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The bankruptcy and reorganization plan filed by insurance technology and outsourcing firm Patriot National has been approved and the transition of ownership of the Florida-based company can now move forward. According to a statement from Patriot National, the bankruptcy court on May 4 approved the company’s plan of reorganization, which will result in the transition of ownership from its public shareholders to Cerberus Business Finance, LLC and its affiliates and TCW Asset Management Company LLC. Click to read more:

The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (OIR) has approved a 1.8 percent rate decrease for workers’ compensation insurance in Florida. The decrease was filed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) in a law-only filing resulting from the effects of the Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, according to a statement from OIR. OIR said the overall rate level change is a 1.8 percent decrease due to a change in the profit and contingency (P&C) factor to 0.5 percent from 1.85 percent. NCCI’s analysis to determine the revised P&C reflects provisions from the recently-passed Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including top corporate tax rate decreases, changes to reserve discount factors, and other factors. This applies to both new and renewal workers’ compensation insurance policies effective in Florida as of June 1, 2018. Click to read more:

On Wednesday, a state appellate court overruled a workers’ compensation judge who denied death and funeral benefits for an employee’s widow on the ground that he was intoxicated when he stepped into the path of a truck on U.S. 1. State law allows denial of benefits when a workplace death or injury is attributable to intoxication, the 1st District Court of Appeal said. Click to read more:

Yes, some injured employees hire an attorney to just try to make money off their injury. But, that is not the reason for most employees who hire an attorney. After an employee is injured, they don’t know what to expect. They are worried. Questions constantly run through their head. Who will pay my bills? How will I get better quickly? When will I be better? Will I lose my job? The actions you take can answer these questions right up front and prevent the anxiety. When your employee is injured, take them for medical treatment. Show you care. While you wait, talk to them about what to expect. Tell them that all the medical bills and prescriptions will be paid by the insurance company. An adjuster will contact them to see how their initial treatment went and set a follow-up appointment. Tell them you want them back to work as soon as the doctor says they are ready. The next day, call them to see how they are doing. Explain to them what to expect for lost wages. Explain to them if you will have light duty work available for them once they are released to return to work. Give them a short brochure to explain things in writing for them to refer back to: What to expect for the payment of their medical bills and prescriptions. Explain briefly how the workers’ compensation insurance system works and the penalties for fraud. Explain that you care about your employees, want to see them healed quickly and back to work as soon as possible. Discuss that you will not tolerate abuse of the system. Tell them that an adjuster will contact them to coordinate their care and give them information on: The insurance company The phone number The mailing address Their claim number Explain how and when they will receive wage benefits. Give the employee peace of mind that their job is safe. You want them to return to work as quickly as you can and will help in any way possible. Explain how you will assist them in returning to work by describing your light duty work program. Stay in contact with the employee on a regular basis. Create a feeling of trust and compassion. Let them know they can come to you: 1. If they seek workplace hazards 2. When they are injured 3. If they have a concern about their treatment 4. If they receive medical bills 5. When they are ready to return to work 6. After they return to work. 7. Any time they need assistance. Talk about the workers’ compensation system on a regular basis with your employees. Take the mystery out of the process. Treat your employees as you would a member of your family. You will all benefit. WCA is here to help you design an effective program. Don’t hesitate to ask for our help. If you have questions, please call us at (561) 500-FLWC (3592). This is one of the extra services provided by Work Comp Associates, Inc.

