Throughout the years, the workers’ compensation law has been reformed on numerous occasions. Unfortunately, with each change the law has become more and more problematic for injured workers.  Their legal rights and remedies continue to be compromised.  In October 2003, a major workers’ compensation reform occurred which substantially limited the entitlement to benefits and medical treatment.  The insurance industry now has more defenses than ever before. 

   As a result of these changes in the law, the focus of the insurance industry has shifted.  Instead of addressing the timely provision of benefits to injured workers, an increasing trend has developed where the insurance industry investigates all of the defenses available under the law in order to deny or delay the provision of benefits.  Often, the application of these defenses is initiated during the first medical evaluation and continues thereafter.  With this in mind, it is critical that an injured worker’s case is managed and presented properly in order to maintain eligibility for these workers’ compensation benefits and maximize the entitlement to same.

    The attorneys at Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. have significant experience representing injured workers in their claims against the insurance industry.

    James F. Fee, Jr. and Richard E. Chait have in excess of 40 years of combined experience as attorneys in the workers’ compensation system.  They were classmates in both college and law school and have been acquainted for more than half their lives.   Throughout their careers, they have combined to expend well over 75,000 hours on workers’ compensation related matters.

    James F. Fee, Jr. has been a practicing attorney in Miami since 1989.  Mr. Fee is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.  After growing up in Boston, MA, he relocated to Florida where he received his undergraduate degree in Business Management from the University of Florida in 1984. He then earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1988 and has made South Florida his home.  Mr. Fee is a shareholder and partner in the law firm of Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A., and he primarily focuses his practice on representing injured workers.  Prior to joining Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. in 2001, Mr. Fee worked over eleven years for the Travelers Insurance Company as an attorney in their Miami Staff Counsel Office.  During the last seven years with Travelers, he served as the managing attorney.  He is an AV rated attorney by Martindale-Hubell and is on the Board of Directors of the Florida Workers’ Advocates (FWA).  He is also a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar.  Mr. Fee is the current Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Dade County Bar Association and has provided numerous continuing education courses for attorneys and insurance adjusters on a wide variety of issues pertaining to workers’ compensation matters. 

    Richard E. Chait is a shareholder and partner with the law firm of Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A.  Mr. Chait is licensed to practice law in the State of Florida.  After growing up in Miami, he attended the University of Florida where he received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Finance in 1984.  Subsequently, he returned to South Florida and attended the University of Miami School of Law graduating in 1987.  Mr. Chait’s background includes over twenty years of practice, mostly dedicated to protecting the rights of injured workers against Florida’s insurance industry.  He is a past president of the Florida Workers' Advocates (FWA) and currently sits on the FWA Executive Committee.  He has held a District Seat on the FWA Board of Directors since 1993.  Mr. Chait also holds a seat on the Executive Council of the Florida Bar Workers' Compensation Section and currently serves as the  Chair-Elect.  He also holds a position on a joint Workers' Compensation Task Force between the FWA and Florida Justice Association (FJA) which was formerly the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers.  He has maintained a vital role in the legislative and leadership process of FWA since his presidency and regularly works to develop legislative and political strategies as well as other plans of action.  He spends considerable time in Tallahassee and other parts of the State advocating for the rights of Florida’s injured workers.  Additionally, he has lectured extensively on the subject of workers’ compensation to advance continuing education.  Throughout his career, Mr. Chait has received various awards and recognitions from FWA, FJA, Friends of 440 and other organizations for his efforts and contributions on behalf of injured workers and the workers’ compensation system.  In the summer of 2007, his peers presented him with the inaugural David H. Levine Outstanding Leadership Award. 

    Mr. Fee and Mr. Chait are available for immediate consultation to address your  legal rights and remedies.  Since the workers’ compensation law is very comprehensive and complex, they strongly encourage the hiring of a competent and experienced attorney to preserve your interests.  Druckman, Fee & Chait, P.A. proudly serves the legal community by upholding their endless commitment to protect the rights of Florida’s injured workers.