In a potentially far-reaching decision, a Florida appeals court Wednesday struck down a state law that restricted a police officer from paying a law firm to help her pursue workers-compensation insurance benefits.
The 26-page decision by the 1st District Court of Appeal said it was unconstitutional for police officer Martha Miles and her union, the Fraternal Order of Police, to be prohibited from paying a retainer and hourly fees for legal representation in a workers-compensation dispute with the city of Edgewater and an insurance carrier.