Taylor v. Dep't of Children & Families, 4D10–4105.

• Decision Date: 22 February 2012
• Docket Number: No. 4D10–4105.,4D10–4105.
• Parties: Charlotte TAYLOR, Appellant, v. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

81 So.3d 566

Charlotte TAYLOR, Appellant,

v.DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, Appellee.

No. 4D10–4105.

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Fourth District.

Feb. 22, 2012.

Charlotte Taylor, Lake Worth, pro se.

Marjorie S. Desporte, West Palm Beach, for appellee.

PER CURIAM.

This appeal stems from the appellant, Charlotte Taylor, challenging decisions made by the appellee, Department of Children and Families, regarding her claims for Sun Cap benefits eligibility and food stamp benefit recovery. Because Taylor's claims were improperly dismissed by the hearing officer, we reverse.

The Department and Taylor were scheduled to appear for two hearings before a hearing officer on May 27, 2009, to address her Sun Cap eligibility and food stamp benefit recovery claims. On May 14, 2009, Taylor filed a request for a continuance. The hearing officer entered a written order denying her request, reasoning that the statutory deadline to hold a hearing on her first claim had already expired, and an additional continuance would cause the hearing on the second claim to be beyond the time limit. The order advised that the hearings would be held as scheduled. Taylor did not appear at the hearings. Taylor's claims were then “closed as abandoned” within the Department, though no final order was issued.

On July 16, 2010, Taylor requested a hearing on the same two claims previously scheduled to be heard on May 27th. Taylor was granted a hearing, scheduled for August 13, 2010. At the hearing, the Department made an oral motion for dismissal of Taylor's claims, on the ground that the matters were previously abandoned. The hearing officer granted the Department's motion on this basis. The hearing officer determined that Taylor's remedy should have been “through judicial review” of that order and concluded that he was prohibited by administrative rules from granting a rehearing. The hearing officer also specifically declined to address the merits of Taylor's claims.

While, generally, administrative action is upheld if supported by competent, substantial evidence, “an agency's decision is given no deference when an agency commits an error of law.” Jerry Ulm Dodge, Inc. v. Chrysler Grp. LLC, 78 So.3d 20, 23 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011). Section 120.569(2)( l ), Florida Statutes, provides that “the final order in a proceeding which affects substantial interests must be in writing and include findings of fact, if any, and conclusions of law.” Additionally, rules 65–2.066(3) and (7), Florida Administrative Code, state that all final orders “shall be in writing and include a...