skip to main content

Thursday, June 1, 2023

play newscast audioPlay

Alabamans urge a grocery tax reduction, a tape shows Trump knew about a classified document on Iran, Pennsylvania puts federal road funds to work and Minnesota's marijuana law will wipe away minor offenses.

play newscast audioPlay

Democrats say a wealth tax would help alleviate some national debt, lawmakers aim to continue pandemic-era funding for America's child care sector, and teachers say firearms at school will make students less safe.

play newscast audioPlay

Oregon may expand food stamp eligibility to some undocumented households, rural areas have a new method of accessing money for roads and bridges, and Tennessee's new online tool helps keep track of cemetery locations.

Groups: Workers Compensation Bill is Bad for Workers' and Businesses' Health

play audio
Play

Thursday, May 21, 2009   

Time is running out for Governor Crist to veto an eleventh-hour bill that would cap the amount of money injured workers can pay their attorneys to fight denied worker compensation claims. That the legislature didn’t also cap what insurance companies can spend has labor groups and trial attorneys crying foul and calling for a veto. House Bill 903 resurrects a 2003 bill that resulted in workers’ attorneys being paid as little as $8.00 per hour, which the Supreme Court ruled last year was unfair to workers.

Rich Templin, spokesman for the AFL-CIO, says workers are suffering from denied claims.

"They’re losing their houses; they’re losing their families; their losing their ability to provide health care for their kids, and they did nothing wrong. All they did was go to work and get hurt. But, because the insurance company wants to maximize its profit, these people are paying the price."

Supporters of the legislation, led by the Florida Chambers of Commerce, argue that this is the only way to reduce costs, and without caps on attorney’s fees, Florida worker compensation insurance premiums would again be among the highest in the nation. The state’s trial attorneys say many injured workers have been denied claims and have been unable to find counsel because the fees are too low.

Templin says the new bill caps worker's attorney fees at $1,500.

"No attorney is going to take that case, so that person is up against some of the biggest, most powerful insurance lawyers in the country. The insurance company hasn't been capped; it can still spend however much on legal representation as it wants while the workers get nothing. "

Fee caps remove the incentive for insurance companies to "do the right thing" by providing the coverage for injured workers that businesses are paying for, adds Templin.

"Insurance companies are routinely denying claims, even stuff that should be covered - that’s completely valid and completely fair - because there's no recourse for the worker. There is no way for them to get legal representation."

A recent study by the Department of Worker’s Compensation found litigation has declined since the restrictions imposed in 2003, while the number of denied claims has steadily increased.

For more information, visit www.fldfs.com/wc/pdf/SB-50A-Compensability.pdf.




get more stories like this via email

A new park, San Vicente Redwoods, opened up late last year near Santa Cruz, Calif., in an area previously ravaged by fire and logging. (Nadia Hamey)

Environment

play sound

This Saturday, June 3, thousands of Californians will be among hundreds of thousands of Americans heading into the great outdoors to celebrate …


Social Issues

play sound

A coalition of Wisconsin groups is asking Gov. Tony Evers to reject bills it contends would make it harder for people struggling to get by to bounce …

Social Issues

play sound

Two months from today, Minnesota will begin the process of removing low-level marijuana convictions for those who have them on their criminal records…


Alabama is one of only three states still applying its full state sales tax on the purchase of groceries and food items. (Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

Groups working to fight poverty in Alabama are urging state senators to approve a bill aimed at lowering food costs for families. House Bill 479 …

Social Issues

play sound

Navigating college can seem overwhelming for first generation students, but an early outreach program at Arizona State University aims to change it…

Nebraska was one of 10 states to further restrict abortion access in the 2023 legislative session. At least 48 bills were passed involving restrictions for LGBTQ+ individuals. (Yurii Kibalnik/Adobe Stock)

Health and Wellness

play sound

A new Nebraska law is now the subject of a lawsuit filed in the District Court of Lancaster County. In its amended form, Legislative Bill 574 …

Social Issues

play sound

A proposal from the federal government could provide a better path toward student loan debt repayment, but a new survey finds many borrowers don't …

Environment

play sound

Maine lawmakers are considering two pieces of legislation which supporters said are needed to ensure "responsible" development of offshore wind projec…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021