McCarty v. Myers

• Decision Date: 25 November 2013
• Docket Number: No. 1D13–1355.,1D13–1355.
• Citation: 125 So.3d 333
• Parties: Kevin M. McCARTY, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Appellant, v. Robin A. MYERS, A.P., an individual person and Acupuncture Physician, Gregory S. Zwirn, D.C., an individual person and Chiropractic Physician, Sherry L. Smith, L.M.T., an individual person and Licensed Massage Therapist, Carrie C. Damaska, L.M.T., an individual person and Licensed Massage Therapist, “John Doe,” on behalf of all similarly situated health care providers, and “Jane Doe,” on behalf of all those individuals injured by motor vehicle collisions, Appellees.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

125 So.3d 333

Kevin M. McCARTY, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation, Appellant,

v.Robin A. MYERS, A.P., an individual person and Acupuncture Physician, Gregory S. Zwirn, D.C., an individual person and Chiropractic Physician, Sherry L. Smith, L.M.T., an individual person and Licensed Massage Therapist, Carrie C. Damaska, L.M.T., an individual person and Licensed Massage Therapist, “John Doe,” on behalf of all similarly situated health care providers, and “Jane Doe,” on behalf of all those individuals injured by motor vehicle collisions, Appellees.

No. 1D13–1355.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, First District.

Oct. 23, 2013.

Rehearing Denied Nov. 25, 2013.

Pamela Jo Bondi, Attorney General; C. Timothy Gray, Assistant General Counsel, James Bruce Culpepper, Assistant General Counsel, Tallahassee; Allen Winsor, Solicitor General; Rachel Nordby, Deputy Solicitor General, Tallahassee, for Appellant.

Luke Charles Lirot, of Luke Charles Lirot, P.A., Clearwater; Adam S. Levine, of Florida Legal Advocacy Group of Tampa Bay, Clearwater, for Appellees.

Amici Curiae in Support of Appellant: Maria Elena Abate and Matthew C. Scarfone, of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky, Abate & Webb, P.A., Fort Lauderdale for Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, Florida Insurance Council, and American Insurance Association. Katherine E. Giddings and Nancy M. Wallace, of Akerman Senterfitt, Tallahassee; Marcy L. Aldrich, of Akerman Senterfitt, Miami, for the Personal Insurance Federation of Florida and the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies.

Amici Curiae in Support of Appellees: Theodore “Ted” E. Karatinos, of Holliday, Bomhoff & Karatinos, P.L., Lutz, for the Florida Acupuncture Association and the Florida State Oriental Medical Association. Kimberly A. Driggers, of Brooks, LeBoeuf, Bennett, Foster & Gwartney, P.A., Tallahassee; Paul W. Lambert, of Law Office of Paul W. Lambert, Tallahassee, for the Florida Chiropractic Association of America. Mark S. Sussman, Miami, for the Florida State Massage Therapy Association. Jessie L. Harrell and Bryan S. Gowdy, of Creed & Gowdy, P.A., Jacksonville for the Florida Justice Association.

PER CURIAM.

This is an appeal from a non-final order temporarily enjoining Appellant, Kevin M. McCarty, in his official capacity as Commissioner of the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (“OIR”), from enforcing certain portions of Chapter 2012–197, Laws of Florida (the “2012 PIP Act”), which the trial court determined are inconsistent with the constitutional right of access to courts. Art. I, § 21, Fla. Const. Concluding that Appellees lack standing to bring this “access-to-courts” challenge, we reverse the order on appeal.

I. Procedural History

Appellees, who were the plaintiffs below, include Robin A. Myers, A.P. (an acupuncture physician), Gregory S. Zwirn, D.C. (a chiropractic physician), and Sherry L. Smith, L.M.T., and Carrie C. Damaska, L.M.T. (licensed massage therapists). Also listed as a plaintiff is “John Doe,” purportedly representing “all similarly situated citizens of Florida that are actively licensed healthcare providers licensed by Florida pursuant to the Florida Statutes, and/or own businesses providing healthcare services in Florida, and/or provide healthcare services to patients injured as a result of motor vehicle collisions in Florida.”These plaintiffs will be collectively referred to herein as the “Provider Plaintiffs.” An additional plaintiff is “Jane Doe,” who purportedly represents “all those citizens of Florida that are, were, or will be injured as a result of a motor vehicle collision that were also required to purchase $10,000 ... of PIP insurance coverage but may actually only receive no or $2,500 ... in benefits.”