A bill intended to stop companies from dodging worker’s compensation benefit payouts to undocumented workers who are injured on the job is likely dead, state Sen. Gary Farmer, the bill sponsor, said Tuesday. “I hate to wave the white flag, but it looks like I will,” the Fort Lauderdale Democrat said. Click to read more:

A Senate committee Tuesday narrowly approved a bill that would eliminate part of Florida law that allows employers to deny benefits to injured workers who use other people’s Social Security numbers or identification to obtain jobs. Approved in a 6-4 vote by the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, the bill (SB 1568) would eliminate a provision put into law in 2003 that made it felony insurance fraud for people to knowingly present false or misleading information about their identities for obtaining employment. Click to read more:

The US Department of Labor requires all employers to verify individuals are legal to work. Part of the verification process is the completion of an I-9 form prior to starting work. The process is relatively simple. 1. The employee attests in writing, to their eligibility to work. 2. The employee provides the verification documents required to the employer. 3. The employer must review the documents provided, record the information and certify that the documents appear to be genuine and that the new hire is eligible to work. If the new hire cannot provide the required documents, they are simply not eligible to work in the United States. Some employers have attempted to pay ,any individuals that cannot provide the requirement documents, on 1099’s. This is not legal and can result in the cancellation of your workers’ compensation policy along with civil penalties and imprisonment. Not eligible to work means just that -not eligible to work in any form or fashion. You will need to seek another potential new hire. If you currently do not utilize the I-9 as part of your new hire package, please start including it immediately. Here is a link to the form: Click here: Please go to the WCA Learning Center to find a link to the USCIS I-9 Handbook for Employers for a more complete explanation. Click here: Additional Resources: E-Verify: Click here: If you have questions on any of the information in this article, please don’t hesitate to call us at (561) 500-FLWC (3592). This is one of the many services provided by Work Comp Associates, Inc.

A new bill under consideration by Florida lawmakers would stop insurance companies from dodging workers compensation payouts by aiding in the arrest and deportation of unauthorized immigrants who are injured on the job. Legislators and advocates have been pushing for the measure since last summer, when ProPublica and NPR documented more than 130 cases in which immigrants who had suffered legitimate workplace injuries were flagged to law enforcement agencies by their employers' insurers. The workers faced felony fraud charges for using a fake ID when they sought medical care. Meanwhile, the insurers often avoided paying the workers' compensation benefits legally due to all employees injured at work. Click to read more:

After more than doubling company revenue from 2016 to 2017, Richard and Rice Construction is ready to dominate the industry once again. The company was founded in 2004, but nearly shut down through no fault of their own. In January of 2016, owners Gaetan Richard and Murray Rice were surprised and shocked when their Deerfield Beach offices were raided. The raid, seizure, and arrests took place before the government had examined their computers, cell phones, and office files and documents. Richard, Rice, and four other colleagues were taken into custody on suspicion of workers compensation fraud. Their pictures were plastered on local newspapers and TV. Richard & Rice immediately proclaimed their innocence and would later learn that the actions of a sub-contractor is what roped them into the mess. Richard & Rice Construction and its owners had no reason to believe there was any wrongdoing and believed the sub-contractors they were working with were following all laws. As it turned out, the sub-contractor had been caught in workers compensation fraud and mislead the police into believing Richard & Rice had knowledge of this, when in fact they did not. Click to read more:

After years of decline, the number of arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) climbed to a three-year high in fiscal 2017, according to data from the agency. The biggest percentage increases were in Florida, northern Texas and Oklahoma. ICE made a total of 143,470 arrests in fiscal 2017, a 30% rise from fiscal 2016. The surge began after President Donald Trump took office in late January: From his Jan. 20 inauguration to the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30, ICE made 110,568 arrests, 42% more than in the same time period in 2016. Click to read more:

An employee is suing a disposal service, alleging breach of contract for unpaid wages and refusal to provide workers' compensation claim. Willie Parker, Jr. filed a complaint on Jan. 3 in the 9th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida - Orange County against Disposall Inc. alleging the company violated the Fair Labor Standard Act. Click to read more:

Two Honduran citizens have pleaded guilty to creating shell companies in Central Florida that allowed construction contractors and subcontractors to hire mostly undocumented aliens and skirt paying payroll taxes and workers' compensation insurance, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. Anyi “Angie” Artica-Romero, 32, and Milton Noel Romero, 35, both of Orlando, have pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Click to read more: