39 Fla. L. Weekly D51b
Workers’ compensation — Permanent total disability —
Evidence — Error to reject uncontroverted opinions of claimant’s medical
witness without providing valid reason for rejection
Evidence — Error to reject uncontroverted opinions of claimant’s medical
witness without providing valid reason for rejection
ROBERT YOUNG, Appellant, v. AMERICAN AIRLINES and SEDGWICK, Appellees. 1st
District. Case No. 1D13-1273. Opinion filed December 31, 2013. An appeal from an
order of the Judge of Compensation Claims. Stephen L. Rosen, Judge. Date of
Accident: November 29, 2003. Counsel: Toni L. Villaverde of Toni L. Villaverde,
PLLC, Coral Gables, for Appellant. Marjorie Gadarian Graham of Marjorie Gadarian
Graham, P.A., Palm Beach Gardens, and Ara R. Gechijian of Pallo, Marks,
Hernandez, Gechijian & DeMay, Palm Beach Gardens, for Appellees.
District. Case No. 1D13-1273. Opinion filed December 31, 2013. An appeal from an
order of the Judge of Compensation Claims. Stephen L. Rosen, Judge. Date of
Accident: November 29, 2003. Counsel: Toni L. Villaverde of Toni L. Villaverde,
PLLC, Coral Gables, for Appellant. Marjorie Gadarian Graham of Marjorie Gadarian
Graham, P.A., Palm Beach Gardens, and Ara R. Gechijian of Pallo, Marks,
Hernandez, Gechijian & DeMay, Palm Beach Gardens, for Appellees.
(PER CURIAM.) This is the second time this workers’ compensation case has
come before this court. In Young v. American Airlines & Sedgwick, 100
So. 3d 1168, 1170 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012), we reversed an order of the Judge of
Compensation Claims (JCC), which denied Claimant’s petition for permanent total
disability (PTD) benefits, based on our conclusion that the JCC erred in
admitting and relying upon an unauthenticated report from the Employer/Carrier’s
independent medical examiner. Id. at 1169. We then remanded with
instructions to the JCC to enter a final order awarding PTD benefits based on
the uncontroverted opinions of Dr. Kleinhaus unless the JCC found the opinions
unpersuasive. On remand, the JCC rejected Dr. Kleinhaus’s opinions because he
“was not persuaded” by same. In doing so, however, the JCC provided no
additional factual or legal reasons for the rejection of Dr. Kleinhaus’s
uncontested expert opinions regarding Claimant’s status as having reached
maximum medical improvement and his permanent work restrictions.
come before this court. In Young v. American Airlines & Sedgwick, 100
So. 3d 1168, 1170 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012), we reversed an order of the Judge of
Compensation Claims (JCC), which denied Claimant’s petition for permanent total
disability (PTD) benefits, based on our conclusion that the JCC erred in
admitting and relying upon an unauthenticated report from the Employer/Carrier’s
independent medical examiner. Id. at 1169. We then remanded with
instructions to the JCC to enter a final order awarding PTD benefits based on
the uncontroverted opinions of Dr. Kleinhaus unless the JCC found the opinions
unpersuasive. On remand, the JCC rejected Dr. Kleinhaus’s opinions because he
“was not persuaded” by same. In doing so, however, the JCC provided no
additional factual or legal reasons for the rejection of Dr. Kleinhaus’s
uncontested expert opinions regarding Claimant’s status as having reached
maximum medical improvement and his permanent work restrictions.
In this appeal, Claimant argues the JCC erred by rejecting Dr. Kleinhaus’s
uncontroverted medical opinions because no legally valid basis for such
rejection was provided by the JCC; we agree. We conclude that the JCC erred by
failing to provide a valid reason for rejecting the unrefuted medical opinions
based on findings such as flawed medical history, inherent illogic or
incredibility, or any other reasonable basis for finding Dr. Kleinhaus’s
opinions unreliable or unworthy of belief. Wald v. Grainger, 64 So. 3d
1201 (Fla. 2011); see also Feacher v. Total Emp. Leasing/Guarantee
Ins. Co., 61 So. 3d 1236, 1237 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) citing Vadala
v. Polk Cnty. Sch. Bd., 822 So. 2d 582, 584 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (holding
that JCC may reject unrefuted medical testimony but must give legally valid
reason). Accordingly, we reverse the order below in its entirety and remand with
instructions for entry of a final order awarding PTD benefits along with the
applicable penalties, interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. (WOLF, VAN NORTWICK,
and CLARK, JJ., CONCUR.)
uncontroverted medical opinions because no legally valid basis for such
rejection was provided by the JCC; we agree. We conclude that the JCC erred by
failing to provide a valid reason for rejecting the unrefuted medical opinions
based on findings such as flawed medical history, inherent illogic or
incredibility, or any other reasonable basis for finding Dr. Kleinhaus’s
opinions unreliable or unworthy of belief. Wald v. Grainger, 64 So. 3d
1201 (Fla. 2011); see also Feacher v. Total Emp. Leasing/Guarantee
Ins. Co., 61 So. 3d 1236, 1237 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) citing Vadala
v. Polk Cnty. Sch. Bd., 822 So. 2d 582, 584 (Fla. 1st DCA 2002) (holding
that JCC may reject unrefuted medical testimony but must give legally valid
reason). Accordingly, we reverse the order below in its entirety and remand with
instructions for entry of a final order awarding PTD benefits along with the
applicable penalties, interest, attorney’s fees, and costs. (WOLF, VAN NORTWICK,
and CLARK, JJ., CONCUR.)
* * *