Round 3 of workers

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Florida’s workers’ compensation insurance ratexs were among the highest in the natiohbefore attorneys’ fee limits were imposed in 2003. Insurance ratexs dropped every year since then because lawyers refusedr many cases due to the limited prospects formakintg money. However, the Floridq Supreme Court last fall ruled the languaged in the fee schedule is ambiguous and allowed judge s to approve largerfees — a decision that cleared the way for plaintiffg attorneys to make more money in on-the-jon injury cases. As a result, workers’ comp insurancw rates will rise 6.
4 percent in But House Bill 903 and companion Senate Bill 2072 change the languager to restrict attorney compensation to the fee argued that the proposed law is neededc becauserising workers’ comp insurance rates create a hardshipo for companies in the state and discourage thosee that might move to Florida. “If this bill doesn’rt pass, Florida employers will see a serie of costly increases intheir workers’ comp said Daniel Krassner, spokesman and strategisft for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. “Wed want to get injured workers back on the job as quicklgyas possible. Settling claims quickly does that.
” Paul executive officer with the , a group representing triao lawyers, said the bill would limirt the hourly fees injured workers can pay their Unless the plaintiff can find a lawyerd willing to work for acontingency fee, the worker woulr have to represent himself. “Working people will have to find theid way through the system withougtan attorney,” Anderson said. By contrast, theres are no limits on what insurance companies can pay attorneya torepresent them. Rep.
Dave Murzin, co-sponsor of the House versiobn of theproposed law, feels differently: “There will alway s be attorneys willing to represent injured just as there are always attorneys willing to representr criminals and accused criminals. The real issue is the cost of doinvg businessin Florida, which will increasw dramatically without these changes.” The House bill has been read out of committewe and could soon go to a House vote, and the Senate versiob sponsored by Sen. Garrett R-Naples, has been sent to committee forinitial review.