Pensacola News Journal from Pensacola, Florida • 19

flbr frnswola Journal Poge 3C Workers' Compensation Challenge Looms TALLAHASSEE (AP) The 1st District Court of Appeal hears a sticky challenge this week to Florida's new workers' compensation law that could leave thousands of injured employees with no forum to appeal unfavorable claims rulings. Attorneys for three South Florida workers injured on the job are asking a three-judge panel to strike down the part of the massive law that requires all workers' comp appeals to be heard by the district court in Tallahassee no matter where the cases originate. The challenge puts the court which has seen its comparatively light caseload double in two months because of the new law in the position of deciding whether the Legislature erred when it transferred all workers' comp appeals to its jurisdiction. If the judges throw out the section, it's possible no court would be required to hear workers' comp appeals unless the Legislature quickly passes another law to divide the appeals among the five district courts. Employees could be left at the mercy of insurance companies to decide how much com' pensation on-the-job injuries deserve.

Or in-. surance firms could be forced to accept the claims' judgment of Department of Labor dep uty commissioners without judicial review. "Research reveals no instance of inequal district court of appeal jurisdiction in the 22-year history of those appellate courts," argued Miami attorney Jerold Feuer in briefs filed with the court in preparation for Wednesday's oral arguments. Feuer represents Sergio Cormio of Miami and Dawn Rollins of Hialeah, who claim workers' comp appeals should be heard in the area of the state where accidents occurred. In both the Cormio and Rollins' cases, that would be the 3rd District Court of Appeal in Miami.

Also challenging the law is Anthony Pal- meri, who was injured while working at a Miami pizzeria. Quick action by the 1st District Court would give the Supreme Court time before the 1980 legislative session to review the lower court's decision. Then lawmakers would have an opportunity during the session to make changes in court jurisdiction, if necessary. "What will have to happen is for us to get a definite statement from the Florida Supreme Court," said House Insurance Chairman Bill Sadowski, D-Miami. Sadowski was instrumental in writing the new law overhauling the workers' comp system.

Monday, December 10,1979 K' Kii3ifc jl Jr fk v7 Broward Battles Illiteracy mem imqwhisw LAWYERS LEGAL CENTER INC. 221 N. PALAFOX UNCONTESTEO DISSOLUTION TRAFFIC CASES, FROM. 75 Si SIMPLE WILL. PERSONAL 200 SIMPLE WILL HUSBAND WIFE.

'50 20 MINUTE CONSULTATION '15 ALL COURT COSTS EXTRA OTHER LEGAL SERVICES AVAILABLE FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) An estimated 1.3 million adults in Florida are illiterate some barely able to read or write, others who simply can't comprehend well enough to handle the financial and social responsibilities of adulthood in today's society. Florida's illiterates are among an estimated 23 million across the United States who cannot understand store discounts or make change for a $20 bill, who can't read a newspaper want ad and couldn't handle most of the advertised jobs anyway. In Broward and Palm Beach counties, reports The Fort- Lauderdale News and Sun-Sentinel, approximately 234,000 adults are in the illiterate category. Some 6,700 adults last year enrolled in basic education programs offered by the two counties' school systems. They offer intensive one-on-one instruction intended to give the students as much essential knowledge as possible in just a few months.

One such person who decided to try to overcome her plight was Rose Waters, who dropped out of school in the 10th grade five years ago. Since then she has worked as a maid in several Broward motels. Recent tests placed her on a sixth-grade education level. Until four months ago, Waters acknowledges, she did not know what "10 percent off' on a sale item meant. She seldom read the newspapers, never went to libraries, never applied for a better job.

"I felt like I knew I didn't have the background for she said. This week, Waters will be tested for the equivalent of a high school diploma, after which she's aiming for a secretarial job. "I feel so proud and my family is proud for me," she says. "It makes me feel good inside before I didn't even know what geometry was now I'm doing it." Associated Prett Photo CUTTING COSTS Mahlon Weir of Delray Beach does some maintenance work on this windmill Sunday, one of several on his property. The windmills, Weir says, make him less dependant on oil.

Bahamas Officials Linked to Cocaine Investigation FORT LAUDERDALE (AP) Evidence collected in a three-month undercover probe of suspected links between Bahamian officials and a plot to sell some $200 million worth of cocaine is to be turned over to prosecutors soon by the Broward Sheriffs Organized Crime Bureau. "We want to give all of the information to the state attorney's office and let them decide how to handle it," said OCB head Capt. Nick Navarro. Navarro said Saturday he has been assured by Bahamian officials thier government will investigate allegations that Customs officials and police from the island nation off Florida's coast were involved. Three Broward County men were arrested Thursday night in connection with the alleged smuggling plot.

Police identified them as James Alfred Offutt, 49, of Coral Springs; Jeffrey Michael Price, 38, of Cooper City; and Charles Ledbetter. 27, of Pompano Beach. All three were charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to sell. Navarro, who described the operation as "one of the biggest" he has seen here, would not say whether more arrests in Broward are expected. Georgia DEA Agents Added WASHINGTON (AP) investigations instead of The spillover of drug just reacting" to reports of traffickers from Florida smuggling the agency re-has forced the federal ceives from a variety of Drug Enforcement Ad- sources, Bensinger said in ministration to increase making the annoucement.

the number of agents as i if- JS a- i signed to Georgia, the head of the DEA says. Four additional agents have been assigned to investigate narcotics trafficking in Georgia, bringing the number of agents in the state to 22, said Peter B. Bensinger, who heads the agency. The four additional agents in Georgia two within 30 days and another two by March will allow the DEA to "initiate llili Missing Barbara A. Bockwith, 220 Greve Road, Navy Point, has been missing since last Wednesday Winston morning.

She was last seen at the University of wt Florida. The 20- year-old student is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weigns about 110 pounds. She hat blue eyes and long brown hair and is believed to be wearing a plaid shirt and brown pants. Authorities are trying to locate the young woman or her car. a red 1977 Tovoto hatchback, Florida license 9D-2382I.

Any persons who might have seen her are asked to call the Escambia County Sheriffi Department. Warnind: The Surgeon General Has Determn That Cigarette Smoking Is Dangerous to Your Health. K7( n. J. Itoynoldt Todkco Co.

BARBARA BOCKWITH BOX: 19 mg. nicotine, KING 20 1.3 mg nicotine, av. per cigarette. FTC Report MAY 78..