Case Name: Silvia VALERIO, Appellant, v. LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, Appellee
Court: Florida District Court of Appeal
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 2003-11-13
Citations: 858 So. 2d 1227
Docket Number: No. 1D02-1774
Parties: Silvia VALERIO, Appellant, v. LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, Appellee.
Judges: ALLEN and DAVIS, JJ„ CONCUR; BENTON, J., DISSENTS WITH OPINION.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 858
Pages: 1227–1229

Head Matter:
Silvia VALERIO, Appellant, v. LEE MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEMS, Appellee.
No. 1D02-1774.
District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.
Nov. 13, 2003.
Peter Burkert, Ft. Myers; and Bill McCabe, Longwood, for Appellant.
Scot E. Samis of Abbey, Adams, Byel-ick, Kiernan, Mueller & Lancaster, L.L.P., St. Petersburg; and Michele Guindon of Boydstun, Dabroski, Lyle & Wood, L.L.C., St. Petersburg, for Appellee.

Opinion:
PER CURIAM.
Appellant, Silvia Valerio, appeals an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC), which denied her motion to vacate. Pursuant to section 440.20(ll)(c), Florida Statutes (2001), this court does not have jurisdiction to review this order, and we dismiss the appeal.
Valerio, while represented by counsel, entered into a settlement agreement with her employer, Appellee, Lee Memorial Health Systems, in order to settle a workers' compensation claim. On February 5, 2001, the JCC entered an order approving the attorney's fees portion of the agreement, as required by section 440.20(ll)(c). Valerio subsequently became dissatisfied with the agreement, and moved to vacate the JCC's order approving the award of attorney's fees. The JCC entered an amended order on April 18, 2002, in which he found he did not have subject matter jurisdiction to consider Valerio's motion. Valerio filed a notice of appeal from the April 18, 2002, order.
Section 440.20(ll)(c) provides in pertinent part:
[W]hen a claimant is represented by counsel, the claimant may waive all rights to any and all benefits under this chapter by entering into a settlement agreement releasing the employer and the carrier from liability for workers' compensation benefits in exchange for a lump-sum payment to the claimant. The settlement agreement requires approval by the judge of compensation claims only as to the attorney's fees paid to the claimant's attorney by the claimant.... Any order entered by a judge of compensation claims approving the attorney's fees as set out in the settlement under this subsection is not considered to be an award and is not subject to modification or review.
Because section 440.20(ll)(c) clearly states that orders approving attorney's fees under that subsection are not reviewable orders, we are without jurisdiction to allow a party to subvert the intent of the Legislature by having an order reviewed indirectly which may not be reviewed directly. Accordingly, Valerio's appeal is dismissed.
ALLEN and DAVIS, JJ" CONCUR; BENTON, J., DISSENTS WITH OPINION.