Williams v. Archer Western Contractors

43 So. 3d 780, 2010 Fla. App. LEXIS 11103, 2010 WL 2976944

• Court: District Court of Appeal of Florida
• Decided: July 30, 2010
• Docket: No. 1D09-6078
• Status: Published

Opinion

THOMAS, J.

In this workers’ compensation appeal, Claimant challenges the JCC’s denial of his claim for temporary partial disability benefits. The JCC found that Claimant suffered compensable injuries resulting in restrictions which prevented him from performing his pre-injury job, but which did not prevent him from performing “some modified duty work.” The JCC also found that Claimant was not yet at maximum medical improvement. The record indicates no refusal by Claimant of modified work, nor was Claimant offered modified work; Claimant was not terminated for misconduct; and Claimant did not commence employment elsewhere, followed by termination for misconduct or economic reasons. Under such facts, as explained in our recent opinion in Wyeth/Pharma Field Sales v. Toscano, 40 So.3d 795 (Fla. 1st DCA 2010), Claimant is entitled to temporary partial disability benefits without conducting a job search. We therefore reverse the JCC’s order denying Claimant’s claim for temporary partial disability benefits.

REVERSED.

ROBERTS and MARSTILLER, JJ., concur.