Fla. Judge Awards Attorney $8.23 Per Hour

A Florida workers' compensation judge dealt a blow to claimants attorneys last week, ruling that an attorney who logged 135 hours on behalf of an injured workers' temporary disability claim was entitled to a fee of only $1,111.13. In a July 19 ruling in Chester Campbell v. Aramark and Specialty Risk Services, Judge of Compensation Claims Mary A. D'Ambrosio in West Palm Beach said Florida statute 440.34(3) required her to reject a pleading by attorney Michael J. Celeste for a fee of $33,750 in a case that had netted Campbell only $5,740.89 in benefits. Under the statute, which was passed...