Public Gas Co. v. Monette

District Court of Appeal of Florida

Public Gas Co. v. Monette

658 So. 2d 673, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8483, 1995 WL 469658

CourtDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida

DecidedAugust 10, 1995

DocketNo. 94-2365

StatusPublished

Cited by2 cases

This text of 658 So. 2d 673 (Public Gas Co. v. Monette) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering District Court of Appeal of Florida primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Public Gas Co. v. Monette, 658 So. 2d 673, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8483, 1995 WL 469658 (Fla. Ct. App. 1995).

Pincite

Opinion

PER CURIAM.

The employer and carrier (E/C) have sought review of a non-final order that granted the claimant an independent medical evaluation (IME) with a physician chosen by the claimant and ordered the E/C to pay for the IME. The E/C argue that the judge of compensation claims (JCC) erroneously assumed that section 440.13(5), Florida Statutes (Supp.1994), which went into effect on January 1, 1994, was applicable. That section provides that the carrier or the employee may select an independent medical examiner.

The E/C correctly assert that the applicable law in this case is the law in effect on May 21, 1992, the date of the accident, and that the 1993 amendments do not apply. See Southern Bakeries and Kemper Group v. Corwin Cooper, 20 Fla.L.Weekly D942 (Fla. 1st DCA Apr. 11, 1995). Our review of the order on appeal, however, indicates that the JCC relied upon section 440.29(1), Florida Statutes, which provides:

In making an investigation or inquiry or conducting a hearing, the judge of compensation claims shall not be bound by technical or formal rules of procedure, except as provided by this chapter, but may make such investigation or inquiry, or conduct such hearing, in such manner as to best ascertain the rights of the parties.

The JCC is authorized to order an IME pursuant to his investigatory powers provided in section 440.29(1). Berry Corporation v. Smith, 576 So.2d 1366 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).

Because the E/C’s jurisdictional argument is based upon application of the amendments to section 440.13(5) enacted by chapter 93-415, Laws of Florida, we decline to exercise jurisdiction to consider this case under the requirements set out in Hines Electric v. McClure, 616 So.2d 132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993).

The appeal is therefore DISMISSED.

BARFIELD, KAHN, and DAVIS, JJ., concur.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

PER CURIAM.

The employer and carrier (E/C) have sought review of a non-final order that granted the claimant an independent medical evaluation (IME) with a physician chosen by the claimant and ordered the E/C to pay for the IME. The E/C argue that the judge of compensation claims (JCC) erroneously assumed that section 440.13(5), Florida Statutes (Supp.1994), which went into effect on January 1, 1994, was applicable. That section provides that the carrier or the employee may select an independent medical examiner.

The E/C correctly assert that the applicable law in this case is the law in effect on May 21, 1992, the date of the accident, and that the 1993 amendments do not apply. See Southern Bakeries and Kemper Group v. Corwin Cooper, 20 Fla.L.Weekly D942 (Fla. 1st DCA Apr. 11, 1995). Our review of the order on appeal, however, indicates that the JCC relied upon section 440.29(1), Florida Statutes, which provides:

In making an investigation or inquiry or conducting a hearing, the judge of compensation claims shall not be bound by technical or formal rules of procedure, except as provided by this chapter, but may make such investigation or inquiry, or conduct such hearing, in such manner as to best ascertain the rights of the parties.

The JCC is authorized to order an IME pursuant to his investigatory powers provided in section 440.29(1). Berry Corporation v. Smith, 576 So.2d 1366 (Fla. 1st DCA 1991).

Because the E/C’s jurisdictional argument is based upon application of the amendments to section 440.13(5) enacted by chapter 93-415, Laws of Florida, we decline to exercise jurisdiction to consider this case under the requirements set out in Hines Electric v. McClure, 616 So.2d 132 (Fla. 1st DCA 1993).

The appeal is therefore DISMISSED.

BARFIELD, KAHN, and DAVIS, JJ., concur.

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

658 So. 2d 673, 1995 Fla. App. LEXIS 8483, 1995 WL 469658, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/public-gas-co-v-monette-fladistctapp-1995.

Opinion

Related

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack