In recent years, the State of Florida and the insurance industry have significantly increased their focus on compliance and premium collections relating to Workers’ Compensation coverage. Changes in the law regarding independent contractor status and exemptions have created substantial financial exposure to companies resulting from carrier premium audits and State of Florida coverage compliance enforcement. In many instances, the past premium assessments, fines, stop work orders and/or penalties can have devastating ramifications on the ongoing viability of a business.

The attorneys at Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. have significant experience in the Workers’ Compensation system and are available to assist with issues ranging from premium disputes and state compliance enforcement to proactive self-audits in order to ensure compliance.

James F. Fee, Jr. and Richard E. Chait have in excess of 35 years of combined experience as attorneys in the Workers’ Compensation system. Mr. Chait started his legal career as a workers’ compensation litigator for the Travelers Insurance Company. Soon thereafter, he was joined at Travelers by Mr. Fee. After quickly gaining the recognition of his peers, Mr. Chait left the Travelers to form the law firm of Lucas, Renick & Chait, P.A. where he served as a partner. Mr. Fee went on to become the managing attorney for the Travelers Law Office in Miami, Florida. Throughout their careers, Mr. Chait and Mr. Fee have combined to expend well over 60,000 hours on workers’ compensation related matters.

James F. Fee, Jr. is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and a partner in the law firm of Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. He is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubell, which is based upon the peer reviews of other attorneys and judges. Mr. Fee’s background includes working over eleven years for the Travelers Insurance Company, the last seven years of which were spent managing the Travelers Staff Counsel law office in Miami, Florida. Mr. Fee has vast experience with the Travelers and as a certified instructor of insurance education pertaining to the rules and technicalities of workers’ compensation legal issues and premium related matters. Mr. Fee is also a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of The Florida Bar.

Richard E. Chait is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Law and a partner in the law firm of Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. Mr. Chait’s background includes eighteen years of practice, exclusively dedicated to workers’ compensation litigation matters. Mr. Chait has been recognized state wide for legislative efforts advocating for a moderate workers’ compensation system that requires insurance carriers to make available and provide affordable workers’ compensation coverage and forces the insurance industry to provide accurate information for rate making purposes. Mr. Chait is a past president of Florida Workers’ Advocates and is a current member of the Executive Council of the Workers’ Compensation Section of The Florida Bar. Mr. Chait has also served on the joint Employee/Employer Advisory Board which was created by the Director of the Division of Workers’ Compensation.

Mr. Fee and Mr. Chait are available for consultation with employers regarding workers’ compensation premium disputes, premium audits, stop work orders, assessments, fines, penalties, actions taken by the State of Florida Department of Financial Services, Exemptions, Independent Contractor Status, Experience Modification Factors, Carrier Mishandling of Claims and many other issues arising from workers’ compensation related matters. They are also experienced and available to assist in developing a business plan which utilizes cost effective and legitimate measures to ensure workers’ compensation compliance.