Case Name: Thomas E. BROOKS, Appellant, v. FIRST SCAFFOLD & EQUIPMENT, INC., Bridgefield Employers Ins. Co., and American Interstate, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2004-09-29
Citations: 884 So. 2d 420
Docket Number: No. 1D03-2956
Parties: Thomas E. BROOKS, Appellant, v. FIRST SCAFFOLD & EQUIPMENT, INC., Bridgefield Employers Ins. Co., and American Interstate, Appellees.
Judges: WOLF, C.J., KAHN and LEWIS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 884
Pages: 420–421

Head Matter:
Thomas E. BROOKS, Appellant, v. FIRST SCAFFOLD & EQUIPMENT, INC., Bridgefield Employers Ins. Co., and American Interstate, Appellees.
No. 1D03-2956.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Sept. 29, 2004.
Carl A. Feddeler, III, of Smith, Fedde-ler, Smith & Miles, P.A., Lakeland; Susan W. Fox, of Fox & Loquasto, P.A., Tampa; and Wendy S. Loquasto, of Fox & Loquas-to, P.A., Tallahassee, for appellant.
Mary Ann Stiles, of Stiles, Taylor & Grace, P.A., Tampa; Rayford H. Taylor, of Stiles, Taylor & Grace, P.A., Atlanta, GA; and E. Taylor Davidson, of Dicesare, Davidson & Barker, P.A., Lakeland, for appellees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Appellant/claimant urges us to reverse the determination by the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) of temporary indemnity benefits based on the lower average weekly wage in effect at the time of the second and third industrial accidents, relying on Pinellas County School Board v. Higgins, 597 So.2d 355 (Fla. 1st DCA 1992). We find that the holding in Higgins is limited to the facts of that particular situation, where two compensable accidents have merged to cause claimant's permanent total disability. In the instant case, the claimant's award of temporary benefits was properly determined utilizing the average weekly wage calculation contained in section 440.14(l)(a), Florida Statutes. The decision of the JCC is affirmed.
WOLF, C.J., KAHN and LEWIS, JJ., concur.