Title: Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association v. Division Of Administrative Hearings, Et Al.

State: florida

Issuer: Florida Supreme Court

Document:

Supreme Court of Florida 
 
 
____________ 
 
No. SC04-904 
____________ 
 
FLORIDA BIRTH-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL INJURY 
COMPENSATION ASSOCIATION, 
Petitioner, 
 
vs. 
 
DIVISION OF ADMINISTRATIVE HEARINGS, et al., 
Respondents. 
 
[April 5, 2007] 
 
PER CURIAM. 
 
We have for review Florida Health Sciences Center, Inc. v. Division of 
Administrative Hearings, 871 So. 2d 1062 (Fla. 2d DCA 2004), 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 respondents 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 respondents’ responses and the 
petitioner’s 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 Nos. 2D01-3919 and 2D01-3970 
 
 
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Wilbur E. Brewton and Kelly B. Plante of Roetzel and Andress, P.A., Tallahassee, 
Florida, 
 
 
for Petitioner 
 
Roland J. Lamb of Morgan, Lamb, Goldman and Valles, P.A., Tampa, Florida; 
David S. Nelson and Michael Brown, Tampa, Florida; 
 
 
for Respondents 
 
 
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