| JCC Clark (Ft. Myers) (Tim Stanton) (4-3-2026) – Denied claimant’s entitlement to attorney’s fees for securing advance. The claimant filed a motion for a $2,000 advance, which the E/C filed a response stating they had no objection to the advance and that the JCC grant the claimant’s motion without a hearing. The JCC entered an order granting the advance. The claimant thereafter sought entitlement to attorney’s fees at the E/C’s expense for securing the advance. The JCC denied entitlement, finding no statutory basis under §440.34, as attorney’s fees are only recoverable for benefits secured through a PFB. The JCC further found that an advance is not compensation and does not support an award of fees, and that no PFB was filed seeking the advance. Accordingly, the JCC denied and dismissed the motion for attorney’s fees. Click here to view Order |