Summary
In Orange County v. Sealy, 412 So.2d 25 (Fla. 5th DCA 1982), we approved a formula which excised the sums attributable to pain and suffering and loss of consortium from the net recovery to be shared with the compensation carrier on the theory that such elements of damages are not reimbursable under the Worker's Compensation law.
Summary of this case from State, Dept. of Health v. McConkeyOpinion
No. 80-1395.
March 31, 1982.
Appeal from the Circuit Court, Orange County, W. Rogers Turner, J.
G. Yates Rumbley of Pitts, Eubanks Ross, P.A., Orlando, for appellant.
Robert D. Melton, P.A., Orlando, for appellees.
An employer, who paid an injured employee workers' compensation, seeks recovery, under section 440.39(3)(a), Florida Statutes (1981), of an equitable pro rata share of damages the employee recovered from Mr. Smith, a third party who negligently caused the employee's injuries.
Appellee was employed by appellant as a deputy sheriff when he was injured. Mr. Smith's insurer paid appellee personal injury policy limits of $10,000, which included settlement of appellee's wife's derivative claim. There is no dispute that appellant, as employer, paid or would pay appellee $9,465.05 in compensation benefits. The total amount of damages sustained by the employee (or the value of his cause of action against Smith) was contested, but there was substantial competent evidence in the form of expert testimony that appellee's case was worth $50,000, of which sum his wife's derivative claim for loss of consortium was worth $5,000. After deducting attorney's fees and costs out of the $10,000 settlement of his and his wife's claim, appellee received $6,569.62. Of this amount, the trial court found that 50 per cent constituted a reasonable amount for pain and suffering (not covered by workmen's compensation) and the wife's derivative claim. Since appellee demonstrated that he did not recover the full value of the damages he sustained under the statute, the employer was only entitled to recover a pro rata share of compensation paid or to be paid. As suggested in National Ben Franklin Insurance Company v. Hall, 340 So.2d 1269 (Fla. 4th DCA 1976), an equitable proration can be done by formula, determining the relationship that the employee's actual net recovery bears to his total damages and applying that ratio to the compensation benefits. These figures and findings would produce this calculation:
$6,569.62 x 1/2 _______________ x $9,465.05 = $690.91 $50,000 — 5,000 By using rounded figures the trial judge awarded $540 as follows: $ 6,000 _______ x $9,000 = 1080 x 1/2 = $540. 50,000 Considering the subjective nature of several factors involved, the trial judge's award is affirmed.However, neither section 440.39(3)(a) or section 440.34(1) authorize attorney's fees for work done in equitable distribution proceedings. Edmondson v. Swope, 395 So.2d 553 (Fla. 5th DCA 1980); State Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services v. Culmer, 402 So.2d 1273 (Fla. 3d DCA 1981). Therefore the award of attorney's fees is reversed.
Appellee initially asserted in the trial court, in a post-trial memorandum filed in lieu of closing argument, a claim for attorney's fees under Fla.R.Civ.P. 1.380(c) based on the need to prove certain denied requests for admissions. The award of attorney's fees cannot be sustained on this basis because appellant's request for oral argument on motion for rehearing was denied and appellant has never had an opportunity to properly meet and argue this assertion.
AFFIRMED in part; REVERSED in part.
FRANK D. UPCHURCH, Jr., and SHARP, JJ., concur.