ELLINGHAM v. FLORIDA DCF, 1D03-2971.

• Decision Date: 04 March 2005
• Docket Number: No. 1D03-2971.,1D03-2971.
• Citation: 896 So.2d 926
• Parties: Bridget ELLINGHAM, Appellant, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

896 So.2d 926

Bridget ELLINGHAM, Appellant, v. FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES, Appellee.

No. 1D03-2971.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

March 4, 2005.

William N. Swift, of William N. Swift, P.A., Palm City, for Appellant. Laurel Hopper, Department of Children and Family Services, Ft. Pierce, for Appellee.

BROWNING, J.

Appellant is an 18-year-old who is mentally retarded and has Down syndrome. Her mother applied for developmental disabilities services through the Department of Children & Family Services (DCF) several times, the latest request being on March 26, 2002. DCF denied funds to Appellant, alleging unavailability of funds as a defense to payment. Appellant sought review of the decision. At a formal hearing, both parties stipulated that Appellant was eligible for funding. The administrative law judge (ALJ) then informed the parties that, were Appellant to show eligibility, the burden of proof would shift to DCF to show why the request was not granted. Neither party objected.

The ALJ ruled in favor of Appellant, finding that she had demonstrated eligibility and timely filed her application for benefits. The ALJ later clarified that Appellant was owed benefits based on her 1999 application. DCF did not adopt the recommended order, and denied the request for benefits, finding that the ALJ improperly shifted the burden of proof to DCF as to the existence of funding, and reasoning that lack of available funds is not an affirmative defense but a matter of constitutional and statutory prohibition. We disagree.

We exercise de novo review of DCF's conclusion of law. See Steward v. Dep't of Children & Families, 865 So.2d 528, 530 (Fla. 1st DCA 2003)

. Contrary to DCF's conclusion, we conclude that lack of funding is an affirmative defense to a claim for developmental disabilities services, analogous to the defense of impossibility of performance in a contract action. Cf. Am. Aviation, Inc. v. Aero-Flight Serv. Inc., 712 So.2d 809 (Fla. 4th DCA 1998) (holding that impossibility of performance is a defense in a contract action unless the facts making performance impossible were known to the promisor at the time the contract was executed). Other ALJs have relied on this reasoning. See Vega v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2002 WL 31125183 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs. Jul. 18, 2002); Satterwhite v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2002 WL 1592409, *8 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs. Jul. 10, 2002), cited in Deneale v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2003 WL 1921002, *3 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs. Apr. 18, 2003), & McDuffy v. Dep't of Children & Families, 2003 WL 548862, *9 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs. Feb. 7, 2003).

The party seeking to assert the affirmative defense has the burden of proof as to that defense. See, e.g., Pub. Health Trust of Dade County v. Holmes, 646 So.2d 266 (Fla. 3d DCA 1994)

. Therefore, DCF has the burden to show the funds are unavailable. See Deneale at *4 (noting that DCF had this burden). DCF has not met this burden because the record contains no competent substantial evidence of a lack of available funds and, in fact, contains testimony that there was "money in the bank." Therefore, we REVERSE the final order and REMAND for adoption of the recommended order.

DAVIS, J., concurs; HAWKES, J., dissents with opinion.

HAWKES, J., dissenting.

I respectfully dissent. I have four concerns with the majority opinion. First, I cannot agree that the burden of proof issue was waived by DCF. Second, it was Appellant's burden to prove funds were available to pay for her requested services. Third, even if DCF had the burden to prove a lack of funds, there was competent, substantial evidence that general revenue funds were not available to pay for Appellant's requested services. Fourth, the ALJ erred by awarding benefits from 1999 forward when the record shows Appellant's mother withdrew the 1999 application for benefits.

I. Preservation of the Burden of Proof Issue

The record reflects the ALJ recognized this issue was preserved by noting the parties could proffer further argument post-hearing. Specifically, the ALJ stated:

As far as the burden of proof goes, you can certainly put that in your post-hearing recommended order if you feel like, if — typically there's not a, you know, a burden of proof for a negative, which I suppose is what the Agency's position is. But if they [Appellant] show eligibility, and if they show timely application and so forth, at that point I guess the burden would shift to the Agency to show why you didn't grant the request.

In my opinion, this was an indication of the ALJ's current thoughts on the issue and not the final word. Thus, DCF's failure to object should not preclude its challenge to this issue.

II. Burden of Proof Regarding Entitlement to Benefits

In my opinion, the lack of funding is not an affirmative defense analogous to impossibility of performance. Instead, the more appropriate rule is that "[a] party who asserts a disputed claim before an administrative agency generally has the burden of going forward with the evidence as well as the ultimate burden of establishing the basis for the claim." Envtl. Trust v. State, Dep't of Envtl. Prot., 714 So.2d 493, 497 (Fla. 1st DCA 1998). "The burden is on the claimant to show that a particular benefit is allowed by the law." Id. at 498; see also Golfcrest Nursing Home v. State, Agency for Health Care Admin., 662 So.2d 1330 (Fla. 1st DCA 1995)

(holding burden is initially on party seeking entitlement to benefit, and only when prima facie case is shown does burden shift to opposing party).

The fact that other ALJs have determined lack of funding is an affirmative defense is irrelevant since we review legal interpretations de novo. Even if it were relevant, other ALJs have taken the position that it is the claimant who has the burden to prove funds are available. See Parkes v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2002 WL 1471722 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs.2002); Lopez v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2002 WL 1471721 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs.2002); Raymond v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2001 WL 92106 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs.2001); Smith v. Dep't of Children & Family Servs., 2001 WL 40383 (Fla.Div.Admin.Hrgs.2001). Therefore, in my opinion, Appellant had the burden to prove there were available general revenue funds from which to fund her requested services.

III. Lack of Funds

Even if the burden was shifted, DCF proffered competent, substantial evidence that it lacked general revenue funds from which to fund Appellant's requested services. Both the Florida Constitution and Florida statutes...