SAMUEL SINK, APPELLANT,
v.
BOB BELL ROOFING, INC. AND FLORIDA HOME BUILDERS SELF INSURERS FUND, APPELLEES

Fla. 1st DCA | 1991-12-03
No. 90-3054
Ervin, J., Wigginton, J., Wolf, J.
590 So. 2d 504 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (1991)

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Synopsis

Appellate court affirmed the 12-week duration of attendant-care benefits but reversed the award of minimum wage reimbursement, holding that pre-October 1988 attendant care must be reimbursed at market rate rather than statutory minimum wage.


Holding

Attendant-care benefits for services rendered prior to October 1, 1988 must be reimbursed at the market rate in the community, not at minimum wage.


Headnotes

[1] Attendant-care benefits for services rendered prior to October 1, 1988 must be reimbursed at the market rate in the community rather than at statutory minimum wage.

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Key Quotes

“a family member providing custodial care to an injured worker was entitled to reimbursement at the market rate in the community where the claimant lived”

Court citing pre-1988 case law establishing the applicable standard for attendant-care reimbursement prior to the statutory amendment

Facts & Procedural History

Samuel Sink, an injured worker, received an award of attendant-care benefits limited to 12 weeks at 12 hours per day at minimum wage from a judge of c…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Appellant/claimant, Samuel Sink, appeals from a final order of compensation awarding attendant-care benefits. The claimant raises two points on appeal: (1) Whether the judge of compensation claims (JCC) erred in limiting the award of attendant-care benefits to 12 weeks at 12 hours per day; and (2) whether the judge of compensation claims erred in awarding attendant-care benefits at minimum wage rather than market rate.

We affirm as to issue I without comment, but reverse in regard to issue II.

We find that the JCC’s award of attendant-care benefits “at the minimum wage in accordance with F.S. 440.13(2)(e)” was erroneous. The 12-week period for which benefits were awarded occurred prior to October 1,1988, the effective date of the statute relied upon by the JCC. Prior to the 1988 amendment to section 440.13(2), Florida Statutes, case law held that a family member providing custodial care to an injured worker was entitled to reimbursement at the market rate in the community where the claimant lived. See, e.g., Southland Corp. v. Anaya, 513 So. 2d 203 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987).

In the instant case, the JCC did not address a finding of market rate for such services. For that reason, we vacate the rate awarded for attendant care and remand for further proceedings to determine the appropriate reimbursement for attendant care.

ERVIN, WIGGINTON and WOLF, JJ., concur.


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