Case Name: BEC CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Appellants, v. Luis GONZALEZ (Deceased) and Eufelia Gonzalez, Appellees
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1980-02-13
Citations: 383 So. 2d 1093
Docket Number: No. QQ-222
Parties: BEC CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Appellants, v. Luis GONZALEZ (Deceased) and Eufelia Gonzalez, Appellees.
Judges: MILLS, C. J., and McCORD, J., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 383
Pages: 1093–1095

Head Matter:
BEC CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION and Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, Appellants, v. Luis GONZALEZ (Deceased) and Eufelia Gonzalez, Appellees.
No. QQ-222.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Feb. 13, 1980.
On Rehearing April 17, 1980.
On Motion For Clarification On Rehearing June 5, 1980.
Summers A. Warden, Coral Gables, for appellants.
George F. Taylor, Jr., of Spencer & Taylor, Miami, for appellees.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
The employer/carrier seek review of an order of the judge of industrial claims wherein attorney's fees were granted based upon obtaining payment of a hospital bill. Eufelia Gonzalez cross-appeals contending the judge of industrial claims erred in finding she was not entitled to dependency benefits. Because of the jurisdictional question involved, we do not reach the merits of this appeal.
Luis Gonzalez died on July 12, 1975, as a result of an industrial accident. A claim for benefits, in his name, was filed July 15, 1975. An amended claim, requesting additional benefits and a notice of death was filed July 25, 1975; the estate of Luis Gonzalez was never substituted as a party on the claim. Although no claim was actually filed in her name Eufelia Gonzalez claims dependency benefits.
Death of a client terminates the relationship that exists between an attorney and his client and the attorney's authority to act by virtue thereof is extinguished . . Accordingly, unless there has been a substitution of parties, e. g., a personal representative appointed for the estate of the deceased, a claim for benefits on behalf of a client who is dead is a nullity.
Autry v. J. M. Booth Trucking Co., 6 FCR 163, 165 (1967). No proper claim ever having been filed in this cause, the judge of industrial claims had no jurisdiction and this court has none. Lancaster v. General Development Corp., IRC Order 2-3115 (1977); Curl v. City Economy Cab Co., 4 FCR 288 (1960).
Although the parties below stipulated that Eufelia Gonzalez could receive any benefit to which Luis Gonzalez would have been entitled, this stipulation had no effect. Subject matter jurisdiction cannot be conferred by agreement of the parties. Wilds v. Permenter, 228 So.2d 408 (Fla. 4th DCA 1969).
We, therefore, dismiss this appeal without prejudice and remand for dismissal of the claim without prejudice.
MILLS, C. J., and McCORD, J., concur.
BOOTH, J., dissents with opinion.