Case Name: HMSHOST CORPORATION/GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES INC., Appellants, v. Guerda FREDERIC, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2012-05-29
Citations: 102 So. 3d 668
Docket Number: No. 1D11-4956
Parties: HMSHOST CORPORATION/GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES INC., Appellants, v. Guerda FREDERIC, Appellee.
Judges: WOLF, LEWIS, and THOMAS, JJ., concur.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Third Series
Volume: 102
Pages: 668–668

Head Matter:
HMSHOST CORPORATION/GALLAGHER BASSETT SERVICES INC., Appellants, v. Guerda FREDERIC, Appellee.
No. 1D11-4956.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
May 29, 2012.
Rehearing Denied July 20, 2012.
H. George Kagan of Miller, Kagan, Rodriguez & Silver, P.L., West Palm Beach, for Appellants.
Kimberly A. Hill of Kimberly A. Hill, P.L., Fort Lauderdale, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
In this workers' compensation case, the Employer/Carrier appeals an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) awarding Claimant her own selection of a "one-time" change of physician under section 440.13(2)(f), Florida Statutes (2009). We reverse because, although we agree with the JCC that Claimant's purported petition for benefits constituted the "written request" required by section 440.13(2)(f), we hold the JCC erred in finding the Employer/Carrier (E/C) did not comply with the request within the five days section 440.13(2)(f) allows. The E/C's informing Claimant of a particular doctor's name within five days of receiving the request satisfied section 440.13(2)(f), even though the E/C did not contact the doctor. See Dorsch, Inc. v. Hunt, 15 So.3d 836 (Fla. 1st DCA 2009); Harrell v. Citrus County Sch. Bd., 25 So.3d 675 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010). We distinguish Pardo v. Denny's, Inc., 631 So.2d 388. (Fla. 1st DCA 1994), on the ground that its facts involved the initial provision of care rather than, as here, the transfer of care.
REVERSED.
WOLF, LEWIS, and THOMAS, JJ., concur.