Court Opinion

ID: 4431588
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2019-08-21 14:03:39.776224+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:19.981221
License: Public Domain

FIRST DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
                STATE OF FLORIDA
                  _____________________________

                          No. 1D18-1791
                  _____________________________

ROBERT SCHIANO,

    Appellant,

    v.

CITY OF HOLLYWOOD POLICE
DEPARTMENT/EMPLOYER'S
MUTUAL, INC.,

    Appellees.
                  _____________________________

On appeal from an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims.
Daniel A. Lewis, Judge.

Date of Accident: August 21, 2014.

                         August 21, 2019

M.K. THOMAS, J.

     In this workers’ compensation case, Claimant appeals an
order of the Judge of Compensation Claims (“JCC”), holding the
Employer/Carrier (“E/C”) was not estopped from asserting the
statute of limitations (“SOL”) defense. Claimant concedes that the
limitations period had run but challenges the estoppel ruling,
arguing that it thwarts the presuit resolution process set forth in
section 440.192(4), Florida Statutes. We affirm because, in this
case, the presuit resolution argument is both unpreserved and
without merit.
                             I. Facts

     On August 30, 2017, Claimant’s counsel transmitted by
facsimile (“fax”) a letter to the E/C informally requesting two
benefits: authorization of a replacement neurologist due to Dr.
Ballweg’s death and authorization of an orthopedist as a one-time
change of authorized treating physician pursuant to section
440.13(2)(f), Florida Statutes. The next day, Claimant filed a
Petition for Benefits (“PFB”) seeking those benefits together with
associated attorney fees and costs. On September 1, 2017, counsel
for the E/C emailed Claimant’s counsel the following message:

    Hey Mark, my client authorizes Dr. Christopher Brown
    as the claimant’s alternate orthopedist in light of your
    one time change request in the attached. FYI, Christina
    Rodriguez is the new adjuster handling this claim. She
    will provide the claimant with an appointment to see Dr.
    Brown shortly.

On September 6, 2017, the E/C filed a Response to PFB denying
all benefits on grounds that the SOL had run.

     At hearing, Claimant argued that the E/C’s September 1
email was the initial response to the PFB, and therefore, because
the SOL defense was not asserted, the E/C was estopped from
asserting the defense. Alternatively, the Claimant asserted that
the E/C’s promise in the email to provide an alternate doctor
revived the SOL. The E/C countered that its September 1 email
was not the initial response to the PFB because the email expressly
responded only to the attachment, which was the August 30 fax
from Claimant requesting two doctors; the E/C’s initial response to
the PFB was the formal Response to PFB which addressed all
claims raised in the PFB.

     In the final order, the JCC denied the PFB, finding all claims
barred by the SOL. In support, the JCC found that the E/C’s
September 1 email was a response only to the August 30 fax, and
the September 6 filing of the E/C was the “initial response” to the
PFB. The JCC also reasoned that the claim was not “revived” by
the E/C’s email agreeing to authorize the one-time change because
such revival occurs only when the E/C actually provides benefits

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or at least “accepts responsibility” for medical treatment by paying
the bill.

                        II. Legal Analysis

     Rulings on the SOL are reviewed for competent, substantial
evidence (CSE) as to the JCC’s findings of fact and de novo as to
the JCC’s legal conclusions. See Borneisen v. Home Depot, 917 So.
2d 361, 362 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005) (noting that JCC’s factual findings
relating to application of SOL are reviewed for CSE); McBride v.
Pratt & Whitney, 909 So. 2d 386, 387 (Fla. 1st DCA 2005) (noting
that JCC’s interpretation and application of SOL is reviewed de
novo).

     The SOL under Florida Workers’ Compensation Law requires
a PFB to be filed within two years after the date a claimant knew
or should have known the injury arose out of work performed in
the course and scope of employment. § 440.19(1), Fla. Stat. (2014).
This two-year period is tolled for one year following the date any
indemnity benefit is paid or medical treatment is furnished.
§ 440.19(2), Fla. Stat. (2014). But, the statute contemplates two
avoidances to the SOL defense: 1) where an E/C fails to lodge the
SOL defense in its “initial response” to a PFB; and 2) where the
E/C “is estopped from raising a [SOL] defense.” § 440.19(4), Fla.
Stat. (2014).

