Announcements

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announces three appointments to the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims. Jill Jacobs, of Satellite Beach, to serve as a Judge of Compensation Claims. Jacobs has served as a Deputy City Attorney for the City of Palm Beach since 2015. Previously, she worked in private practice for over 25 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Rutgers University and her law degree from the University of Miami. Jacobs fills one of the vacancies in the Orlando office. Lourdes Sancerni, of Gainesville, to serve as a Judge of Compensation Claims. Sancerni has served as a Senior Associate Attorney at Moore, Ingram, Johnson & Steele, LLP, since 2013. Previously, she served as an Associate Attorney at McConnaughhay, Duffy & Coonrod, LLP, for 11 years. She received her bachelor’s degree from Florida International University and her law degree from the University of Florida. Sancerni fills one of the vacancies in the Orlando office. Barb...

The OJCC office consolidation process is proceeding. As the new year approaches (fiscal 2023 begins July 1, 2022), work will begin in earnest on planning the consolidation of Gainesville (GNS). In preparation for that, the case volumes and population have been re-examined and Marion County (originally planned for transition to District ORL) will instead consolidate into District JAX. In addition, Flagler County will transition into District JAX. For the history buffs in the workers' compensation community, a very few will recall that Flagler County was part of (then District "C") Jacksonville until about 1992. Thus, the list of still pending dates is now as follows: Pending Effective Dates Cessation of operations in Gainesville (GNS) Marion County from GNS to JAX ("target") Columbia County from GNS to JAX ("target") Alachua County from GNS to JAX ("target") Flagler County from DAY to JAX ("target") This post was last updated 05.26...

The OJCC is consolidating offices, which was announced in March 2022 .  Changes are coming to state mediation, see It's Coming Around Again (May 2022) Details are emerging on the cessation of operations in some locations as consolidations proceed. Counties are being moved into districts in the consolidation, and the following is a list of those transfers. As a county transfers from a "source" District, the cases will be automatically reassigned to a judge in the new ("target") District. Any party experiencing challenges or questions should address those to the newly assigned judge (remember, the way to ask for "relief shall be by motion," Rule 60Q6.115(1). If any party cannot determine to whom a case is assigned or has other general concerns they may email   david.langham@doah.state.fl.us (copy all other parties if any reference is made to a case(s)). Transition Effective Dates : May 5, 2022 - Liberty County from PMC to TLH ("target") May ...

  The Statewide Judicial Nominating Commission met Monday, May 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. EDT at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes in Orlando and nominated the following, Florida 32837. We are grateful to the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI) which provided us a meeting space as part of their overall Annual Issues Symposium program. Three panels were nominated:   Orlando (Position # 720035000) John Paul Brooks Sylvia M. Hoeg Jill Jacobs Orlando (Position # 72003583) John Paul Brooks Jill Jacobs Lourdes Maritza Sancerni West Palm Beach (Position # 72003562) Barbara K. Case Kimberly Hill James Price

The Statewide Judicial Nominating Commission is scheduled to meet Monday, May 9, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. EDT at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes, 4040 Central Florida Parkway, Orlando, Florida 32837 (room TBA) to interview for two judicial positions in Orlando and one in West Palm Beach. The following applications were received prior to the deadline. If you have comments regarding any applicant, contact the Commission by correspondence to Laura Dane, 1230 Apalachee Parkway, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 or Laura.Dane@doah.state.fl.us. Orlando Roseanna Bronhard, Tallahassee, Florida John Paul Brooks, Daytona Beach, Florida Sylvia M. Hoeg, Altamonte Springs, Florida Jill Jacobs, Palm Bay, Florida Lourdes Maritza Sancerni, Jacksonville, Florida Daniel McKnight, Tampa, Florida West Palm Beach Roseanna Bronhard, Tallahassee, Florida Barbara Kay Case, North Palm Beach, Florida Kimberly Hill, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida ...

The OJCC returns to live continuing education programming in 2022 with another program at the Florida First District Court of Appeal, in its multipurpose room. The program is Friday,  February 25, 2022 from 8:30 to 4:00, followed by a reception with the presenters, attendees, and judges. Lunch and the reception are included, thanks to the gracious sponsorship of the Workers' Compensation Institute. The program as always is free of charge.  With the exception of 2021, when SARS-CoV-2 and COVID compelled us to resort to a virtual event, this has been a live program at the Court for twelve years (since 2011). This program presents an excellent opportunity for state agencies and others to hone skills, update knowledge, and better prepare to participate in the workers' compensation litigation process. Topics this year include motion practice, medical depositions, mediation process, effective legal writing, the appellate process and more (complete agenda is at the end of this post)....