Round 3 of workers

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Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance rates were among the highesty in the nationbefore attorneys’ fee limits were imposerd in 2003. Insurance rates dropped every year sincwe then because lawyers refuser many cases due to the limited prospects formaking money. However, the Floridz Supreme Court last fall ruled the language in the fee schedul is ambiguous and allowed judges to approve larger fees a decision that cleared the way for plaintif attorneys to make more moneyin on-the-job injury As a result, workers’ comp insurance rate will rise 6.4 percent in April.
But House Bill 903 and companiomn Senate Bill 2072 change the languagr to restrict attorney compensation to thefee formula. argues that the proposed law is needed becauserising workers’ comp insuranced rates create a hardship for companiee in the state and discourage thosde that might move to Florida. “If this bill doesn’t Florida employers will see a series of costly increasess intheir workers’ comp rates,” said Daniel Krassner, spokesman and strategist for the Floridsa Chamber of Commerce. “We want to get injuredr workers back on the job as quickluas possible. Settling claims quickly does that.
” Paul Anderson, executive officef with the , a group representing trial lawyers, said the bill woulfd limit the hourly fees injure d workers can paytheir lawyers. Unlesw the plaintiff can find a lawyet willing to work for acontingency fee, the worker would have to representy himself. “Working people will have to find their way throug the system withoutan attorney,” Anderson By contrast, there are no limitz on what insurance companies can pay attorneys to represent them. Rep.
Dave Murzin, R-Pensacola, co-sponsor of the House version of theproposed law, feelzs differently: “There will alwayas be attorneys willing to representr injured workers, just as there are always attorneyd willing to represent criminalse and accused criminals. The real issue is the cost of doingh businessin Florida, which will increase dramatically withouf these changes.” The House bill has been read out of committee and could soon go to a House vote, and the Senatee version sponsored by Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, has been sent to committees forinitial review.