Democratic state Sen. Victor Torres of Orlando and Democratic state […]

Michael MolineOctober 12, 2017

Hurricane Irma recovery clearly will dominate the 2018 Legislative Session, but the chairman of the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee hopes to find time to address a few of the state’s other problems. Like assignment of benefits abuse, for example. “I fully expect that to be a policy discussion,” Rep. Danny Burgess said following an […]

Michael MolineJune 6, 2017

A state appeals court criticized a judge of compensation claims for denying a $20,000 attorney fee award because of unsubstantiated claims that the parties had colluded. The 1st District Court of Appeal ordered Judge John Lazzara of Tallahassee to conduct a proper evidentiary hearing in the matter. “Given the JCC’s failure to provide the parties […]

Michael MolineJune 6, 2017

A former Orlando Predators player can’t recover workers’ compensation benefits because nobody from the Arena Football League ever signed his employment contract, the 1st District Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday. Bryon Bishop attempted to claim benefits for an injury sustained during a tryout to rejoin the now-defunct team following a hiatus. A judge of compensation […]

Michael MolineMay 5, 2017

The Senate refused Friday to move toward the House position on workers’ compensation reform, but the House gave ground on how much to pay attorneys handling claims appeals. Senate bill sponsor Rob Bradley offered an amendment that would have split the difference between the two chambers by paying attorneys as much as $200 per hour, […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

The sponsor of the Senate workers’ compensation bill has edged toward the House position regarding the maximum attorney fees payable in claims litigation. Sen. Rob Bradley filed an amendment to his bill Wednesday trimming the maximum hourly fee to $200 — down from $250 in his original bill, but more than the $150 contemplated in […]

Michael MolineMay 3, 2017

It’s not the big banana, but a small piece of workers’ compensation reform is on its way to Gov. Rick Scott’s desk. The bill is CS/CS/HB 1107, shielding personally identifying information about workers’ comp claimants under Florida’s public records laws. It passed the House on a 120-0 vote Wednesday, having cleared the Senate, 37-0, on […]

Michael MolineMay 2, 2017

With House and Senate leaders caught up with budget negotiations ahead of Friday’s deadline for adjournment, advocates for legislative fixes for assignment of benefits and workers’ compensation reform confronted this possibility: Their must-pass legislation might not pass. There’s a workers’ compensation bill on the Senate calendar, but it differs in significant respects from the version […]

Guest AuthorApril 22, 2017

Reforming Florida’s workers’ compensation system has been one of the most contentious issues discussed this legislative session. Numerous players have weighed in on this often-complex legislation, including representatives from big business, corporate insurers, and the legal community. However, the “Grand Bargain” – and its implications for the workers this system was meant to protect – seems to be forgotten […]

Tag: workers compensation

In first week of Session, Florida House took big steps toward insurance reform

Pulse first responder with PTSD spurs call for mental health coverage

House insurance chairman hopes to take up AOB, workers’ comp reform again

Workers’ comp judge ordered to reconsider $20K attorney fee agreement

Injured Orlando Predators player loses workers’ compensation claim on appeal

House moves toward Senate on must-pass workers’ compensation legislation

Amendment would move Senate workers’ comp fix closer to House language

One element of the workers’ compensation fix headed to the governor

Must-pass workers’ compensation, AOB reform languishing in Legislature

Kim Syfrett: Senate workers’ comp plan provides balance for businesses, workers