THE BREAKERS HOTEL AND EXECUTIVE RISK CONSULTANTS, APPELLANTS,
v.
SPECIAL DISABILITY TRUST FUND, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR & EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, STATE OF FLORIDA, APPELLEE
AI-generated. These summaries, headnotes, and key points are machine-generated and may contain errors or omissions. Always verify against the full opinion text below. Not legal advice.
The Breakers Hotel and Executive Risk Consultants appealed a workers' compensation order requiring the Special Disability Trust Fund to reimburse only a reduced lump-sum settlement amount after deducting the claimant's attorney fees. The court reversed, holding that the Fund must reimburse its appropriate share of the entire settlement amount since the settlement agreement did not require the employer and carrier to pay the attorney fees.
The Fund must reimburse the employer and carrier their appropriate percentage of the total settlement amount without reduction for the claimant's attorney fees, since the settlement agreement did not require the employer and carrier to pay any attorneys' fees in addition to the approved settlement amount.
[1] A Special Disability Trust Fund is not required to reimburse the employer and carrier for attorneys' fees and costs when a settlement agreement explicitly states the clai…
[2] A workers' compensation settlement agreement that does not obligate the employer and carrier to pay attorneys' fees or costs in addition to the agreed-upon settlement amo…
Previewing 2 of 3 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“the judge erred in excusing the Fund from paying its appropriate share of the entire settlement amount”
States the core legal error the court identified in the lower court's decision
Previewing 1 of 2 key quotes on this case — the court’s exact language, pinpointed for members.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceA settlement agreement provided for payment of $200,000 to the claimant in settlement of all workers' compensation benefits. The agreement specified t…
The full statement of facts, procedural history, and disposition for this case are member content.
Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligence© FLexlaw, Inc. — AI-generated enrichments are proprietary. All rights reserved.
Explore caselaw by topic → Browse Special Disability Trust Fund Reimbursement cases and more on FLexlaw
PER CURIAM.
The Breakers Hotel and Executive Risk Consultants appeal a workers’ compensation order requiring the Special Disability Trust Fund, pursuant to section 440.49, Florida Statutes, to reimburse the appropriate amount of a lump-sum settlement paid to the claimant pursuant to a settlement agreement, less the sum the claimant agreed to pay his attorneys for their services and costs. Appellants contend that the judge erred in excusing the Fund from paying its appropriate share of the entire settlement amount. We agree and reverse.
The washout agreement provides for payment of $200,000 to the claimant in settlement of all amounts due for past, present, and future compensation benefits, including past and future permanent total disability and supplemental benefits, and attendant care benefits. The agreement and the claimant’s affidavit attached thereto indicate that the claimant alone would be responsible for payment of his attorneys’ fees. The Fund has acknowledged that the fees, amounting to $30,750, have been paid by Claimant to his attorneys. The order contains no finding of collusion between the claimant and the carrier and none is alleged. Since the settlement agreement did not require the employer and carrier to pay any attorneys’ fees and costs in addition to the approved amount of the settlement of the workers’ compensation benefits due, the order under review is reversed and this cause is remanded with directions that Breakers and Executive Risk Consultants be reimbursed for the appropriate percentage of the total settlement amount. Florida Employers Ins. Serv. Corp. v. Special Disability Trust Fund, 615 So. 2d 859 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); § 440.49, Fla.Stat. (1987).
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
ZEHMER, C.J., and ALLEN and WEBSTER, JJ., concur.
Cases With Similar Vibessemantic neighbors from the corpus
Citator
Cited By
-
Special Disability Tr. Fund v. Heller Bros. Packing Corp. & Liberty Mut. Ins. Co., 620 So. 2d 1133 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)…PER CURIAM. AFFIRMED. See Florida Employers Ins. Serv. Corp. v. Special Disability Trust Fund, 615 So. 2d 859 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993); The Breakers Hotel v. Special Disability Trust Fund, 620 So. 2d 1132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993). ZEHMER, C.J., and ALLEN and WEBSTER, JJ., concur.…
Authorities Cited
- Fla. Emp'rs Ins. Serv. Corp. v. Special Disability Tr. Fund, 615 So. 2d 859 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993)