Coca-Cola Bottling Co. v. Tunson

• Decision Date: 13 December 1988
• Docket Number: COCA-COLA,No. 88-154,88-154
• Parties: 13 Fla. L. Weekly 2678 BOTTLING COMPANY and Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. Burnell TUNSON, Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v.BOTTLING COMPANY and St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Cross-Appellees/Appellants.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

Page 910

534 So.2d 910

13 Fla. L. Weekly 2678

COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY and Aetna Casualty & Surety Company, Appellants/Cross-Appellees, v. Burnell TUNSON, Appellee/Cross-Appellant, v. COCA-COLA BOTTLING COMPANY and St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Cross-Appellees/Appellants.

No. 88-154.

District Court of Appeal of Florida First District.

Dec. 13, 1988.

Henry T. Wihnyk of Conroy, Simberg & Lewis, P.A., Hollywood, for appellant/cross-appellee Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co.

Jules E. Mazzarantani of Adams, Kelley, Kronenberg & Kelley, Ft. Lauderdale, for appellant/cross-appellee St. Paul Fire & Marine Ins. Co.

Dennis M. Usdan, P.A., Plantation, and Joseph C. Segor, Miami, for appellee/cross-appellant.

THOMPSON, Judge.

The employer carrier (EC) appeals an order which found that the statute of limitations does not bar the claim and that claimant is due temporary total disability (TTD) compensation. We affirm in part and reverse in part.

The appellant Aetna Casualty and Surety Company (Aetna) contends: (1) the deputy commissioner (deputy) erred in requiring Aetna to pay a portion of claimant's claim because the statute of limitations had run as to it; (2) the deputy erred in finding the claimant was entitled to TTD benefits; and (3) the deputy erred in ordering that the TTD benefits continue for as long as the claimant remains in that category of disability. St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company (St. Paul) contends: (1) the deputy did not err in finding the statute of limitations had not run as to Aetna; (2) the deputy erred in finding the claimant was entitled to TTD benefits; and (3) the deputy erred in ordering that the TTD benefits continue for as long as the claimant remains in that category. Claimant cross-appealed and assigned as error the award of TTD benefits notwithstanding uncontradicted medical evidence that the claimant had reached maximum medical improvement (MMI), and the deputy's failure to determine the claimant's entitlement to benefits for 1986.

We find that the claim against the employer and the carriers Aetna and St. Paul was filed within two years from the date of the last payment of compensation or medical benefits. It is therefore not barred by the statute of limitations. Daniel v. Holmes Lumber Co., 490 So.2d 1252 (Fla.1986).

The deputy failed to make a determination on claimant's claim for benefits during 1986. This issue was ripe for adjudication and should have been decided by the deputy. Bailey v. Hawes...