A. D. H. Bldg. Contractors v. Steele, 64-481

• Citation: 171 So.2d 184
• Decision Date: 19 January 1965
• Docket Number: No. 64-481,64-481
• Parties: A. D. H. BUILDING CONTRACTORS, and Robert F. Coleman of Florida, Inc., Appellants, v. Ralph STEELE, Appellee.
• Court: Court of Appeal of Florida (US)

Page 184

171 So.2d 184

A. D. H. BUILDING CONTRACTORS, and Robert F. Coleman of Florida, Inc., Appellants, v. Ralph STEELE, Appellee.

No. 64-481.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Third District.

Jan. 19, 1965.

Rehearing Denied Feb. 17, 1965.

Lally, Miller & Hodges, Miami, for appellants.

Kaplan, Ser, Abrams & O'Malley and Richard A. Sicking, Miami, for appellee.

Before CARROLL, HORTON and HENDRY, JJ.

HORTON, Judge.

The appellee was the employee of the appellant and suffered during the course of his employment compensable injuries under the Florida Workmen's Compensation Act. Based upon a 50% permanent partial disability of the body and the alleged inability of the appellee to return to his work, the parties entered into a stipulated settlement of compensation benefits. Based upon this stipulation, the deputy commissioner of the Florida Industrial Commission, on June 4, 1962, entered an order approving the stipulation of the parties as to the amount and extent of compensation and directed the parties to comply with the provisions of the stipulation and order. Shortly thereafter, the appellee returned to work and the appellants, pursuant to § 440.28, Fla.Stat., F.S.A., petitioned for a modification of the June 4, 1962, order, which petition for modification was denied by the deputy commissioner. The appellants then terminated payment of compensation to the appellee and appealed to the Florida Industrial Commission for review of the order denying modification. The appellee then, pursuant to § 440.24, Fla.Stat., F.S.A., applied to the circuit court for a rule nisi in an attempt to enforce the order and award of the deputy commissioner of June 4, 1962. After hearing on the rule nisi, the circuit court entered an order making the rule absolute and directing the appellants to pay the amount of the award then due, representing past due installments on compensation, a 20% penalty on past due payments, costs and $250 attorney's fees. It is this order of which the appellants seek review.

The appellants contend that the court modified or amended the compensation order whereas its sole authority under § 440.24(1), Fla .Stat., F.S.A., was to enforce the order. Secondly, there was not authority in the circuit court under § 440.24(1) to award attorney's fees in a collateral proceedings for the enforcement of an award. Lastly, the authority to award penalties on past due compensation payments was vested solely in the Florida Industrial Commission as provided by § 440.20(6), Fla.Stat., F.S.A.

After hearing oral argument and examining the briefs and authorities submitted by the parties, we fail to find merit in the first and last contentions of the appellants. We now turn to a discussion of the award of attorney's fees.

Neither party has furnished us with any appellate cases in Florida passing upon the question now under discussion, nor have we by independent research been able to uncover any. In that regard see State v. Johnson, Fla.1960, 118 So.2d 223. Section 440.34(1), Fla.Stat., F.S.A., provides in substance that where an employer-carrier shall controvert or decline to pay a claim on or before the 21st day after notice of same or shall otherwise resist unsuccessfully the payment of compensation, and where the injured person has employed an attorney in the prosecution of his claim, there shall, in addition to the award of compensation, be awarded a reasonable attorney's fee to be approved by the commission. ¹ It is further provided under this section that in any proceedings had to review an award or compensation order before any court, the court may allow or increase attorney's fees in its discretion which shall be in addition to compensation paid the claimant. ² Section 440.27(1), Fla.Stat., F.S.A., ³ provides that orders of the full commission entered pursuant to § 440.24, Fla.Stat., F.S.A., shall be subject to review only by petition for writ of certiorari to the Supreme Court. Inasmuch as the provisions of § 440.34(1), supra, provide that attorney's fees may be awarded by any court in a proceeding for review of any claim, and the statute makes the Supreme Court of Florida the only reviewing court, it becomes obvious that the circuit court could not be a reviewing court and would not have the authority conferred by ...