Gordon Jones v. Jerry L. Harrelson

Opinion

[DO NOT PUBLISH]

IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS

FOR THE ELEVENTH CIRCUIT ________________________ FILED U.S. COURT OF APPEALS No. 05-11707 ELEVENTH CIRCUIT August 26, 2005 Non-Argument Calendar THOMAS K. KAHN ________________________ CLERK

D. C. Docket No. 04-00520-CV-J-32 BKCY No. 03-09605-3F7

IN RE: JERRY L. HARRELSON,

Debtor,

LORRAINE H. HARRELSON,

Joint Debtor. ______________________________________________

GORDON JONES, Trustee,

Plaintiff-Appellant,

versus

JERRY L. HARRELSON, LORRAINE H. HARRELSON,

Defendants-Appellees. ________________________

Appeal from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida _________________________

(August 26, 2005)

Before BIRCH, BARKETT and COX, Circuit Judges.

PER CURIAM:

Gordon P. Jones, trustee of the bankruptcy estates of Jerry L. Harrelson and

Lorraine H. Harrelson (“Trustee”), appeals the judgment of the district court

affirming the decision of the bankruptcy court. The Trustee argues that a brokerage

account purchased with workers compensation benefits no longer retains its character

as workers’ compensation benefits exempt from creditors under Florida Statutes §

440.22. However, we agree with the district court that proceeds of a workers’

compensation lump sum settlement retain their character as “workers’ compensation

benefits in the hands of the beneficiary” when those proceeds are deposited in a

brokerage house deposit account and used to purchase securities. See Broward v.

Jacksonville Med. Ctr., 690 So. 2d 589, 591 (Fla. 1997). The judgment of the district

court is, therefore,

AFFIRMED.