AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE ADMINISTRATION, APPELLANT,
v.
BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER, INC., CAPE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A CAPE CORAL HOSPITAL, CGH HOSPITAL, LTD. D/B/A CORAL GABLES HOSPITAL, DELRAY MEDICAL CENTER, INC. D/B/A DELRAY MEDICAL CENTER, LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM, D/B/A LEE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL AND GULF COAST MEDICAL CENTER, LIFEMARK HOSPITALS OF FLORIDA, INC. D/B/A PALMETTO GENERAL HOSPITAL, MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION, INC. D/B/A MORTON PLANT HOSPITAL AND MORTON PLANT NORTH BAY HOSPITAL, PALM BEACH GARDENS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A PALM BEACH GARDENS MEDICAL CENTER, SOUTH BROWARD HOSPITAL DISTRICT D/B/A MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM D/B/A MEMORIAL REGIONAL HOSPITAL, MEMORIAL HOSPITAL WEST, MEMORIAL HOSPITAL PEMBROKE, AND MEMORIAL HOSPITAL MIRAMAR, SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A SOUTH FLORIDA BAPTIST HOSPITAL, ST. ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A ST. ANTHONY'S HOSPITAL, ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL, ST. JOSEPH'S CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, ST. JOSEPH'S HOSPITAL NORTH AND ST. JOSEPH'S WOMEN'S HOSPITAL, TENET GOOD SAMARITAN, INC. D/B/A GOOD SAMARITAN MEDICAL CENTER, TENET HEALTHSYSTEM NORTH SHORE, INC. D/B/A NORTH SHORE MEDICAL CENTER AND NORTH SHORE MEDICAL CENTER-FMC CAMPUS, TENET HIALEAH HEALTHSYSTEM, INC. D/B/A HIALEAH HOSPITAL, TENET ST. MARY'S, INC. D/B/A ST. MARY'S MEDICAL CENTER, TRUSTEES OF MEASE HOSPITAL, INC. D/B/A MEASE DUNEDIN HOSPITAL AND MEASE COUNTRYSIDE HOSPITAL, WEST BOCA MEDICAL CENTER, INC. D/B/A WEST BOCA MEDICAL CENTER, APPELLEES

Fla. 1st DCA | 2014-07-16
No. 1D13-0224
PADOVANO and RAY, JJ., concur.
145 So. 3d 888 Florida District Court of Appeal, First District (2014) Positive Treatment
Cited by 2 cases

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Synopsis

The Agency for Healthcare Administration (AHCA) appealed a final administrative order finding it was operating under an unpromulgated rule. After briefing and oral arguments, AHCA filed a notice of voluntary dismissal. The court dismissed the appeal but held that AHCA cannot avoid its obligation to pay appellees' reasonable appellate attorney's fees through a belated voluntary dismissal.


Holding

AHCA cannot avoid its obligation to pay appellees' reasonable appellate attorney's fees through a belated notice of voluntary dismissal. The appellees are entitled to reasonable attorney's fees for the entire duration of the proceedings under section 120.595(4)(a), Florida Statutes.


Headnotes

[1] An agency may not avoid its obligation to pay reasonable appellate attorney's fees by filing a voluntary dismissal after issues have been fully briefed and oral arguments…

[2] A finding by an administrative law judge that an agency is operating under an unpromulgated rule, which is not required by the Federal Government, entitles the prevailing…

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Key Quotes

“AHCA may not avoid its obligation to pay appellees' reasonable appellate attorney's fees by filing this belated notice of voluntarily dismissal.”

Establishes that voluntary dismissal does not eliminate the statutory obligation to pay attorney's fees.

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Facts & Procedural History

AHCA was found by an administrative law judge to be operating under an unpromulgated rule that was not required by the Federal Government. AHCA subseq…

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Opinion of the Court
WOLF, J.

WOLF, J.

Appellant, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA), filed an appeal of a final order of the Division of Administrative Hearings which found that AHCA was operating under an unpromulgated rule. After the issues were fully briefed and this court heard oral arguments, AHCA filed a notice of voluntary dismissal. In light of this notice, we dismiss. However, we write to specify that AHCA may not avoid its obligation to pay appellees’ reasonable appellate attorney’s fees by filing this belated notice of voluntarily dismissal.

Section 120.595(4)(a), Florida Statutes, requires that “[i]f the appellate court or administrative law judge determines that” an agency is operating under an unpromul-gated rule, “a judgment or order shall be entered against the agency for reasonable costs and reasonable attorney’s fees, unless the agency demonstrates that the statement is required by the Federal Government to implement or retain a delegated or approved program or to meet a condition to receipt of federal funds.” Here, the administrative law judge (ALJ) found that AHCA was operating under an unpromulgated rule which was not required by the Federal Government. AHCA has sought to voluntarily dismiss this court’s review of that finding. Thus, the ALJ’s finding entitles appellees to reasonable attorney’s fees during the entire duration of these proceedings. As such, we accept the voluntary dismissal, but we grant appellees’ motion for appellate attor*890ney’s fees and remand for a determination of the amount if the parties are unable to reach an agreement.

DISMISSED. APPELLEES’ MOTION FOR ATTORNEYS FEES GRANTED.

PADOVANO and RAY, JJ., concur.


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