Marraffino v. Stericycle/Sedgwick CMS

• Decision Date: 30 November 2018
• Docket Number: No. 1D18-2639,1D18-2639
• Citation: 260 So.3d 1115
• Parties: Matthew MARRAFFINO, Appellant, v. STERICYCLE/SEDGWICK CMS, Appellees.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

260 So.3d 1115

Matthew MARRAFFINO, Appellant,

v.STERICYCLE/SEDGWICK CMS, Appellees.

No. 1D18-2639

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

November 30, 2018

Rehearing Denied January 7, 2019

Kimberly A. Hill of Kimberly A. Hill, P.L., Fort Lauderdale, for Appellant.

Alexandra Valdes of Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., Miami, for Appellees.

Per Curiam.

In this workers' compensation case, Claimant appeals the Judge of Compensation Claim's (JCC's) dismissal of his claim for temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits for lack of jurisdiction.In dismissing the claim, the JCC reasoned that adjudication of the claim would require him to resolve the same issue concerning the date of maximum medical improvement (MMI) that is on appeal in Marraffino v. Stericycle/Sedgwick CMS , Case Number 1D18-0757(Marraffino I ).We reverse because the JCC continued to retain jurisdiction over claims to entitlement to benefits becoming due at different times from those addressed in the prior order.

Under section 440.15(4)(a), Florida Statutes(2014), TPD benefits are payable if MMI has not been reached and the medical conditions resulting from the injury create restrictions, not an absolute prohibition, on a claimant's ability to return to work.See, e.g. , Wyeth/Pharma Field Sales. v. Toscano , 40 So.3d 795, 799(Fla. 1st DCA2010).The date of MMI is defined as "the date after which further recovery from, or lasting improvement to, an injury or disease can no longer reasonably be anticipated, based on reasonable medical probability."§ 440.20(10), Fla. Stat.(2014).A finding of MMI is precluded where a claimant is entitled to remedial care — i.e., where there is a reasonable expectation that the necessary treatment will bring about some degree of recovery — even if that treatment ultimately proves ineffective.SeeDelgado v. Omni Hotel , 643 So.2d 1185, 1186(Fla. 1st DCA1994)(citingRolle v. Picadilly Cafeteria , 573 So.2d 94, 97(Fla. 1st DCA1991) );see alsoRosa v. Progressive Emp'r Servs. , 84 So.3d 472(Fla. 1st DCA2012).

Here, Claimant sustained a compensable injury to his right knee on December 10, 2014.In September 2017, Claimant filed a petition for benefits seeking, among other things, payment of TPD benefits from August 19, 2017, and continuing.On January 22, 2018, the JCC entered an order awarding nine days of TPD benefits but denying TPD benefits after August 28, 2017, because he found that Claimant was at MMI as of that date.That order and finding is the subject of the appeal in Marraffino I .Prior to any disposition in Marraffino I , Claimant filed another petition for benefits seeking TPD benefits allegedly payable after August 28, 2017.In the order currently on appeal, the JCC found he had no jurisdiction and dismissed the TPD claim without reaching the merits.

Our standard of appellate review here is de novo.SeeJacobsen v. Ross Stores , 882 So.2d 431, 432(Fla. 1st DCA2004)(holding subject matter jurisdiction is reviewed de novo).

In his order, the JCC found that the prior order included any subsequent claims for TPD benefits because Claimant sought benefits "to the present and continuing ."As authority, the JCC misplaced his reliance on McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. McDonald , 620 So.2d 1146(Fla. 1st DCA1993).The court in that case — based on previous opinions — struck language that awarded temporary partial disability benefits "through the present and continuing" to substitute the following: "to the date of the hearing and for so long as such benefits are proper ."Id.(emphasis added)(citingRodeway Inn v. Bryant , 615 So.2d 857, 858(Fla. 1st DCA1993) );Workman v. McDonnell Douglas Corp ., 590 So.2d 1035, 1036-37(Fla. 1st DCA1991);Wiley Jackson Co. v. Webster , 522 So.2d 987, 988(Fla. 1st DCA1988) ).Contrary to the JCC's assumption, the point of the substituted language was to avoid an "open-ended" award of ongoing benefits that would not be subject to challenge.See e.g.,Webster , 522 So.2d at 988.

Claimant concedes the claim for TPD benefits before the date of the January 22, 2018, order was properly dismissed and thus limits this appeal to claims after the date of that order.But, in the appealed order here, the JCC went on to find that he lacked jurisdiction over later TPD benefits even assuming the prior order concerned only the time period through January 22, 2018.The JCC concluded he did not have jurisdiction to address that claim because it required resolution of the same issue on appeal in Marraffino I — specifically, whether Claimant was at MMI on August 28, 2017.

The JCC's conclusion, however, is based on the faulty premise that once Claimant was at MMI, he must forever stay at MMI.This court previously recognized that a change of condition may entitle a claimant to further remedial care even after assignment of a date of MMI.See, e.g.,Ivey v. City of Sarasota,533...