Clyatt Memorial, Inc. v. Scott

Decision Date10 February 1981
Docket NumberNo. TT-457,TT-457
Citation394 So.2d 159
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals
PartiesCLYATT MEMORIAL, INC. and R. P. Hewitt & Assoc's of Florida, Inc., Appellants, v. Havina SCOTT, Appellee.

Robert W. Elton, of Smalbein, Eubanks, Johnson, Rosier & Bussey, Daytona Beach, for appellants.

Stephen M. Slepin, of Slepin & Slepin, Tallahassee and Richard A. Schwartz, Daytona Beach, for appellee.

THOMPSON, Judge.

The appellants challenge a workers' compensation Order, arguing that the Deputy Commissioner ("the Deputy") erred by awarding the claimant temporary total disability ("TTD") benefits. We agree and reverse.

In 1975, the claimant suffered a compensable back injury. The Deputy subsequently entered an Order, finding that maximum medical improvement ("MMI") was reached on November 22, 1976, and ordering that the appellants provide the claimant with permanent partial disability ("PPD") benefits. This Order was reversed by the Industrial Relations Commission, but the determination of MMI was neither appealed nor disturbed.

On remand, the Deputy entered a new Order, and the claimant filed a petition for modification, requesting TTD and PPD benefits. This petition was later withdrawn, but the claim for TTD benefits was maintained. After a hearing, the Deputy entered an Order, directing the appellants to provide the claimant with TTD benefits for the period from August 7, 1979 to September 10, 1979.

The appellants contend in part that since the Deputy had previously determined that the claimant had reached MMI on November 22, 1976, she could not properly award the claimant additional TTD benefits. Ordinarily, MMI "marks the end of temporary disability and the beginning of permanent disability." Corral v. McCrory Corp., 228 So.2d 900, 903 (Fla.1969). We recognize that a finding of MMI (and an award of PPD benefits) does not always preclude a later award of TTD benefits. See, e. g., Smitty's Coffee Shop v. Florida Industrial Com'n, 86 So.2d 268 (Fla.1956); Chapel v. Broward, 3 FCR 421 (1959), cert. den., 112 So.2d 923 (Fla. 3d DCA 1959). (Both decisions upheld awards of TTD benefits after findings of MMI and awards of PPD benefits had been made.) But unlike either Smitty's Coffee Shop or Chapel, this case does not involve an award of TTD benefits for a period of recuperation following a curative surgical procedure that was necessitated by a compensable injury. Nor was there a period of TTD during or...

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4 cases
  • Keller Kitchen Cabinets v. Holder, 88-3204
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • August 8, 1991
    ...medical improvement typically marks the end of temporary disability and the beginning of permanent disability. Clyatt Memorial, Inc. v. Scott, 394 So.2d 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). Temporary total disability is generally unavailable for periods after the date of MMI except as above noted upon ......
  • ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL BD. v. Melman
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • August 25, 1998
    ...total disability benefits. See, e.g., City of Tampa v. Miyares, 430 So.2d 540, 540-41 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983); Clyatt Memorial, Inc. v. Scott, 394 So.2d 159, 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). BENTON, VAN NORTWICK and PADOVANO, JJ., concur. ...
  • Emergency One, Inc. v. Williams
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • May 9, 1983
    ...of temporary benefits, after final adjudication of MMI, may constitute a modification of the prior order. Cf., Clyatt Memorial, Inc. v. Scott, 394 So.2d 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). Neither does the present appeal involve inconsistent findings which cannot be reconciled by reference to the reco......
  • City of Tampa v. Miyares
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • April 27, 1983
    ...can justify an award of TTD benefits. The case sub judice, therefore, falls squarely within the general rule of Clyatt Memorial, Inc. v. Scott, 394 So.2d 159 (Fla. 1st DCA 1981). The deputy commissioner erred in awarding TTD following the date of MMI. Accordingly, the order of the deputy co......

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