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[DO NOT PUBLISH]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.