Opinion ID: 1697908
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Protections Against Double Recovery

Text: Our decision today will not allow an employee to be entitled to a double recovery. Benefits under the workers' compensation act include medical expenses and disability benefits. See §§ 440.13, 440.15, Fla. Stat. (2000). Although in a tort action an injured employee may theoretically be entitled to recover some of the same types of damages recoverable under the compensation act, namely medical expenses and lost wages, the common law award for an employer's intentional tortious conduct represents a supplemental remedy for damages such as pain and suffering, and loss of spousal services, which are not provided for under the workers' compensation act. The tort action may also provide an avenue for the imposition of punitive damages against an employer who intentionally injures employees. Ultimately, an injured employee would only be entitled to recover for each element of damage once. The workers' compensation statute specifically includes a provision which both protects against double recovery and operates to ensure that workers' compensation carriers are reimbursed in the instance that a third-party tortfeasor is found liable for the employee's injuries. See § 440.39, Fla. Stat. (2000). Section 440.39 of Florida's workers' compensation statute ensures both that litigants will not be allowed double recovery for their injuries and that workers' compensation coverage will not ultimately be responsible in situations where an employee's injuries are caused by the employer's, or any other third party's, tortious conduct. See § 440.39, Fla. Stat. (2000). Under the workers' compensation statute, if an injured employee files a civil action for damages previously compensated by workers' compensation benefits, compensation insurance carriers are authorized to file a notice of payment of benefits which operates as a lien on any subsequent judgment to the extent that the judgment includes damages of the same type as benefits paid under the workers' compensation plan (e.g., medical benefits and wage compensation). See § 440.39(3)(a), Fla. Stat. (2000). After judgment is entered against a tortfeasor and in favor of the injured employee, the workers' compensation coverage will be reimbursed from liability damages for benefits paid as a result of the injury. If, however, the employer has engaged in conduct against the injured employee such that the employee is entitled to damages for pain and suffering and other elements of damage not covered under the workers' compensation statutory scheme, section 440.39 allows the workers' compensation coverage to be refunded or credited for amounts previously paid. Further, even if the workers' compensation carrier does not file a notice of payment in any subsequent civil action which would operate as a lien on any judgment in favor of the injured employee, Florida's collateral source statute would at least prevent a double recovery on the part of the injured employee. See § 768.76(1), Fla. Stat. (2005). Section 768.76 of the Florida Statutes states that the court shall reduce the amount of [damage] award[s] by the total of all amounts which have been paid for the benefit of the claimant. Id. Florida courts have stated that workers' compensation benefits are a collateral source within the meaning of section 768.50(2)(a)(2), Florida Statutes (1983). Am. Mut. Ins. Co. v. Decker, 518 So.2d 315, 317 (Fla. 2d DCA 1987), adopted in Liberty Mut. Ins. Co. v. Chambers, 526 So.2d 66, 67 (Fla.1988). Therefore, even if the insurance carrier fails to take the actions necessary to entitle it to a reimbursement, the employee would still not be allowed double recovery because the court would reduce any amount paid as workers' compensation benefits as a collateral source. [1]