I recently had a chance to review how things are going with the Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims. There is a lot of interest in government efficiency.

Judge David Langham

The governor issued Executive Order 25-44 on Feb. 24, 2025. There are broad requirements and instructions there. Florida's government will emerge more efficient and effective in the coming months. There are going to be difficult questions asked, perspectives analyzed and changes made. 

I strove to put the efficiency idea into perspective. From the OJCC standpoint, efficiency has been our hallmark for 20 years. From electronic filing to e-service to child support information to video hearings, our efforts have been focused on making the world of workers' compensation litigation a more functional, efficient and effective place. Have we ever stumbled? You bet we have, but in the broad view, we have come miles from the OJCC of the 20th century. 

Examples? Glad you asked. 

Budget

• Since 1994, the OJCC budget, in real dollars (inflation-adjusted to 2024), has decreased 29%.
• During the same period, the Florida state budget increased 36% (an aggregate spread of 65%).
• Florida’s population has increased 66% since 1994, from 14.2 million to 23.4 million.

Litigation

• PFB/claim filing volume today is 212% of 1994 (increased 112%; 81,145 from 38,254).
• Petition (litigation) volume is up 16% in the last four years.
• Compliance with statutory time parameters nonetheless is now consistent.

Workload

• Each OJCC division (one judge) processes some 81-85 inbound filings daily.
• Many require data updates, status changes, name changes, etc.
• JCCs review/prepare and enter an average of 20 orders daily.
• Gone are the days of handwritten, sloppy and often illegible orders.
• JCCs average two “other” hearings weekly in addition to trials, daily orders, etc.

Staffing

• JCC and mediator counts are now 94% of 1994.
• JCC/mediator staff FTE is now 87% of 1994.
• JCC/mediator staff FTE is now 62% of 2012.

Are we perfect? Absolutely not. There is persistent room for any organization to reevaluate, reconsider, brainstorm and learn. We are very likely to learn from those who ask hard questions. Those questions may not be comfortable, but if taken in the right spirit, they may lead to self-awareness and better value. We are already implementing changes designed to enhance efficiency and the economy. 

There has long been discussion of the challenges of group environments (see "The 5 Monkey Parable"). For more on "group think" and its perils, see "Consensus in the Absence of Proof" and "Hippocrates, Harm, Racism."

We are all likely to form habits, get in a groove, and begin to ignore the forest and the trees. Now, it is time to acknowledge all the great progress of the OJCC. It is also a prime time to ask ourselves why we do as we do and what we can do better.

I am up for it. Are you?

David Langham is deputy chief judge of the Florida Office of Judges of Compensation Claims. This column is reprinted, with his permission, from his Florida Workers' Comp Adjudication blog.