Judge Rules Rate Hike Invalid Because of Sunshine Law Violations

A Florida judge ruled today that a 14.5% rate hike approved by the Office of Insurance Regulation is null and void because the OIR and the National Council on Compensation Insurance violated the Sunshine Law by holding secret meetings. Leon County Circuit Court Judge Karen Gievers granted an injunction and declaratory relief requested by claimants' attorney James F. Fee, ruling that the OIR's order approving the rate increase is void because of the violations of the state's open meetings and public records law. The increase was set to take effect on Dec. 1 in reaction to a Florida...