Plaintiffs filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief against OIR alleging that the 2012 PIP Act violates multiple provisions of the Florida Constitution.¹ Relevant to this appeal, the 2012 PIP Act amended various provisions of the Florida Motor Vehicle No–Fault Law, specifically section 627.736(1), Florida Statutes (2012), relating to personal injury protection (“PIP”) coverage. Ch.2012–197, § 10, Laws of Fla.

To be eligible for PIP medical benefits under the new law, persons injured in a motor vehicle accident must seek initial services and care from specified providers within fourteen days after the motor vehicle accident. § 627.736(1)(a), Fla. Stat. (2013). Medical benefits up to $10,000 are available for “emergency medical conditions” diagnosed by specified providers, and up to $2,500 for non-emergency medical conditions. § 627.736(1)(a) 3.–4., Fla. Stat. (2013). In addition, the law specifically excludes licensed massage therapists and licensed acupuncturists from being reimbursed for medical benefits. § 627.736(1)(a) 5., Fla. Stat. (2013). Although chiropractors are authorized to provide treatment to PIP insureds, they cannot make the determination that a patient has suffered an emergency medical condition. § 627.736(1)(a) 1.–3., Fla. Stat. (2013). Plaintiffs alleged that the new law significantly limits the type and format of chiropractic treatment of persons covered by PIP insurance.

After filing the complaint, Plaintiffs moved for a temporary injunction, asking the trial court to enjoin OIR “from enforcing, or attempting to enforce the 2012 PIP Act.” The Provider Plaintiffs argued that, without a temporary injunction, they would be irreparably harmed by losing substantial PIP-related business that will either cause them not to be able to work and earn a living (acupuncture physicians and licensed massage therapists) or will severely restrain their ability to provide effective care (chiropractors). The pleading alleged that the “Jane Doe” plaintiff, “although required to purchase $10,000.00 ... in PIP insurance by the Florida Statutes, may receive no benefits if the initial evaluation and treatment does not occur within fourteen (14) days, or may receive only $2,500.00 in benefits if there is no emergency medical condition diagnosed or if the initial evaluation is by a Chiropractic Physician.”

OIR opposed the motion for an injunction and sought dismissal. As a threshold matter, OIR contended that Plaintiffs lack standing to bring the underlying declaratory judgment action, absent any allegations that Plaintiffs have been actually harmed by the legislation. OIR argued that whatever injury Plaintiffs may suffer in the future is purely hypothetical, and the trial court lacked sufficient facts to demonstrate a present, real, and concrete controversy.

After hearing arguments of counsel and receiving testimony from Provider Plaintiff Robin A. Myers, A.P., the trial court granted the motion for temporary injunctionbased only on the access-to-courts claim. The judge determined that the Plaintiffs are entitled to injunctive relief “as to those sections of the law which require a finding of emergency medical condition as a prerequisite for payment of PIP benefits or that prohibit payment of benefits for services provided by acupuncturists, chiropractors and massage therapists.”

In so ruling, the court found that the Provider Plaintiffs have standing. ² The judge characterized these plaintiffs as “seeking to enforce a right vested in members of the public at large,” such that they “must allege and establish some special injury different in kind from the injury suffered by members of the public.” The court found that the Provider Plaintiffs, “as health care providers for automobile accident victims, derive a substantial percentage of their income through PIP insurance payments,” which the 2012 PIP Act prohibits or severely limits, giving them “a sufficient interest in the outcome of the case, as well as an injury that is distinct from the public at large.”

OIR filed a notice of appeal and a notice of automatic stay pursuant to Florida Rule of Appellate Procedure 9.310(b)(2). While this appeal was pending, the trial court granted Plaintiffs' emergency motion to vacate the automatic stay. The court explained that the reason for issuing the injunction is not to address the potential economic harm to the Provider Plaintiffs caused by the 2012 PIP Act, but rather to protect “the constitutional right of...