Case Name: McDONALDS CORPORATION and General Adjustment Bureau, Appellants, v. Kimberly Ann DOTY, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1983-05-12
Citations: 431 So. 2d 291
Docket Number: No. AN-121
Parties: McDONALDS CORPORATION and General Adjustment Bureau, Appellants, v. Kimberly Ann DOTY, Appellee.
Judges: JOANOS and THOMPSON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 431
Pages: 291–292

Head Matter:
McDONALDS CORPORATION and General Adjustment Bureau, Appellants, v. Kimberly Ann DOTY, Appellee.
No. AN-121.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
May 12, 1983.
Anthony J. Beisler, III, Fort Lauderdale, for appellants.
Philip S. Anderson of Anderson & Anderson, P.A., Fort Lauderdale, for appellee.

Opinion:
MILLS, Judge.
McDonalds appeals a compensation order finding it responsible for attorney's fees. We reverse.
The record supports the conclusion that the employer failed to promptly investigate the claim for payment of a hospital bill. However, § 440.34(1), Florida Statutes (1977), conditions entitlement to a fee upon the successful prosecution of a claim. Section 440.34(2) limits the statutory percentage schedule to that portion of the award which the attorney is responsible for securing.
In the case before us, the claimant's attorney filed one motion to compel. The employer was not notified or aware of this motion until 14 months after paying the claim. Claimant's attorney did nothing to prosecute this claim and secured no benefits. He is not entitled to a fee.
REVERSED.
JOANOS and THOMPSON, JJ., concur.