Ernie Haire Ford, Inc. v. Hamilton

Decision Date21 February 1986
Docket NumberNo. BG-107,BG-107
Citation483 So.2d 555,11 Fla. L. Weekly 478
Parties11 Fla. L. Weekly 478 ERNIE HAIRE FORD, INC., & Florida Automobile Dealers Assoc. & Lynn Underwriting Company, Appellants, v. Robert L. HAMILTON, Appellee.
CourtFlorida District Court of Appeals

Kenneth L. Olsen, of Miller & Olsen, Tampa, for appellants.

Joseph L. Thury, of Antinori & Thury, P.A., Tampa, for appellee.

WIGGINTON, Judge.

We affirm the deputy's award of permanent total disability benefits and find no error in the deputy's rejection of Dr. Rupert Schroeder's testimony.

The evidence is competent and substantial to support the deputy's finding that claimant is permanently and totally disabled. Claimant's testimony, in conjunction with that of Dr. Murphy and the rehabilitation nurse, establishes that claimant is unable to do even light work uninterruptedly, and that his possible return to work is speculative and could only be in sheltered employment. Drummond v. Plumbing Corporation of America, 428 So.2d 741 (Fla. 1st DCA 1983); Butler's Dairy v. Honeycutt, 452 So.2d 120 (Fla. 1st DCA 1984). Although claimant's testing of the job market was minimal, considering his age, severe physical limitations, and his industrial history, his efforts at Ernie Haire Ford following the surgery and his "work" at the mini-warehouse amounted to a search sufficiently comporting with his abilities and restrictions. Drummond, 428 So.2d at 743. The E/C failed to show suitable work was available.

Regarding the deputy's rejection of Dr. Schroeder's testimony, we recognize the rule that failure to state reasons for accepting one doctor's opinion over others is reversible error where the reason for the finding is not apparent from the record, or where it appears the deputy has overlooked or ignored evidence in the record. Allied Parcel Delivery v. Dixon, 466 So.2d 439 (Fla. 1st DCA 1985). However, here the reference in the order to the fact that Dr. Schroeder examined claimant only once, and for reasons other than compensation, indicates his testimony was neither overlooked nor ignored by the deputy.

AFFIRMED.

ERVIN, J., and McCORD, GUYTE P., Jr. (Ret.), Associate Judge, concur.

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2 cases
  • Shaw v. Publix Supermarkets, Inc.
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 1 de dezembro de 1992
    ...employment due to physical limitations. See Carter v. City of Venice, 584 So.2d 577 (Fla. 1st DCA1991); Ernie Haire Ford, Inc. v. Hamilton, 483 So.2d 555 (Fla. 1st DCA1986); Thompkins & Sons Lawn Spray v. Brooks, 452 So.2d 103 (Fla. 1st Dr. Lane, an orthopedic surgeon, treated Claimant from......
  • Dental Arts Lab, Inc. v. Costantino, 87-821
    • United States
    • Florida District Court of Appeals
    • 20 de setembro de 1988
    ...These facts were sufficient to establish that appellee was unable to do light work uninterruptedly. See Ernie Haire Ford, Inc. v. Hamilton, 483 So.2d 555 (Fla. 1st DCA 1986). The record establishes that appellee was unable to resume her delivery position after returning to the employer beca......

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