Judge Gievers Overturns Sept. 26th Workers Comp Increase Ruling
Florida Wokers Comp Increase nullified as Judge Karen Gievers gave Florida Business Owners an early Christmas present this year. The much anticipated workers compensation rate increase of 14.5% was overturned increase which was slated to begin December 1, 2016. While this is a boost for Florida Business Owners, it may be a short-lived victory as as the NCCI moves to appeal the decision.
Florida Wokers Comp Increase Nullified
Judge Karen Gievers has overturned Florida September 26th ruling which had granted the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) contingent approval for an overall statewide workers’ compensation rate increase of 14.5 percent. This increase was to take effect Dec. 1, 2016, and was in response to two recent Supreme Court rulings undoing reforms passed in 2003 and rocking the state’s workers’ compensation system.
Judge Gievers stated that there was “concise and convincing evidence” that NCCI and OIR conducted illegal meetings that excluded the public, shutting them out of meaningful participation in the rate-making process; a process that that the NCCI is required to conduct in public meetings, following proper public notice. A series of illegal. Gievers wrote; “NCCI was aware of the statutory requirement for public meetings, but instead of complying tried to delegate its way out of the Sunshine even though it was providing the same rate filing proposal envisioned by the statutes.” She further added that OIR’s approval of the 14.5% rate increase was based on the “already inescapably tainted information” NCCI compiled during secret deliberations, the ruling states. NCCI maintains it is not subject to the state’s Sunshine Law. “The office is still in the process of reviewing it to determine next steps,” said OIR spokeswoman Amy Bogner, who declined further comment.
Article Author: Work Comp Central. Read the entire article as published in Work Comp Central’s Website.
