Florida insurance officials to discuss workers comp rate reduction next week
The Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has scheduled a rate hearing on October 14 to publicly discuss the proposed 4.9 percent reduction in workers’ compensation rates filed by the National Council on Compensation Insurance in late August. In announcing the proposed reduction, NCCI said in a prepared release that it also was asking state insurance regulators to approve the establishment of a catastrophe fund for workers’ compensation insurance. Florida Politics
‘This Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week, Illinois needs a course correction,’ business owner contends
“This week is Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week in Illinois and, shockingly, 2021 has our state’s economy and business community in an even worse place than we were this time last year. … [T]rial lawyers exploit Illinois’ anti-arbitration statues to force workers’ compensation settlements outside of court when small businesses can’t afford legal fees.” writes Zach Mottl, owner and operator of Atlas Tool Works, Inc. Center Square
The high and higher cost of policing in Minneapolis
“The amount of financial risk associated with legal claims related to policing is staggering in the context of the city of Minneapolis’ overall budget,” writes Lisa Bender, president of the Minneapolis City Council. “In addition to both paid and pending workers’ compensation and police violence settlements, there are two lawsuits against the Police Department by the state Department of Human Rights and the federal Department of Justice that could result in costly consent decrees next year.” MinnPost
Missouri hospital employees to get personal panic buttons amid spike in assaults
Between 300 and 400 front-line employees of a Branson, Missouri hospital working in the emergency department and inpatient hospital rooms are being provided with personal panic buttons before the end of the year, in response to the number of assaults against employees recently tripling, officials say. Most of the assaults come from patients, according to the hospital, but some have come from visitors as well. ABC News