DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, DIVISION OF WORKERS' COMPENSATION AND GLADYS SUAREZ, APPELLANTS,
v.
AMERICAN BUILDING MAINTENANCE AND ALLSTATE INSURANCE COMPANY, APPELLEES
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The Department of Labor and Claimant Suarez appealed the denial of costs in a workers' compensation case where Suarez had prevailed on her first appeal but ultimately recovered no benefits on remand. The court reversed the deputy commissioner's denial of costs, holding that the prevailing party on appeal is entitled to costs even if the claim fails on remand.
The court reversed and ordered appellate costs to be paid by the employer/carrier. A claimant is the prevailing party entitled to costs when she successfully appeals an order and obtains reversal, even if the claim ultimately fails on remand. The necessity for appellate proceedings was at least in part the responsibility of the employer/carrier.
[1] A claimant who prevails on appeal in a workers' compensation proceeding is entitled to appellate costs, even if the employer/carrier is successful on remand.
[2] A party who wins a reversal on appeal is entitled to appellate costs, notwithstanding that on remand they may still recover no damages.
Previewing 2 of 4 headnotes on this case. FLexlaw’s editorially structured points of law — every proposition, pinpointed — are reserved for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence“In this case, the issue is solely one of taxation of appellate costs. In the appeal to this court, the claimant was the "prevailing party" in that her allegations as to the errors in the findings of fact were sustained and the order reversed.”
Establishes the test for prevailing party status in workers' compensation appeals—success on appeal in obtaining reversal, regardless of ultimate recovery
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGladys Suarez, a workers' compensation claimant, appealed an adverse order and obtained relief from costs, which were borne by the Workers' Compensati…
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PER CURIAM.
This ease is before us on a motion filed by the Department, pursuant to Rule 9.400(c), Fla.R.App.P., for review of the deputy commissioner’s order denying the Department's motion to tax costs. We reverse, and order costs of the appeal incurred by the claimant in Suarez v. American Building Maintenance, 412 So. 2d 32 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982), to be paid by the employer/carrier. Gladys Suarez, a claimant in a workers’ compensation proceeding, appealed an adverse order. Pursuant to Florida Workers’ Compensation Rules of Procedure, claimant filed a verified petition for relief from costs. The petition was granted in an order dated May 20, 1981, with the costs to be borne by the Workers’ Compensation Administrative Trust Fund. The record costs totaled $2,563.95.
This court found that the appeal was concerned primarily with alleged material errors in the deputy’s findings and reversed the order and remanded the cause for further proceedings. Suarez v. American Building Maintenance, supra. Following the issuance of this mandate, the Department of Labor and Employment Security moved for payment of costs to the Workers’ Compensation Administrative Trust Fund by the employer/carrier.
On June 30, 1982, the deputy commissioner entered an order in which he made new findings of fact, found the claimant’s condition to be unchanged, and again denied and dismissed claimant’s petition for modification. A Motion to Tax Costs was heard on February 25, 1983. Costs were denied by the deputy commissioner on the grounds that all benefits claimed were ultimately denied and the claimant was not the prevailing party as contemplated by Section 440.34(3), Florida Statutes.
The Department timely filed a notice of appeal. This court dismissed the appeal with directions to file a motion for review pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(c).
Costs are to be taxed to the prevailing party unless the court orders otherwise under Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(a). If a claimant in a workers’ compensation proceeding “should prevail in any proceeding before a deputy commissioner or court,” costs are to be taxed against the employer.
Section 440.34(3). In this case, the issue is solely one of taxation of appellate costs. In the appeal to this court, the claimant was the “prevailing party” in that her allegations as to the errors in the findings of fact were sustained and the order reversed. Tomorrow’s Choice, Inc. v. Bassing Company, Inc., 364 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978) (counter-plaintiff who won a reversal was entitled to appellate costs even though on remand he still recovered no damages). Further, while the employer/carrier may have been successful when the deputy commissioner reconsidered the claim, this court recognized that the necessity for appellate proceedings was at least in part the responsibility of the employer/carrier. See, footnote 1, Suarez, at 33.
Appellee argues that Acosta Roofing Company v. Gillyard, 402 So. 2d 1321 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981), controls the instant case. It is argued that Acosta stands for the proposition that errors, such as the ones complained of by appellants in the instant case, should be brought to the attention of the deputy commissioner by motion for rehearing or clarification before the order becomes final. There was no such motion in this cause.
However, appellees’ reliance on Acosta is misplaced. In Acosta, this court affirmed an award of temporary disability benefits even though the deputy had inadvertently inserted an incorrect date on the order. The error was treated as inconsequential. It is clear that, in reversing the deputy’s first order in the instant case, this court found the errors present not to be “inconsequential.” Thus, Acosta is in-apposite.
Nor can it be said that the costs were “unnecessarily incurred” under “unusual circumstances.” The appeal of the first order was properly before this court, which reversed the order. REVERSED.
MILLS, SMITH and ZEHMER, JJ., concur.
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Vill. INN Rest. & Gallagher-Bassett Servs., Inc. v. Aridi, 543 So. 2d 778 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989)…hat the E/C failed to attempt to have the DC rectify within the time available for correction. Such error must be the kind that could commonly be considered inconsequential. Department of Labor & Employment Security v. American Building Maintenance, 449 So. 2d 932 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). We cannot say that awarding future medical benefits where none were properly claimed and noticed is of no consequence. On January 5, 1986, while working for Village Inn, claimant slipped and fell in his employer’s freezer and s…
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Commercial Carrier Corp. & Comcar Indus., Inc. v. LaPOINTE, 723 So. 2d 912 (Fla. 1st DCA 1999)…hat the E/C failed to attempt to have the DC rectify within the time available for correction. Such error must be the kind that could commonly be considered inconsequential. Department of Labor & Employment Security v. American Building Maintenance, 449 So. 2d 932 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). We cannot say that awarding future medical benefits where none were properly claimed and noticed is of no consequence. Id. at 779. Compare Aircraft Servs. v. Reyes, 582 So. 2d 66 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991); Albertson’s Inc. v. Natale,…
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Auto-Owners Ins. Co. v. Hooks, 463 So. 2d 468 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985)…ida Rules of Appellate Procedure. These petitions are denied because neither appellee can be considered a “prevailing party” within the meaning of Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.400(a). Dept. of Labor & Employment Security v. Am. Bldg. Main., 449 So. 2d 932, 933 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984); see also Thaller v. Waterford Point Condominium Apartments, Inc., 437 So. 2d 248 (Fla. 4th DCA 1983). The portions of the judgment awarding punitive damages to Hooks, and awarding compensatory and punitive damages to Var H…
Previewing 3 of 6 citing cases — full citator treatment, depth of discussion, and citing context are member features.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceAuthorities Cited
- Acosta Roofing Co. & Lumbermens Mut. Cas. Co. v. Gussie Gillyard, 402 So. 2d 1321 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981)
- Tomorrow's Choice, Inc. v. Bassing Co., Inc., 364 So. 2d 530 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978)
- Suarez v. Am. Bldg. Maint. & Allstate Ins. Co., 412 So. 2d 32 (Fla. 1st DCA 1982)