Recent Articles

Murray Results in Proposed 8.9% Rate Increase

David McCranie
November 15, 2008 15:16

NCCI has now projected that the Florida Supreme Court's decision in Murray v. Mariner Health will result in an average rate increase of 8.9% for Florida employers.  Actually, they project an overall increase of 18.6%, but the full effect of the decision won't be felt for a couple of...

NCCI to Propose New Rates Following Murray

David McCranie
November 13, 2008 12:50

According to this story from the Tampa Bay Business Journal, NCCI is in the process of proposing higher workers' compensation insurance rates for Florida employers in light of the Florida Supreme Court's ruling in Murray v. Mariner Health.  Although the 18.6% rate reduction previously...

NCCI Projects Proposed Medical Reimbursement Schedule Would Have Little Premium Impact

David McCranie
November 13, 2008 12:36

I wrote here about the Division of Workers' Compensation's proposal to amend Fla. Admin. Code R. 69L-7.501 regarding the reimbursement of hospital outpatient services.  NCCI has now issued a report in which it projects that the effect of the proposal would be "premium neutral." ...

NCCI Projects Projects Proposed Medical Reimbursement Schedule Would Have Little Premium Impact

David McCranie
November 13, 2008 12:36

I wrote here about the Division of Workers' Compensation's proposal to amend Fla. Admin. Code R. 69L-7.501 regarding the reimbursement of hospital outpatient services.  NCCI has now issued a report in which it projects that the effect of the proposal would be "premium neutral." ...

St. Pete Times Applauds Murray Decision

David McCranie
November 09, 2008 16:53

The 11/9/2008 edition of the St. Pete Times contains this editorial about the supreme court's recent decision in Murray v. Mariner Health.  While generally lauding the decision as "a sensible ruling," the editor encourages the legislature to revisit the issue of attorney's fees in...

Department of Financial Services Employee Arrested for Alleged Employer Shakedown

David McCranie
November 07, 2008 11:14

Who will watch the watchmen?  That question crossed my mind when I read this story from the 11/6/2008 edition of the Miami Herald.  According to the story, Arturo Vega, an investigator with the Florida Department of Financial Services, was arrested for trying to shake down a Miami...

Montana Woman Guilty of Mail and Wire Fraud in Fraudulent WC Scheme

David McCranie
November 02, 2008 12:56

Section 440.105(4)(b), Fla. Stat., makes it unlawful for any person knowingly to make any false, incomplete, or misleading statement in support or denial of any benefit under the Florida Workers' Compensation Law.  And as a recent case from Montana illustrates, if the U.S. Mail...

Retiree Entitled to Benefits for Disability Caused by "Mental or Nervous Injuries"

David McCranie
October 31, 2008 12:09

Participants in the Florida Retirement System (most state, county, and municipal employees) are entitled to a disability retirement benefit known as "in-line-of-duty" disability benefits if, because of a disability suffered in the line of duty, they are "prevented, by reason of...

Insurance Commissioner Announces Another Rate Decrease, But. . .

David McCranie
October 30, 2008 11:24

Florida Insurance Commissioner Kevin McCarty has announced yet another decrease in workers' compensation rates for Florida employers in 2009.  The average rate will decrease by 18.6%, bringing the average cumulative decreases in rates to 60.5% since the 2003 amendments to Ch. 440 were...

Another Ruling on Florida Minimum Wage for Non-Professional Attendant Care

David McCranie
October 29, 2008 06:21

JCC Castiello in Miami has ruled once again that notwithstanding the express language of §440.13(2)(b)1, Fla. Stat., non-professional attendant care should be compensated using the Florida minimum wage, not the federal minimum wage.  See Devito v. The Martin Bower Co., decided on...