In Re Fla. Wkrs.'compensation Rules, Etc.

374 So. 2d 981
CourtSupreme Court of Florida
DecidedSeptember 20, 1979
Docket57707
StatusPublished

This text of 374 So. 2d 981 (In Re Fla. Wkrs.'compensation Rules, Etc.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In Re Fla. Wkrs.'compensation Rules, Etc., 374 So. 2d 981 (Fla. 1979).

Opinion

374 So.2d 981 (1979)

In re FLORIDA WORKERS' COMPENSATION RULES OF PROCEDURE.

No. 57707.

Supreme Court of Florida.

September 20, 1979.

PER CURIAM.

Appended to this opinion are Workers' Compensation Rules of Procedure which the Court hereby adopts temporarily to govern all proceedings within their scope after 12:01 a.m. September 30, 1979. Appeals from the Industrial Relations Commission which are pending in this Court on October 1, 1979, shall continue to be governed by the Florida Rules of Appellate Procedure where appropriate.

The 1979 legislature substantially revised chapter 440, Florida Statutes, pertaining to workmen's compensation proceedings, effective October 1, 1979. Chs. 79-40 and 79-312, Laws of Fla. Among other matters, the legislature authorized the Court to promulgate procedural rules relating to practice before deputy commissioners (section 440.29(3)) and to appeals from deputy commissioners to the First District Court of Appeal (section 440.25(d)). In light of the short time span between the adoption of this legislation and its proposed effective date, the Court solicited the assistance of persons intimately acquainted with and directly interested in these types of proceedings, for the purpose of drafting rules suitable for the Court's early adoption.[1] The appended rules are the product of this committee's efforts, virtually without change. Our approval and adoption of these rules are transitional and temporary in nature and does not connote our approval of the legal efficacy of any particular rule. We request The Florida Bar and other interested parties to file any appropriate suggestions or objections on or before April 1, 1980, directed to specific rules and stating why the rule is inappropriate or objectionable.

BOYD, OVERTON, SUNDBERG and ALDERMAN, JJ., concur.

ENGLAND, C.J., dissents with an opinion.

ENGLAND, Chief Justice, dissenting.

I respectfully dissent from the Court's adoption of rules one through fifteen, for the reasons expressed in my dissenting opinion in In re Workmen's Compensation Rules of Procedure, 343 So.2d 1273 (Fla. 1977). The fact that the 1979 legislature amended and retained in effect section 440.29(3), Florida Statutes,[*] does not change to any extent the views which I previously expressed.

FLORIDA WORKERS' COMPENSATION

RULES OF PROCEDURE

(FLA. W.C.R.P.)

PART A. TRIAL PROCEEDINGS

RULE 1. SCOPE AND TITLE

These rules, adopted and promulgated pursuant to the legal authority of the Supreme Court of Florida, shall govern all workers' compensation proceedings in and before Deputy Commissioners and the District Court of Appeal, First District.

These rules shall be cited as Workers' Compensation Rules of Procedure, and may be abbreviated Fla. W.C.R.P.

*982 COMMENT

RULE 1.

1979 REVISION. This replaces Rule 1, W.C.R.P. There is no substantive change except to the changed title of trial forum from "Judge of Industrial Claims" to "Deputy Commissioner", and "Industrial Relations Commission" to "District Court of Appeal, First District".

RULE 2. DEFINITIONS

Throughout these rules, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires:

(a) "DISTRICT COURT" means the District Court of Appeal, First District.

(b) "CLERK" means the clerk of the District Court.

(c) "DIVISION" means the Division of Worker's Compensation of the Florida Department of Labor and Employment Security.

(d) "DEPUTY" means a deputy commissioner pursuant to Chapter 440, Fla. Stat.

(e) "CHIEF COMMISSIONER" means the Chief Commissioner appointed by the Governor, serving in the Department of Labor and Employment Security, pursuant to Chapter 440, Fla. Stat.

(f) In construing these rules, where the context indicates, the singular includes the plural and vice versa, and the masculine includes the feminine and neuter and vice versa.

(g) Filing shall be accomplished by placement with the division, the deputy commissioner, or the clerk or the District Court as the context of Chapter 440 or these rules require.

COMMENT

RULE 2.

1979 REVISION. These definitions adapt to the 1979 legislation by which, for instance, the Bureau of Workmen's Compensation was upgraded to a Division [of Workers' Compensation]. This replaces Rule 2, 1977 W.C.R.P.

RULE 3. FILING AND SERVICE

(a) Filing. Unless otherwise ordered or unless otherwise provided by Chapter 440, Fla. Stat., any pleadings or other papers filed in the proceedings shall be served on each party.

(b) Method and Proof of Service.

(1) Same; How Made. When service is required or permitted to be made upon a party represented by an attorney, service shall be made upon the attorney unless service upon the party is ordered by the court. Service on the attorney or party shall be made by delivering a copy to him or by mailing it to him at his last known address. Delivery of a copy within this rule shall mean (a) handing it to the attorney or to the party, or (b) leaving it at his office with his clerk or other person in charge thereof, or (c) if there is no one in charge, leaving it in a conspicuous place therein, or (d) if the office is closed or the person to be served has no office, leaving it at his usual place of abode with some person of his family above fifteen years of age and informing such person of the contents. Service by mail shall be complete upon mailing.

(2) Certificate of Service. When any attorney shall certify in substance:

"I certify that a copy hereof has been furnished to (here insert name or names) by (delivery) (mail) this ____ day of ____, 19__

______________________

Attorney"

the certificate shall be taken as prima facie proof of such service in compliance with these rules.

(c) Service by Mail. When service is effectuated by mail, five days shall be added to the time allowed for the performance of any act required to be done, or allowed to be done, within a certain time after service. [This sub-section does not apply to the filing requirements for institution of appellate proceedings.]

COMMENT

RULE 3.

1979 REVISION. This replaces Rule 2(h), 1977 W.C.R.P., which merely provided *983 "`Service' shall be as provided in the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure."

Subsection (c) replaces Rule 3(b), W.C.R.P. 1977. The caveat to the filing of appellate proceedings is to warn of the jurisdictional nature of § 440.25(4)(f), Fla. Stat. 1979, which provides:

Beginning on October 1, 1979, procedures with respect to appeals from orders of deputy commissioners shall be governed by rules adopted by the Supreme Court. Such an order shall become final 30 days after mailing of copies of such order to the parties, unless appealed pursuant to such rules. The provisions of paragraphs (a)-(e) shall apply only until September 30, 1979.

RULE 4. COMPUTATION OF TIME

In computing any period of time prescribed or allowed by these rules, by order or by applicable statute, the day of the act or event from which the designated period of time begins to run shall not be included. The last day of the period so computed shall be included. If any act required, to be done, or allowed to be done, falls upon a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, performance of said act shall be required upon the next regular working day.

COMMENT

RULE 4.

1979 REVISION. This replaces Rule 3(a), 1977 W.C.R.P.

RULE 5. CLAIMS

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Related

In Re Workmen's Compensation Rules of Procedure
343 So. 2d 1273 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1977)
In re Florida Workers' Compensation Rules of Procedure
374 So. 2d 981 (Supreme Court of Florida, 1979)

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