MAULE INDUSTRIES, INC., PETITIONER,
v.
JAMES B. GODBEY AND THE FLORIDA INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION, RESPONDENTS
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Maule Industries appealed the Florida Industrial Commission's award of attorney's fees to claimant Godbey's counsel in a workers' compensation case. The court held that attorney's fees were improper because the employer voluntarily paid the claimed benefits within 21 days of notice, and the remaining claim items had not been adjudicated on the merits.
The court held that attorney's fees are not recoverable when the employer pays a claim within 21 days after notice, and fees may only be awarded based on successful prosecution of an adjudicated claim. Since the items in the original claim other than voluntary payment of past due compensation were not adjudicated, there was no basis for an award of attorney's fees.
“The applicable statute, F.S. § 440.34(1), F.S.A., does not authorize an award of attorney's fees when the employer pays a claim within 21 days after notice of the same.”
Establishes the statutory rule precluding attorney's fees for voluntary payment within 21 days.
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Join FLexlaw to unlock all legal intelligenceGodbey suffered a compensable work injury on October 30, 1954, and received temporary total disability benefits until June 23, 1957. On August 13, 195…
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The respondent Godbey received a com-pensable injury October 30, 1954. From that date until June 23, 1957, the employer paid benefits to the claimant on the basis of 100% temporary total disability. On August 13, 1957, the employee, through his attorney, filed a claim with the commission for “medical transportation, temporary total compensation and partial compensation to date.” On August 27, 1957, the employer paid the claim for temporary total benefits from June 23 to that date and continued the payment thereafter until the time hereinafter referred to. The question of the payment of the other item in the claim was left for later disposition.
At a hearing before the deputy commissioner on November 22, 1957, the employer advised the commission and the claimants that, as of November 4, 1957, they had commenced payment for 35% permanent partial disability of the body as a whole (in lieu *612of the 100% formerly being paid), whereupon the claimant then and there amended his claim of August 13, 1957, heretofore mentioned, to claim compensation for permanent total benefits. Within 21 days thereafter the claimant was advised by the employer that they had changed the rating from 35% permanent partial to permanent total disability.
The sole issue, therefore, at the final hearing before the deputy commissioner was whether claimant’s attorney was entitled to a fee for his services, using as one factor in arriving at the reasonableness thereof the ultimate change in the rating from 35% to total permanent disability. The deputy held that he was, and the full commission affirmed. The correctness of the latter order is here for review.
The applicable statute, F.S. § 440.34(1), F.S.A., does not authorize an award of attorney’s fees when the employer pays a claim within 21 days after notice of the same. The reason for such rule is obvious and has been elaborated on by the Supreme Court on other occasions.1 No useful purpose would be served by treating the subject any further here. The deputy was in error, therefore, when he calculated the amount of the fee on the basis of this item, and the full commission erred when it affirmed that ruling.
Having eliminated this item from the claim of August 13th we now revert to the original. It is on the basis of a “successful” prosecution2 of this claim that an award may be properly made of attorney’s fees. The record, however, does not show that the items in this claim, other than the voluntary payment of past due compensation, have been adjudicated. Therefore, there is no basis for an award of attorney’s fees at this time.
Certiorari is granted, and the order of the full commission is quashed with directions to vacate the order of the deputy commissioner of August 13th, and for further proceedings consistent with these views and the applicable provisions of the Workmen’s Compensation Act.
CARROLL, CHAS., C. J., and HORTON, J., concur.
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- Balatsos v. Neb. Ave. Cafe & Liquor Store, 159 Fla. 71 (Fla. 1947)
- Paul Smith Constr. Co. v. Fla. Indus. Comm'n, 93 So. 2d 735 (Fla. 1957)