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Williams v Tarmac America

This August 10, 2012 opinion reverses Judge Rosen's ruling.

The 1DCA held that the JCC erred in making findings on matters outside of the issues framed for the hearing. The JCC had denied a claim for PTD benefits basd on the grounds that the claimant had not proven the existance of a back injury due to rpetitive trauma with a date of accident of January 26, 2004.

The PFB filed by the claimant never raised the issue of compensability. In this case, the claimant had a prior accident while working for the same employer. That case never resolved. On March 10, 2004, the claimant resigned from the employer. However, it was not until 2010 that the claimant filed a PFB for PTD benefits using March 10, 2004 as the start date for the PTD benefits. The PFB mentioned a repitive trauma accident. He used January 26, 2004 as the date of accident.

The PFB assumed that the accident was accepted as compensable. The JCC ruled that the claimant did not establish a repetitve trauma to his back.

On appeal, the claimant raised the fact that they never raised the claim of compensability. The EC never addressed challenged by the Employer/Carrier. The provision of medical care precluded any challenge to the compensability of the case. The 1DCA agreed that the JCC stepped outside of its boundaries and ruled upon an issue that was not before the JCC court.

 Click here to see the 1DCA opinion
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