Case Name: Carl Wayne BURRIS, Appellant, v. Mike Gatto GOODYEAR and Reliance Insurance Company, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1991-04-09
Citations: 577 So. 2d 1376
Docket Number: No. 90-296
Parties: Carl Wayne BURRIS, Appellant, v. Mike Gatto GOODYEAR and Reliance Insurance Company, Appellees.
Judges: ALLEN, J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 577
Pages: 1376–1382

Head Matter:
Carl Wayne BURRIS, Appellant, v. Mike Gatto GOODYEAR and Reliance Insurance Company, Appellees.
No. 90-296.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
April 9, 1991.
Joseph E. Smith, Orlando, for appellant.
Robert C. Cooper, Altamonte Springs, for appellees.

Opinion:
WOLF, Judge.
Claimant, Burris, appeals from a workers' compensation order awarding attendant-care benefits and denying certain other benefits. Claimant asserts the following: (1) The judge of compensation claims (JCC) erred in awarding only eight hours per day for attendant care; (2) the JCC erred in awarding only $4.00 per hour for attendant-care services from August 5, 1982, to April 25, 1989; (3) the JCC erred in not ordering reimbursement for attendant care after April 25, 1989; (4) section 440.-13(2)(e)(2), Florida Statutes (1989), which limits reimbursement for nonprofessional attendant care provided by a family member to 12 hours a day is unconstitutional; (5) the JCC erred by not ordering the carrier to reimburse the claimant for an exercise pool which had been installed; and (6) the JCC erred in not ordering the carrier to pay Dr. Woodridge's bill as a medical expense.
The employer/carrier (E/C) filed a cross appeal asserting as follows: (1) The JCC erred by limiting the E/C to seven weeks' credit against its obligation to pay past attendant-care benefits, and (2) the JCC erred in awarding the claimant's wife payment for attendant-care services for eight hours a day.
We determine the following: (1) There was no competent substantial evidence to support the award of either the $4.00 an hour or of attendant care for eight hours a day from August 5, 1982, to April 25, 1989; (2) the JCC erred in not addressing claimant's request for attendant care after April 25, 1989; (3) the JCC did not err in denying claimant's request for reimbursement for the exercise pool or in denying claimant's request to pay Dr. Woodridge's bill as a medical expense; and (4) as conceded by the claimant, the E/C was entitled to 93 days' credit against attendant-care expenses for the entire time claimant was in the hospital. We also find it would be premature to address the constitutional question in light of our findings herein and specifically decline to do so. Only the issues concerning the award of attendant care and the value of said care merit further discussion.
The claimant sustained injury to his lower back in an industrial accident on February 27, 1982. On the day of the accident, he developed severe pain in his lower back after loading used tires on a truck. He also had pain radiating into his left leg. His treating physician, Dr. Tessler, treated him conservatively until July 8, 1982, at which time he referred the patient to a physician in Jacksonville who performed surgery on the claimant's lower back. The claimant reached maximum medical improvement in August of 1983 with an impairment rating of 25 percent. The claimant continued to have lower back pain with weakness in his left leg.
As a result of claimant's injuries, he needed some level of assistance with his activities of daily living from the time of his discharge from the hospital on August 5, 1982. The evidence concerning claimant's condition from August, 1982, until June, 1987, ⅛ somewhat in conflict. There is testimony that claimant needed assistance with bathing, dressing, getting into and out of the bathtub, getting onto and off the toilet, putting on and taking off his brace, and other activities of daily living.
There is evidence, however, that in 1984, the claimant was walking with a rolling walker and using a swimming pool. As of April 1985, he was using a walker to get to the bathroom and still walking with it in July of that year. In 1986, he was using a wheelchair much of the time, but he still could use a walker if, for instance, a bathroom was not wheelchair accessible.
There was evidence that during a portion of this period claimant was able to drive his van for up to 50 miles at a time to attend meetings or conventions. At a meeting on June 28, 1987, an episode occurred which resulted in paralysis of his right side. According to the claimant's wife, the claimant never regained full use of his right leg following this episode. From June, 1987, until April, 1989, it appears that claimant's ability to care for himself was severely impeded.
On April 24, 1989, the claimant was admitted to Lucerne's Spinal Center where he stayed until May 11, 1989. The claimant was treated by Dr. Shea. According to the doctor, the claimant was ambulating only with the use of a wheelchair when he was admitted. Dr. Shea diagnosed the claimant's condition as a result of degenerative disk disease, the result of two previous lumbar laminectomies, extreme obesity, abdominal surgical procedures, adjustment disorder, depression, and extended bedrest. During the course of treatment at Lucerne, the claimant became increasingly independent. He was able to use an electric wheelchair, able to dress his upper and lower extremities, and taught skills for getting his shoes on. He was able to stand with a leg brace locking his ankle for about five minutes.
