Resources

JCC Johnsen (West Palm Beach) (Anthony Amelio) (9-23-2026) – Denied Compensability. The 49-year-old construction worker developed increasing upper and mid-back pain on 1/26/2026 after repeatedly moving rebar overhead for a week with no traumatic event. He worked until 1/29/2026 when he was diagnosed with T4, T5 and T6 compression fractures resulting in surgery on 2/6/2026.  He had another T11 fracture with no new accident or heavy activity with surgery on 4/6/2026. The claimant had preexisting osteopenia treated with Tymlos, usually used... View More

JCC Jacobs (Orlando) – (Tim Stanton) (9-16-2026) – Denied claimant’s Motion for Advance. The JCC found that although the claimant was in a compensable accident, she continued to work until a personal event resulted in her losing her AHCA certification, making her unable to do her regular duties with the restrictions given. However, that was two full months prior to the filing of the Motion for Advance. No medical records were offered by claimant to establish what her restrictions were... View More

Current as of 10-23-26 City of Maitland/Davies v. McGovern & Sanford Airport/PGCS, ___So.3d___, (Fla. 1st DCA 10/7/26) Firefighter Presumption/Contribution/Last Injurious Exposure Claimant worked for two separate entities as a firefighter; (City of Maitland 1988-2012) and Sanford Aiport (2012-2024).  In 2012 he passed a pre-employment physical (PEP) with no evidence of heart disease. He had a heart catheterization with 70-80% occlusion of the left-anterior descending artery, did not report this to WC at the time and retired from Maitland. He then... View More

Village Community Dev. Dist./PGCS v. Illeck, ___So.3d ___ (Fla 1st DCA 9/23/26) Heart Lung Statute The firefighter/claimant developed disabling heart conditions of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and atrial tachycardia (AT) from an unknown source. The medical opinions agreed the conditions constituted a “heart disease” of the heart’s electrical system, but that the condition did not meet the definition of “heart disease” in the 2023 Harlem case. The JCC ruled for the claimant, in part citing numerous prior DCA cases which found... View More

Bouayad v. Normandy Ins. Co., et al,___So.3d___(Fla. 7/9/26) Arising Out Of/Workplace Assaults Bill Rogner The claimant was GM of a car rental business located in a hotel near Orlando Int’l Airport. He was shot several times in a dimly lit outdoor walkway by an unknown assailant. Thereafter, he stated to a guest that “Robert did this.” Although evidence suggested the assailant might be Robert Aponte, who had a vendetta against the claimant’s son, no concrete evidence existed that the assailant... View More

Fish v. Extreme Enterprises/AmTrust,___ So.3d___ (Fla.1st DCA 8/26/26) Reimbursement of Guardianship Fees/Costs The DCA reversed the JCC’s order denying reimbursement of guardianship expenses.  The guardian/mother of the injured worker (who suffered a traumatic brain injury) retained counsel for W/C benefits. Counsel filed PFBs and sought assistance from the E/C with guardianship proceedings, which the E/C denied. The claimant’s mother was ultimately appointed as the guardian and incurred expenses related to the guardianship process of over $2,428.09 in costs and $10,500.00... View More