40 Fla. L. Weekly D2091a
Workers’ compensation — Judge of compensation claims erred in compelling claimant’s attendance at a psychological evaluation where that issue was not submitted to JCC for determination
BENJAMIN GUTIERREZ, Appellant, v. THE PORT ROYAL CLUB, INC., AND FCCI INSURANCE CO., Appellees. 1st District. Case No. 1D15-0002. Opinion filed September 9, 2015. An appeal from an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims. E. Douglas Spangler, Jr., Judge. Date of Accident: April 3, 1988. Counsel: L. Gray Sanders and Kristen H. Emerson of Barbas, Nunez, Sanders, Butler & Hovsepian, Tampa, for Appellant. Lamar D. Oxford of Dean, Ringers, Morgan & Lawton, Orlando, for Appellees.
(PER CURIAM.) In this workers’ compensation appeal, Claimant argues the Judge of Compensation Claims (JCC) erred in compelling his attendance at a psychological evaluation and that competent substantial evidence does not support the JCC’s dismissal of his May 6, 2014, petition for benefits. We affirm without comment Claimant’s second issue. We agree, however, that the JCC erred in compelling Claimant’s attendance at the evaluation.
The issue of whether Claimant should be compelled to attend a psychological evaluation was not an issue submitted to the JCC for determination. Thus, the JCC abused his discretion when he ordered Claimant to attend the evaluation.
Due process concerns preclude a ruling on matters which have not been placed at issue, since the parties are entitled to notice so that they may fairly present their case. An order that is not in accord with the understanding with which the workers’ compensation hearing was undertaken and participated in is a denial of due process and must be reversed. A JCC should not award benefits which are beyond the scope of the hearing.
Se. Recycling v. Cottongim, 639 So. 2d 155, 157 (Fla. 1st DCA 1994) (citations omitted).
Accordingly, we strike that portion of the order compelling Claimant’s attendance at an evaluation. With that modification, the order is otherwise AFFIRMED. (BENTON, MARSTILLER, and OSTERHAUS, JJ., CONCUR.)
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