Case Name: Diane CHENEY, Appellant, v. CHANGES INTERNATIONAL and Zurich, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2004-03-18
Citations: 867 So. 2d 1258
Docket Number: No. 1D03-1248
Parties: Diane CHENEY, Appellant, v. CHANGES INTERNATIONAL and Zurich, Appellee.
Judges: WOLF, C.J., PADOVANO and POLSTON, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 867
Pages: 1258–1259

Head Matter:
Diane CHENEY, Appellant, v. CHANGES INTERNATIONAL and Zurich, Appellee.
No. 1D03-1248.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
March 18, 2004.
Arthur H. Lester, Esquire, of Woodburn S. Wesley, Jr., & Associates, Fort Walton Beach, for Appellant.
Christopher D. White, Esquire, Era-clides, Johns, Hall Gellman, Eikner & Jo-hannssen, LLP, Pensacola, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Claimant Diane Cheney appeals the Judge of Compensation Claim's ("JCC") order awarding her attorney's fees. She argues that the JCC erred in downwardly departing from the presumptively fair fee determined in section 440.34(1), Florida Statutes (1999). We agree and, therefore, reverse. The findings the JCC made in support of the downward departure are not supported by competent substantial evidence. See Alderman v. Fla. Plastering, 805 So.2d 1097, 1099-1100 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (stating that a JCC's determination that a particular section 440.34(1) factor exists and should be applied to support a downward departure must be supported by competent substantial evidence). On remand, the JCC is directed to award claimant the presumptively fair fee.
REVERSED and REMANDED with directions.
WOLF, C.J., PADOVANO and POLSTON, JJ., concur.