     Here, although the specific date is not clear from the record,
the parties stipulated that the SOL expired before the PFB was
filed. Claimant asserted both avoidances to the SOL defense. ∗ But
on appeal, Claimant does not challenge the JCC’s ruling that the

    ∗
       Although Claimant did not plead estoppel on the pretrial
stipulation, as required by Florida Administrative Code Rule 60Q-
6.113(2)(h), the parties nonetheless argued the merits of estoppel
and received a ruling, thus trying it by consent. See New Hope
Baptist Church v. Duran, 38 So. 3d 170, 171 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010)
(holding workers’ compensation issue was tried by consent due to
E/C’s failure to object).

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E/C’s “initial response” was the September 6 Response to PFB,
which asserted the SOL defense. Accordingly, our review relates
to the JCC’s determination that the Claimant failed to
demonstrate estoppel pursuant to section 440.19(4), Florida
Statutes.

    To demonstrate estoppel under section 440.19(4), Claimant
must show that (1) the E/C misrepresented a material fact; (2)
Claimant relied on the misrepresentation; and (3) Claimant
changed his position to his detriment because of the
misrepresentation. Deere v. Sarasota Cty. Sch. Bd., 880 So. 2d 825,
826 (Fla. 1st DCA 2004). Section 440.19(4) does not include a
requirement of intent. Id. (“Where an E/C misleads a claimant
about his or her rights or availability of workers’ compensation,
even unintentionally, resulting in the claimant's failure to file a
timely claim, the E/C will be estopped from denying benefits.”).

     Here, Claimant never alleged that he relied on the E/C’s
September 1 email. Therefore, the JCC found Claimant failed to
prove estoppel. This finding alone warrants affirmance because a
decision in favor of the party without the burden of proof need not
be supported by CSE. See Fitzgerald v. Osceola Cty. Sch. Bd., 974
So. 2d 1161, 1163-64 (Fla. 1st DCA 2008) (holding claimant has
burden to prove entitlement to benefits and decision in favor of
party without burden of proof need not be supported by CSE).
Additionally, the record does not show any suggestion of reliance.
To the contrary, Claimant did not wait to file his PFB until after
receiving a response to his informal request; instead, he filed it
before the email.

     On appeal, Claimant now argues for the first time that
allowing the E/C to raise the SOL defense runs counter to the
legislative intent behind the presuit resolution process. The
presuit resolution process is a statutory requirement that a PFB
include a certification that claimant or his counsel “has made a
good faith effort to resolve the dispute and . . . was unable to
resolve the dispute with the carrier.” § 440.192(4), Fla. Stat.
(2014). But, Claimant did not argue this below, not even in his
motion for rehearing. Thus, it has not been preserved for appeal.
See Hamilton v. R.L. Best Int’l, 996 So. 2d 233, 234 (Fla. 1st DCA
2008) (holding if error is one that first appears in final order,

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aggrieved party must bring it to judge's attention by filing motion
for rehearing); Jellison v. Dixie S. Indus., Inc., 857 So. 2d 365, 366
(Fla. 1st DCA 2003) (holding arguments not raised before JCC are
not preserved for review); see also Steinhorst v. State, 412 So. 2d
332, 338 (Fla. 1982) (“[I]n order for an argument to be cognizable
on appeal, it must be the specific contention asserted as legal
ground for the objection, exception, or motion below.”).

    Accordingly, the order on appeal is AFFIRMED.

WOLF and MAKAR, JJ., concur.

                  _____________________________

    Not final until disposition of any timely and
    authorized motion under Fla. R. App. P. 9.330 or
    9.331.
               _____________________________

Mark A. Touby and Richard A. Sicking of Touby, Chait & Sicking,
P.L., Coral Gables, for Appellant.

William H. Rogner and Andrew R. Borah of Hurley, Rogner, Miller,
Cox & Waranch, P.A., Winter Park., for Appellees.

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