Various witnesses testified as to claimant's need for attendant care since the time of the industrial accident. Dr. Richard Tes-sler, claimant's treating physician, testified that from August, 1982, the claimant needed assistance in all activities of daily living and that he would need somebody present for 24 hours a day.
Dr. J. Darrell Shea, who first examined claimant upon admission to the Lucerne Spinal Center on April 24, 1989, testified that upon release from the Lucerne program, claimant needed one or two hours of nonskilled attendant care. Dr. Shea testified that the claimant probably needed twice as much attendant care prior to arriving at Lucerne, but that he was speculating in rendering this opinion.
Frank Woolrich, a rehabilitation consultant, interviewed the claimant and inspected his house in order to determine how to make it handicap accessible. The first interview was conducted in the claimant's home on March 18, 1988. Dr. Woodridge found that it would be unsafe for the claimant to live alone as he had problems in caring for himself and in getting out of the house in case of an emergency. He said he could not render an opinion that the claimant needed hands-on assistance on a 24-hour basis, because "it's one of those things where you need help, you need help and when you don't, you don't." He would not, however, recommend that claimant live alone. Darlene Fatula, a rehabilitation expert, testified that in August of 1988 claimant needed only three to four hours of direct care, but that he should not be left alone.
Two witnesses testified as to the value of the necessary attendant care. The witness for the claimant stated that the value of attendant care from the time of the accident through the time of the hearing ranged from $6.50 to $8.25. The E/C's witness testified that the value of a certified nurse attendant was $4.00 from 1982 until 1985, and had risen to $5.25 during 1989. Both witnesses acknowledged that mere companion care would be somewhat lower, but neither witness testified as to the actual cost. In addition, all attendant care rendered by the wife after October 1, 1988, would be governed by the provisions of section 440.13(2)(e), Florida Statutes (Supp.1988). See Williams v. Amax Chemical Corp., 543 So.2d 277 (Fla. 1st DCA 1989).
The JCC's award of "attendant care services to Faye Burris, claimant's wife, at the rate of $4.00 an hour, eight hours a day, from August 5, 1982 to April 25, 1989," must be reversed because it is not apparent from the record or from the JCC's order how the JCC arrived at either the time or the value figures.
The JCC's determinations concerning attendant care must be based on competent substantial evidence. See Williams v. Amax Chemical Corp., supra, and Builders Square v. Drake, 557 So.2d 115 (Fla. 1st DCA 1990). Further, while a JCC may under certain circumstances reject unrefuted medical testimony as to attendant care, it is improper to do so without giving sufficient reasons. Mirlisena v. Chemlawn Corp., 527 So.2d 908 (Fla. 1st DCA 1988). Caron v. Systematic Air Services, 576 So.2d 372 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).
It appears that Dr. Tessler's testimony concerning the necessary attendant care is the only expert medical testimony concerning the claimant's need for attendant care from the date of the accident until April, 1989. Specifically, no other expert gave an opinion concerning the necessity for attendant care prior to Darlene Fatula's visit of August, 1988. At that time, she said that claimant required three to four hours of attendant care.
The JCC gives no reason for rejecting Dr. Tessler's opinion concerning attendant care during the initial period, nor is it apparent from the record why that opinion was rejected. In addition, for the period from August, 1988, until April, 1989, it is unclear how the JCC arrived at eight hours a day attendant care.
In the period after claimant's release from Lucerne, it appears that testimony would support findings of two, four or 24 hours of attendant care. The JCC failed to address claimant's request for benefits during that time period. The E/C argues that it has voluntarily provided two hours of attendant care for that period and that the JCC's failure to address that period should be considered to be acceptance of the two-hour period. We reject this argument and find that the claimant is entitled to a ruling on their request.
It is also not apparent how the JCC arrived at the value of attendant care. The $4.00 an hour figure was only supported by the E/C's witness for the period from 1982-1985. All other testimony concerning the market value for certified nurse attendant care for the period from 1985 until October 1, 1988, was substantially higher than $4.00. While there is some evidentia-ry support for the argument that a portion of the required care for this person was for nonprofessional care, there is no competent evidence to determine what the value of this care, would be. The JCC's finding concerning the value of attendant care from 1986 forward is, therefore, reversed and remanded for a determination of an appropriate rate that is supported by competent substantial evidence. See Williams v. Amax Chemical Corp., supra.
Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
ALLEN, J., concurs.
ERVIN, J., concurs with written opinion.
. It has not been determined that claimant is entitled to more than 12 hours of attendant care after October 1, 1989, the effective date of the statute.
. All issues concerning modifications to claimant's house and responsibility for providing a special lift for the swimming pool have been resolved and are not the subject of this appeal.
. There is disputed evidence as to whether claimant suffered a stroke.
. The claimant's witness testified as to varied costs for care depending on the time of day during various time periods from the date of the accident until the date of the hearing.
. The testimony of Dr. Shea cannot be considered competent evidence as he indicated that his view was only speculative. He further indicated that he would have to defer to Dr. Tessler concerning his opinion for attendant care for the period prior to his examination.