Case Title: Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association, Et Al. v. Bayfront Medical Center, Inc.

Citation: 

Docket Number: SC05-369

State: florida

Court: Florida Supreme Court

Date: 2007-04-05T00:00:00Z

Document:
Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC05-369 
____________ 
 
FLORIDA BIRTH-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL  INJURY 
COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION, et al., 
Petitioners, 
 
vs. 
 
BAYFRONT MEDICAL CENTER, INC., 
Respondent. 
 
[April 5, 2007] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
We have for review Bayfront Medical Center, Inc. v. Florida Birth-Related 
Neurological Injury Compensation Ass’n, 893 So. 2d 636 (Fla. 2d DCA 2005), in 
which the Second District Court of Appeal certified conflict with other district 
courts of appeal on the issue of whether an administrative law judge (“ALJ”) has 
the authority to determine issues related to notice in a Florida Neurological Injury 
Compensation Act (“NICA”) proceeding.  We have jurisdiction.  See art. V, § 
(3)(b)(4), Fla. Const. 
We stayed this case pending disposition in Florida Birth-Related 
Neurological Injury Compensation Ass’n v. Florida Division of Administrative 
Hearings, 948 So. 2d 705, 707 (Fla. 2007) (“NICA v. DOAH”), in which we 
ultimately held that “when notice is raised as part of a claim filed under NICA, an 
ALJ has jurisdiction to make findings regarding whether a health care provider has 
satisfied the ‘notice to obstetrical patients’ requirement of section 766.316, Florida 
Statutes (Supp. 1998).”  We thus directed the respondent in the present case to 
show cause why we should not exercise our jurisdiction, summarily quash the 
decision under review, and remand for reconsideration in light of our decision in 
NICA v. DOAH.  Upon consideration of the respondent’s response and the 
petitioners’ reply thereto, we have determined to do just that. 
We accordingly grant the petition for review in the present case, quash the 
decision under review, and remand this matter to the Second District Court of 
Appeal for reconsideration upon application of this Court's decision in NICA v. 
DOAH. 
It is so ordered. 
WELLS, ANSTEAD, PARIENTE, QUINCE, CANTERO, and BELL, JJ., concur. 
LEWIS, C.J., dissents. 
 
 
NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO FILE REHEARING MOTION, AND 
IF FILED, DETERMINED. 
 
 
Application for Review of the Decision of the District Court of Appeal - Certified 
Direct Conflict of Decisions 
 
 
Second District - Case No. 2D03-5156 
 
- 2 -
 
Wilbur E. Brewton and Kelly B. Plante of Roetzel and Andress, L.P.A., 
Tallahassee, Florida, Dino G. Galardi of Ferraro and Associates, P.A., Miami, 
Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
David S. Nelson, Tampa, Florida, 
 
 
for Respondent 
 
 
- 3 -