SCOTT EATON, APPELLANT,
v.
CITY OF WINTER HAVEN AND PGCS, APPELLEES
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In this workers' compensation appeal, the court reversed the Judge of Compensation Claims' decision to apportion a claimant's permanent total disability (PTD) benefits between a compensable work injury and a non-occupational injury. The court held that the employer failed to present the required medical evidence of a pre-existing anatomical impairment rating necessary to invoke the apportionment defense under Florida law.
The court held that the employer failed to satisfy the statutory requirements for apportionment under Florida Statutes § 440.15(5)(b), which requires evidence of both a permanent impairment or disability attributable to the accident and an anatomical impairment rating attributable to the pre-existing condition. Because the employer presented no medical evidence of a pre-existing anatomical impairment rating, the JCC erred in apportioning the PTD benefits.
[1] The employer/carrier bears the burden of proving each element of the affirmative defense of apportionment in a workers' compensation case.
[2] Apportionment of permanent indemnity benefits requires evidence of a permanent impairment or disability attributable to the accident or injury and an anatomical impairmen…
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“Apportionment is an affirmative defense; thus, the E/C has the burden of proving each element of the defense.”
Establishes that the employer bears the burden of proving all elements of the apportionment defense.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceIn February 2008, the claimant suffered a non-occupational low back injury requiring L5-S1 discectomy and was released without restrictions in May 200…
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In this workers’ compensation appeal, Claimant argues the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) erred in apportioning Claimant’s permanent total disability (PTD) benefits, and in denying Claimant’s claims for penalties, interest, costs, and attorney’s fees associated with the apportionment of Claimant’s PTD benefits. Because we reverse the order on appeal based upon Claimant’s first issue, we reverse and remand the associated denial of penalties, interest, costs, and attorney’s fees.
Background
In February 2008, Claimant suffered a non-occupational injury to his low back and underwent an L5-S1 discectomy on March 13, 2008. On May 7, 2008, Claimant was released to work without restrictions or permanent impairment.
On August 7, 2008, Claimant suffered a second low back injury in a compensable accident while working as a driver/garbage collector for the Employer. Claimant underwent a lumbar discectomy at L5-S1 by Dr. Matthew Burry, his neurosurgeon, on November 13, 2008. On August 3, 2009, Dr. Barry placed Claimant at maximum medical improvement (MMI), without assigning work restrictions or permanent im*406pairment, and referred Claimant to pain management.
On February 11, 2009, Claimant began treating with Dr. Rudolfo Panganiban, his authorized pain management physician. Dr. Panganiban placed Claimant at MMI on August 12, 2009, and assigned a four percent permanent impairment rating (PIR).
Claimant thereafter filed a petition for benefits seeking temporary partial, temporary total, and permanent total disability (PTD) benefits. The E/C responded by asserting, among others, an apportionment defense. In the order on appeal, the JCC found Claimant was PTD and concluded the E/C was entitled to apportion fifty percent of Claimant’s PTD benefits on the basis of Dr. Burry’s testimony that each accident is equally responsible for Claimant’s current condition. Claimant timely appealed.
Analysis
Apportionment is an affirmative defense; thus, the E/C has the burden of proving each element of the defense. See Tejada v. Collection Chevrolet, Inc., 594 So.2d 340 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992) (noting E/C’s failure to prove affirmative defense of apportionment). Section 440.15(5)(b), Florida Statutes (2008), addresses apportionment of permanent indemnity benefits and requires evidence of a “permanent impairment or disability attributable to the accident or injury” and an “anatomical impairment rating attributable to the preexisting condition.” Staffmark v. Merrell, 43 So.3d 792, 796 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010).
Here, although the E/C asserted an apportionment defense, the E/C failed to submit any medical evidence of an anatomical impairment rating attributable to a pre-existing condition. Claimant’s neurosurgeon testified that Claimant’s condition was split “probably 50/50” between his compensable injury and non-occupational injury, but did not testify that Claimant had a pre-existing anatomical impairment rating. Regarding permanent impairment, Dr. Burry deferred to Dr. Panganiban, who assigned a four percent PIR, but, similarly, did not testify that Claimant had a pre-existing anatomical impairment rating or disability. Because here, the JCC had before him no medical evidence which could support a finding of a pre-existing permanent impairment — a necessary element of entitlement to apportionment — the JCC erred in apportioning Claimant’s PTD benefits. See § 440.15(5)(b), Fla. Stat. (2008). Accordingly, we reverse the order on appeal, and remand for entry of an order consistent with this opinion.
REVERSED and REMANDED.
WOLF, VAN NORTWICK, and LEWIS, JJ., concur.
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Giaimo v. Fla. Autosport, Inc., 154 So. 3d 385 (Fla. 1st DCA 2014)…by, or merges with, the effects of a workplace injury. § 440.15(5)(b), Fla. Stat. Apportionment is an affirmative defense, and the E/C had the burden of proof to establish entitlement to the reduction in benefits. See Eaton v. City of Winter Haven, 101 So. 3d 405, 406 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012) (“Apportionment is an affirmative defense; thus, the E/C has the burden of proving each element of the defense.”). Our review of the record shows that competent substantial evidence supports the JCC’s finding that Giaimo su…
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Normandy Ins. Co. v. Bouayad, 372 So. 3d 671 (Fla. 1st DCA 2023)…after Bouayad satisfied his burden of showing that his injury occurred in the course and scope of employment and arose out of the work performed, would the burden shift to the E/C to prove any affirmative defense. Cf. Eaton v. City of Winter Haven, 101 So. 3d 405, 406 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012). Among the defenses available to the E/C is that there was another “contributing cause[] leading to an injury or disability.” Silberberg, 335 So. 3d at 154 (quoting Orange Cnty. MIS Dep’t v. Hak, 710 So. 2d 998, 999 (Fla. 1s…
Authorities Cited
- Staffmark and Avizent/Frank Gates v. Merrell, 43 So. 3d 792 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010)
- Tejada v. Collection Chevrolet, Inc., 594 So. 2d 340 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992)