Senate Workers Comp Bill Passed Onto House Version Unanimously
Apr 30, 2009
On Thursday, April 30, the Florida Senate unexpectedly took up House Bill 903 relating to Attorney’s Fees in Workers’ Compensation Cases. The Senate then substituted the language of SB 2072 for HB 903, amended it, then passed it unanimously on third reading. To view the amendment, click here.
With an effective date of July 1, 2009, HB 903 amends s. 440.34, F.S., to remove all statutory language providing for a “reasonable” attorney’s fee in workers’ compensation cases and specifies that fee awards cannot exceed the amount authorized by a statutory attorney’s fee schedule. Thus, attorney’s fees in workers’ compensation would be calculated in the manner they had been from the effective date of 2003 Florida workers’ compensation reform legislation, up to the 2008 Florida Supreme Court decision in Murray v. Mariner Health.
HB 903, sponsored by the Florida House of Representatives General Government Policy Council and State Representative Anitere Flores (R-Miami), will now go back to the House for consideration. The House had previously passed the bill by a vote of 84 Yeas, 35 Nays, on March 31, 2009.
For additional information on Florida’s legislative process and terminology, click here.
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